Mount Kailash Overland Tour

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Overview
Itinerary in Details
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Trip Overview

Highlights

Acclimatization days in Kathmandu for the acquaintance with the Asian atmosphere
Temple tour to the revered sites of Kathmandu, including Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Sanga Mahadev, Doleswor, etc.
Driving journey through the captivating scenes comprising the majestic Nepali and Tibetan Peaks, waterfalls, rivers, forests, and ancient monasteries
Experience the spiritual power through a sacred bath with the holy waters of Lake Mansarovar
Pray for your ancestor’s soul’s eternal liberation
Perform the Outer Kora around the northern face of Mount Kailash
Provision of Yaks, Horses, and helpers during the Parikrama
Cross the prominent Pass of Dolma La and achieve a sense of thrill and adventure
Experience gain in high altitude trek through diverse terrain and climatic zone
Provision of Kailash tour complete certificate

The Kailash overland tour is a life-changing pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash. This mountain has a stronghold of mystery; gods inhabit it, and if you find yourself in our Kailash overland tour, then it’s not an accident but a religious fate that the divine power has blessed on you.

On our 16-day Kailash overland tour, you will visit two regions of Asia at once – Nepal and Tibet, stroll through the streets of Kathmandu and visit ancient temples, stupas, and monasteries. You will visit the homeland of the Tibetan yogi Milarepa, see Azure alpine lakes, and make a kora (circumambulation) around the sacred Lake Manasarovar. You will make a Parikrama/Kora around the holy mountain of four religions (Buddhism, Jainism, Bon, and Hinduism) – Mount Kailash.

The followers of Hindu believe that the God Shiva, along with his consort goddess Parvati, sons Ganesh and Kumar, and his Ganas (attendants), live on the top of Kailash, which stands at 6638 m elevation in western Tibet, 694 km away from Nepal.

According to the Hindu scriptures, numerous deities still visit Kailash to pay respect to the God of destruction and reformation. The Vishnu Purana also praised Kailash. Accordingly, the four faces of Kailash peak represent the four faces of Lord Siva and are made out of gold, silver, crystal, and gem. These four faces are oriented to the cardinal points, and on the southern slope, there are cracks that, in combination with each other, form a swastika.

At its foot, the sacred Lake Mansarovar is situated, and its shape resembles the sun. Separated by the thin canal, the Rakshas Tal holds no importance and is often referred to as the dead lake. The Parikrama around Kailash is regarded as incomplete without the circumnavigation of Lake Mansarovar. On its shore, lord Ganesha came to life through the hands of goddess Parvati.

Therefore, the Kailash overland tour is a unique journey in itself, where pilgrims and tourists from all over the world flock to perform a ritual circumambulation of the mountain. The total length of the Outer circumambulation route is 53 km (2-4 days). Everyone believes that 1 round gets rid of all sins.

Many legends say that a person who completes the kora around Mount Kailash (traversing 13 circles) gets rid of all his illnesses and becomes incorruptible; that is, his body would not decompose after death. After releasing from the body, the soul will be free from the cycle of birth and death and will attain the Moksha (eternal liberation).

Our company has been organizing the Kailash tour for many years, with a compulsory tour of Lake Mansarovar. Our exceptional team ensures you have the utmost spiritually uplifting journey to Kailash.

We have planned our program in detail with the utmost care for acclimatization, with a gradual rise in elevation and rest days between the trips. And if you think we have still not done enough, we are ready to make the changes till you are satisfied.

So come and join us today on our exclusive Kailash Overland Tour for an unforgettable experience in the serene landscapes of Kailash.

How does our journey begin?

The self-awakening and soul-cleansing Kailash overland tour begins as you set foot in TIA Kathmandu. You will stay in Kathmandu for a few days to obtain the necessary visas and Permits. In the meantime, you will indulge in sightseeing and make a devout visit to the sacred Hindu and Buddhist shrines of Kathmandu.

After collecting the Visa, we will then drive to Kerung crossing Timure. After taking a day to acclimate to the altitude in Kerung, we will continue our road trip to Saga and Lake Mansarovar.

The following day, we will circumambulate the lake and drive to Darchen to begin our Outer Kora of Mount Kailash. The subsequent days will take us to Dirapuk via Dolma La Pass, and the outer kora will culminate when we reach Zutulpuk.

