Humla and Mount Kailash Trek in 20 or 21 days
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Duration: 20/21 days (11 trekking days)
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Route: Simikot-Nara La-Hilsa-Lake Manasarovar-Mount Kailash. After Mount Kailash, drive to Lhasa or Kathmandu
Best time: April-October
Highlights of the trek
- Walk the famous kora of the holy Mount Kailash
- Walk part of the kora of the stunning mythical Lake Manasarovar
- Encounter authentic Buddhism and Bonpo culture
- Crossing of the high pass Nara La (4620 m), with spectacular views over the Himalayas
- Walk through desolate, stunning landscapes
- Sleep in authentic, small Buddhist villages and camp in amazing spots amidst the snowcapped mountains
- Chance to see snowleopard, bluesheep, jackals, hyenas and musk deer
- Combine your trek with a visit to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet
Introduction
Humla is an important gateway for the holy Mount Kailash and the mythical Lake Manasarovar.
Hindus, Buddhists, Jain and Bon followers see the 6714m high Mount Kailash as the holiest mountain on earth. It is considered to be the abode of the great Hindu God Shiva, as well as the axis of the universe, from which four rivers, the Indus, Brahmaputra, Sutlej and the Karnali have their source and flow into the four directions. Stepping on the shore and taking a bath in Lake Manasarowar, or drinking from the water cleans the sins of a hundred rebirths.
From Hilsa you cross the border to Sera (also spelled Sher). Here jeeps are waiting to drive you northwards past Gurla Mandata mountain to the shores of Lake Manasarovar and Rakshas Lake. You can walk (part of) the ‘kora’ (Tibetan) or ‘parikrama ’ (sanskrit), a holy-walk, circumambulating the lake. In summer, wild geese and Himalayan swans swim on its waters. There are eight gompas (Buddhist monasteries) around the lake, of which six have been rebuilt.
From the lake you drive to Darchen, situated at the foot of Mount Kailash. From Darchen (also spelled as Tarchen), you can make the ‘kora‘ or ‘parikrama ’, the holy walk circumambulating the mountain, in clockwise direction, in 3 or 4 days. You share the trail with many Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Bon pilgrims. The last ones circle the mountain anti-clockwise. Most Buddhist people are walking with their prayer wheels spinning at all times, mumbling their prayers. You see some prostrating the whole kora. The kora goes through an impressive desolate landscape, the Mount Kailash towering high above you many times. Mount Kailash resembles a huge natural temple. Stones, springs and hills along the way have a deeper religious meaning to the pilgrims. All along the way you encounter Buddhist shrines, like chörten, mani walls, holy footprints and of course Buddhist monasteries. The kora (parikrama) goes over a high pass of 5630 meter, the Drolma La (also spelled as Dolma La). For pilgrims this pass is, besides being the highest point, the spiritual highlight of their odyssey. The pass is decorated with masses of prayer flags and out of devotion people leave clothes, coins and other personal belongings here. Devout pilgrims mumble their prayers and ring the brass bells in front of the holy rock in which, according to legend the goddess Drolma disappeared after she had guided the first pilgrim here. To pilgrims it is the symbolic passage through the gates of death after which one is cleansed and prepared for a good rebirth.
After completing the kora, you drive eastwards by jeep through the vastness of the Tibet Plateau and along the mighty Yarlung Zangpo river. Along the way you enjoy fantastic mountain views of the Himalayas. You can drive to Zangmu to re-enter Nepal at the Friendship Bridge or travel to Lhasa, via Lhatsa and Gyantse and Sigatse.
A possible day-to-day itinerary is (returning to Kathmandu after Mount Kailash):
For extensive descriptions of day 01-08 please go to Humla Limi Valley Trek.
Day 01 Fly to Nepalgunj
Day 02 Fly to Simikot (2950 m)
Day 03 Trek to Dharapuri (2300 m) 4 hrs
Day 04 Trek to Kermi (2670m) 3 hrs
Day 05 Trek to Yalbang (3020m) 5 hrs
Day 06 Trek to Muchu (3120 m) 4 hrs or to Tumkot (3380 m) 5 hrs
Day 07 Trek to Yari (3700m) 5 hrs
Day 08 Trek to Hilsa (3720 m) via Nara La (4620 m) 6 hrs
Day 09 Trek to Sher and drive to Purang (3900m)
Day 10 Drive to Manasarovar Lake (4600m)
Day 11 Trek at Manasorvar lake
Day 12 Drive to Darchen (4520 m)
Day 13 Day 1 Mount Kailash kora, trek to Dira Puk, (4775m)
Day 14 Day 2 Mount Kailash kora ,trek over Drolma La (5630 m) to Zuthul Puk (4700m)
Day 15 Day 3 Mount Kailash Kora, trek to Darchen, drive to Manasarovar Lake (4600m)
Day 16 Drive to Paryang (4600m)
Day 17 Drive to Saga (4450m)
Day 18 Drive to Nyalam (3750m)
Day 19 Drive to Zangmu, cross the border with Nepal at Friendship Bridge, drive to Last Resort
Day 20 Drive to Kathmandu (1350 m)
Another possible day to day itinerary is (going to Lhasa after Mount Kailash):
For extensive descriptions of day 01-08 please go to Humla Limi Valley Trek.
Day 01 Fly to Nepalgunj
Day 02 Fly to Simikot (2950 m)
Day 03 Trek to Dharapuri (2300 m) 4 hrs
Day 04 Trek to Kermi (2670m) 3 hrs
Day 05 Trek to Yalbang (3020m) 5 hrs
Day 06 Trek to Muchu (3120 m) 4 hrs or to Tumkot (3380 m) 5 hrs
Day 07 Trek to Yari (3700m) 5 hrs
Day 08 Trek to Hilsa (3720 m) via Nara La (4620 m) 6 hrs
Day 09 Trek Hilsa to Sher and drive to Taklakot (also spelled Purang) (3770m)
Day 10 Drive to Manasarovar Lake (4588m)
Day 11 Trek at Manasorvar lake
Day 12 Drive to Darchen (4520m)
Day 13 Day 1 Mount Kailash kora, trek to Dira Puk, (4775m)
Day 14 Day 2 Mount Kailash kora ,trek over Drolma La (5630 m) to Zuthul Puk (4700m)
Day 15 Day 3 Mount Kailash Kora, trek to Darchen
Day 16 : Drive to Paryang
Day 17 : Drive to Saga
Day 18 : Drive to Lhatse
Day 19 : Drive to Shigatse
Day 20 : Drive to Gyantse
Day 21 : Drive to Lhasa
Related Posts:
Posted:
December 8th, 2009 under
009. Humla & Limi Valley, information .
Tags: Humla, mount kailash, simikot, trek, trekking, trekking itinerary
If you have comments, additions, corrections or questions about the content on this page, please post them here.
