Overview
Why Choose Our Kailash Mansarovar Tour Packages?
- Trusted local experts with years of experience
- Carefully crafted Kailash Mansarovar Tour Itinerary
- Safe transportation, reliable accommodation, and full permit assistance
- Guided experience through Lhasa to Kailash Mansarovar Tour route
- Personalized support for a smooth yatra
Highlights
- Visit UNESCO-listed Potala Palace and ancient Tashilhunpo Monastery in Lhasa and Shigatse.
- Explore sacred villages like Darchen, Deraphuk, and Zuthulphuk, and visit Milarepa’s Cave.
- Complete the Kailash Parikrama, believed to cleanse sins and lead to spiritual liberation.
- Bathe in Lake Mansarovar (4590 m)—a holy lake known for its spiritual purity.
- Enjoy a scenic drive through Tibet’s high plateaus, passing by the Yarlung Tsangpo River and Kerung Border.
Detailed Itinerary
Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa
Description
Your Kailash Mansarovar journey begins right here in Kathmandu. You'll board a morning flight from Tribhuvan International Airport, and in less than two hours, the plane will touch down at Gonggar International Airport in Lhasa. It's a short hop, but the moment you step out and breathe that thin Tibetan air, you'll know this trip is unlike anything you've done before. Once you arrive, you'll be taken to your hotel in Lhasa, where you can settle in and simply rest. There's no agenda for the afternoon. Use this time to let your body adjust to the altitude (Lhasa sits at 3,650 meters), drink plenty of water, skip the heavy meals, and take it easy. A good start always begins with a calm first evening.
In Lhasa: Full-Day Sightseeing Tour In Lhasa / Acclimatization Day
Description
This is your first full day in Tibet, and Lhasa doesn't disappoint. You'll spend the day exploring some of the most iconic landmarks this ancient city has to offer, all while giving your body more time to settle into the altitude. The Jokhang Temple is one of those places that quietly takes your breath away. It's a three-storied structure with an open roof, intricate chambers, and a sense of stillness that feels deeply personal. Right next to it lies Barkhor Street, a busy circular market road that has been a pilgrimage and trade route for centuries. It's perfect for a slow walk, some people-watching, and maybe picking up a few small souvenirs. You'll also get a look at the iconic Potala Palace from the outside. Once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, it rises nearly 400 meters with its distinct sloping stone walls. Even from a distance, it commands your attention. After a full day of exploring, you'll head back to the hotel for a warm meal and an early night. Rest well, because the real journey begins tomorrow.
Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse
Description
Today you leave Lhasa behind and begin moving towards the heart of your journey. The drive to Shigatse will take most of the day, roughly 8 to 9 hours, but the landscape along the way makes the hours pass more easily than you'd expect. The Tibetan countryside has a raw, open beauty that's hard to describe until you've seen it yourself. Shigatse, also known as Xigaze, is the capital of the Tsang province and the second-largest city in Tibet. It's a place with real history. One of its most notable landmarks is the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama back in 1447. If time allows, it's worth spending a little while here before checking into the hotel. By evening, you'll be settled in Shigatse with dinner on the table and a good night's rest ahead. The big drives are just beginning.
Drive from Shigatse to Saga
Description
Today is another long day on the road, but this one comes with scenery that genuinely stays with you. You'll leave Shigatse in the morning and make your way to Saga, a small but significant town on the Tibetan plains. The name itself tells you something about the place: in Tibetan, "Saga" means "lovely place" or "happy land." The drive takes you across wide-open Tibetan terrain, with big skies and distant mountain ridges as your backdrop. Saga sits at the crossroads of three major roads connecting Lhatse to the east, Kerong to the south, and Kailash to the west. It's also where the Dargye Tsangpo River joins the Brahmaputra at Saga Chakzam, making it a geographically interesting stop. After nine hours of travel, you'll be more than ready to check in, have dinner, and call it a night. Day four ends here in Saga at 4,640 metres above sea level.