A long drive from Chasang to Saga via Darchen will thus mark the end of our Kailash journey. Our Tibet travel will also come to an end when we cross Kerung and enter Nepal.

Trip Info

Best Season

The best time for a Kailash overland tour is the months of May, June, July, August, September, and the first half of October. These months are favorable not only from the religious point of view but also from the natural aspect.

These months are favored by the flawless weather featuring clear skies, gentle breezes, and excellent visibility with a pleasant temperature of 8 to 9 degrees Celsius.

From a religious point of view, the full moon days of April and May coincide with the grandest Tibetan festival of Saga Dawa. Meanwhile, Hindus believe that performing Parikrama and partaking in Kailash Yatra during the full moon of May, June, July, August, and September can erase all our evil sins from the past 100 lives.

July and August bring heavy downpours in Nepal, but Tibet remains untouched by such heavy rainfall during these months. However, from late October, Tibet’s weather slowly becomes harsh with temperatures dropping to around 5 degrees Celsius. The wind speed can surpass 20 m/s, resulting in the closure of guesthouses and camps in the Kailash region till April.

In the colder months, from December to February, Lake Mansarovar remains frozen, making it impossible to bathe with its holy water.

Preparation and Training

Our 16-day Kailash overland tour is quite arduous, and you have to spend most of the trek days during the Parikrama above the elevation of 5000 m. The toughest section of our trip involves the crossing of the mighty Dolma La Pass at 5630 m. The other difficulties that the Kailash Overland tour presents are the weather conditions in Kailash, accommodation challenges, and the lack of comfort.

Therefore, this trek is best suited for those who have trekked in high altitudes before. However, even if you are new to trekking, with adequate preparation and training, you can join our tour and easily complete the Kora. Right preparation and training will help you prepare your body and mind for the impending challenges.

So we recommend you engage in swimming, mountain or hill trekking, jogging, and cycling that can enhance your muscle strength, endurance, and stamina needed for the three-day Kora.

We also suggest you prepare your mind by practicing meditation or Yoga postures to enhance your positive mindset when overcoming unforeseen challenges.

Difficulty

Kailash’s overland tour is an indescribable journey of a lifetime that is hard to express in words. This tour lets you connect with the spiritual being and learn your true self. However, this tour is equally challenging and asks for both physical and mental strength.

The long transfer on a road with a high altitude trek between 4500 to 5600 m around Lake Mansarovar and Kailash adds difficulty to the tour. Moreover, the lack of proper accommodation, basic amenities, camp stay, and harsh Tibetan weather add more challenges.

You should also be prepared for the unpredictable weather conditions in the Kailash region, where the day sun can torture you with high temperatures while a sudden drop in temperature at night can give you chills. At the same time, high-speed wind and occasional snowfall can not be ruled out either.

Therefore, this itinerary is favorable for those who possess remarkable adaptability and are in excellent physical condition. You should also be able to forego the amenities of a hot shower, private bathrooms, private stay, along with diverse cuisine.

However, this journey is synonymous with a spiritual awakening that also offers a breathtaking panorama and serenity that is nowhere to be found. So, sacrificing your comforts for a few days is a minor effort you can put in exchange for the greatest reward.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is the major risk during the Kailash overland tour. Starting the journey from 1350 m at Kathmandu, slowly your journey progresses and leads you to an elevation of more than 5500 m within a few days. Your body won’t have enough time to properly acclimate to changing elevations.

In addition, you will step into different climatic zones of Tibet when traveling from Nepal, posing a bigger risk of altitude sickness. Generally, most travelers feel milder symptoms of this sickness, from headache, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, shortness of breath, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.

In such cases, you can seek help from certain medications such as Diamox and Ibuprofen. For the fans of Ayurveda, Tibet is rich in herbs, and one of them is Hongjingtian, which can help alleviate these symptoms. Please remember to inform our guide if you have any of these experiences. They are well-trained in handling this kind of situation and may help you get to a lower level or postpone your trip for a few days.

To prevent the occurrence of this sickness, you should select a program that offers a gradual acclimatization process between the trips. Our program is one such program that has been thoughtfully planned with rest days at Kathmandu and Kerung, along with gradual ascension to the rising altitude.

