Destination
Tibet
Region
Tibet
Trip Grade
Grade 3: Hard/challenging
Accommodation
Hotel
Total Distance
2000km
Start / End Point
Kathmandu/Kathmandu
Durations
10 days
Max. Altitude
5640m/18504ft
Meals Included
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Group Size
above 1 pax
Best Season
All season
Activity per day
6 hrs
Transportation
Private Luxury Tourist Vehicles
Trip Highlights
Tour to Mount Kailash, which is regarded as one of the most sacred peaks on Earth.
Pilgrimage tour that addresses the needs of the followers of different religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon.
The 52-km kora around Mount Kailash is believed to be a path of salvation.
Chance to witness the pristine Mansarovar Lake and Rakshastal.
The high pass of Dolma La is a challenge for pilgrims and trekkers alike.
The drive from Nepal to Kailash is a scenic voyage.
An opportunity to immerse oneself culturally through visits to monasteries and sacred sites.
Physically demanding yet spiritually rich Mount Kailash tour package designed for a transformational journey.
Mount Kailash's highlight is its profound religious significance, revered by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. It's considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hinduism, the axis of the universe in Buddhism, and a site of enlightenment for Jainism. The mountain's unique pyramid shape and the surrounding Mansarovar Lake also add to its allure. Pilgrims undertake the Kailash Kora, a challenging trek around the mountain, believing it washes away sins.
Religious Importance: Mount Kailash is a major pilgrimage site for four religions, each with unique beliefs about its spiritual power.
Unique Shape: The mountain's distinctive pyramid shape, often capped with snow, is a captivating sight.
Mansarovar Lake: The nearby Mansarovar Lake, known for its beauty and believed to hold healing properties, is another significant attraction.
Kailash Kora: The 52km trek around the mountain, known as the Kailash Kora, is a central part of the pilgrimage experience and is believed to cleanse the soul.
Spiritual Significance: The mountain is thought to be a powerful center of energy and spirituality, drawing pilgrims seeking enlightenment and purification.
Unclimbable: Due to its sacred status, climbing Mount Kailash is considered disrespectful and is not allowed, adding to its mystique.
Stunning Scenery: The surrounding landscape, including glaciers and high mountain passes, offers breathtaking views and a challenging trekking experience.
Trip Overview
The Mount Kailash Tour is a complete package of spiritual journey and natural adventure. Spanning over some 10 days, it takes both the believers and atheists to the mountainous region of Tibet, around the foot of Mount Kailash.
The pious mountain, not yet summited by any human, is the center of this journey. Most people circumambulate this mountain with their respective religious beliefs, and some love to explore its natural beauty, among other things.
The journey from Kathmandu begins with a drive to the Nepal-Tibet border in Kyirung. From there, the tour continues with a drive via the well-paved roads of the Tibetan plateau. The drive continues to the holy Mansarovar Lake and then continues to Darchen, from where the trek begins.
This marks the beginning of Kailash Kora, a 52-km circumambulation around Mount Kailash. Whether you are here to attain that path of salvation or make the most of the mountain beauty, the Mount Kailash tour provides you with the opportunity.
And the endeavor is not going to be an easy one. Trekking along the high pass of Dolma La and treading through rocky and rugged terrains, you get a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Detailed Itinerary
Drive Distance: 150 km
Kathmandu to Timure: 125 km
Timure to Gyirong City: 25 km
Drive Duration: 8-9 hours
Elevation Gain: 1,550m / 5,085ft
Our spiritual expedition to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Timure, a small town in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. The drive along scenic routes passes through Tokha, Naubise, Trishuli and Betrawati before reaching Syabrubesi.
From here, the winding mountain road takes us to Timure, located near the Nepal-China (Kerung) border. Driving through mountain terrains and valleys, we arrive here in about 6 to 7 hours.
It is now time to enter Tibet, leaving Nepali lands. As such, we first need to complete the formalities of immigration. First, we have to undergo the Nepali immigration formalities. Once done, we cross the Friendship Bridge into Tibet and complete Chinese immigration and customs at Gyirong Port.
Upon completion of formalities, we meet our Tibetan tour guide and driver, who will be waiting for us. They will then drive about 25m uphill and take us to Gyirong City. It is a peaceful Tibetan settlement located in a deep valley surrounded by forested mountains.
