Kailash Yatra By Helicopter

Best Season For Kailash Yatra By Helicopter

The climate in Tibet remains consistently dry and windy, however, the most inviting period stretches from May to September. The daytime temperature hovers from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, while nights remain above zero.

During April and June, the lively Saga Dawa festival takes center stage across Tibet, including the Kailash which buzzes with cheerful crowds and a riot of colorful festivities.

In the months of July and August, a light cloud gathers in the sky, breathing new life into the barren land of Tibet. As September and October arrive, the Tibetan weather displays the splendid sunshine.

The Shishapangma, Gauri Shankar, and Kailash will be in all their glory. The heat also hovers between 8 and 9 degrees Celsius, creating a pleasant and charming walking environment.

As the days of late October approach, the mercury drops down to -36 degrees Celsius, with winds that can whirl around 13 to 32 km per hour. The residents often leave their houses and migrate to warmer regions.

For the Buddhists and Hindus, the new moon particularly in June, July, and August presents a precious opportunity to walk around Kailash, believed to purify the karma of many lifetimes.

However, we will be flying out of Nepal, and it’s essential to have clear weather for our journey. Unfortunately, the months of June, July, and August may not offer the ideal conditions. Therefore, for our Kaisah Yatra by helicopter, it is wise to avoid these months.

Difficulty level of Kailash Yatra via Helicopter

The Kailash Yatra by helicopter may seem relatively simple, as most of the journey is by air, followed by a drive up to Yamadwar. The Kailash Pradakshina, which lasts three days, is also technically not difficult. However, it can be quite strenuous due to the challenges of high altitudes, especially at the Dolma La Pass.

Therefore, the tour is regarded as moderately challenging, not because of the journey but due to the elevation, where our average stay and walking will occur at altitudes between 3,000 to 5,000 meters.

Additionally, traveling in all-wheel-drive vehicles will necessitate patience, as we traverse hilly and rugged landscapes. Another difficulty arises from the basic accommodations, which may offer minimal comfort and only basic sanitary facilities, often situated outside the room.

While it is not guaranteed that double rooms will be available in guest houses, shared room options are possible. During peak seasons, it is also possible to stay in tents on monastery grounds. The food during the Kora will be generally basic, focusing on local Tibetan cuisine.

Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization

The Kailash Yatra via helicopter initiates from the flatlands of Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. However, within a brief flight, you will experience a transition from an elevation of 150 meters in Nepalgunj to nearly 3000 meters at Simikot, followed by a quick rise to altitudes surpassing 4000 meters. Therefore, the possibility of altitude sickness cannot be entirely dismissed.

In our effort to maximize your comfort at higher altitudes, we have provided you with nearly a full day for acclimatization after each flight. For example, after arriving at Simikot, at 2910 meters, you will spend the night here.

And, after your flight to Hilsa and the driving journey to Taklakot, you will have an entire day off here. However, despite these precautions, you may still experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances. Some of our member may also encounter mild breathing difficulties.

It is therefore vital to prepare well in advance of the trip (we will discuss about the preparation below). In addition, staying hydrated is vital; aim to drink up to 4 liters of liquid each day, and don’t forget to add lemon and garlic to your meal.

Please do not seek oxygen in less severe situations, as it can provide only a short-term reduction in symptoms. It will also be less effective when you truly need it. So the most appropriate action will be to move to a lower altitude immediately and practice deep breathing.

For faster acclimatization, you can take diuretic medications such as Diamox; take 1 or 2 tablets daily before the tour.

Who can be a part of Kailash Yatra by Helicopter trip?

Due to the potential risk associated with altitude, we do not recommend our Kailash Yatra by helicopter to those suffering from respiratory infections, or those with pre-existing conditions related to the lungs, heart, or kidneys. These health issues may deteriorate at elevated altitudes.

Aside from these considerations, anyone with average physical fitness is welcome to participate in our Kailash Yatra by helicopter. On this trip, our well-rehearsed support team both in Nepal and Tibet will also be traveling with you.

They will also look after you as you circumnavigate the Kailash. However, the high level of service you will get in Nepal may not exist in Tibet. So a little bit of sacrifice of comfort, a spirit of adventure, flexibility, and the willingness to adapt to the simplest conditions are important prerequisites.

Preparation and Training Needed for this trip

Our Kailash Yatra via helicopter mainly consists of an aerial journey, followed by a drive to Tarboche. From Tarboche, you will have the option to engage in the pradakshina on ponies and yaks, with porters available to assist with luggage.

There is therefore minimal trekking involved unless you choose to circumambulate Kailash on foot. Therefore, your preparations should mainly focus on mental readiness, adapting to basic living conditions, and acclimatizing to the harsh Tibetan climate. To better comprehend what to anticipate during the kora, you can view documentaries about Kailash in advance.

It doesn’t mean that physical preparation isn’t needed; it is vital, particularly if you intend to walk. So, build on your strength with walking, cycling, running, stair walking, and swimming.

You can also go for a trek to the hgiht of at least 3000 m in your hometown.

