Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa

Highlights

• Architectural, traditional, and cultural tour of Kathmandu and its religious shrines
• An exciting and scenic flight to Lhasa
• Cultural, spiritual, and religious excursions of Lhasa, including Potala Palace, Barkhor Market, and Drepung Monastery
• Drive along the beautiful landscape of Tibet with the probability of seeing the rare wildlife
• Crossing high Mountain Passes along the trail and witnessing the panoramic beauty of Yamdrok Lake and Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Walking around the sacred Lake Manasarovar
• Three days of hiking around Kailash
• Overcome the mighty Drolma La Pass
• This unique opportunity to see the Northern and western faces of Kailash
• Follow the footsteps of the Buddha
• Let yourself be carried away by the prayers of the pilgrims

Om Namah Shivaya! Are you one of those who think Paradise on Earth is just a myth? Then you are wrong; we are here to take you on an 18-day-long Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa tour, an adventurous journey between nature and spirituality. We assure you this tour will truly open the doors to paradise for you.

Our Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa holds significance for the spiritual journey in the faith of devotees. Thousands of devotees of different religions flock to Kailash Tour for the Kora/Parikrama (Circumambulation) around Kailash to see all their sins erased.

On the other hand, for those who are skeptical and for whom the spiritual side matters little, the Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa represents one of the most sought-after places for many reasons.

This tour is an extraordinary opportunity to view the immense landscape in one of the most fascinating natural settings on the entire planet. Unrepeatable scenic glimpses of the Himalayan chain, the lakes, the plains, and authentic Tibet with its rare wildlife await them in this remote setting.

Talking about Mount Kailash, it lies in the Ngari Prefecture of Western Tibet, China. The 6638 m high mountain is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Bons, and Jains. For Jains, it is among these peaks that their first prophet achieved enlightenment. For Bons and Buddhists, it is the birthplace of Buddha and is considered the center of the universe.

According to Hindus, this is the home of Shiva, the creator and destroyer god. It is here he resides with his consort Parvati, sons Ganesh and Kumar, along with his Ganas  (attendants).

At the base of the Kailash lies the sacred Lake Mansarovar, which is in the shape of a sun or eight-petalled lotus. The water here is regarded as the water of life. It is separated from the Rakshas Tal (Demon’s Lake) by a thin canal, and its water is regarded as the water of death.

The Buddhists believe the lake Mansarovar was formed by Buddha himself, while for Hindus, it is the lake created from the mind of Lord Brahma (creator); therefore, the name Mansarovar. It is where God Shiva and Parvati swam, making the water the holiest of all.

According to the faith of pilgrims, if one bathes in its sacred water and performs the Pooja ceremony for their deceased ancestors, their soul will be released from the eternal cycle of birth and death.

Many Hindu scriptures, including  Ramayana, Mahabharata, Shivapurana, Shankharpurana, Machchepurana, and Vishnupurana have highlighted Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. According to Vishnu Purana, the Kailash has four sides that symbolize the four faces of Lord Shiva. They are made from crystal, gold, silver, and gems.

The science believes the four faces of Kailash coincide with the cardinal points, and therefore, it corresponds to a pyramid. On the southern face of Kailash, there is a neat cut in the center from top to bottom, and another crack intersects it at a right angle, making the Swastika sign.

Time and again, reports have emerged stating that many devotees have precepted hearing the sound of Damaru (Lord Shiva’s favorite musical instrument) and chanting of OM around Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

Everything in Kailash, therefore, manifests the Lord and his blessings. Therefore, thousands of pilgrims, monks, and Yogis join Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa to walk around the sacred mountain clockwise, barefoot, on knees, or by Yaks or horses on a circular route that stretches 53 km. The duration of the route can vary from one to four days, but it is recommended to cover the sacred route in 3 days.

The Parikrama of the Kailash begins and ends at the Tibetan Town of Darchen. The long circular route will take you between altitudes ranging from 4500 to 5600 meters (Drolma-la pass), the highest point of the sacred path of Mount Kailash.

Due to piousness, Yatris participate in Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa on the auspicious full moon day of May/June (Jestha), July/August (Shrawan), and August/September (Bhadra) to erase the sins of their past 100 lives and to free themselves from the probability of birthing in low life in next earthly being. These months also offer the best natural setting with stable weather; therefore, these months are also the best time for Westerners to come to Kailash.

All in all, our Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa is a wonderful itinerary, and it is recommended to travelers to elevate their souls and find out the true path. Whatever your race, whatever your skin color, whatever your religion or belief, let your soul find peace here.