Our guide will show us the way to our quest house, where we will spend the night. After a tiring, long day trek, we will finally receive the well-deserved rest.
The goal of this tour is to reach Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar and circumambulate the Lake. During this journey, we will reach as high as 5,000 m (Dira-Puk). Therefore, we are going to experience significant elevation gain during the process.
To beat the risk of altitude sickness brought about by such changes, acclimatization is a must during the trip. And we will do exactly that on the second day of our tour. The Mount Kailash tour’s itinerary is designed to ensure we have enough rest and acclimatization.
We will do short hikes here. It will help our bodies to adjust to the altitude changes. It will help us deal with the thinning year as we will reach Saga at an altitude of 4,450 m the next day.
We will also explore Gyirong (also known as Kyirung), as it is a rare opportunity for us to be in this part of Tibet. Some of the attractions of this place are historic Buddhist sites and canyons. Pakpa Monastery and Kyipu Canyon are some of these sites to explore.
Following the exploration and attempts at adjustments, we will return to our guesthouse for the overnight stay. This rest day is a part of most of the Mount Kailash tour packages to ensure a safe and smooth progression to higher elevations.
Drive Distance: 176 km
Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
Elevation Gain: 1,600 m / 5.249
On the third day, we leave behind the forested region of Gyirong or Kyirung and ascend towards arid terrain. From the alpine valleys, our route gradually opens to the wide, vast Tibetan plateau during the drive to Saga. This is one of the best features of the Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar tour.
The route offers expansive views, rolling hills and distant mountain landscapes. It is a unique experience as we drive through the pastures with grazing yaks and nomadic herders living in their traditional tents.
As we drive along the well-maintained G219 Highway, we first arrive at Peiku Tso, or Lake Peiku. We arrive here via Khunmen Tso, a small high-altitude lake. But Peiku Tso is bigger than this one. The beautiful glacial lake is a visual treat for both our eyes and our cameras. We also might get clear views of Shishapangma peak, among others.
The next stop en route is the Labung-La Pass at an altitude of 5,050 m. It is not a trek pass, but part of the motorable route and one of the highest points of the road segment. Covered in prayer flags, this pass is a great stop for photography as well as to enjoy the best views of the Tibetan plateau.
Before reaching Saga, we will also see the Brahmaputra River. And finally, we arrive at Saga, which is at an altitude of 4,450 m.
Most trekking agencies also include a hike to Milarepa Cave as a part of this journey. The cave is not directly on the highway, requiring a detour if you want to go there.
Meanwhile, Saga is a strategic stop with accommodations and other services of decent facilities. They include guesthouses, restaurants or shops.
Elevation Gain: 150 m / 492 ft
Drive Distance: 507 km
Drive Duration: 8-9 hours
The journey of the fourth day can be divided into two sections — Saga to Paryang and Paryang to Manasarovar.
Following an early morning breakfast, our drive begins through high-altitude plains and heads to sandy stretches, small passes and salt flats. En route, we will also share the road with yak caravans and nomadic herders.
Zhongba is one of the settlements we pass through before reaching Paryang. Here, we can pause briefly for refreshments as well.
After that, we will stop at the remote town of Paryang. Here we will enjoy our lunch and also use it as a restroom break.
Next, we drive towards Manasarovar. It is one of the highlights of the Mount Kailash tour. The more we drive, the clearer the outline of Mount Kailash becomes. We drive through the route as the land flattens and turns into a basin surrounded by high mountains.
We then reach Mayum La Pass, one of the highest passes on this route at an altitude of 5,200 m. From here, we can get the best views of the Mount Kailash-Manasarovar basin.
The drive for the day ultimately ends at Lake Manasarovar. It is a freshwater lake spanning over 400 square kilometers. It is at the base of Mount Kailas (6,638) and is revered by people of different religions like Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bons.
If you are on a spiritual journey or a pilgrimage, you might want to perform a short ritual bath here. Circumambulation of the lake via vehicle is another option.
Other than that, soaking in the breathtaking vistas is another thing to do here, especially of Mount Kailsah and Rakshas Tal. Add to that the view of Gurla Mandhata, which sits roughly across the Lake Manasarovar.
After making the most of the experience at the Lake and its surroundings, we now head to our guesthouse, which is typically near the Chiu Monastery. This will be our place of overnight stay.
