Route Map

Zoom in to see route details. Click on map points and routes to get more info.

Clothes to Carry

You can buy most of the winter warm clothes from Decathlon.

Hiking Shoes/Boots 1
Blister Free Sox 1
Woolen/Warm Sox 1
Regular Shoes 1
Cotton Sox 4
Thermals 1
Monkey Cap 1
Inner warm Glove 1
Outer Glove 1
Down Jacket 1
Hat 1
UV Resist Sun Glasses 1
T-Shirts 5
Rain Jacket and pants with hood 1
Cotton Pants 5
Cotton Full Sleeve Shirts 3
Cotton Half Sleeve Shirts 3
Chappals 1
Light Towel 2
Hiking Pants 1
Hand Sleeve 1
Tube Mask 1
Sweater Half Sleeve and Full Sleeve 1
Fleece Jacket 1
Inner T-shirts 3
Knee Pads 1

In addition, take a small backpack (will be with the porter during Parikrama) and a large backpack or a suitcase. The large one will be left behind at Kathmandu. During the Parikrama you can only carry one change of clothes and rain wear. You will be wearing 3 layers of clothes and won’t change them once you start off from Yamadwar.

Carry dry fruits, energy bars and trail mix. Carry a small 750 ml  thermos and a plastic cover for the backpack. You are also advised to carry Diamox (IOPAR SR 250mg) and eat one a day before breakfast, from Simikot onwards till you come back to Nepalgunj. This helps you acclimatize better.

Training

It is recommended that you follow a training schedule to ensure you are fit enough for the parikrama. Minimum recommendations from our tour guide from NALS is given below.  They suggest starting the regimen 6 to 8 weeks before the yatra.

A seven day workout schedule is provided below as a guideline for the beginner.

Day 1 – Breathing Exercises
• Brisk walk 2 Km – 20 minutes
• Breathing Exercises – 30 minutes
• Meditate – 10 minutes

Day 2 – Strengthening Day
• Brisk Walk 2 Km – 20 minutes
• Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) 10 to 50 repetitions – 30 minutes
• Abdomen crunches 10 to 50 repetitions – 10 minutes

Day 3 – Cardio Day

• Stair climbing or step climbing or speed walk on inclined tread mill – 30 min
• Elevate and maintain heart rate between 120 to 140 beats per minute.
• Cool down slowly

Days 4, 5 – repeat of Day 1, 2
Day 6 – Rest day
Day 7 – Endurance Day
• Brisk walking 12 to 18 Km – About 120 to 180 minutes
• Some days, carry 5 kilo backpack for shorter distances

It is good to do a physical checkup before you go. Some agencies insist on a medical certificate. Some even ask for a Treadmill test report.

Other stuff

Carry enough batteries for your camera and other accessories. Batteries discharge really fast in cold weather.

You have power in most of the places and hence will be able to recharge your phones. International Roaming works throughout the journey except 2 days of the Parikrama. Nepal SIM cards will not work from Hilsa on. So don’t bother to get one.

Chinese allow people below 65 years to do the Parikrama. However you can go till Manasarovar even if you are older.

Altitudes and Typical Temperatures

Place Altitude Meters Altitude Feet Day Temperature (C) Night Temperature
Kathmandu 1370 4494 26 23
Nepalgunj 150 492 24 15
Simikot 3000 9840 17 1
Hilsa 3700 12136 20 11
Purang 3800 12464 20 11
Manasarovar 4400 14432 11 5
Darchen 4620 15154 10 0
Diraphuk 5000 16400 10 Below 0
Dolma Pass 5650 18532 10 Below 0
Zutulphuk 4800 15744 10 5

Parikrama Route MapParikramaRoute.JPG

Place Distance Km Time Taken Mode
Kathmandu
Nepalgunj 515 60 Mins 60 Seater Aircraft
Simikot 216 60 Mins 16 Seater Aircraft
Hilsa 50 25 Mins 6 Seater Helicopter
Purang 40 60 Mins Bus
Manasarovar 90 90 Mins Bus
Manasarovar Parikrama 105 180 Mins Bus
Darchen 50 60 Mins Bus
Diraphuk 12 4 to 5 Hours Walk
Zutulphuk 18 10 to 12 Hours Walk
Darchen 14 3 to 4 Hrs 10 Km walk, 4 Km Bus

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