Kailash Manasarovar Helicopter Tour
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra by Helicopter via Kathmandu: 10 days
Kailash Yatra is not a luxury holiday, it is an adventure pilgrimage!!
This tour starts & ends in Nepalgunj, which is situated in western Nepal (one hour flight from Kathmandu). Nepalgunj is quite closer from Lucknow, so, pilgrims can start this tour either from Kathmandu OR from Lucknow as well. From Lucknow, Nepalgunj is just a 4 hours drive.
Pilgrims who are traveling via Kathmandu should spend one night in the beginning followed by a half day sightseeing tour of Pashupati temple & Budhanilkantha (sleeping Bishnu). After sightseeing, you will be flying to Nepalgunj then starts journey to Kailash. After returning from Kailash, you will stay one more night in Kathmandu.
If you would like to make this journey within short time, you can take a flight OR train to Lucknow. Our local representative, will receive you at the airport OR at train station and then manage your transfer to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is just a 4 hours journey from Lucknow.
Outlined Itinerary
- Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu.
- Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu. You will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to Hotel.
O/N Hotel Grand
Day 2 : Morning, Sightseeing Tour - Afternoon: Fly to Nepalgunj.- Morning: Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. Visit Pashupatinath temple & Budhanil Kantha Vishnu temple (sleeping Bishnu).
Afternoon: Transfer to domestic airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. The flight takes about an hour to reach Nepalgunj. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer to Hotel.
- O/N Hotel Siddhartha
• Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight
• A very basic transport (non-ac Bus) will be available in Nepalgunj
Day 3 : Morning, Fly to Simikot (By Aircraft) - Acclimatization- Very early morning (at 5 am) you should be ready to go to the airport for your flight to Simikot. Normally, the flight leaves for Simikot at around 6.00 am, if there is a clear weather in all places (Nepalgunj, en route and Simikot). Delay by an hour OR two is quite normal in this sector. So, passengers are requested not be panic.
The flight requires about an hour to reach Simikot. Our representative will receive you at the airport and take you to the Hotel. Our representative will do some immigration formalities whereas you will be having rest in hotel.
- O/N Sun Valley Resort (dormitory room) – basic but the best available
• Nepalgunj to Simikot: 1 hour (by Twin otter aircraft with 15 seats OR Dronier aircraft with 15 seats)
• The flight can be delayed by an hour OR two, which is normal.
• If the weather is not good in Simikot OR en route to Simikot, the flight will be canceled
Day 4 : Fly To Hilsa By Helicopter - Then Drive To Purang (Taklakot – 3400 M.).
Early morning, you will be escorted to Hilsa (Nepal/China border) by our Helicopter. The flight takes about 25 minutes to reach Hilsa from Simikot. You will be met by our local representative in Hilsa and escorted to his house(tea shop). Here, you have to halt until all group members arrive.
Hilsa boarder is not officially opened for trading purpose; so there still are some certain restrictions and rules to follow while traveling through this boarder. We can’t just travel to Purang (Taklakot) with our guide and vehicles, we should have a military escort from the border to Purang (Taklakot) and it takes some time to manage this. So, at this point, it can be delayed to cross the boarder. Passengers are requested to have patient and let us arrange everything smoothly.
From Sher, it takes another an hour to reach Taklakot (Purang -3700 m.) by drive.
- O/N Purang Guesthouse (twin sharing room with attached toilet) - basic but the best available
• Simikot to Hilsa: 25 minutes by KAWASAKI 117 Helicopter - 9 seats and B2 (Euro copter) Helicopter with 5 seats
• Hilsa to Sher trek: 10 minutes
• Sher to Taklakot drive: 1 hour by 4WD Land Cruiser
Day 5 : Drive, Purang To Lake Mansarovar (Chiu Gompa – 4550 M.)- Early morning (after breakfast) you will depart for Lake Manasarovar (4560 m- Chui Gompa). The drive takes about 2 to 2 & 1/2 hours. On the way, we will take a short break in Rakshas Taal (Lake Ravana) to see the breathtaking views of Rakshas Taal with back ground view of holy Mount Kailash.
After having holy dip and lunch, you will depart for a circumambulation around the lake Manasarovar on jeep. The journey around the lake requires approximately 2 hours.
- O/N Guesthouse OR similar (all dormitory room)–Dharamsala type with Tibetan toilet
• The distance of Mansarovar circumambulation: 72 km
• Taklakot to Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
• Jeep tour around Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
Day 6 : Asthapad & Yama Dwara Darshan - Then Start Parikrama to Deraphuk (4920 M)
Morning drive to Asthapad via Darchen. After spending some time in Asthapad, you will continue drive to Yama Dwar (OR Serson, 10 kms / 4750m), the auspicious gateway to the Parikrama (circuit) around the Mt. Kailash.
Yama Dwar is the place, from where the group, normally, splits in two parts. Some members will start attempting Parikrama and some will return back to Darchen and wait for those members who have gone for Parikrama.
MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: You will start trekking from “Yama Dwar” to Deraphuk. The trail is quite easy & flat. You have to cross the river a couple of time, other than this, it is quite easy day today. Roughly, you will be crossing 10 km today and it takes around 5 hours.
MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T JOIN THE PARIKRAMA: After having Darshan from Yamadwar, you will be returning back to Darchen and wait for those who have gone for Parikrama.
