Kailash Mansarovar Tour
Trip Overview
Mount Kailash (6,638 m) is one of the most sacred mountains in Asia, revered by Hindus as the home of Lord Shiva and by Buddhists as the abode of Demchok, and held holy by Jains and followers of the ancient Bon religion. At its foot lies Lake Mansarovar, a vast high-altitude lake whose waters are believed to cleanse the sins of a lifetime. Our Kailash Mansarovar Tour takes you overland from Kathmandu to both, and around the mountain on the three-day kora, the pilgrim circuit that crosses the Dolma La at 5,630 m.
The journey begins with a drive from Kathmandu through the Trishuli valley to the Nepal-Tibet border at Rasuwagadhi and the green valley town of Kerung (Gyirong), where a full rest day helps you acclimatise. From there the road climbs onto the Tibetan Plateau, passing Peiku Tso and the peaks of Shishapangma on the way to Saga, then continues west through nomad country and over the Mayum La to the shores of Lake Mansarovar. Pilgrims spend the morning in prayer and puja at the lake before driving on to Darchen, the starting point of the kora.
The kora itself covers about 52 km in three days. The first day follows a valley of red cliffs and waterfalls to Dirapuk Monastery, which faces the north face of Kailash. The second, the hardest and most sacred, climbs before dawn to the prayer-flag-covered Dolma La before descending past Gauri Kund to Zuthulpuk, where the poet-saint Milarepa meditated. A short final walk completes the circuit, and the journey returns by the same road through Saga and Kerung to Kathmandu.
Who is this trip for?
This is a pilgrimage and a physical challenge in equal measure. You do not need trekking experience, but you should be in good health, able to walk for 7-9 hours at high altitude and prepared for basic guesthouses with shared facilities at the lake and on the kora. Those who prefer not to walk the full circuit can wait in Darchen or hire a pony and porter.
Nima Adventure arranges the Chinese group visa, the Tibet Travel Permit and the additional permits required for western Tibet, and you travel with an English-speaking Tibetan guide throughout. Our Kathmandu team, led by Managing Director Kanchha Sherpa, a career Himalayan guide, will help you prepare for the altitude and the kora from the moment you book.
Trip highlights
- Three-day kora around Mount Kailash (6,638 m), sacred to four religions
- Crossing the Dolma La pass (5,630 m) on the second day of the kora
- Prayers and puja on the shore of holy Lake Mansarovar (4,590 m)
- Dirapuk Monastery facing the north face of Kailash
- Milarepa's meditation cave at Zuthulpuk
- Overland journey across the Tibetan Plateau via Kerung and Saga
- Acclimatisation day in the green Kerung valley before the high plateau
Itinerary
Our team picks you up from your Kathmandu hotel early in the morning for the drive north through the hills of Nuwakot and Rasuwa, following the Trishuli River past waterfalls, terraced farms and forest. At the Rasuwagadhi border we complete Nepal exit formalities, cross the bridge and meet our Tibetan guide and driver for Chinese immigration and customs checks. A short drive of about 25 km then brings us up the valley to Kerung (Gyirong), a green town set among forested peaks. Overnight in Kerung.
Today is a rest and acclimatisation day in Kerung, an important step before climbing onto the high plateau. After a relaxed breakfast, take a gentle walk around the town and the surrounding valley, or visit one of the small monasteries nearby. Your guide checks that all permits are in order and goes over the kora, what to carry each day and how to recognise the symptoms of altitude sickness. Drink plenty of fluids and rest well. Overnight in Kerung.
After breakfast the road climbs steeply out of the Kerung valley and over a high pass of more than 5,000 m onto the Tibetan Plateau, with views of Shishapangma and the turquoise lake of Peiku Tso along the way. The landscape changes to wide, open valleys grazed by yaks and sheep, and we reach the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) at Saga, a small town on the main road to western Tibet. The drive takes 5-6 hours. Overnight in Saga.
Today is a long but rewarding drive west across the plateau through Zhongba and Paryang, past nomad camps, sand dunes and braided rivers. After crossing the Mayum La pass, we catch our first sight of the sacred Mount Kailash (6,638 m) and the vast blue expanse of Lake Mansarovar, a moment many pilgrims wait a lifetime for. The drive takes around 7-8 hours with stops along the way. Overnight in a simple guesthouse by the lake.
Lake Mansarovar, at 4,590 m, is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and holy to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and followers of Bon. The morning is given to prayer, ritual puja and quiet reflection on the shore, and pilgrims may take a holy dip where this is permitted. We visit Chiu Gompa, perched above the lake, before a short drive of 2-3 hours, including stops, to Darchen, the small town at the foot of Mount Kailash and the starting point of the kora. Overnight in Darchen.
After breakfast a short shuttle ride takes us to Yamadwar (Tarboche), the gateway of the kora, where the circuit on foot begins. The trail follows a broad valley with steep red cliffs and waterfalls on either side, and the west face of Mount Kailash appearing above. The walk is gradual, about 18-20 km in 5-6 hours, and porters, yaks or ponies can be hired in Darchen for those who need them. We reach Dirapuk and its monastery facing the north face of Kailash. Overnight in a simple guesthouse at Dirapuk.
