15 Days Germany to Mount Kailash Tour via Nepal

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our local guide will greet you at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport and take you to your hotel.

After checking in at the hotel, you can take a good rest to relieve the fatigue of the long-distance flight from Germany to Nepal or take a stroll around the surrounding areas.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Insider Tips:
1. The international flight from Germany to Kathmandu is suggested to be booked by yourself.
2. Our local guide will confirm the time with you to get to our Kathmandu office for the Chinese Group Visa application. You need to provide the original passport and pay the visa fee & service fee.
3. It usually takes 4 working days to obtain the Group Visa. We ensure you receive the Group Visa on time before departing for Tibet.

• Patan Durbar Square
• Enjoy the local cuisine in Kathmandu

After breakfast, you’ll first visit Durbar Square, the UNESCO World Heritage site that showcases a mix of architectural styles. There are types of temples, palaces, and shrines. You will pay a visit to the Nepalese Royal Palace, the Shiva-Parvati Temple, Makhan Pedestrian Street, the single-wooden temple, and the Kumari Goddess Temple.

Then, Walking through the narrow streets of Patan, you will get a close-up view of some ancient temples and the exquisite ancient wood carvings, metal carvings, and stone carvings on the surrounding buildings, and experience the charm of the "City of Fine Art".

Finally, you will visit Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple. Located at the top of a hill in the west of downtown city, it offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley. You can walk around the giant Swayambhunath stupa, which is over 40 meters high. While walking between pagodas and temples, you will also see monkeys enjoying their free time here.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Durbar square in Patan City
• Swayambhunath stupa is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu valley.

In the morning, you will continue to explore the highlights of Kathmandu Valley. After breakfast, you will first visit Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most important Hindu temples in Nepal.

Then, you’ll go for a walk to see the huge stupa of Buddha, also known as Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal.

Afterward, you’ll take a ride to Bhaktapur, a fascinating town, to visit Bhaktapur's Durbar Square which features the Victorian illustrations style with temples and temples complex.

After the half-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley, you’ll keep the route connecting to Nagarkot. The rest of the day is free for you. You can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Himalayan Ranges from the village.

Stay overnight in Nagarkot.

• Bhaktapur Durbar Square is an assortment of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood.
• Pashupatinath

Get up early today to enjoy the sunrise over the Himalayas (weather permitting).

After breakfast, you’ll take a scenic drive to Pokhara. It takes around 4 hours to reach Pokhara.

In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy boating at Phewa Lake with an incredible reflection of Machhapuchhare and visit Barahi temple at the center of Phewa Lake. 

Stay overnight in Pokhara.

• Reflection of the Annapurna Range on Phewa Lake
• A view of mountain range and pokhara valley from sarangkot hill station

After breakfast, you will take a 6-hour drive back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will get the Group Visa for your following trip to Tibet. The rest day is free for you.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu temple in Nepal
• Bouddhanath

In the morning, you will take a 7-hour drive from downtown Kathmandu to Rasuwa Gadi, the small town at the Sino-Nepal border. Along the way, you will see magnificent snow-capped mountains at the southern foot of the Himalayas, covered by vast forest towering into the clouds.

When pass through Langtang National Park, you will go through a very bumpy road section, with the vehicle swinging on the muddy road. But the exciting thing is that you may encounter some interesting wild animals on the way.

Upon arrival in Rasuwa Gadi, check in at your hotel and have a good rest.

Stay overnight in Rasuwa Gadi.

After breakfast, you’ll take a 15-km drive to the border and enter China via the Gyirong border. Our Tibetan guide will meet you at Gyirong side and take you to Gyirong town within a 1-hour drive.

Upon arrival, you will explore Gyirong Valley described by British explorer Howard-Bury as the most beautiful valley in the world in his book 'Mount Everest: The Reconnaissance'.

Here, you can visit the Sherpa villages and admire dense forests, serene villages, and beautiful snow peaks above the woods.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• You will be transferred to Gyirong Port.
• Immersed in the local way of life here in Gyirong Valley.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Gyirong and head to Saga with a 250-kilomter drive.

On the way, you’ll pass by Mt. Shishabangma (8027 meters), one of the world’s highest mountains over 8000 meters. You can enjoy a close view of the three main peaks of Shigabangma, as well as the golden glow of Pelku Tso Lake beneath the peaks.

After crossing the grassland around Peiku Tso Lake, you’ll reach Saga County, the transfer hub of western Tibet. This marks your entry into the gateway of the Mount Kailash region.

The rest of the journey to Mount Kailash is at an average elevation of 4500 meters on the Ngari Plateau.

Stay overnight in Saga.

• Pelku Tso Lake is surrounded by rugged mountains.
• Majestic Mt. ShishaPangma

In the morning, you’ll take a drive through the Saga Valley between the Himalayan Range and the Gandise Range for your destination - Darchen, the little town at the foot of Mount Kailash.

En route, you may witness herds of yaks and sheep on the vast grasslands beneath the snow-capped mountains. Meanwhile, you’ll pass by the beautiful green lake - Gongzhucuo Lake.

After passing through the Mayum La Mountain at 5211 meters, you officially enter the Ngari Region. Crossing the mountain pass feels like entering a wilderness inhabited by wild animals, with the holy Lake Manasarovar coming into view. The view of Lake Manasarovar, with Mount Kailash in the distance, often makes people feel amazed and inspired.