Our Mount Kailash tour package is designed to offer the best accommodations possible based on availability.
Elevation Loss: 36 m / 118 ft
Drive Distance: 40 km
Drive Duration: 1.5 hours
Kailash Kora is an inevitable part of our Mount Kailash tour. Thus, we will go to Darchen today. The reason is that this place serves as the starting point of this circumambulation.
Today is one of the shortest travel days in this tour as we reach our destination in a drive of about 1.5 hours. We drive along the northern side of Lake Manasarovar. What greets you on the route are the splendid views of turquoise lake waters, snowcapped peaks of Mount Kailash as well as barren hills.
Finally, we arrive at the small settlement of Darchen that features guest houses and shops with items of basic use. The place is also a home to a Chinese military checkpoint. As we will be setting off on a trek from here onwards, we need to verify your permits and identification at the checkpoint.
Now that everything is done, we can check into our accommodation and rest for the day. Amidst a relaxing ambience, we get ready to prepare for the Kora the next day. The preparations include acclimatization, final gear checks and briefings. Typically, the guide briefs you about the trek ahead.
Elevation Gain: 436 m / 1,430 ft
Drive Distance: 7 km
Drive Duration: 45 minutes
Trek Distance: 15 km
Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
This is the first day of the Kailash Kora. It begins with a short drive from Darchen to Yamadwaar, also known as Tarboche. Regarded as a sacred place in Tibetan Buddhism as well as Hinduism, there is a flagpole at Yamadwaar that marks the starting point of the Kora. People setting out on this pilgrimage perform rituals like puja before starting this trek.
Today’s journey from here onwards covers around 15 kilometers and takes some 6-7 hours. But it depends on your pace as well as your level of acclimatization.
The Kailash Kora trail ascends through the La Chu Valley alongside the river of the same name. As such, Mount Kailash appears prominently to our right throughout the trek. We will also pass Chuku Monastery, but to reach there, a short uphill detour is required. It is upon the trekkers to decide whether they want to climb here or continue with the Kora.
We start from a wide valley and open terrain with sparse vegetation and loose gravel paths. Monasteries and pilgrimage sites like the Chuku Monastery are located on a cliffside. Mani walls and chortens are visible throughout the trek. Rocky cliffs and waterfalls make an important part of our trail.
Gradually, our trail slowly narrows as we approach Dira-Puk. We might struggle a bit during the ascent as the paths become more rugged here. Yet the trek is manageable and not impossible. The north face of Mount Kailash starts becoming visible from here.
Then we arrive at Dir-Puk Monastery, situated beneath Mount Kailash’s north face. Afterwards, we will head to the nearby teahouses that feature basic accommodations. Our first day of the Kailash Parikrama, aka the Kora, pauses here.
Elevation Point: 550 m / 1,804 ft (ascent), 600 m / 1,968 ft (descent)
Trek Distance: 19.5 km
Trek Duration: 8-9 hours ( Slow Walk )
The seventh day of the Mount Kailash tour, and the second day of Kailash Kora, is considered the holiest and challenging day. The reason is that we need to walk along an uphill and rugged trail and also go through a high mountain pass.
Therefore, we start this day’s trek early in the morning. This way we can escape strong afternoon winds at high altitude. We begin with a gradual ascent along the steep trails. En route, we come across Shiva-Tsal, a sacred rocky expanse where pilgrims leave one of their items behind. And it denotes their symbolic death. They do so with a belief to be reborn spiritually.
After a brief encounter with this spiritual realm, we head to Dolma La Pass at an altitude of 5,639m. The slow and steady walk takes us to this pass, which is the spiritual climax of the Kora. That is because it is believed that crossing this pass means cleansing negative karma and seeking blessings from deities.
The Pass is associated with Tara, the Goddess of Compassion in Buddhism. Meanwhile, the Hindus associate it with Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Siva.
We can see mani stones and prayer flags along with offerings here. The religious souls generally perform rituals here — prayers and meditation — as per their religious beliefs.
But even if you are an atheist, this place has a lot to offer. You get to see magnificent views of snow-covered ridges and surrounding peaks.
Just after the pass, we descend to Gauri Kunda via a steep and rocky trail. The glacial lake has turquoise water and looks mesmerising. It is another Holy lake the pilgrims want to visit.
