Mt. Kailash 2011
Mt. Kailash 2011
Mt Kailash is one of the most sacred mountains in Asia. Located in Western Tibet, near the border with Nepal, Mt Kailash is an isolated summit at 22,022 feet. A circumnavigation of the mountain is a goal of people of 4 religions: Hindus, Buddhists, Bons and Jains. Another mystical aspect of Mt Kailash is that nearby are the headwaters of 4 major rivers of the Indian Subcontinent, the Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Indus, and the Karnali (a major tributary of the Ganges).
We flew to Kathmandu, Nepal on 21 May 2011. Our group consisted of Christine Mitchell, Ron Bartell, Andy Stump, Rena and I. Arrangements were made with Crystal Mountain Treks, an outfitter in Kathmandu. After 2 nights in Kathmandu, we flew to Nepalgunj on the Indian border and then to the small town of Simikot, at about 9,700 feet. We then trekked for 7 days to the Tibetan border. Once in Tibet, we were met by our Tibetan guide and vehicles. Except for our trek around Mt Kailash, the remainder of the trip was spent in vehicles and we were above 15,000 feet most of the time. We drove to Lake Manasarovar, just south of Mt Kailash. This lake is also considered to be sacred and pilgrims come from all over to bath in it. After a short visit to the Tirthapuri Gompa and hot springs, we drove to Darchen which is the starting point for the trek around Mt Kailash. We spent 4 days doing the circuit or Kora, crossing a high pass, the Drolma La at 18, 500 feet.
Then back to Lake Manasarovar for a night before heading east toward Mt Everest. We spent a night at the Rongbok monastery just a short distance from the Mt. Everest north side base camp. We were lucky and attended a festival at the monastery that included masked dancing. Hundreds of local Tibetans were there, dressed in their finest clothing and jewelry. We also had great views of Everest. Finally, we drove back over the border to Kathmandu on the Friendship Highway, one of the most amazing roads in the world.
Below is a complete Itinerary. It is probably of interest only to someone who plans to go to Kailash.
KAILASH ITINERARY, Final - updated after trip, June 22, 2011
Day 1 Sat May 21 - Leave Los Angeles (early) to HK on KA 128 at 1:35 AM
Day 2 Sun May 22 - Arrive HK 7:15 AM, day trip into HK, leave HK 18:05 on KA 128, arrive Kathmandu 22:15, stay at Tibet GH.
Day 3 Mon May 23 - Kathmandu, Tibet GH
Day 4 Tue May 24 - Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (200 ft)
Day 5 Wed May 25 - Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot (9,708 ft)
Day 6 Thur May 26 - Trek 1, Dharipani (7,446 ft)
Day 7 Fri May 27 - Trek 2, Kermi (8,823 ft)
Day 8 Sat May 28 - Trek 3, Kermi (8,823 ft)
Day 9 Sun May 29 - Trek 4, Yalbang (9,479 ft)
Day 10 Mon May 30 - Trek 5, Tumkot (9,400 ft)
Day 11 Tue May 31 - Trek 6, Palbang (11,120 ft)
Day 12 Wed Jun 1 - Trek 7, Tharo Dhunga (13,100 ft)
Day 13 Thur Jun 2 - Trek 8, Hilsa (12,200 ft) via Nara La (15,000 ft)
Day 14 Fri Jun 3 - Hilsa (12,200 ft)
Day 15 Sat Jun 4 - Hilsa (12,200 ft), stay in Lodge
Day 16 Sun Jun 5 - Mansarover (15,000 ft) via Sher and Taklokot
Day 17 Mon Jun 6 - Visit Chu Gompa, drive to Tirithypuni (14,200 ft), visit hot springs
Day 18 Tue Jun 7 - Visit Guru Gem Gompa and the ruins of Khyunglung, drive to Darchen (15,600 ft), stay at Darchen Lodge.
Day 19 Wed Jun 8 - Kora 1, drive to Chuku Monastery, hike to and camp at Drira Puk (16,400 ft), 11 km.
Day 20 Thur Jun 9 - Kora 2, camp past Shabje Draktok (17,200 ft), via Drolma La (18,646 ft), 10 km.
Day 21 Fri Jun 10 - Kora 3, camp at Zuthal Puk ( 15,700 ft), 11 km.
Day 22 Sat Jun 11 - Kora 4, walk to Trungto, 9 km, drive to Lake Manasarover (15,000 ft)
Day 23 Sun Jun 12 - Drive to Paryang (15,120 ft)
Day 24 Mon Jun 13 - Drive to Saga (14,018 ft)
Day 25 Tue Jun 14 - Drive to Tingri (14,400 ft)
Day 26 Wed Jun 15 - Drive to Rongbuk (15,500 ft), visit Everest North base camp.
Day 27 Thur Jun 16 - Drive to Zhangmu (7,500 ft), via Lalung La (17,000 ft)
Day 28 Fri Jun 17 - Drive to Kathmandu (4,000 ft), stay at Tibet GH
Day 29 Sat Jun 18 - Kathmandu, visit Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan, stay at Tibet GH
Day 30 Sun Jun 19 - Leave Kathmandu (late) on KA 127 at 23:15 to HK.
Day 31 Mon Jun 20 - Arrive LA from HK on CX 884 at 10:30 AM.
