Best Season
During six months, from May to early October, China allows foreign nationals to enter Tibet for the mystical journey to Mount Kailash. This period is also the best time to see Tibet at its best, as the region is blessed with abundant sunshine and clear blue skies with a rare possibility of rainfall.
The daytime temperature ranges between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, but at night, it can drop to approximately 5-10 degrees Celsius.
During the full moon days of April or May, Tibetans flock to Kailash to celebrate their yearly festival of Saga Dawa. If you don’t mind the huge crowd, this could be the best opportunity to witness their colorful festival.
For Hindus, the full moon days of Jesth, Srawan, and Bhadra (May, June, July, August, and September) have greater spiritual significance as they believe Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in these auspicious dates will absolve sins accumulated over a hundred lifetimes. Therefore, Hindu pilgrims often try to undertake Kailash Mansarovar Yatra during these months.
As late October approaches, the temperature in Kailash plummets to around 5 degrees Celsius, accompanied by high-speed winds surpassing 20 m/s. The weather condition therefore forces the Kailash region to close their doors till April.
In December, January, and February, the Lake of Mansarovar remains frozen with bone-chilling temperatures in Kailash.
Difficulty
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a physically demanding journey with hundreds of kilometers covered on narrow roads in poor condition, and above all, due to the altitude and omnipresent cold. The highest altitude you have to overcome is at Drolma La Pass at 5630 m.
In addition, the accommodation during the road trip in Tibet and Kailash is very basic in dormitories and you will certainly be out of your comfort zone. Meals will be pretty basic Tibetan cuisine constituting Tibetan bread, noodles, and soup.
Therefore, good physical condition, an active lifestyle, a hiking experience, and a positive mindset are a must for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Please expect conditions very different from your home to develop the attitude of adaptability and let go of comfort for a few days.
Rest assured, our Nepali and Tibetan teams are experienced, skilled, and intimately familiar with the region and the unique challenges it presents. They have conducted the Yatra multiple times; they will ensure your comfort, safety, and health during the Yatra.
Preparation and Training
To make the most of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, long hours of road transport, and high-altitude hikes that you will take during your trip, we recommend that you be in good physical shape. We will have three days of hiking at a more demanding level of altitude, but if you acclimatize properly, if you are an active and healthy person you will not need special preparation.
But for those who live a sedentary lifestyle, we suggest you begin swimming, jogging, walking, running, cycling, climbing stairs, push-ups, pull-ups, and squatting at least six weeks before your Yatra.
These activities will increase your endurance, stamina, and muscle strength necessary for long hiking hours during the trek around Kailash.
We also suggest you practice Yoga or meditation to increase your optimism and positive attitude.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness emerges as a major concern during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Beginning your journey from the lowlands of Kathmandu, you will exceed the elevation of 3000 m within a day as you reach Timure. The altitude then increases as the journey unfolds, ultimately taking you to a height of more than 5000 m during Kailash Parikrama.
Therefore, the probability of altitude sickness is high during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which can affect anyone, even people with excellent physical fitness.
To avoid altitude sickness, we suggest you take the acclimatization period seriously and follow the instructions given by your guide, trust us they know better. Don’t drink anything alcoholic, make as little physical effort as possible, lie down for as long as you can, and drink lots and lots of water.
If you constantly feel dull headaches, insomnia, nausea, and loss of appetite, please consult our guide and take Daimox, Ibuprofen, or the Tibetan medicinal herb of Hongjingtian to reduce the symptoms.
Visa Preparation
Entry into Tibetan territory is highly regulated. The first thing you will have to do is choose an agency to take you and obtain documents for Tibet and a visa for China. Independent travel through Tibet is not authorized by the Chinese government and there is no way to go to Tibet without a special authorization to disembark there, which is only provided through an agency like us.
Another thing you need to remember is the number of days needed to obtain the permits. A duration of about four weeks is needed to obtain all the required permits for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra so we need you to book the tour with us at least eight weeks before the departure date.
Regarding the needed permits, we have to obtain the Chinese Group Visa, a Tibet Travel Permit or Tibet Visa, a Foreign Affairs permit, Aline’s travel permit, and a Military Permit.