During the journey, please emphasize proper and adequate hydration and strengthen your immune system by keeping yourself warm and eating a hearty diet.

Visa Preparation

According to the rules of the Chinese Government, all international travelers participating in the Kailash Overland tour from Nepal must obtain a Chinese Group Visa, a Tibet Travel Permit or Tibet Visa, a Foreign Affairs permit, Aline’s travel permit, and a Military Permit.

Please do not stress about getting all the permits as your representative company in Nepal; we will process these Permits for you after you book your trip with us. The service cost is included in our program cost.

Please keep in mind the Chinese Group Visa and Tibet Travel permit can be obtained only when you reserve your Kailash overland tour with an authorized company like us. You need to be present in the Chinese embassy for biometric registration. Therefore, we will begin the process only after you arrive in Kathmandu.

The Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet issues the Foreign Affairs permit, for which we need to present a Chinese group Visa, a Tibet Travel permit, and your passport. It normally takes 10 to 15 days to obtain this permit, so necessary preparations will be made as we receive your Tibet travel permit and Chinese group visa.

The Military permit is issued by the Chinese Military, for which we need to present again your Tibet travel permit and Chinese group visa. It also needs 10 to 15 days for the issuance, so preparation is necessary.

Aline’s Travel Permit, on the other hand, is an on-arrival permit issued within a few hours on site. The Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau office will issue us this permit as we reach Ngari prefecture, where Mount Kailash is situated.

A separate body of 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 the required permits for the Indian citizens traveling to Kailash via Indian government agencies.

Alternate Route

Mount Kailash can be approached with two other alternate routes available from Nepal. One is the overland tour via Lhasa, and the other is the helicopter tour via Simikot.

The Kailash overland tour via Lhasa is shorter than the Kailash tour via Kerung by a few days and needs only two weeks to complete. The tour is being shorted due to the flight we will take from Kathmandu to Lhasa Airport. From Lhasa, the onward destination will be the beautiful Tibetan town of Shigatse, where the route will join Saga.

This particular trip is designed for those travelers who wish to explore the Lhasa region and Tibetan towns. Since you will spend enough days exploring Tibet, you will be properly acclimated to the Tibetan atmosphere, resulting in a lesser probability of altitude sickness.

On the other hand, the second helicopter tour option via Simikot is for those who like to travel in style and luxury. The expense will be quite high, but the comfort will be significant. A domestic flight from Kathmandu will first take you to Nepalgunj from where the helicopter will fly you to Hilsa with a stop at Simikot. The road from Hilsa then joins Darchen.

Food and Accommodation

We offer you a hassle-free 16-day Kailash Overland tour via Kerung that will relieve you from all the logistic stress. As a comprehensive service, we cover all your food and accommodation in Nepal and Tibet.

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, we will accommodate you in a three-star standard hotel on a twin-sharing basis. In case you want to upgrade your accommodation, a minimal service charge and your wish will be granted. A healthy complementary vegetarian breakfast will be provided in your accommodation to start your morning. For lunch and dinner, Kathmandu offers a range of options.

During a road journey towards Tibet, you will stay in the best available lodges in Timure. After crossing the Nepal-Tobet border, our Tibetan crew members will see to it that your stay is in the best available guesthouses that offer all kinds of amenities that will facilitate your comfortable stay.

Vegetarian breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided as your journey to Tibet begins after you leave Kathmandu.

From Saga onwards till the completion of the Kora, please do not expect luxurious accommodation. There will be basic guesthouses where you may need to share a room with 4 or 5 other pilgrims. And, in the busy Kora season, you may have to spend chilly nights in tents. Our crew members will set up the camps and prepare food for you in such an event. Depending on the trek day length and difficulty, they will also pack your lunch.

You can savor basic Tibetan cuisine, including Tibetan soup noodles, fried rice with vegetables, potatoes, and Chinese-style fried vegetable dishes.

Transportation

In terms of transportation, our company provides arrival and departure transfers from and to the TIA using private transportation. During the road trip, we will provide a private bus for your comfortable ride through the towns of Nepal and Tibet. An exclusive Kathmandu excursion is allocated during your stay in Kathmandu with private transportation, a guide, and a driver.