How does our journey begin?

Our spectacular Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa begins after you arrive in Kathmandu, where you will spend four nights for Visa Procession and acclimatization to the Asian atmosphere. Then, we will board a two-hour flight to Lhasa and spend two full days discovering its religious center.

Next, we will drive along the southern route to western Tibet. During the long drive, we will be able to enjoy the unforgettable, fantastic landscapes between the Himalayas and the Trans-Himalayas. We will traverse the beautiful Yamdrok Lake and cross the Karo La Pass before reaching Gyantse and Shigatse, where we will visit the famous and beautiful Tashilunpo monastery.

We will then make our way to Lake Mansarovar via Saga. After completing the Kora around the sacred Lake, we will proceed to Darchen, from where our three-day Parikrama begins. We will spend the night under the lap of the northern side of Kailash at Dirapuk Monastery.

The day ahead will make us cross the high Drolma La Pass, which is decorated with fluttering prayer flags and mani stones, and reach the Zuthulphuk monastery. The next day, we end our Kora by returning to Darchen, from where we will return mostly on the same road to Lhasa.

Best Time

Mount Kailash is located in western Tibet, and this area boasts a different climate from other areas of the country, so the pilgrimage season is limited. We advise you to undertake your Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa in May, June, July, August, September, and the first half of October. Full moon days of these months are regarded as a favorable time for Kailas Kora as the act is believed to erase the sins of the past 100 lives.

For those who wish to experience the thrill and observe the outstanding nature Tibet has to offer, again, these months are the best as the climate is spectacular, generally serene, and will give you breathtaking views.

However, if you like to avoid the enormous traffic of pilgrims, then avoid the months of July and August. By opting for these summer months, you risk being disappointed and experiencing the sacred path of Mount Kailash amid the crowds.

January and February can be quite cold throughout Tibet; the skies are particularly clear, but there is a strong chance of snow. Precisely for this reason, the pilgrim houses and tea rooms near Kailash close from late October till April.

Please keep in mind the possibility of finding snow on the Drolma-la pass at any time of the year.

Preparation and Training

Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa is certainly a demanding trek that transitions you from the lowland altitude of around 1400 m of Kathmandu to the high Drolma Pass at 5630 m in Kailash, Tibet, within a few days.

In addition, the tough terrain and different climates of Tibet make the journey more challenging. So physical and mental preparation before undertaking this journey is a must. Those who are used to the active lifestyle can cope with these challenges, but those Yatris who aren’t used to the high altitude trek should start preparing by swimming, trekking in mountains or hills, jogging, cycling, brisk walking 10 to 15 km a day two or three times a day. Instead of using the elevator, opt for climbing up and down the stairs.

All these physical preparations can help increase your endurance, muscle strength, fitness, and stamina, enabling you to undertake Kora on your own feet.

In addition, try to build a positive mindset with meditation and some yoga postures that can help you cope with any unforeseen events.

Difficulty

The Mount Kailash Tour is not an easy journey. Tackling the kora, the circular itinerary around Mount Kailash means carrying out a rather demanding route, 53 km long among impervious paths with differences in altitude reaching up to 5600 m above sea level.

In addition, accommodation facilities are not always adequate and aren’t very comfortable. You may have to use the tent as the guest house on the route. Plus, the entire trip takes a long time, a minimum of 15 days and even 20. Yes, you can rent porters, yaks or horses, and jeeps, but only for some stretches. And you still have to keep a stable schedule when you have to cover an average of 200 km (but sometimes even more) for at least 7 but even 8 hours of walking.

Therefore, the spirit of adventure and adaptation are the cards needed to face the journey, being aware that you are going to a remote place inhabited by ancient populations, still linked to sacred rituals, and far from progress.

Altitude Sickness

The Mount Kailash Tour via Lhasa will lead you to the high-altitude Tibetan region as the days of our trip progress from Kathmandu. As the circumnavigation around Kailash begins, within three days, you will cross the altitude of 5630 m at Drolma La Pass and spend the night at the highest altitude of 4920 m at Dirapuk.

Therefore, gradual acclimatization to the altitude is a must. Our journey will start from Lhasa, and the transfer towards the west, with all the visiting stages, will last about ten days at altitudes between 4,200 and 4,500 m. The stage is deliberately planned for your better adaptation and adjustment to the climate and environment of high Tibetan altitudes.

We also have the option of tackling the Kora on horse or yak back or with the aid of helpers or porters.

