Kailash Mansarovar by Road
Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. 2027 season, 14 days from Kathmandu.
- 14 Days / 13 Nights
- Overland by road
- Highest night 4,890 m
- From Kathmandu
A pilgrimage, not a holiday
Journey Overview
The classic overland pilgrimage. Fourteen days from Kathmandu across Nepal and the Tibetan plateau, with two acclimatisation days built in and the road journey treated as part of the pilgrimage rather than a transfer. The journey travels from Kathmandu through Nepal into Tibet, reaching Lake Mansarovar at 4,500 m and the north face of Mount Kailash. Acclimatisation days are built in on purpose, which is why it is 14 days and not fewer.
- Kailash KoraThree days on foot, or darshan at Yamadwar
- Stays throughoutHotels in towns, guest houses on the circuit
- Indian vegetarian mealsCooks travel with the group
- Guides and support crewNepalese, Chinese and Sherpa support
The altitude, not the distance, is what makes this journey hard.
2027 dates are not announced yet. Private journeys through Nepal run on their own operator dates and are separate from the official Yatra. Leave your number and we will call you the moment departures are confirmed.
Detailed Itinerary
Every day, with the altitude you sleep at.
- Day 1Arrive in KathmanduAltitude 1,300 m
1,300 mMet at the airport and taken to the hotel. Evening briefing about the journey, followed by dinner.
- Day 2Kathmandu sightseeingAltitude 1,300 m
1,300 mPashupatinath and Jal Narayan in the morning, then back to the hotel to prepare for the road.
- Day 3Kathmandu to SyabrubesiAltitude 1,600 m
1,600 mAbout 145 km and seven hours to the Tibet border, with lunch on the way. Night at a guest house.
- Day 4Syabrubesi to KerungAltitude 2,900 m2,900 m
A short drive to Rasuwagadhi for immigration, then into Tibet. From here the journey follows the instructions of the Chinese authorities and their guide.
- Day 5Kerung, acclimatisationAltitude 2,900 m
2,900 mA walk around upper Kerung and a full day of rest. The single most useful day in the whole itinerary.
- Day 6Kerung to SagaAltitude 4,450 m
4,450 mOnto the plateau, with darshan of the Brahmaputra and lunch set up outdoors along the way.
- Day 7Saga to Lake MansarovarAltitude 4,500 m
4,500 mAbout 280 km through high meadows and passes. At the lake everyone changes vehicles for the Mansarovar Parikrama, ending at Chiu Gompa.
- Day 8Mansarovar to DarchenAltitude 4,600 m
4,600 mAn early bath at the lake, with the morning until noon kept free for havan and puja, then the short drive to Darchen.
- Day 9Darchen to Yamadwar and DerapukAltitude 4,890 m
4,890 mDrive 8 km to Yamadwar, where the Kora begins, then about 12 km on foot to Derapuk. Pilgrims not walking the circuit take darshan and stay at Darchen.
- Day 10Derapuk to ZuthulphukAltitude 4,790 m4,790 m
About 22 km on foot or by horse with a packed lunch. A long day, though not a steep one.
- Day 11Zuthulphuk to Maniwall and SagaAltitude 4,450 m4,450 m
About 8 km down to the pickup point, then back to Darchen for lunch and on to Saga for the night.
- Day 12Saga to KerungAltitude 2,900 m2,900 m
Retrace the plateau road and drop back down to Kerung.
- Day 13Kerung to KathmanduAltitude 1,300 m1,300 m
Border formalities, then the long drive back to Kathmandu.
- Day 14DepartureLow altitude
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Inclusions
- Accommodation in the hotels and guest houses listed for each journey
- All meals, pure vegetarian Indian food on full board, cooked by an Indian cook who travels with the group
- Transport by bus or van throughout Nepal and Tibet
- Tibet China visa, Tibet entry permit, area entry permits, local taxes and the Mansarovar parikrama fee
- A support truck for food and luggage, and yaks with their handlers during the parikrama
- Nepalese guide speaking English and Hindi, a Chinese guide speaking English, and Sherpa support
- Medical first aid and an oxygen cylinder carried with the group
- A down jacket, duffle bag, day pack and passport holder
Exclusions
- Personal horse hire during the parikrama
- A personal porter
- Travel insurance
- Rescue and emergency evacuation
- Medical and hospital expenses if you fall ill on the journey
- Extra nights caused by weather, landslides or any change outside the plan
- Drinks, tips and anything else of a personal nature
Where You Sleep
Hotels in the towns, guest houses on the plateau and the circuit. Simple by necessity, not by choice.
- KathmanduKathmanduLord Miraj, Vaishali, Ama Dablam or Temple Inn, twin sharing
- SyabrubesiSyabrubesiHotel Buddha Large, twin sharing
- KerungKerungKerung Hotel, three sharing
- Lake MansarovarLake MansarovarChiu Gompa guest house, four sharing
- DarchenDarchenHotel Himalaya, triple sharing
- DerapukDerapukShisha Pangma guest house, multiple sharing
- ZuthulphukZuthulphukNorth Hell guest house, triple sharing
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the 2027 dates open?
The Government of India had not announced the 2027 schedule or registration dates at the time of writing. They are published on kmy.gov.in, and selection for the official Yatra is by computerised draw. Private journeys through Nepal run on their own dates and do not use the ballot.
What is the difference between the official Yatra and a private journey?
The official Yatra is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand or Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, and you have to be selected in a draw. A private journey travels through Nepal into Tibet, has no ballot, and has its own permits, itinerary, cost and border arrangements. They are separate things, and the details of either should be confirmed with the operator and the authorities before you commit.
Do I have to walk the Kora?
No. The Kora is the three-day walk around Mount Kailash and it is demanding because of the altitude rather than the gradient. Pilgrims who are not walking it go to Yamadwar, take darshan of Mount Kailash and complete three parikramas there, then wait at Darchen while the group walks. The journey is planned so this is a normal choice, not a failure.
How high does the journey go?
The highest night is at Derapuk, 4,890 m. Lake Mansarovar is 4,500 m and Darchen 4,600 m. Both journeys build in acclimatisation days before reaching that height, which is why neither is shorter than it looks.
How fit do I need to be?
Fit enough to walk for several hours on consecutive days at altitude. Being fit at sea level does not make the altitude easier, which surprises people every year. Walking regularly in the months beforehand is the preparation that actually helps.
What You Need to Travel
Permits and the Tibet China visa are arranged for the group, so documents have to reach us well before departure. Exact deadlines depend on your passport.
- A colour scan of your passport, for the permit application
- An ordinary passport valid six months or more. Diplomatic passports are not accepted
- Your original passport with four photographs, for the China visa stamp
- Indian passport holders should also carry a voter card
- Foreign passport holders reach Kathmandu three working days early for the Chinese visa
Begin Your 2027 Journey
Tell us your dates. We will handle the permits, the plan and the altitude.