Kailash Tour by Helicopter

  • Trip Duration Trip Duration 12 Days
  • Trip Grade Trip Grade Moderate

About Kailash Tour by Helicopter

The Kailash tour by helicopter is especially for those who do not have time, but are willing to pay their homage to Mt Kailash at any cost. Obviously, the helicopter journey makes the tour easier and faster, but at a little more cost. In this light, this Kailash tour by helicopter has been designed to meet the need of the high end people with luxury and better hotels especially in Kathmandu, Nepalganj, Simikot.

The first part of the Kailash tour by helicopter starts with a fixed wing flight of an hour from Kathmandu to Nepalganj (c

ity located at the south western part of Nepal at a height of about 300 m). Then, a small aircraft will fly us for about 55 min to Simikot. Normally, the second part of the tour is carried out by helicopter from Simikot to Hilsa (near the border point) with a flight for about half an hour.

However, sometimes, depending upon the situation, we may be required to drive about 2 hours to Surkhet (near by township) from where the helicopter will fly us directly to Hilsa with a short stop over at Simikot for obtaining permit. The third part (in Tibet) involves a drive by a comfortable jeep/van/bus as per group size or requirement.

On top of all, the Kailash tour by helicopter minimizes the vehicular journey just to 5 days only while the normal Kailash tour involves from 8 to 10 days tedious and hassling journey by the vehicle.

So, if you are short of time, but willing to take the shortest and easiest tour to pay your special visit/homage to Mt Kailash & Manasarovar, please join this 14 days Kailash tour by helicopter. You will be fascinated!


Trip Highlights

  • Fastest Kailash tour
  • Scenic flight from Kathmandu – Nepalganj – Simikot,
  • Helicopter takes you to the Nepal-Tibet border in 30 min
  • Nice aerial view of the whole trekking route from Simikot to Hilsa
  • Wonderful picturesque drive on the Tibetan plateau on the excellent road,
  • Explore Manasarovar (one of the largest fresh water holy lake in Tibet,
  • Enjoy the strong presence of Mt Kailash, focus of the tour
  • Colorful prayer flags beautifully flapping on the kora trail, on each Tibetan house, on the high passes and on each monastery,
  • Immersing yourself in the Tibetan culture with beautiful monasteries and people,
  • Accompaniment of a good English speaking Tibetan guide throughout the tour
  • Good food (both veg & non-veg) available throughout the tour
  • Memorable 2½ day circumambulation (kora) around Mt Kailash on foot,

Itinerary

  • 1
    Day 01: ARRIVE KATHMANDU (1,300 m)

    Arrive at Kathmandu airport - pick up and drop at hotel – Collect passports with visa application duly filled in over the briefing program on the tour in the evening – Hotel

  • 2
    Day 02: IN KATHMANDU

    Apply for Tibet visa along with your original passports – local sightseeing (optional) – Hotel (Note: Tibet visa processing takes 3 full days. So, the clients are required to stay for 4 night/5 days in Kathmandu just for this reason)

  • 3
    Day 03: IN KATHMANDU

    Local sightseeing (optional) - Hotel

  • 4
    Day 04: IN KATHMANDU

    Obtain Tibet visa - local sightseeing (optional) – Hotel.

  • 5
    Day 05: KATHMANDU – NEPALGANJ (300 m)

    Morning local sightseeing (optional). Afternoon Transfer to airport and fly to Nepalgunj ( 1 hr) – Upon arrival, transfer to Hotel Sneha or Batika or drive to Surkhet and overnight at hotel.

  • 6
    Day 06: NEPALGANJ/SURKHET – SIMIKOT (3,000 m)

    Morning transfer to airport and fly to Simikot (3,000 m: 55 min). Afternoon, visit Shiva Mandir in Simikot. Rest and acclimatize – Hotel/Guest House

  • 7
    Day 07: SIMIKOT – HILSA – PURANG (3,900 m)

    After breakfast, get onboard and fly to HILSA (3,700m) by helicopter. At HILSA, our Tibetan guide with vehicle will pick us up and drive to SHER (border point). After immigration formalities, we drive to PURANG (3,800m: 1 hr) – Acclimatization and rest at Hotel

  • 8
    Day 08: Drive to MANASAROVAR LAKE (4550 m: 95 km: 2-3 hrs) and enjoy the majestic view of Rakash Tal & Mt Gurla Mandhata.