The hardest and most sacred day of the kora starts before dawn. We climb steadily past Shiva Tsal, where pilgrims leave a token of their past life, to the Dolma La pass (5,630 m), draped in thousands of prayer flags. From the top we descend steeply past Gauri Kund, a small emerald lake, into a long valley and follow it gently down to Zuthulpuk, home of the cave where the poet-saint Milarepa meditated. The walk covers about 22 km and takes 7-9 hours. Overnight in a simple guesthouse at Zuthulpuk.
The final stage of the kora is an easy walk of about 10 km and 2-3 hours along the river valley, past carved mani stones and grazing yaks, to the end of the circuit near Darchen. Here we meet our vehicle and rejoin any members of the group who stayed behind. After lunch we begin the long drive back east across the plateau, retracing our route past Lake Mansarovar and over the Mayum La to Saga. It is a tiring day, so rest well tonight. Overnight in Saga.
After breakfast we drive from Saga back towards the border, crossing the high pass once more before the road drops into the deep, forested Kerung valley. The descent to a lower altitude usually brings better sleep and a returning appetite after the days on the plateau. The drive takes 4-5 hours, leaving the afternoon free to relax, enjoy a hot shower and stroll around Kerung town. Overnight in Kerung.
After breakfast we drive down to the border at Rasuwagadhi, complete Chinese exit and Nepal entry formalities and say farewell to our Tibetan team. On the Nepal side our vehicle takes you along the Trishuli valley back to Kathmandu, a drive of 7-8 hours that can be slowed by road works, or by landslides in the monsoon. We aim to reach Kathmandu by evening, where your Kailash Mansarovar journey comes to an end.
What’s included
Cost Includes
0 itemsSERVICES INCLUDED:
* Accommodation Twin sharing basis with attached bathroom accept Mansarovar, Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk(Dormitory rooms with common bathroom)
• English speaking Tibetan Guide
• Transportation as per the itinerary
• Monastery entrance fee ,
• All necessary Document For Kailash part
• Tibet Travel permit/Visa
• Kerung border to Kathmandu city pick up and drop Transportation
Cost Excludes
0 itemsSERVICES EXCLUDED:
• Lunch & Dinner
• Nepal side expenses
• Insurance of any kind
• Natural or political disturbance which beyond our control…
• Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, porter charge Yak and yak man during the koraetc
What to pack
- Warm sleeping bag rated to about minus 10°C
- Down jacket, fleece and thermal base layers
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
- Broken-in trekking boots and warm socks
- Warm hat, gloves and buff
- Small daypack for the kora with water bottles or a hydration bladder
- Trekking poles
- Sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and SPF lip balm
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Personal medicines, including altitude medication if prescribed
- Wet wipes, hand sanitiser and toilet paper
- Snacks and energy bars for the kora and long drives
Note: Pack light: a soft bag is easier for vehicles and domestic flights. Our team will send a full checklist when you book.
Frequently asked questions
The kora is about 52 km over three days and is the most demanding part of the trip. The second day, crossing the Dolma La at 5,630 m, involves 7-9 hours of walking at high altitude on rocky trails. You do not need technical skills, but you should be in good health and able to walk for several hours a day. Regular hill walks or stair climbs for a couple of months beforehand make a real difference.
Not everyone attempts the full circuit, and that is perfectly fine. You can stay in Darchen while the group walks, or turn back after the first day at Dirapuk if you feel unwell. Ponies and porters can be hired in Darchen to carry you or your bags, subject to availability. Your guide will make sure you are safe and that you rejoin the group at the end of the kora.
Travellers need a Chinese group visa, issued by the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, and a Tibet Travel Permit, plus additional permits for western Tibet, including the Alien's Travel Permit and military-area permits. Our team arranges all of these with our partners in Tibet. Please send passport scans several weeks in advance. Permit rules for the Kailash region can change at short notice and differ for some nationalities, so check with us before booking flights.
Most of this trip is spent above 4,500 m, so altitude sickness is a real risk. The itinerary includes a rest day in Kerung and gains height in stages, but you should still drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, walk slowly and report any headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness to your guide at once. Talk to your doctor before the trip about altitude medication, particularly if you have heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions.
In Kerung, Saga and Darchen we stay in simple hotels on a twin-sharing basis with attached bathrooms. At Lake Mansarovar, Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk the guesthouses are basic, with dormitory-style rooms, shared toilets and no showers. Nights are cold even in summer, so a warm sleeping bag is essential. Electricity can be limited, so bring a power bank to keep your phone and camera charged.
The main season runs from May to September, when the passes are open and the weather is mildest. The Saga Dawa festival, usually in May or June, draws large numbers of pilgrims to Kailash and is an extraordinary time to visit, though accommodation is busy. Snow can close the Dolma La early or late in the season, and the region usually closes to foreign travellers in winter.
Yes. Your insurance should cover trekking to 5,700 m, medical treatment and emergency evacuation, as well as trip cancellation. Evacuation from western Tibet is by road and can take a long time, so it is important to arrive fit, follow your guide's advice and turn back early if altitude symptoms appear. Please send us your policy details before departure so we have them on file.
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