For those wishing to conclude their Kailash overland journey in style and comfort, we can also arrange a helicopter ride from Timure. But the service can put an extra burden on your wallet.

Age Restriction

As of 2024, the Tibet Tourism Bureau has adopted a policy that restricts the age of pilgrims traveling to Kailash. From now on, pilgrims above the age of 75 will not be issued the Tibet Travel Permit because of their potential health concerns.

Likewise, Indian citizens must be between 18 and 70 years of age if they would like to participate in the Kailash tour.

FAQ

1. What is the political situation in Tibet now? Is it safe to travel?

Tibet is completely safe for foreign travelers until they don’t give away disrespectful statements and actions towards government officials, their images, and symbols. Also, any images of the XIV Dalai Lama are prohibited in Tibet. If you travel respecting the rules imposed by the Chinese government, you will have a delightful journey to Tibet.

2. Can I take a hot shower during the journey?

The opportunity to take a warm shower is available in almost all settlements of Tibet. There is an opportunity to take thermal baths at Lake Manasarovar. However, when passing through Kora, there is no opportunity to take a shower.

3. Can I do the inner Kora after completing the outer Kora?

This is a difficult and risky undertaking. It is better to attempt to pass it at least after three Outer Koras and only in good health, a stable emotional state, and one’s responsibility.

4. Is bathing in the Lake Mansarovar allowed?

Direct bathing in Lake Mansarovar has been prohibited since July 2018. We can fill our buckets with water and take a separate bath.

EQUIPMENT LIST

Here’s a general packing list of everything you should remember to carry on your Mount Kailash Overland Tour:

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

Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350m). Meet our tour leader and transfer to the hotel.

Day 02: Biometric day in Kathmandu in the Chinese Embassy. Stay in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Rest day, visas obtained.

Day 04: Visit Kathmandu Valley.

Day 05: Drive from Kathmandu Border Timure (3560m) 135km, 6 to 7 hours’ drive.

Day 06: Drive from Timure to Kerung (2950meters- 105 km, 2-hour Drive)

Day 07: Acclimatization day at Kerung

Day 08: Drive to Saga (230KM – 6 HOURS) 4450M.

Day 09: Drive from Saga to Manasarovar (4,560m), 6 to 7 hours drive. Meeting two groups and travel together.

Day 10: Drive from Manasarovar to Darchen (4550m), 40km, an hour’s drive.

Day 11: Trek from Darchen to Dirapuk (4,950m), 18km walk.

Day 12: Trek from Dirapuk to Zutulpuk (4,850m), 20km walk.

Day 13: Trek to Chasang From Zutulpuk, drive to Darchen, and drive to Saga 7 to 8 hours drive

Day 14: Drive from Saga to Kerung (Tibet-Nepal border) (270km) 4-5 Hours. (alt. 2950m)

Day 15: Drive from Kerung to Kathmandu, 125km ( Cross Tibet-Nepal border and drive to Kathmandu). 6 to 7 hours drive.

Day 16: Final transfer to the international airport for the flight back home.

Cost Includes

03 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu.03/04 Star Hotel
With vegetarian meal.
All meals include during the tour. In Tibet part will serve food in buffet.
Tibet Group visa and travel permit fee.
All transportation by bus.
09 nights’ accommodation in Tibet using guest house.
Service of our trekking equipment and sherpa staff.
Kathmandu Temple Tours.
Arrival and departure transfer.
All trekking and camping equipment including Sleeping bags and oxygen cylinders

Cost Excludes

Visa cost of Tibet
Yak, Porter and Horse for person use. The USD 350 for kora.
Using extra night at Hotel expect mentioned on the itinerary.
Rescue/ evacuation or all the extra cost because of partition from the main group or serious health condition.
Any International flight.
Any extra transportation/Accommodation/visa cancellation charge (who separate from the main group and early return)

Trip in Details

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Trip Facts

Destination : Tibet

Duration : 16 Days

Price : 2700

Difficulty Level : Moderate

Minimum Altitude : 1300m

Maximum Altitude : 5630m

Group Size : 4-100 People

Activities : Cultural , spiritual tour and sightseeing

Transportation : Jeep, Van or Mini bus.

Best Season : May-September

Accommodation : 3-4 star hotel in Kathmandu, Normal hotel during tour