    Start parikrama of MANSAROVAR by our vehicle (105 km: 3-4 hrs) – Overnight at Hotel at MANASAROVAR
    Day 09 MANASAROVAR – DARCHEN (4,560 m)
    Early in the morning, carry out puja with a holy dip at the lake and explore the lake till the late afternoon. Then, drive to Darchen (1 hr) and trek to Asthapad (Optional trip) – Overnight at Hotel/Guest House

  • 9
    Day 09: START TREK AROUND MT KAILASH - DHIRAPHUK (4,900 m)

    Morning drive to TARBOCHE (4,600 m: 9 km: 30 min) where there is YAMA DWAR (taken as the door to heaven). Right here, SAGA DAWA festival (birth day celebration of Lord Buddha) is observed by the local Tibetans from different corners of Tibet. From here, entering through the YAMA DWARA, we start kora around MT KAILASH. The total distance of the kora: Parikrama from DARCHEN to DARCHEN is of 53 km and overnight at DHIRA PHUK (10 km: 5-6 hrs) – Tented Guest House
    (Note: If some participants do not wish to undertake kora of Mt Kailash, they can get back to Darchen by the same vehicle and wait for the friends for 3 days at Hotel/Guest House)

  • 10
    Day 10: TREK FROM DHIRAPHUK TO ZUTULPHUK (4,800 m)(16 km: 7-8 hrs)

    Today, better to start earlier so that we could cross over the high pass called DROLMA LA (5,600 m) before noon. Normally, at that height, there is a high chance of getting windy with bad weather in the afternoon. Continue trek to ZUTULPHUK exploring GAURI KUNDA on the way. Today is the most challenging day with a long day walk. However, it is a downhill walk from the DROLMA LA. So, it is comparatively easier – overnight at Tented guest house at ZUTULPHUK.

  • 11
    Day 11: END TREK – DRIVE BACK TO MANASAROVAR

    Continue kora/parikrama until mid day with about a 10 km walk (2-3 hrs) on the plane terrain. End trek at a point where our vehicle will be waiting to pick us up and drive to DARCHEN (8 km: 45 min). Then, continue drive back to MANASAROVAR (1 hr) – Rest for recapitulation of the 3 day kora or stroll around with your own interest – Overnight at guest house.

  • 12
    Day 12: MANASAROVAR – HILSA

    Morning, drive to Hilsa where our helicopter will pick us up and fly to SIMIKOT (30 min) and take a small aircraft to NEPALGUNJ (55 min) and in the late afternoon, take a flight to KATHMANDU (1 hr) – Transfer to your hotel. Rest and overnight.
    Day 14 KATHMANDU – DEPARTURE FOR HOME
    After breakfast, transfer to airport to enable you to connect your homeward flight. End of the tour.
    (Note: As there could be flight cancellation due to weather reasons at Hilsa, Simikot or Nepalganj any time, it is highly recommended to have one day extra in Kathmandu at the end of the tour to avoid your last minute hassles in connecting your homeward flight.)

Cost Includes

  • Twin sharing accommodation in the best available hotel/guest houses on the Kailash side and best hotel in Simikot, best 3 star hote in Nepalganj and 5 star hotel in Kathmandu on bed & breakfast (BB) basis,
  • English speaking Tibetan Guide throughout the tour,
  • Transportation as per itinerary and group size by a good A/C Van/Bus in Tibet,
  • Airfare KTM/KEP (Nepalganj)/SIMIKOT (fixed wing flight)
  • Helicopter charter cost for 2 way flight (SIMIKOT/HILSA/SIMIKOT)
  • Monastery entrance fees,
  • Tibet visa fee
  • Tibet Travel permit,
  • Yak and Yak man (1 yak for 2 men’s luggage)
  • Oxygen bottles (1 each)
  • Necessary airport/hotel/airport transfers

Cost Excludes:

  • Lunch & Dinner (can be easily bought in all the guest houses)
  • Train or Air fare of any sectors,
  • Insurance of any kind,
  • Extra cost due to Natural or political disturbance which is beyond our control,
  • Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, porter charges, etc.,
  • Airfare KTM/LXA or LXA/KTM (We could book and confirm your flight at a cheaper price. Please let us know.)
  • All trekking/camping arrangement like sherpa, cook, main meals, truck, equipments, etc.,

Useful info

  • The tour is based on guest houses & 3 star hotels with breakfast only. Lunch and dinner are easily available in each guest house and hotel en route.
  • The guest houses on the Kailash side are basic and all are requested not to have a high expectation.

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