After a short break at the lakeside, you will head to Darchen for your Mount Kailash trek.

Upon arrival in Darchen, settle into your hotel, recharge, and prepare for the upcoming Mount Kailash trek.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

Insider Tips:
If you need a porter, kindly inform your guide on this day, and your guide will arrange one for you the following day. Please note that the cost of the porter requires an additional payment.

• Gongzhucuo Lake is like a sapphire buried in the wilderness.
• The stunning scenery along the way to Kailash.

Today is the first day of your Mount Kailash trek.

After breakfast, you are supposed to take an eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung Valley, where to start today’s 13-kilometer trek around Mount Kailash.

The first 13 kilometers are relatively easy, guiding you through the valley at the foot of Mount Kailash. You can clearly see the southern and western slopes of the sacred Mount Kailash.

After reaching the foot of the western slope, you will check in at the guesthouse in Dirapuk Monastery.

For the remainder of the day, follow our guide to explore the ancient Dirapuk Monastery (also known as Zhire Temple). Capture unforgettable moments in front of the sacred stupas and the grandeur of the western slope of Mount Kailash.

Weather permitting, immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring spectacle of the sunset over Mount Kailash from Dirapuk Monastery. Witness the sun's afterglow delicately illuminating the steep cliffs of the western slope as night descends.

Stay overnight in Dirapuk Monastery Guesthouse.

• Start trekking from Sarshung Valley to Drirapuk Monastery
• You can see piles of Mani Stones in Kailash Kora

In the morning, you’ll trek from Dirapuk Monastery up the mountain until reaching the glacier on the western slope of Mount Kailash at an altitude of about 5800 meters. Here, you'll have a unique opportunity to approach the sacred mountain closely. Our guide will lead you to meditating at the center of the world.

For those in good physical condition, our guide will accompany you to get closer to the rocky walls of Mount Kailash and attempt to touch Mount Kailash.

After this extraordinary experience, you’ll return to Dirapuk Monastery along the same route.

Stay overnight in the local Guesthouse.

Insider Tips:
The possibility of touching Mount Kailash depends on the specific terrain environment as the glaciers change with the seasons.

• Trek over Dromala Pass (5630m), the highest pass of the Kora
• You can enjoy the stunning view of Guri Kund.

Start your day early with a 4-kilometer trek from Dirapuk Monastery to reach 5430 meters. This section offers a rapid climb with a breathtaking view of the sunrise over the northwest slope of Mount Kailash.

Afterward, you’ll continue another 2-kilometer trek to Dolma La Pass, the highest point at an altitude of 5630 meters. Along this path, you’ll see prayer flags hanging everywhere on the pass.

(Notice: The high altitude means even in summer, the path is icy and scattered with rocks, requiring caution to prevent slipping.)

After successfully crossing Dolma La Pass, you’ll be greeted by the emerald-green Lake of Compassion (also known as Guri Kund), believed to purify a lifetime of sins with a dip. You’ll also witness the thick glaciers on the northwest slope of Mount Kailash.

Following the Lake of Compassion, a gradual descent leads you to the valley beneath the southeast foot of Mount Kailash, where Zutulpuk Monastery (also known as Dzutripuk Monastery) is located. Here, you may encounter adorable wild animals and find a peaceful resting spot on the grasslands.

Stay overnight in the local Guesthouse.

• Breathtaking scenery of Lake Manasarovar
• At the Manasarovar lakeside, you can engage in meditation.

Today, you will complete Mount Kailash Kora and get to Saga.

In the morning, you’ll trek back from Zutulpuk Monastery to Darchen, the starting point of Kailash Trek.

After completing the Kailash trek in the morning, you are going to drive back to Saga and relive the scenic wonders of the Ngari Plateau, the Himalayas, and the Gangdise Mountains. Along the journey, you can stop at grassy pastures and lakes to get close to the nature and wildlife of Ngari.

Later today, you will finally arrive in Saga.

Stay overnight in Saga.

• Take a glimpse of Tibetan gazelle in the distance
• You can enjoy the picturesque scenery along the way back to Saga.

After breakfast, you will start your journey back to Gyirong Valley, the hidden gem on the Sino-Nepal border. As the altitude drops, the scenery along the roadside changes from snow-capped mountains and wastelands to dense forests and canyon landscapes.

Upon reaching Gyirong Town in the afternoon, you’ll explore Gyirong Valley, visit the Sherpa villages, and admire dense forests, serene villages, and beautiful snow peaks above the woods.

Additionally, you can experience the humid and mild oxygen, quite distinct from the dry and thin air of the Ngari Plateau.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• Immersed in the local way of life here in Gyirong Valley.
• A glimpse of snow mountains along the way.

After breakfast, you will say goodbye to your Tibetan tour guide and driver. Our Nepali staff at the Nepal border port will warmly welcome you, assist you in applying for a Nepal visa, and be responsible for carrying large luggage (at your own expense). We ensure a safe transfer for you to your hotel in Kathmandu with Tibet Vista’s vehicle.

Tour service ends.

Insider Tips:
1. The cost of the border transfer service is not included in the package price and requires an additional fee of 60 USD per person.
2. There are public transportation options from the border to Kathmandu, costing approximately 30 USD per person. Alternatively, you can take public transportation to the downtown bus station and then proceed to your downtown hotel by taxi.

• The picturesque scenery of Gyirong Town
• You will be transferred to Gyirong Port.