Our Nepali and Tibetan teams will complete the formalities to obtain the permits on your behalf.
When applying for a Visa from Nepal, we have to obtain the Chinese Group Visa. In this modality, everyone in the group has a single document. As there is only one document, everyone in the group needs to enter and leave the country together.
We also need to obtain a Tibet travel permit – an essential permit to enter Tibet. For this Visa and permit, each member of the group should be present at the Chinese Embassy to submit their fingerprints for biometric registration along with original passport and photographs.
The Military Permit issued by the Chinese Military and the Foreign Affairs permit issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet are the special permits needed to enter the sensitive region of Tibet, including the Ngari prefecture of Tibet, where Kailash is located.
Chinese group Visa, a Tibet Travel permit, and your passport are mandatory to present to obtain these permits. Since the issuance of the permits requires 10 to 15 business days, we will prepare in advance as soon as we receive the Chinese group visa and Tibet Travel permit.
The Aline’s Travel Permit is issued on-site within a few hours after you present your documents at the Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau office.
Because of the political, and border issues, China has aimed to control the entry of Indian Nationals. Therefore, those holding Indian passports if intending to enter Tibet via Indian Government agencies, then the Tibet Foreign Office, the Tibet Military, the Tibet Border Guard Corps of the Armed Police, and the Public Security Department of Tibet will be responsible for authorizing their entry in Tibet.
However, those traveling to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal will go through the same regulations as other foreign nationals.
Alternate Route
If you are not a fan of the overland tour to Kailash, then you can also undertake a Helicopter tour to Kailash and Mansarovar via Simikot. From the TIA of Kathmandu, you will fly to Nepalgunj airport. Then, a private helicopter will pick you up and fly you to Simikot and Hilsa joining the trail to Darchen.
However, if you like to know more about Tibet, then an overland tour to Kailash via Lhasa can be another option for you. This is also a two-week tour on which you will fly to Lhasa Airport from Kathmandu. You will spend a few days in Lhasa exploring the significant monasteries and landmarks of the region.
Then, by driving through the Tibetan towns, you will reach Saga and Darchen.
Food and accommodation
We are pleased to offer you the proposal to cover all the logistical details regarding Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. We offer three-star hotel accommodation on a sharing basis in Kathmandu with vegetarian meals during your stay.
At Timure, you will be boarded in the best available lodges, while from Kerung, our Tibetan team will house you in the best available and comfortable hotel. Saga will be the last Tibetan town to facilitate modern tourism with good hotels, restaurants, shops, and the Internet.
After Saga, the accommodation will be pretty basic. In Darchen, small hotels or mountain shelters are available with tents and small shops selling instant noodles, tea or coffee. However, in Dirapuk and Zutulpuk, the overnight stay will be in dormitory style sharing rooms with other Yatris. There may be no provision of private bathrooms which can be a problem for ladies traveler.
In the Kailash Kora season, these basic accommodations will also be fully complying with us spending nights in tents. In such a case, our crew members will set up the tents and prepare vegetarian meals for you.
Regarding meals, Kathmandu offers a wide range of vegetarian options from Indian, Nepali, Chinese, Italian, and other international vegetarian cuisines.
In Tibet, you can see the influence of Chinese cuisine on Tibetan dishes. After Saga, meals will be limited to instant noodles, fried rice with vegetables, potatoes, and Chinese-style fried vegetable dishes.
Transportation
Our service provides a convenient transfer to and from TIA by private transport. During the entire trip in Nepal and Tibet, all ground transportation will occur in a private bus accompanied by a professional driver.
During the sightseeing excursion of Kathmandu, a private vehicle (car, van or bus based on group size) along with a tour guide and professional driver will be offered by our company.
At an additional cost, we also offer the option of a helicopter return from Timure to Kathmandu.
Age Restriction
Please take note that China will not allow foreign individuals above 70 years of age to travel to Kailash because of the harsh terrain, weather, and health concerns.
Indian travelers participating in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra must fall between the ages of 18 years to 70 years of age.