Still, the high altitude can play a trick on some. This isn’t the case for everyone. The appearance of milder symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and loss of appetite and sleep can happen.

In such cases, you can take Diamox, the diuretic drug that will help you deal with altitude sickness. You can also take the Hongjingtian Tibetan herb to help remove the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Please inform our Tibetan guide if your symptoms are quite severe. He will check your oxygen level with the use of pulse oximeters. There is also a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at Mount Kailash for emergencies.

If needed, our guide may postpone your Kora or take you to a lower elevation till you feel comfortable enough.

Visa Preparation

Foreign travelers must obtain a Chinese Group Visa, Tibet Travel Permit, and several other permits to enter Tibet. You must book the Mount Kailash Yatra via Lhasa with certified travel agencies like us. After confirmation of the tour with us, we will begin the process of the Visa and permits for you.

The Permits we need include a Chinese Group Visa, a Tibet Travel Permit or Tibet Visa, a Foreign Affairs permit, Aline’s travel permit, and a Military Permit.

Chinese Group Visa

We will apply for the Chinese Group Visa once you arrive in Kathmandu. According to the current Chinese regulations, your original passport and two passport-sized photographs need to be presented to the Chinese Embassy along with your fingerprints. After biometric registration, the Embassy will issue the Visa within three business days; thus, we have planned for you a four-night stay in Kathmandu ahead of the Lhasa flight.

Tibet visa/Tibet Travel Permit

This entry permit is the key to your Tibet tour. It is the most important permit and is mandatory for foreigners entering Tibet. You can visit Lhasa, Potala Palace, Shigatse, and Namtso Lake with this document. It must be an authorized travel agency like ours that requests it for you, and it usually takes 3 to 4 business days to get it. Therefore, we recommend that you send us all the necessary documents as soon as possible.

Foreign affairs permit 

A foreign affairs permit is needed to visit sensitive areas of Tibet outside Lhasa. This permit can only be requested after entering Tibet because the original passport must be presented. This permit is needed when you enter Shigatse and Gyantse.

Aline’s Travel Permit and Military Permit

Some regions of Tibet are classified as the UNOPENED area, including Shigatse and Ngari prefecture, where Mount Kailash is located. The Chinese Military oversees the administrative management of these districts of Tibet. Therefore, we need two other permits when stepping into these sensitive areas: Aline’s Travel Permit and Military Permit.

The Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau issued Aline’s travel permit, and the Chinese Military Office issued the Military permit.

Both these permits are issued on-site, for which your original passport, China Visa, and Tibet Travel Permit need to be presented. Our local Tibetan guide will obtain these permits for you in Tibet.

Special permit for Indian Nationalities

China has implemented new rules that are slightly stricter for those holding Indian passports and traveling to Tibet from the Indian Government agencies.

In such cases, the Foreign Office of Tibet or Pilgrim Center carries out the certification of Indian pilgrimage to Tibet. The Foreign Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), the Tibet Military, the Tibet Border Guard Corps of the Armed Police, and the Public Security Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region issue special permits for Indians entering Tibet from India.

During the pandemic of COVID 19, the Mount Kailash Yatra was temporarily prohibited for the Indan Pilgrims. As of 2024, the tour has been reopened for the Indian Ytrias as well. If you are an Indian Passport Holder and undertaking the Kailash Tour from Nepal, the permits needed and the process to obtain the permits are the same as for other foreign nationals traveling to Kailash from Nepal.

Alternate Route

Nepal offers two other extraordinary options to each Kailash: one is the overland tour via Kerung, and the second option is the helicopter tour to Kailash via Simikot.

The overland tour to Kailash via Kerung skips the flight to Lhasa and requires an extra day’s stay in the town. It will take you through the beautiful mountain road of Syabrubesi and Timure to Kerung, crossing the Nepal-Tibet border. The luxurious road from here then joins Saga town, where you will be transported to Lake Mansarovar and Darche to begin your Kora.

The itinerary to travel to Kailash via Kerung will be cheaper than the route via Lhasa. However, the acclimatization period in Tibet will be shorter, presenting more risk of altitude sickness.

The Helicopter tour to Kailash via Simikot will fly you to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. A helicopter will pick you up at the Nepalgunj Airport and take you to Simikot and Hilsa. The road from Hilsa then joins Darchen town. The helicopter route is short and extravagant, which is preferable for those who are short of time.

Food and accommodation

We offer three- or four-star hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing basis in Kathmandu, and vegetarian meals are served three times a day. While from Lhasa, our local Tibetan team will look after your accommodation and food options.

