Trip Duration
15 DaysGroup Sizes
2-16 PeopleDestination
TibetMax. Altitude
5,360mActivities
Difficulty
EasyMeals
Accommodation
Those of you who are in constant search for purity and light, who want to cleanse and renew the almost dead life batteries, we strongly urge you to participate in our 14 days Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Without a doubt, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will help you survive crises, and find new meanings and goals in life.
Reaching the height of 6638 m above sea level on the desert plateau of Ngari, Kailash is regarded as the most favorite residence of Lord Shiva and his family by Hindus.
On the other hand, a venerated Lake Mansarovar at 4600 m characterized by its sun-like form is believed to have been conceived by the mind of the Creator- Brahma. Immersing oneself in its waters and performing pooja on its shores is thought to free the souls of one’s ancestors from the constant cycle of birth and death.
For the Bons, the Kailash is the heart of Shang Shung where the ancient Bon Po religion originated. For Buddhists, it is the holy abode of Samvara – the Great Budhha.
The mountain has four characteristic walls facing the four significant directions of the Earth. In Vishnu Purana, these are the four faces of Shiva himself monitoring the Universe.
Kailash and Mansarovar are therefore the major occult places on the planet for over five hundred million inhabitants. These are the pious sites of powerful resources of energy where you of yesterday will cease to exist.
Thousands of Yatris (travelers) circumnavigate the mountain clockwise or counterclockwise at least once in their lives. This act is called the Kora for Bons and Buddhists and Parikrama for the Hindus.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is therefore believed to accelerate the person’s spiritual development and promote the growth of awareness and personal responsibility for one’s life.
As part of our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, we are offering to take you on the 53 km long outer circuit route around Kailash. Starting from Kathmandu, you will reach Kerung and move on to Lake Mansarovar through Saga.
After the physical and spiritual cleansing at the Lake, you will continue your journey to Darchen. For three days, you will engage in a circular pilgrimage around Mount Kailash gaining strength, determination, and inspiration and traversing the 5630 m high Dolma La Pass.
The circular trek will then come to an end from where it was started in Darchen from where you will travel back to Kathmandu via Kerung. After this Kora or Parikrama Yatra, you will have incredible strength to cope with the powerful flow of life. You will understand your life path and truly love yourself, and then your neighbor.
We also urge those who have an immense love for architecture, nature, high mountains, and art to take our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. This tour will be a great drive and trekking expedition to get moved by the sunrises and sunsets in extraordinary natural circumstances and get acquainted with the amazing monuments and landmarks of Tibet.
Our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is no doubt one of the challenging travel experiences in the highlands of Tibet. It is favorable for those who want to experience spirituality, who love the highest mountains in the world, and who are not afraid of the difficulties of traveling through real wilderness.
And, in return, you will get rid of everything that is pulling you back in life paving the way to a new successful, and harmonious life from your full potential.
The climate in Tibet is characterized by its harshness, dryness, windiness, and unpredictability throughout the year. Generally, the most favorable weather is present between March to mid-October which is also the high Kora season.
Daytime heat hovers around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, while night heat falls below freezing. Between April through June, you can see the raising of the new flagpole at the Tarboche Gate in the Saga Dawa Festival.
During July and August, frequent rainfall occurs, and the Dolma La Pass may have snow accompanied by snowstorms. The full moon days of these months also attract large groups of Hindu pilgrims as they seek to eliminate the sins of past lives.
In September and October, the weather is most stable in Kailash with bearable 8 to 9 degrees Celsius heat. From late October to February, the temperature can drop to -36 degrees Celsius and winds reaching to 32 km per hour compelling locals to close their shelters.
Therefore, it is best to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra between May and mid-October.
Throughout the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, you will experience a constant change in elevation. Beginning from 1300 m in Kathmandu, the journey will quickly take you to average heights between 4,500 and 4,700 meters, with the high point being at Dolma La pass of 5630 m.
The travel also includes at least three significant mountain passes rising to almost 5100 m that require traversing both upward and downward slopes. Adding to the strain is the severe climate of Tibet with less oxygen content in the air.
The terrain during the three-day parikrama has a highly glaciated and rugged nature, making the Kora walk very challenging. In addition, the accommodations between Darchen to Zhutulpuk are quite modest, with few amenities, which may discomfort your overnight stays.
