Day 01:Arrival to Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel

Smiling Eyes International’s representative will receive you at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The representative will be an official dress with an official ID card so that you can easily recognize him/her. The representative will also be carrying the organizational nameplate in the name “Smiling Eyes Int’l”. S/he will then transfer to the respective hotel. In the evening, the representative of Smiling Eyes Int’l will give a brief briefing about the trip and official welcome dinner.

Day 02:Fly to from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150 m), 55 minutes.

Usually, our flights are scheduled for the afternoon or evening. Once you are transferred to the domestic airport, you will board a flight to Nepalgunj with either Yeti or Buddha airlines. The flight usually takes between 55 minutes to an hour to reach its destination. Upon arrival, a representative from Smiling Eyes Int’l will be waiting to greet you and provide transportation to your hotel.

Day 03:Fly to Simikot Humla (2950 m), 45 minute.

We take an early morning flight to Simikot. It will take an average of 45 minutes to reach Simikot airport from Nepalgunj. Our representative will receive you there in Simikot airport and transfer to the hotel. It is acclimatization day, so you can walk around Simikot little town with the help of our representatives.

Day 04:Trek from Simikot to Dharapori (2300 m), 4 Hrs.

Following breakfast, we will resume our trek, embarking on a short ascent to a small pass. From there, we will make a steep descent through pine forests to Majgaun. Continuing on, we will gradually descend through increasingly lush landscapes until we reach Dharapori, where we will set up our tents and spend the night.

Day 05:Trek from Dharapori to Kermi (2670 m), 4-5 Hrs.

We’ll start a short day of trekking after breakfast, leaving Dharapori and following the Karnali River. The trail will take us through hills until we reach a narrow gorge with high rocky slopes. After a few hours of trekking, we’ll reach Kermi, a small agricultural village with a predominantly Buddhist population.

We’ll arrive early, leaving us plenty of time to relax in the natural hot springs near the village. Before arriving in the village, we’ll come across a campsite that offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, where we’ll set up our tents for the night.

Day 06:Trek from Kermi to Yalvang (3048 m), 4-5 Hrs.

Following breakfast, we will begin our trek, passing through fields of barley and buckwheat. The trail will mostly be flat, with some uphill climbing. As we walk along the trail, we will cross a small pass and then descend to the Sali River. After crossing the river, we will continue through a dense pine forest, encountering mules and dzopas along the way.

Further along the trail, we will reach the fascinating village of Yalbang, where we can explore many interesting sites. Above the village is the Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery, the largest monastery in the region. The monastery includes a school and clinic, and around 600 monks and nuns reside there. We will climb up to a nearby campsite and set up our tents for the night, with breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Day 07:Trek from Yalbang to Tumkot (3100 m), 5 Hrs.

After breakfast, we’ll start trekking towards Yangar by following a trail that ascends above the Karnali River. The trail is relatively flat with a few carved rocks along the way. As we trek higher, the landscape changes from tall pine trees to small bushes, and the terrain becomes rockier. We’ll cross the Kamali River and then start ascending to the upper side of a deep gorge. After a few more hours of trekking, we’ll reach the village of Muchu, where we’ll camp at the nearby village of Tumkot. One of the highlights of this village is the Dhungkar Choezom Monastery, which is a very interesting monastery of Sakya lineage.

Day 08:Trek from Tumkot to Yari (4000 m), 5 Hrs.

Our breakfast will be had at the campsite before we resume the trail. The trail gradually ascends uphill with a few steep climbs. As we start trekking, we will witness the changing landscapes and rockier terrains, with only a few Juniper trees along the way. Trekking further will lead us to a small village called Pani Palwang, where we can halt for lunch. We will then cross the village and ascend to Yari, which is a couple of hours away. Upon reaching Yari, we can choose to camp in the village or trek a bit further to Thado Dunga, which is 50 meters higher in altitude than Yari. There is a suitable camping site near these villages where we will spend the night.

Day 09:Trek from Yari to Hilsa (3700 m), 5-6 Hrs.

Today’s trek is quite challenging as we cross the Nara La pass. After breakfast, we will begin our steep ascent, witnessing a desolate landscape with fewer trees and more animals like mules, yaks, and dzopas. However, the stunning views along the way make the journey worthwhile. Tado Dunga will serve as the base camp for Nara La pass, from where we’ll continue to climb up to the pass. There are two routes to the pass, and we’ll choose the traditional one, which is more gradual and offers excellent views of Tibet. After reaching the pass, we’ll descend to Hilsa, which is close to the Tibetan border. We’ll spend the night here, setting up our tents and resting after a long and tiring day.

Day 10:Drive from Hilsa Border to Purang (3800 m), 45 minutes.