Drive from Saga to Lake Manasarovar Distance
Description
This is the day many travellers have been waiting for. After five days of travel, you'll finally reach the holy Lake Mansarovar. The route today takes you through the Mayumla Pass and Prayang country, and at some point along the way, you'll need to pass through checkpoints where your permits will be verified. You'll also switch vehicles here, boarding a local Tibetan authority bus for the final stretch. It's a comfortable enough ride and well worth it. As you get closer to your destination, you'll start to catch your first glimpses of Mount Kailash. There's something about seeing it in person, rising above the clouds, that no photograph quite prepares you for. When you finally arrive at Lake Mansarovar, the view is something else entirely. A body of crystal-clear freshwater cradled by mountains, sitting quietly at 4,590 meters. Many people find a quiet corner to sit and reflect. If you've come with religious intentions, the evening is a good time to prepare for your morning rituals. The actual dip in the lake is best done at dawn. Tonight, you'll stay in a dormitory-style space right by the lake. It's simple, but waking up next to Mansarovar more than makes up for it.
Drive from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen
Description
Waking up at Lake Mansarovar is one of those mornings you won't forget. The lake sits tucked between Mount Kailash and Gurla Mandhata, and in the early light, the whole scene looks almost unreal. This morning is yours to take in the lake properly. Most pilgrims perform their rituals and take a dip in the water before the day gets going. The belief, shared across Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Bon traditions, is that bathing in the lake three times washes away sins accumulated across lifetimes. Whether you approach it spiritually or simply as an extraordinary experience, it's a moment worth being fully present for. When you're ready, you'll pack up and make the short one-hour drive to Darchen, the base camp for the Kailash Parikrama. Check in to your lodge, have a proper meal, and rest. Tomorrow, the trekking begins.
Travel from Darchen to Derapuk
Description
The Kailash Parikrama officially begins today, and it starts with a short drive from Darchen to Yam Dwar, the ceremonial starting point of the trek. Yam Dwar translates to "the gate of the god of death," and according to tradition, Yam Raj, the god of death in Hindu mythology, stands guard here as the protector of Kailash and Lord Shiva's realm. It's a weighty beginning to what is considered one of the most sacred walks on earth. From Yam Dwar, you head out on foot. The trail follows the bank of a glacier river, rising steadily over four to five hours. It's not an easy walk by any measure, but the scenery keeps you going. As you get closer to Deraphuk, Kailash starts to dominate the horizon. The north face of the mountain is fully visible from here, and it's an extraordinary sight, particularly after dark when the stars come out above the summit. By the time you reach the guesthouse at Deraphuk, tired legs and all, you'll be grateful for the meal and the bed. Sleep well tonight.
Hike from Deraphuk to Dolma La Pass to Zutulpuk
Description
Today is the hardest day of the trek and also the most memorable. You'll cross the Dolma La Pass at 5,620 meters above sea level, the highest point of the entire journey. The ascent is long and demanding. The air is thin, the path is steep in places, and you'll likely feel the effort in your lungs before your legs. But when you reach the top, marked by a large boulder draped in prayer flags, the sense of accomplishment is real. That boulder represents the goddess Dolma (also known as Tara), and for many pilgrims, reaching this point is the spiritual peak of the entire pilgrimage. From the pass, it's all downhill toward Gauri Kunda, a sacred high-altitude lake, and then onward to Zutulpuk. The Zutul Puk Gompa here takes its name from a cave where the revered saint Milarepa is said to have meditated. "Zutul" means "cave" in Tibetan, and the monastery built around it is said to still bear his footprints on the roof. It's a quiet, reflective place to spend your last night before the final descent. Check into your guesthouse, eat whatever's on the menu, and sleep. You've earned it.
Trek from Zutulphuk to Darchen and drive to Saga
Description
The trekking portion of your Kailash Mansarovar journey wraps up today. You'll leave Zutulpuk early and follow the trail through open plains lined with mani walls, some built from stones, others made from actual yak skulls, which sounds dramatic but feels deeply authentic to this landscape. The path takes you through a narrow gorge heading west, and just before you reach Darchen, the valley opens up into a wide plain with some genuinely dramatic views. Three hours of walking brings you back to Darchen. From here, you swap the boots for the road again and begin the long drive back to Saga, covering roughly 402 km. It's a full day between trekking and driving, so by the time you reach your hotel in Saga, rest will come naturally.
Drive from Saga to Kerong
Description
Today marks the beginning of your return journey toward Nepal. You'll leave Saga in the morning and head west toward Kerong, the last major stop in Tibet before crossing the border. The drive is genuinely scenic. The route passes through high Himalayan terrain, with mountain views that keep showing up around every bend. Along the way, you'll cross the Brahmaputra River, one of Asia's great rivers, flowing from the Tibetan Himalayas all the way down into India. It's a significant crossing, both geographically and emotionally, as the journey starts to wind down. Kerong sits at 3,950 meters and has a noticeably warmer, more temperate feel compared to the high plateau you've been traveling through. Check in, have dinner, and take a moment to reflect on what the last ten days have been.