Thus, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is one of the hardest journeys in Tibet.
Although demanding, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is doable for most people in normal conditions within the age range of 18 to 75 years. The travel days in Nepal and Tibet will be conducted in private transport with the accompaniment of respective guides who will take every measure to ease our journey.
As for Kailash Parikrama, the first and the third/final day of Kora is physically very easy and simple. Only the second day which involves the crossing of Dolma La poses a significant challenge. To make the Kailash Kora equally available for all, the option of hiring horses or yaks for the route is also available.
In our years of experience, we have guided from 65 to 70-year-old adults (sometimes overweight) and all have completed the tour although with some difficulty.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is primarily a mental expedition rather than a physical one. To ensure that your experience meets your expectations, we suggest you watch some informative videos about the tour, so you will know what exactly awaits you in Kailash.
The main hindrance of this trip is the thin air and lower air pressure, necessitating you to acclimatize quickly. It is thus important to follow the guidance of our tour guide closely.
While it is not a compulsion to walk, we recommend that you engage in some light exercises, such as walking or running, to prepare your body. You may also consider trekking to an altitude of 3000 meters in your hometown.
Please ensure you do not have any serious health issues. If you are suffering from any infections, it is best to wait until you are fully recovered as such conditions can worsen at high altitudes.
Those with serious health concerns related to the lungs, kidneys, or heart should seek medical advice and obtain permission from their doctors.
The research data shows that Ngari air has lower oxygen which may cause discomfort during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. We will soon reach altitudes above 4,000 meters and cross mountain passes exceeding 5,000 meters.
Although we will be traveling by vehicle, the elevation will still have an effect. Therefore, we suggest our clients to rest as much as possible in Kerung and Saga to get accustomed to the Tibetan air.
Still, some may face headaches, stomach problems, sleep issues, and breathing difficulties. Therefore, it is essential to stay hydrated, drinking up to 4 lt of liquids each day.
You may take aspirin mixed with lemon water and include garlic and lemon in your diet. Diuretic medications like Diamox 1 to 2 pills a day can be taken daily before the journey.
If you experience severe symptoms such hard to breathing or lethargy, you should at once go down to a lower altitude. Our guide can skillfully manage these situations and may administer you oxygen or suggest delaying your trip for a day if needed.
Your accommodation in Kathmandu will be in a double occupancy room at a three-star hotel, with a private bathroom and hot shower. Your accommodations will then transition to guest houses in double occupancy rooms in Syabrubeshi, Kerung, and Saga. They offer amenities that will make your stay very comfortable.
But from Darchen to Zhuthulpuk, your stay will be in monastery guesthouses with rooms mostly multi-person, while the bathroom is communal located outside.
In the high season of Kora, the stay may be needed in tents but we will reserve the beds in advance to ensure each of our clients gets the bed inside. In case we don’t get the bed, we will install the tent on the ground.
During the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, three meatless meals each day, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be offered. The route to Saga offers diverse food options but the meals during the Kora can be somewhat uniform.
Breakfast choices can be limited to chapati, naan, lentils, and tea, while lunch and dinner may include vegetable soups with tofu, noodles, and fried rice. Along the way, various tent tea houses provide hot water, instant noodles, eggs, and some snacks for travelers.
Throughout our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, you will enjoy the comfort of a private tourist vehicle, which includes airport transfers, city sightseeing tours, and Visa preparation support.
You will be transported to Syabrubeshi by tourist bus, and the same arrangement will be offered for your return to Kathmandu. On the Tibetan side, we will provide a private car, jeep, van, or bus, depending on the number of participants in our group. Please keep in mind that the costs associated with hiring horses or yaks are not included in our services.
For communication in Nepal, local SIM cards from Ncell and Namaste are available for purchase near Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and various locations throughout Kathmandu.
Additionally, you can activate a virtual eSIM by scanning a QR code. Both types of SIM cards provide access to 4G mobile internet services. In Tibet, local SIM cards can be obtained from providers like China Unicom, China Telecom, or China Mobile, which also offers 5G coverage, including in the Kailash region.
You can expect good wifi in Kathmandu, Kerung and Saga. However, during the parikrama in Kailash, WiFi may not be available, though you can still use mobile internet to stay connected.
However, you will have to install the VPN to stay connected through Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or any Google app.