Alternate Route to Mount Kailash

For many pilgrims, the journey to Kailash during the new moon in July and August holds immense significance. If you are among them, you can travel to Kailash either through Lhasa or Kerung, both starting from Kathmandu.

The Lhasa route involves a two-hour flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, where you will spend two days before continuing your adventure to Saga and Darchen.

Alternatively, the Kerung route takes you on a drive to Shaybrubesi, followed by a journey to Kerung, and then onward to Darchen.

Accommodation, Food, and Drink

We will spend nights in Kathmandu, and Nepalgunj in high-quality hotels that meet the standards of Western tourism. The rooms will come with two beds with your own bathroom, free wifi, and a hot shower.

From Hilsa onwards, the lodgings may have a humble setup with two beds, and you may have to share outdoor or indoor toilet.

During the Kailash mountain tour, we will spend nights in simple guesthouses in rooms with 2-3 or more beds, which have a shared toilet, and no bathroom.

If the guesthouses by the monasteries are fully occupied, we may have to satisfy with setting up tents for our lodging. Our team will take care of erecting the tents for your comfort.

Throughout our Kailash Yatra by helicopter tour, we will serve a vegetarian menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, and on the Tibetan side.

In Nepal, you can indulge in a variety of dishes such as samosas, pakoras, vegetable pulao, biryani, puri with tarkari, sel roti, and dal bhat. However, during the Kailash pradakshina, please expect a simpler repetitive meal of noodles, Tibetan flatbread, rice, and tea.

You can also stock some food supplies you need in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj.

Transportation in the trip

You will be collected from TIA in a private vehicle and returned to TIA at the end of your Kailash Yatra by helicopter trip in the same transport. In Kathmandu, a private four-wheel drive will usher you to the embassy and to the temple visits.

We will arrange flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then to Simikot, and a helicopter journey to Hilsa from Simikot, both ways. On the Tibetan side, an all-terrain private vehicle will drive you back and forth through the towns.

The cost of these transfers is included in the price of our trip except for the costs of hiring ponies or yaks for the parikrama.

Communication, and the Internet

For communication within Nepal, you can pick between the NTC and NCELL physical or virtual SIM cards. For communication in Tibet, you can reach out to our Tibetan guide to get a local SIM card from any of the local networks like China Telecom, Unicom, or China Mobile. They all have 5G service for internet access.

In Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, you will discover that free WIFI is available in nearly all restaurants and hotels. On the other hand, in Hilsa, you will need to spend some money to get WIFI.

In Tibet, 5G is present even in Kailash, however, WIFI may not be available as much. Facebook, Google, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Gmail are restrained but VPN can allow you to change your country location and use them freely.

Visa, Rules, and Regulations

Any journey to Kailash, including our Kailash Yatra by Helicopter, must be organized as a group tour through a licensed and qualified agency. This is the only available way to acquire the required permits for travelers.

For group entry into Tibet from Nepal, the Tibet travel permit and the Chinese Group Visa are mandatory. And, to access the specially protected Ngari County of Kailash, you will require three additional and essential permits: the Military Permit, the Alien’s travel permit, and the Foreign Affairs permit.

These permits take a minimum of 15 business days to process, so we request you confirm your tour at least one month prior to your intended departure.

After your trip is confirmed, it is essential to send us a scanned color copy of your passport along with a 51 mm by 51 mm photo. The photo needs to be taken without makeup or glasses, with a plain white background.

Additionally, please ensure that your passport scan is complete and has no cut-off sections. Once we have these documents, we will initiate the application for the Tibet travel permit through a licensed Tibetan travel agency (our partner), which will provide the invitation letter once our application is successfully processed.

•  Tibet Travel Permit (TTP)

For our journey into Tibet, the official paper, granted by the Tibetan Tourism Office, named Tibet Travel Permit is a must. The permit comprises two pages that outline your personal informations and travel program. Keep in mind that once we apply for this permit, modifications to your travel route or schedule cannot be accommodated.

Our Tibetan guide will collect the TTP permit and present it at the Chinese checkpoint at Taklakot.

• Chinese Group Visa

Once we obtain the invitation letter, we can move forward with your Chinese Group Visa application for which your personal presence in the Chinese Embassy of Kathmandu is needed.

So, we will hold off until all our group members are in Kathmandu. When everyone has arrived, we will collectively visit the Chinese Embassy to provide our papers and fingerprints.

You can choose between two application processes for the Group Visa: the normal process, which requires 4 working days, or the express process, which takes only 3 working days.

Remember, the Group Visa will be provided as one white document for the entire group, meaning everyone must enter and exit Tibet together on the same date and time.

•  Military Permit and Foreign affairs permit

There are political complexities and ongoing conflicts related to Ngari County so consent from the Military of China in the form of a Military permit along with the Foreign Affairs Permit from the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office is obligatory.

At least 15 days are required for the application process so we will send your document copies to our Tibetan partner. They will manage the permit applications before we head on our journey to Tibet.

• Aline’s Travel Permit (ATP)

Aline’s travel permit isn’t essential beforehand for gaining entry into Tibet. The Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau will grant us this permit immediately after the presentation of our original passport and a Chinese visa.