- O/N Guesthouse (very basic accommodation with dormitory bed room)
• Lake Manasarovar to Asthapad - 1 hour drive
• Asthapad to Yam Dwar: 45 minutes drive
• Yama Dwar to Deraphuk trek: 5 hrs (approximately 10 km)
Day 7 : Trek To Zutulphuk (4780 M). Via Dolma Pass (5600 M.)- MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: Early morning start uphill trekking to Dolma-La (5600 m). Today is the toughest day of this journey. The entire trail up to Dolma-La rapidly up. The holiest water pool (glacial lake – Gauri kunda) is just situated beyond the Dolma-La. This is the lake, people believe, where Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva takes bath. From Dolma-La the trail rapidly drops down to the valley floor (Zutulphuk).
After making down hill trek to the valley (the next side of the high pass), the trek up to Zutulphuk Gomba requires another two hours. From the valley floor, the trail is flat all the way to Darchen. Today, you will be crossing approximately 22 to 24 km in 8 to 9 hours time.
MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T JOIN THE PARIKRAMA: Waiting in Darchen.
- O/N Local Guesthouse (very basic accommodation with dormitory bed room)
• Deraphuk to Zutulphuk Gomba: 8 to 9 hours trek (approximately)
Day 8 : Finish Trek Near Darchen - Drive Back To Hilsa
MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: Today, you will complete your trekking (Parikrama), near Darchen, where you will find our vehicles waiting to fetch you and transfer to Hilsa (3 hours journey). Today, you will trek for another 8 km in 3 to 4 hours time. After finishing Parikrama, the whole group will merge together & drive to Hilsa.
Despite of a very basic facility in Hilsa, we will take you there & keep overnight stay because the next day you will be picked up by Helicopter early morning, so you can catch your onward scheduled flights without any problem.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR GROUP NOT TO FORCE US TO CHANGE THIS. IF WE ARE FORCED CHANGE, GROUP MEMBERS HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR MISSING FLIGHT OF ONWARD DESTINATION.
Instead of staying in Hilsa, if you stay in Purang, there is 90% chance of missing your flights from Simikot onward, some times, you even miss international flight.
- O/N Local Guesthouse (very very basic with local village style)
• Zutulphuk to trek ending point: 4 hours walk - 8 km (approx.)
• Trek ending point to Hilsa: 3 hours drive by Land Cruiser
Day 9 : Fly, Hilsa – Simikot (Heli) Then Continue Fly To Kathmandu By Aircraft- Early morning, you will be picked up by our Helicopter from Hilsa then brought back to Simikot. From Simikot airport, you will be continuing fly to Nepalgunj then onward to Kathmandu.
- Overnight Hotel Grand
• Hilsa to Simikot: 25 minutes flight by Helicopter
• Simikot to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight by aircraft
• Nepalgunj to Kathmandu: 1 hour flight by aircraft
Day 10 : Departure from Kathmandu.- Transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for your flight back home.
Group Departure Tour Cost: INR. 160,000/- per person (nett)
Supplement cost for NRI : INR. 10,500/- pp (other than american)
Supplement cost for NRI : INR. 14,500/- pp (american national)
Single supplement cost: INR. 6,000/- (single room available in Ktm)
Services Includes
Supplement cost for NRI : INR. 10,500/- pp (other than american)
Supplement cost for NRI : INR. 14,500/- pp (american national)
Single supplement cost: INR. 6,000/- (single room available in Ktm)
- 2 nights Hotel (twin sharing) in Kathmandu with vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- One night hotel in Nepalgunj with vegetarian meals (twin sharing)
- One night Hotel in Simikot in Sun Valley Resort (dormitory room with common bathroom)
- One night hotel in Hilsa (very very basic dormitory room) with all meals
- Pick up & drop transfers in Kathmandu
- One half-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
- Necessary arrival / departure transfers in Nepalgunj (very normal vehicle available here)
- Kathmandu - Nepalgunj – Kathmandu air ticket (fixed wing – Yeti Air OR Buddha Air)
- Nepalgunj - Simikot – Nepalgunj air ticket (fixed wing – Twin otter aircraft OR dronier)
- Simikot - Hilsa – Simikot by Helicopter (only 4 OR 5 persons can be carried at a time)
- Domestic airport taxes (all sectors)
- Tibet group visa and travel/trekking permits
- Guesthouse in Tibet (for the entire journey) – except in Taklakot all places have dormitory Guesthouse with Tibetan common toilet
- All Indian vegetarian meals in Tibet (breakfast, lunch & dinner) while on the tour
- Transportation in Tibet in Luxury Bus
- Tour around Lake Manasarovar on vehicle
- Asthapad Darshan
- English speaking Tibetan guide
- One tour Manager from Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Necessary supporting crew (Cook, Sherpas, tour Manager from Nepal)
- All necessary Kitchen & camping equipments
- Yaks & Yak men during the Parikrama to carry foods and baggage
- Oxygen for emergency use
- Medical kit bag / First Aid kit
- Humla region restricted area permit & royalties
- Porter cost in Hilsa (while going and coming back)
- All applicable taxes & service charges
Services Excludes
- Riding Horse during the Parikrama
- Your travel insurance
- Insurance for emergency rescue & evacuation service
- Personal expenses
- Bottled drinks
- Tip for guide & driver
- Extra accommodation charge in Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa due to flight cancellation
- Any additional cost due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstances
| (FIXED DEPARTURE DATES FOR 2012 AD) | |||
| Arrival Kathmandu | Remarks | Arrival Kathmandu | Remarks |
| May 16 | Jun 15 | ||
| May 21 | Jun 20 | ||
| May 26 | Jun 25 | ||
| May 31 | FULL MOON TRIP | Jun 29 | FULL MOON TRIP |
| Jun 05 | Sep 06 | ||
| Jun 10 | Sep 11 | ||
| Sep 16 | |||
