Kailash Mansarovar Overland Yatra - 14 Days via Tibet

A 14-day spiritual and adventure journey from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash (6,638m) and Lake Mansarovar in western Tibet. The tour includes a 3-day kora (circumambulation) around Mount Kailash, considered the most sacred mountain by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of Bon. You travel overland via the Kerung/Gyirong border crossing.

It is both. Most of the journey is by vehicle through Tibet, but the 3-day Kailash kora is a trek covering approximately 52 km on foot at altitudes above 4,600m. The highest point is Dolma La Pass at 5,636m.

Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Completing the kora is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual experience. You also visit Lake Mansarovar, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world, and drive through the vast Tibetan plateau with views of the Himalayan chain from the north side.

You need to be moderately fit. The Kailash kora involves 3 days of trekking at high altitude (4,600-5,636m). You should be able to walk 6-8 hours per day on rough terrain. The Dolma La Pass day is the most demanding — a steep climb to 5,636m followed by a long descent.

Start cardiovascular training 2-3 months before departure. Walking, jogging, stair climbing, and swimming are all helpful. Spend time at altitude if possible. Consult your doctor about Diamox for altitude sickness prevention.

You need a Tibet Travel Permit, Alien Travel Permit, and Military Permit for the Kailash region. All permits are arranged by our Tibet-side team through the Chinese authorities. The process takes 2-3 weeks, so early booking is essential. You also need a Nepal re-entry visa if returning via Kerung.

Yes, but you do not apply for it yourself. Nobody can enter Tibet on a Chinese visa alone. From Nepal everyone travels on a Chinese group visa that we arrange in Kathmandu, together with the Tibet Travel Permit and the other permits. Any Chinese visa already in your passport is cancelled when the group visa is issued, so please do not buy one in advance. Tell us before you book if you hold one you still need.

Yes. Your policy must cover emergency helicopter evacuation and medical treatment at high altitude (up to 6,000m). The Kailash region is extremely remote — evacuation can take 1-2 days by vehicle. Full insurance is essential.

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. USD 50 for 30 days. If returning from Tibet, you will need a Nepal re-entry visa — we arrange this in Kathmandu before departure.

Yes. You will have two guides — a Nepali guide from The Everest Holiday for the Nepal portion and a licensed Tibetan guide for the Tibet portion. Chinese regulations require all foreign visitors in Tibet to travel with a registered guide. Both guides speak English.

Yes. A comfortable tourist vehicle with an experienced driver is provided throughout the Tibet portion. Your luggage travels in the vehicle. During the Kailash kora, porters or yaks can be arranged at additional cost.

In Kathmandu: comfortable hotels. In Tibetan cities (Kerung, Saga): 3-star hotels with private rooms. Near Kailash and Mansarovar: basic but clean guesthouses. During the kora: simple monastery guesthouses at Dirapuk and Zutulpuk. Facilities are basic at altitude — hot water and electricity are not always available.

Hotels in cities have Western-style bathrooms. Guesthouses near Kailash have basic shared toilets. During the kora, facilities are very simple. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

May to September. The peak season is May-June and August-September. July can have monsoon rain on the Nepal side but is often clear in Tibet. The Dolma La Pass may be blocked by snow before May or after October. Winter tours are not possible.

Daytime: 10-20°C in valleys, 0-10°C at high altitude. Night: -5 to -15°C near Kailash. Wind chill can make it feel much colder. Layer up and bring a good down jacket.

In Tibetan cities: Chinese and Tibetan cuisine — noodles, dumplings, rice dishes, yak meat, and vegetables. Near Kailash: basic meals at guesthouses — noodles, bread, soup, and instant food. Vegetarian options are available. We recommend bringing energy bars and trail snacks from Kathmandu as options are limited at high altitude.

Drink only bottled or boiled water. Bottled water is available at all stops. Stay well hydrated — dehydration worsens altitude sickness.

Warm layers (temperatures drop below -10°C at night), waterproof jacket, sturdy trekking boots, warm sleeping bag (-20°C rated), sunglasses with UV protection, high-SPF sunscreen, headlamp, reusable water bottle, and personal medications. A detailed packing list is provided after booking.

Basic supplies are available in Saga and Darchen but selection is limited and prices are high. Buy everything you need in Kathmandu before departure.

Pay a 25% deposit through Himalayan Bank Limited's secure portal on our website. The balance is due 60 days before departure, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card (card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge). Early booking is essential — Tibet permits take 2-3 weeks to process.

Plans change? What we offer is free rescheduling: give us 7 days' notice, because your permits are issued in your name for fixed dates and we move your trip to any date within a year at no charge. Your 25% deposit is not refunded if you cancel. The balance is due 60 days before departure, so nothing more is at risk before then. If we have to cancel, you get your money back, less taxes, bank and card charges, and anything already spent on your behalf such as permits and flights. If your plans change, message me and we will find new dates together.

2027 dates are confirmed once the Tibet season opens. Join the priority list on WhatsApp and I will tell you first.

You drive from Kathmandu to the Kerung/Gyirong border crossing (6-7 hours), then travel by vehicle through Tibet via Saga and Mansarovar to Darchen, the base for the Kailash kora. The total driving distance in Tibet is approximately 1,200 km over several days.

Not for our standard tour. You travel overland via Kerung. However, we also offer a Kailash tour via Lhasa for those who want to include Potala Palace and Tibetan sightseeing.

No, and be careful of anyone who promises it in writing. The inner kora is not officially granted. Whether a small group can attempt it is decided on the day by the guide the Chinese side assigns, on the weather, on your health and on permission at that moment. What we sell is the full outer kora, 52 km over three days, which is the parikrama every pilgrim comes for. If you hope to try for the inner circuit, tell us and we will ask on the ground, but we do not confirm it in advance because nobody honestly can.

No, and this catches many pilgrims out. Everyone travelling to Kailash from Nepal goes on a Chinese group visa issued in Kathmandu, which takes about five working days, and any existing Chinese visa in your passport is cancelled when the group visa is issued. So do not buy a visa in advance; it is destroyed, not a head start. If you already hold one, especially a multi-entry visa you still need, tell us before you commit so you can decide with the facts. You can check this with the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.