The serene and beautiful landscape of western Tibet is not just soothing to the senses, it also takes you a bit closer toyour inner being. Hindus regard the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as one of the most important pilgrimages anyone can make and it is a journey which takes you to the abode of Lord Shiva, which in turn is your gateway to heaven after death.
If you are planning to go on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, knowing as much about it as you can is a good way to start. There are many tour options available for people who want to do the trip, including two by the Ministry of External Affairs of India. Since the Yatra is so highly revered in Hinduism, the government has taken it upon itself to conduct the tour with the least amount of resistance from foreign nations. However, you also have the option of choosing a private tour operator/agency if that is what you want. For now, let us discuss the 13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as conducted by Trip To Temples a private tour operator that has been in operation since the year 2016.

Two routes available

If you want to do the Yatra in about 13 days, there are two routes that will be made available to you, one starting from Kathmandu via Lhasa and the other from Kathmandu via Kyirong border. A description of both these travel options is given below:

13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu via Lhasa

• Day 1: The meeting point is Kathmandu airport where you have to reach on your own. After reaching, you will be picked up by an agency representative who will take you to the hotel. After this, you will be briefed about the Yatra along with the other members of the group.

• Day 2: This day, you will be taken sightseeing of the popular sites of the city. In the afternoon, you will be preparing for the upcoming Yatra and that will be followed by dinner and sleep overnight at the hotel.

• Day 3 : Early morning you will checkout from the hotel and fly to Lhasa. After reaching, a representative will pick you up and the other members of the group and take you to the hotel where you will be staying the night. The whole day will be devoted to acclimatization and there will also be an evening visit to Barkhor Street.

• Day 4 : This day , all the members of the group will be driven to Shigatse by bus from where you will be transferred to the hotel. There will be an evening visit to the Tashi Lumphpo Monastery.

• Day 5 : Morning breakfast will be served after which you will be driven to Saga by bus. In the evening, enjoy free time with the other members of the group.

• Day 6 : This day, you will be driven to Lake Mansarovar. After reaching, the ‘Parikrama’ of the lake will be done by bus.

• Day 7 : There will be a ‘Hawan’ conducted after which you will be driven to Darchen and overnight stay in the hotel.

• Day 8 : This day you will be driven to Yamdwar. After that, there will be a trek to Diraphuk(10 km).

• Day 9 : There will be trekking that will take you to Dolma la pass, Gaurikund lake and Zuthulpuk. It is a journey of 22 km. The second day of the journey could be challenging for those who are not used to trekking. The yatra takes you up to 18,600 ft height above sea level.

• Day 10 : Begin trekking to the breathtaking location of Zhongguo. The journey is not as difficult as the other places. It is a trek of 2 hours approx. Once you complete the trekking, you will be driven to Saga and sleep at peace for a night.

• Day 11 : Get up early morning for breakfast and then a drive to Shigatse. Overnight stay will be provided here.

• Day 12 : Enjoy a healthy breakfast and begin your drive to Lhasa. Explore the Lhasa market and stay for the final period of vacation at Tibet. Enjoy your stay at a 4-star hotel that is inclusive of three-time meals.

• Day 13 : This day you will return to Kathmandu and leave for your home with good memories and experience.

13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu via Kyirong border

• Day 1 : This route starts from Kathmandu airport from where you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel. This will be followed by briefing, diner and rest overnight.

• Day 2 : This day will be spent on sightseeing and preparations for the Yatra.

• Day 3 : You will be driven to Syabrubesi where you and the other members of the group will stay overnight at a hotel.

• Day 4 : This day, you will be driven to Rasuwagadhi and then to Kyirong border after completing custom formalities. You will be staying in the hotel at Kyirong.

• Day 5 : This day will be spent completely in acclimatization.

• Day 6 : After breakfast, you will be driven to Saga and rest there for a day.

• Day 7 : From Saga you will again be driven to Lake Mansarovar. After doing the ‘parikrama’ of the lake, you will spend the night at the guesthouse there.

• Day 8 : There will be a ‘hawan’ conducted after which you will be driven to Darchen.

• Day 9: This day, you will be driven to Yamdwar. After that, there will be a trek to Deraphuk(10 km).

• Day 10 : There will be trekking that will take you to Dolma la pass, Gaurikund lake and Zuthulpuk. It is a journey of 22 km. The second day of the journey could be challenging for those who are not used to trekking. The yatra takes you up to 18,600 ft height above sea level.

• Day 11 : The third day Parikrama is of approx. 8 KMs & takes around 3 Hrs to complete. After completing Parikrama you will drive to Darchen and merge with other members and then drive to Saga. Overnight stay will be provide there.

• Day 12 : Start driving to Kyirong County – 270 km / 5.5 hrs. Overnight stay at hotel.

• Day 13 : Drive back to Kathmandu via Rasuwagadhi border after completing immigration formalities. Total driving is around 8-10 hr / 265 km. Overnight stay at the hotel and the next day leave for your home with the blessings of Lord Shiva. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is truly the trip of a lifetime.