I am planning my 2nd trip to Himalaya region some time in October 2011 (for this is the best time to trek in Nepal). Ideal itinerary would be trekking in Nepal Himalaya then enter Tibet from Kathmandu overland. Not all the way to Lhasa but to Shigatse, maybe. From there to Mt. Kailash and nearby then return to Kathmandu.
Has anyone ever tried this before? Any suggestion? or is anyone interested to join me? Thanks!
Edited by: qyching
I thought of doing this before deciding on another purely Tibet trip for next year.
There is no reason not to do it, provided you are happy to return to KTM and can do what you need to within the visa regulations for days of stay in the TAR. There are even advantages - such as previously acquiring acclimatisation, if you do a high level trek in Nepal, meaning you can get on with it in Tibet right away.
There are plenty of old threads on this trip, arranged by operators in KTM who have connections in Lhasa - only a few operators actually do the trips, although there are a lot of middlemen, so watch the prices and check they are appropriate given the trip length and effort. A Mt K trip ex-KTM could be done nicely (not rushed) inside 10-12 days...3 days each way out there, stopping at Pelkhu Tso/Saga and Paryang on the way, 3 days on the trek, and the rest to look around - there is plenty to see out there. I think the current visa deal is a max of 20 days for ex-Nepal, might be less though, like 14 days - still plenty.
It would save you the weird air connections and expense going via China, from most places KTM is a 2 flight strategy - no need for a China air hub stay, getting your papers arranged...you can start the paperwork off in KTM, do your Nepal travel, then return, eat/drink/sleep for a few days then set off again to the TAR. KTM is very easy to kick back also - good beer, great food, cheap hotels, good cable TV.
You can also consider 'Tibetan' area walks in Nepal, like Dolpo or Mustang - the price is now lower, $US50 from memory - should be a low cost if the Fed keep up the QE program and try to keep on fixing a debt problem with more debt...
Hello there!
I just saw your ad and was about to post up one of my own. I plan to make a spiritual pilgrimage to Kailash this upcoming summer and perhaps you would like to join me or at least combine forces and figure out the permit/visa situation. I have to be upfront and state that the purpose of the trip would be very spiritual and as a student going on a college scholarship there will be filming/some sort of journey documentation involved. I am going to start in Bodh Gaya India, take bus/train to the Nepal border, trek through Nepal on one of its many hiking routes and cross the Chinese border to make it to Kailash/Manasarovar. The trip has to be during my school's summer break (mid-may to mid-august) Are you interested?
jing niu