Drive from Kerong to Kathmandu
Description
The final day. You'll leave Tibet this morning and make your way back to Nepal. After a couple of hours on the road, you'll reach the Nepal-Tibet border at Rasuwagadhi. There will be the usual border formalities, customs checks, and documentation to take care of. Once you're through, a short drive takes you to Syabrubensi, a pleasant village sitting at a comfortable altitude with access to the famous Langtang trails. It's a nice reminder that Nepal's trails are something else entirely. From there, the road climbs up to Dhunche, an important town in the Rasuwa district, passing through the shadow of the Langtang Himal along the way. The descent from here takes you through terraced farmland and scattered hillside settlements as the altitude drops and the air thickens again. A few more hours of driving bring you back to Kathmandu. Check in, take a long shower, and eat a proper meal. Eleven days, two countries, one of the most sacred pilgrimages in the world. Not a bad way to spend nearly two weeks.
Accommodations
For accommodation, you’ll be staying in hotels and lodges. In city areas there will be luxury hotels. During your Kailash Parikrama, you have to stay in local lodges and tea houses. The lodges and tea houses are comfortable. It includes a bed, pillows, blankets, and a shared bathroom. However, the overnight staying places will be comfortable and cozy.
For food, in Lhasa and Shigatse, meals will be mostly Chinese, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine. It includes rice, noodles, soups, vegetables, dal, bread, butter tea. However, the food options will be varied according to the locations. The melas options are flexible. You can choose vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals based on your preference.
Trip Information
Best Time to Visit Kailash Mansarovar Via Lhasa
The best time to visit is in spring and mid-autumn. During this time, there will be no rainfall or snowfall on the trail. You can visit Kailash and Mansarovar and do rituals and prayers conveniently. During summer, you can see the lakes more clearly. You can see more presence of cattle grazing and wildlife along the route. The temperature is moderate, and the weather becomes more predictable. Likewise in autumn, the weather is stable and the temperature is also mild. The daytime will be sunny and clear, as nighttime will be breezy. You can witness the magnificent views of Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. It is also the ideal season for traveling.
Permit Required For the Tour
For foreigners the permit requirement is a little different. You need a Chinese visa, a Tibet travel permit, an Aline’s Travel permit, a military area entry permit, and a foreign affairs permit.
Visit of Various Tibetan Cities
You get to visit various stunning Tibetan cities and villages. You’ll visit Potala Palace, which is listed in UNESCO world heritage. It is located in Lhasa, which is the capital of Tibet. Likewise, you’ll visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is famous in Shigatse. Yarlung Tsangpo River in Sagar, which is a village on the banks. You’ll visit Darchen, a village at the foothills of Mount Kailash.
Deraphuk is a village near Kailash where you can witness stunning views. Likewise, the major destination is Lake Mansarovar. Last but not least, you’ll visit Kerong, which is a border town near Nepal. You can see the views of the Langtang Mountain Range from there.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ Included
- Hotel/Guest House Accommodation as per the itinerary
- Private Transportation by van
- All necessary Tibet Travel and Trekking Permits
- English-speaking Tibetan Guide
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Meal plan on a B/B (Bed & Breakfast) basis
- All Government and local taxes
- Border to Kathmandu transfer by Jeep
✗ Not Included
- Kathmandu – Lhasa flight
- Lunch and Dinner
- Train or flight to Lhasa and onward
- Hiring porter/horse
- Flight or train ticket to and from Lhasa
- Rescue and evacuation service
- Any additional cost due to natural calamities and unforeseen circumstances
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FAQs
The best time to visit Kailash Mansarovar is between May and September.
Yes, you need a Chinese visa and Tibetan travel permit to visit Tibet.
The 52 km trek is challenging due to high altitudes and rugged terrains.
The altitude of Lake Mansarovar is 4590m, Mount Kailash Base is 4600 m, Dolma La Pass is 5620 m
You’ll get a simple vegetarian meal, Tibetan bread, butter tea, and soups. And for snacks you need to carry energy bars, nuts, and chocolates.
In cities there is availability of facilities, but in remote areas the facility may be limited, so consider carrying power banks.
Yes, pilgrims often take a dip in Lake Mansarovar believing that it is a sacred and holy river.
The cost of Kailash Mansarovar is around $200-$4000 per person.
The yatra typically takes around 11-15 days depending on the itinerary.