Read MoreMt Kailash is one of the most sacred mountains in Asia. Located in Western Tibet, near the border with Nepal, Mt Kailash is an isolated summit at 22,022 feet. A circumnavigation of the mountain is a goal of people of 4 religions: Hindus, Buddhists, Bons and Jains. Another mystical aspect of Mt Kailash is that nearby are the headwaters of 4 major rivers of the Indian Subcontinent, the Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Indus, and the Karnali (a major tributary of the Ganges).
We flew to Kathmandu, Nepal on 21 May 2011. Our group consisted of Christine Mitchell, Ron Bartell, Andy Stump, Rena and I. Arrangements were made with Crystal Mountain Treks, an outfitter in Kathmandu. After 2 nights in Kathmandu, we flew to Nepalgunj on the Indian border and then to the small town of Simikot, at about 9,700 feet. We then trekked for 7 days to the Tibetan border. Once in Tibet, we were met by our Tibetan guide and vehicles. Except for our trek around Mt Kailash, the remainder of the trip was spent in vehicles and we were above 15,000 feet most of the time. We drove to Lake Manasarovar, just south of Mt Kailash. This lake is also considered to be sacred and pilgrims come from all over to bath in it. After a short visit to the Tirthapuri Gompa and hot springs, we drove to Darchen which is the starting point for the trek around Mt Kailash. We spent 4 days doing the circuit or Kora, crossing a high pass, the Drolma La at 18, 500 feet.
Then back to Lake Manasarovar for a night before heading east toward Mt Everest. We spent a night at the Rongbok monastery just a short distance from the Mt. Everest north side base camp. We were lucky and attended a festival at the monastery that included masked dancing. Hundreds of local Tibetans were there, dressed in their finest clothing and jewelry. We also had great views of Everest. Finally, we drove back over the border to Kathmandu on the Friendship Highway, one of the most amazing roads in the world.
Below is a complete Itinerary. It is probably of interest only to someone who plans to go to Kailash.
KAILASH ITINERARY, Final - updated after trip, June 22, 2011
Day 1 Sat May 21 - Leave Los Angeles (early) to HK on KA 128 at 1:35 AM
Day 2 Sun May 22 - Arrive HK 7:15 AM, day trip into HK, leave HK 18:05 on KA 128, arrive Kathmandu 22:15, stay at Tibet GH.
Day 3 Mon May 23 - Kathmandu, Tibet GH
Day 4 Tue May 24 - Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (200 ft)
Day 5 Wed May 25 - Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot (9,708 ft)
Day 6 Thur May 26 - Trek 1, Dharipani (7,446 ft)
Day 7 Fri May 27 - Trek 2, Kermi (8,823 ft)
Day 8 Sat May 28 - Trek 3, Kermi (8,823 ft)
Day 9 Sun May 29 - Trek 4, Yalbang (9,479 ft)
Day 10 Mon May 30 - Trek 5, Tumkot (9,400 ft)
Day 11 Tue May 31 - Trek 6, Palbang (11,120 ft)
Day 12 Wed Jun 1 - Trek 7, Tharo Dhunga (13,100 ft)
Day 13 Thur Jun 2 - Trek 8, Hilsa (12,200 ft) via Nara La (15,000 ft)
Day 14 Fri Jun 3 - Hilsa (12,200 ft)
Day 15 Sat Jun 4 - Hilsa (12,200 ft), stay in Lodge
Day 16 Sun Jun 5 - Mansarover (15,000 ft) via Sher and Taklokot
Day 17 Mon Jun 6 - Visit Chu Gompa, drive to Tirithypuni (14,200 ft), visit hot springs
Day 18 Tue Jun 7 - Visit Guru Gem Gompa and the ruins of Khyunglung, drive to Darchen (15,600 ft), stay at Darchen Lodge.
Day 19 Wed Jun 8 - Kora 1, drive to Chuku Monastery, hike to and camp at Drira Puk (16,400 ft), 11 km.
Day 20 Thur Jun 9 - Kora 2, camp past Shabje Draktok (17,200 ft), via Drolma La (18,646 ft), 10 km.
Day 21 Fri Jun 10 - Kora 3, camp at Zuthal Puk ( 15,700 ft), 11 km.
Day 22 Sat Jun 11 - Kora 4, walk to Trungto, 9 km, drive to Lake Manasarover (15,000 ft)
Day 23 Sun Jun 12 - Drive to Paryang (15,120 ft)
Day 24 Mon Jun 13 - Drive to Saga (14,018 ft)
Day 25 Tue Jun 14 - Drive to Tingri (14,400 ft)
Day 26 Wed Jun 15 - Drive to Rongbuk (15,500 ft), visit Everest North base camp.
Day 27 Thur Jun 16 - Drive to Zhangmu (7,500 ft), via Lalung La (17,000 ft)
Day 28 Fri Jun 17 - Drive to Kathmandu (4,000 ft), stay at Tibet GH
Day 29 Sat Jun 18 - Kathmandu, visit Bhaktapur and Changu Narayan, stay at Tibet GH
Day 30 Sun Jun 19 - Leave Kathmandu (late) on KA 127 at 23:15 to HK.
Day 31 Mon Jun 20 - Arrive LA from HK on CX 884 at 10:30 AM.
