Trek From Humla Valley To Mount Kailash - 18 Days

Humla to Mount Kailash: The trek from Humla Valley to Mount Kailash is a unique and challenging adventure, combining cultural immersion with high-altitude challenges. Exploring on an extraordinary journey that blends cultural immersion with high-altitude challenges. The trek commences in Simikot, Humla Valley, where you’ll encounter the unique lifestyle of Tibetan communities amidst breathtaking Himalayan scenery. As you cross the Nepal-Tibet border, the majestic Mount Kailash comes into view. Navigate the Limi Valley, potentially tackling the high-altitude Nyalu La Pass, before reaching Dirapuk Monastery. Here, the spiritual aspect unfolds as you embark on the ‘kora,’ a multi-day circumambulation around Mount Kailash. This challenging trek, featuring the panoramic Dolma La Pass and the sacred Gauri Kund lake, is a deeply significant experience for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Bon religions.

Remote Exploration:

The trek begins in Simikot, the administrative center of Humla, a district known for its remoteness and rich Tibetan heritage. You’ll encounter traditional villages, witness the unique lifestyle of the locals, and be surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan landscapes.

The Ascend to Kailash:

After crossing the Nepal-Tibet border, the focus shifts towards Mount Kailash. The trail leads you through the Limi Valley, offering stunning views of the mountain range. You’ll likely encounter the Nyalu La Pass, a high-altitude point requiring physical fitness to navigate.

Circumambulating the Sacred Peak:

Reaching the Dirapuk Monastery marks the start of the ‘kora,’ the holy circumambulation around Mount Kailash. This section involves multiple days of trekking, with highlights including the Dolma La Pass, offering panoramic vistas, and the Gauri Kund, a sacred glacial lake. Completing the kora is considered a deeply spiritual experience for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Bon religions.

A pilgrimage trek to sacred Mt. Kailash in western Tibet’s Ngari region is an interesting add-on to a Humla Valley trek from Nepal. Opened to foreign trekkers since 1993, a great new trek is now possible on foot rather than the long and arduous drive through Tibet. Beginning in Katmandu we fly to Simikot in the far western corner of Nepal and from there trek north through Humla District to reach Sher from where we drive to the foot of Mt. Kailash, Darchen via the interesting village of Khojarnath and Chinese Village of Purang which is better known by its Nepali name, Taklakot. We follow an ancient trading route used by Tibetans who sold valuable salt to Nepal and returned with grain. The trek from impoverished far northwestern corner of Nepal to Mt Kailash in Tibet is adventurous, and culturally and scenically rewarding. Humla district, now in Nepal was once the part of the western Tibet region known as Ngari. The people of Limi in northern Humla and the upper Humla Karnali valley are “Bhotias” whose roots are in Tibet. It is only near Simikot, the district headquarters, that we encounter people of the other ethnic groups, mostly Thakuri and Chhetris. This trek should only be done in the late spring and summer months as much of the region is snowbound in the winter and passes are closed.

Mt. Kailash (6714m), located north of the Himalayas, in one of the remotest parts of western has long been an object of worship for four major religions- Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and the ancient Bon religion of Tibet. The actual circumbulation (kora) is a three days trek making a 52km circuit, or kora of the mountain crossing the 5630m pass Droma La. Mt. Kailash with its year round snow capped peak, it stands apart with its four four sheer walls that match the cardinal points of the compass. The mountain is known as Kang Rinpoche or “precious jewel of snow” in Tibetan.