At the Hilsa-Purang border, we will be required to complete the immigration procedures for both Nepal and China. Once the formalities have been taken care of, we will continue our journey towards Purang (Burnag County) by vehicle about 45 minutes to get Purang and overnight will be in Guest House.

Day 11:Drive from Purnag to Holy Lake Manasarovar (4590 m), 2 Hrs.

We will drive to Lake Manasarovar by vehicle and on the way, you will see Rakshas Taal. Only a few people stop in Rakshas Taal, and if anyone in the group would like to stop at Rakshas Taal, we will request Tibetan/Chinese guide for that. On the same day, we will do Parikrama of Lake Mansarovar by driving, take a Holy bath and do rituals.

Day 12:Drive from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen (4575 m), 45 minutes.

We will drive to Dharchen and it is also sometimes called base camp of Mt. Kailash. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Dharchen. Once you reach Dharchen, you can walk around in the market for your last hour shopping and body acclimatization

Day 13:Trek from Darchen to Diraphuk (4920 m), 5-6 Hrs.

Our journey towards completing the Kora of Mt. Kailash starts today. The first leg of our journey involves about six-hour hike through a deep valley, surrounded by walls of striking red rock formations. We will then continue across the plain until we reach Sherzong. Along the way, we will also cross a bridge that leads to Chhueku Gompa, perched high on a hill, which is visible from the valley. From there, our trail will lead us to Dirapuk, where we will be rewarded with a stunning view of the north face of Mt. Kailash.

Day 14:Trek from Diraphuk to Dzutul-Phuk (4700 m) via Dolma la pass (5630 m), 6-7 Hrs.

Today marks the most challenging part of our journey as we ascend to the Drolma-la Pass, standing at an altitude of 5630 meters. This pass, also known as the pass of Tara, is adorned with vibrant five-colored prayer flags and boasts breathtaking views. After reaching the summit, we will descend towards Dzutul-Phuk, where we will encounter the awe-inspiring Thue Kyi Zingbu (Gaurikund Lake) or the Lake of Compassion, along with some ancient meditative caves. We will spend the night at Dzutul-Puk.

Day 14:Trek from Diraphuk to Dzutul-Phuk (4700 m) via Dolma la pass (5630 m), 6-7 Hrs.

Today marks the most challenging part of our journey as we ascend to the Drolma-la Pass, standing at an altitude of 5630 meters. This pass, also known as the pass of Tara, is adorned with vibrant five-colored prayer flags and boasts breathtaking views. After reaching the summit, we will descend towards Dzutul-Phuk, where we will encounter the awe-inspiring Thue Kyi Zingbu (Gaurikund Lake) or the Lake of Compassion, along with some ancient meditative caves. We will spend the night at Dzutul-Puk.

Day 15:Trek from Zukthrulphuk to Dharchen (4575 m), 5-6 Hrs.

Early in the morning, we start to trek after eating breakfast, we will start to walk towards Darchen. The trail is well-defined and follows the Bharkha plain, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The initial part of the trail is a gradual descent towards the Dzong Chu River, followed by a climb up to the Drolma La Pass, which is the highest point of the trek at 5,630 meters.We need to walk till Zhongdo, and from there people wish to walk till Dharchen can walk and those who do not want to walk or can’t walk can take a vehicle till Dharchen.

Day 16:Drive from Darchen to Saga (4600 m), 7-8 Hrs.

Our itinerary for the day entails a lengthy drive from Darchen to Saga. Along the way, we will pass through Hor Quo and traverse the Mayum La Pass, which stands at an altitude of 5200 meters. During the drive, we will catch glimpses of quaint towns such as Zhongba and Paryang. In total, the journey will span across 270 km from Manasarovar to Paryang, after which we will continue driving for 255 km to reach Saga. Unlike the typical route towards Lhasa, we will take a different path leading to Kathmandu. Our night stay will be at Saga.

Day 17:Drive from Saga to Kyirong (2774 m), 5-6 Hrs.

The journey from Saga to Kyirong spans 170km and takes around 5 to 6 hours by car, with Kyirong located at an elevation of 2774 meters. The route passes through a picturesque hidden valley, offering breathtaking views of the lush grasslands and diverse wildlife. The pleasant climate in the valley also makes it an ideal destination to unwind and rejuvenate.

Day 18:Cross Kyirong Border and Drive to Kathmandu, 5-6 Hrs.

To complete the necessary customs formalities, we’ll drive to the border checkpoint. Once we reach the Friendship Bridge, we’ll park our vehicles from Tibet and continue on foot for approximately 15 minutes towards Nepal. Afterward, we’ll have another 5-6 hours of driving ahead of us from Kyirong before we finally reach Kathmandu.

Day 19:Departure from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)

Our final departure will be from Kathmandu, where we will bid farewell to each other. It has been a pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to the opportunity to do so again in the future. Thank you for choosing us for this unforgettable trekking experience.