After this descent, we walk along the path that follows a long valley. The terrain becomes easier and in a couple of hours, we reach Zuthul Puk.
The place is a home to a small monastery built around the cave where the Buddhist Guru Jetsun Milarepa is believed to have achieved miraculous achievements. Milarepa is a revered Tibetan Buddhist yogi.
And this is where we rest for the night, before continuing our descent the next day. We will either rest at a guest house or a tented camp, based on our Mount Kailash Tour package itinerary.
Elevation Loss: 220 m / 721 ft
Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
Day Activity (Zuthul Puk to Vehicle pickup Point):
Pickup Point to Darchen:
Today marks our completion of the sacred Kailash Prikrama as we trek for a while before driving to Saga. The trek of the day begins with a breakfast at Zuthul Puk. Unlike the previous day, we set off on a comparatively easier and relaxing trek.
We descend along the peaceful valley and the trail follows a river downstream. Mani walls, meditation caves and prayer flags are a constant presence. From a narrower landscape, we head to wider planes as well as eroded red cliffs.
Finally, at the endpoint of this trekking trail, we meet our vehicle and drive to Darchen from there. The end of the trail denotes the end of Mount Kailash Kora. This trek is about 6.84 km long, where we can take a break at a small teahouse.
The drive to Darchen from there is approximately 15 minutes and covers a distance of 5.1km. From Darchen, we set off for another section of driving for about 6-7 hours before reaching Saga.
The route requires us to retrace the path through Paryang and Hor Qu. We also see high-altitude plains, salt lakes, and the Himalayas along the route.
And then we arrive in Saga, where we rest overnight at a comfortable teahouse.
Elevation Loss: 1,750 m / 5,741 ft
Drive Distance: 232 km
Drive Duration: 6-7 hours
The ninth day of the Mount Kailash tour marks the final day in the Tibetan terrain before entering Nepal again.
Away from rugged terrain, today we drive through paved and well-maintained roads in most of the sections. The drive, like before, continues through rolling Tibetan highlands that ultimately descend to forested valleys. It means we drive from a dry plateau to green forests, pass by the Brahmaputra River and small Tibetan villages.
Following a drive of about 6-7 hours, we arrive once again at the deep valley of Kyirung.
Today, we can also use the remainder of the day to explore this town and retrace any place that we liked in our previous visit.
It is an important border crossing for travelers heading to Nepal or coming from Nepal. In the past, it was an important trade and pilgrimage route.
We will explore, rest and relax as we get ready to return to Nepal the next day.
Drive Distance: 150 km
Drive Duration: 7-8 hours
Following a quick breakfast at Kyirung, we head to the Nepal-Tibet border at Rasuwa Gadhi. The most important part of this day is to complete immigration formalities and re-enter Nepal. Here, we bid farewell to our Tibetan guide and porters.
Upon entering the Nepal side, we will be received by our trekking company’s guide. Then we drive back to the Capital City of Nepal.
Now, we are back on the roads after completing a journey filled with challenges and spiritual enlightenment. We contemplate our achievements during the drive, accompanied by the scenic views of terraced fields, rivers and villages of the mountain roads.
The 7-8 hours long drive will take us back to our hotel, where we can rest, refresh and enjoy a celebratory dinner.
Cost Includes
- Accommodation for 9 nights: Twin -sharing basis in guesthouse, and group-sharing basis at Dirapuk and Zuthalpuk
- Pure vegetarian meals served 3 times a day, and a cup of tea or coffee provided with each meal
- All necessary permits for Lake Manasarovar visit and Kailash Kora (Parikrama)
- Ground transportation with a jeep on the Nepal side and a comfortable van within Tibet, vehicle type based on group size
- Kailash Entry Permit
- Tibet (Chinese) visa fee
- Tibetan guide approved by the Tibet Tourism Board (TTB) and all the related costs.
Cost Excludes
- Charges for yaks or ponies during the Kora
- Personal expenses for shopping, phone usage, extra beverages, laundry, yak, etc.
- Unforeseen costs due to natural disasters, political unrest, flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, landslides, accidents, etc.
- Gratuities for drivers and hotel staff
- Additional transportation or porter fees resulting from landslides, snowfall or other emergencies
- Services not mentioned in the itinerary
- Extra nights’ stay in Kathmandu or elsewhere
- Nepal Entry Visa Fees