For your participation in our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, you must comply with the following guidelines:
⦁ You must exclusively join an organized group tour
⦁ The tour should be arranged by a recognized travel agency in Nepal and Tibet
⦁ You must reserve the tour at least one month before the set departing dates (15 to 20 days for Permits processing will be required)
⦁ A colored scan of your passport, along with a passport-sized photo measuring 51 mm by 51 mm, must be provided.
⦁ The photo should have a white background, and you should refrain from applying any makeup or wearing any glasses.
⦁ The scanned passport must be complete, without any tears or cut edges. Once the itinerary is confirmed, no modifications will be allowed.
When planning a tour in Tibet from Nepal, it is necessary to obtain two primary documents: the Chinese Group Visa and the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP).
For the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, three extra permits are essential as Ngari is the military and the sensitive area of Tibet. The needed extra permits are the Foreign Affairs Permit, the Alien’s Travel Permit, and the Military Permit.
Please note that we will be responsible for processing the Chinese Group Visa in Kathmandu and for forwarding your official documents to our Tibetan travel partner. The processing of the TTP and the other three necessary permits will be handled by our Tibetan partner.
This formal paper will allow unrestricted travel within Tibet. Provided by the TTB (Tibetan Tourism Office), this one slip of paper contains all the details about each client including his personal information, travel program, with arrival and departing dates.
Therefore, any modifications to the travel itinerary after the TTP application is not possible. Once we receive your formal papers (passports and photos), we will send them to our Tibetan travel agency which will then present them to the TTB.
Then, our Tibetan companion will provide us with the official invitation letter required for the application of your Chinese Group Visa in Kathmandu.
Now the processing and collection of TTP will be the responsibility of our Tibetan Guide who will show the permit at the Chinese Checkpoint at Kerung upon our arrival.
Once all our clients are in Kathmandu, we will assemble together to go to the Chinese Embassy where we will submit the invitation letter, all your original documents, and photos along with your fingerprints.
All that is left for us to do is wait for the issuance of our Visa and the return of our original passports. The visa is a document issued for a whole group necessitating all of us to step in and exit Tibet on the same day and time.
There are two methods for applying for this visa: the standard application process, which takes four work days and costs $175 for U.S. citizens, while fees for citizens of other countries range from $70 to $170.
We can also apply through the express method available for urgent cases, which takes three office days and costs between $90 and $180.
Please note that Saturdays and Sundays are designated holidays and will not be counted as business days.
Lhasa Foreign Affairs Office and Military Office will verify our documents forwarded by our Tibetan partner. It will take around 15 days to grant the Foreign affairs permit and Military Permit respectively which will be collected by our Tibetan guide.
Aline’s travel permit is not a compulsory document for entering Tibet. The Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau will grant this permit as soon as we present our original passport and a Chinese visa.
The Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau has discontinued providing Aline’s travel permits (ATP) to Indian passport holders even if they have TTP and Chinese visas. They can explore the Lhasa region but not Kailash without the ATP.
As a result, the Indians cannot enter Kailash even through the helicopter tour. The recent tension between the militaries of the two nations at LAC, the Pandemic, and the missile base construction near Kailash are reported to be the main reasons for this constraint.
You should think about changing your money when you are in Kathmandu for four days. Kerung and Saga towns lack enough banks or foreign exchange counters so to carry enough cash, you can change your money at Himalayan Bank, SBI Bank, Everest Bank, Nabil Bank, or Standard Chartered Bank where rates are reasonable.
Yes, you cannot smoke openly in public places, you cannot click photos of the military, and you cannot call the name of Dalai lama who was exiled from Tibet.
Inner Kora is a very demanding trail that requires additional physical and mental fitness. A special permit is also needed for the Inner Parikrama which will take you to Charan Sparsha and touch the northern wall of Kailash. If you are up for the extra challenge, we may arrange for this inner circle at an additional price.
Since reaching Dirapuk is easy, you can walk to Dirapuk and take the rest day here. Or, you can stay in Darchen and see the flag field, the view of Kailash, and meet Tibetans making prostrations.
The challenging mountain terrain of Kailash can lead to various incidents, including injuries, accidents, illnesses, altitude sickness, and infections. The high expenses and limited medical facilities available in Tibet, make travel insurance mandatory. This coverage will act as a safety net for such occurrences and will also include expenses for helicopter rescues if necessary.