The infrastructure for Western tourism in Tibet is improving thanks to the popularity of Kailash Yatra. Till Saga, you will stay in a three or 4-star hotel that offers rooms with private bathrooms and hot showers. Please don’t expect the same type of accommodation from Darchen onwards. The lodgings from here are still quite basic compared to larger cities. You may find guesthouses that only provide you with a bed in a dormitory.

During the Kailash Kora, you will likely stay in the dormitory-style Monastery guesthouse or in the camps set by our crew members on the ground available by the monasteries.

During the Kailash Yatra from Lhasa onwards, vegetarian meals three times a day will be provided to you. Till Lhasa and Shigatse, you can enjoy international dishes from western to Nepali and Indian, along with Tibetan and Chinese food.

At Darchen, you can expect a Western-style breakfast (pancakes and omelets). There are small tea houses in tents that sell noodles, hot water, fried rice, and other vegetable dishes as the Kora begins from Darchen.

The monastery guesthouse serves simple pasta and rice dishes. During camping, our crew members will prepare meals for you.

Transportation

We will provide private transportation for your airport arrival and departure transfer during the first and last day of our stay in Kathmandu. We offer a private car or van with a tour guide and driver for the relaxing outing to Kathmandu Valley.

As the Kailash tour begins, we will arrange a flight transportation for you from Kathmandu to Lhasa. From Lhasa onwards, you will again travel in a private vehicle for a Lhasa sightseeing tour and onward drive to Saga and Darchen.

After completion of Kailash Parikrama, a private jeep or car will drive you from Darchen to Saga and Lhasa. The return flight to Kathmandu will also be arranged all-inclusive in our service.

Age Restriction

China has been known to change the rules and regulations for foreign travelers now and then. As of 2024, as it has opened its gates for foreign tourism, it has imposed some other age restrictions, especially for Kailash Yatra. From now on, only those Yatris who are less than 75 years of age can be welcomed to Kailash. Age restriction has been implemented because of the potential health concerns of the patients.

Whereas Indian pilgrims entering Tibet via Indian Government agencies should be between 18 to 70 years of age.

FAQ

Can I engage in Inner Kora during your Mount Kailash Yatra?

It is possible to do the Inner Kora of Mount Kailash, but traditionally, this route can only be done by those who have completed at least 12 circumambulations of the mountain.

In addition, this route is difficult because it is poorly marked, has some passages that require techniques similar to mountaineering, and arrives at around 6000 meters behind a mountain. You must, therefore, be very trained, as well as considering that the valley is forbidden to access and therefore not reachable by porters or guides. You also need extra permission from the authorities for the Inner Kora, which is hard to obtain.

Do I need insurance for Kailash Yatra?

Yes, we strongly suggest you take out the insurance for your Kailash Tour that can offer you financial support in case of trip cancellation, flight delays and cancellation, emergency medical support, or evacuation.

How can I book this tour with you?

Online booking is available for our Kailash Tour. Please browse our website and learn all about our Tour in Kailash. Then, you can fill out the online form available on our site and submit it to us. After you have confirmed your tour, you need to send us 20%  of your total payment in advance to book your trip. Please go through our terms and conditions regarding booking, refunding, and cancellation process.

Can I travel Solo to Mount Kailash?

No, you must join the group tour to Kailash via a certified travel agency like us. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get the Chinese group visa, and the Tibet Travel Permit is mandatory to enter Tibet.

What currency can I use in Tibet?

Only Chinese Yuan is acceptable in Tibet, so we suggest you exchange money when in Kathmandu. Some hotels and shops may accept US Dollars in the large towns of Lhasa and Shigatse.

EQUIPMENT LIST

Here’s a general packing list of everything you should remember to carry on your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025:

1. A sturdy pair of trekking boots with good ankle support
2. Trekking pants and waterproof trousers
3. Wind/ waterproof light jacket
4. Sun protection cream, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
5. Inner and outer gloves
6. Towel, flip-flop or rubber sandal, toiletries
7. Water bottles and water purification tablets
8. T-shirts or shirts
9. Fleece jumper or jacket
10. Headlamp, power bank, and extra batteries
11. Inner Thermal (top and trousers)
12. Socks and underwear
13. Sunglasses, sun hat, woolen cap, or balaclava

COMPLEMENTARY LIST

1. Daypack (50-60 liters) with a waterproof cover
2. Down Jacket
3. Duffel Bag
4. Oxygen cylinder

ROUTE MAP