Tibet had long been my dream, and this journey exceeded all expectations. Everest Base Camp tested me physically, while Kailash touched me spiritually. The tour organization was excellent, with attentive, professional guides at every step.
Kailash Yatra via Lhasa is the most convenient route to reach Mt Kailash and Lake Mansarovar for the spiritual and pilgrimage journey. Your journey begins by flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, which is the spiritual hub of Tibet.
Flying high in the sky, it rewards you with an impressive view of Mount Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma. Upon landing at the Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, our Tibetan guide and driver will receive you.
Then you will visit famous monasteries, ancient palaces, temples, and cultural landmarks. While you are on this Lhasa Sightseeing it helps to acclimatise your body before moving to high altitude.
Riding through the Tibetan plateau and enjoying the wildlife grazing in the field you will reach the Rongbuk Monastery to explore the Everest Base Camp. From here you will be face to face with Mt. Everest and other high altitude peaks.
Then your journey continues west across the Tibetan landscape toward the holy Lake Manasarovar. It is believed that taking holy baths here purifies the body and soul. Then we drove to Darchen to begin our sacred 52-kilometer (32-mile) circumambulation around Mount Kailash.
It takes 3 days to perform the Kora. After the Kora ends, with the spiritual and meaningful pilgrimage, you will drive back to Lhasa. Hoping to visit the sacred land of Tibet, we will say goodbye to Tibet and take a flight to Kathmandu and conclude our journey.
This pilgrimage to Tibet is a great opportunity to experience the divine energy of Mt Kailash. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lhasa and Everest Base Camp is a journey that transforms you eternally.
The spiritual journey from Lhasa to Mount Kailash from Kathmandu starts from USD XXX. Special discounts are available for group bookings.
| Group size | Price in USD |
| 1 – 4 | $ XXX |
| 5 – 8 | $ XXX |
| 8 plus | $ XXX |
Welcome to Nepal. Our representative from High Route Adventure will be there to pick you up from the airport. Please look for a placard with your name on it. Riding through the heart of Kathmandu in our private vehicle, we will transfer you to the hotel. Then, after check-in, you can refresh and take a rest. Later in the evening, our tour operator will meet you and provide a short briefing regarding the upcoming trip.
Today, we will go for a guided religious tour in Kathmandu to understand Nepalese religion and culture before beginning our journey to Tibet. Early in the morning, our driver and tour guide will be there to pick you up from your Hotel. Then we will ride toward the Pashupatinath Temple. Then, you will enter the temple and have Darshan of Lord Pashupatinath’s Shiva Lingam.
Then, after this, you will visit the Boudhanath Stupa, which is just 13 km from the Pashupatinath Temple. After exploring the stupa, you will enjoy lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the stupa.
Then, driving for around 25 minutes, you will reach the Budhinalkantha Temple located below the Shivapuri National Park. Here you can witness the sleeping Vishnu statue, which is 5 meters (about 16.4 feet) long. Around evening, our driver will drop you back at your Hotel.
Today you will wake up early in the morning around 5 AM. Get refreshed and get ready for the airport transfer. The plane departs mostly around 8:30 AM, so you need to be at the airport 3 hours before. After the complete check-in process, you will board the flight and enjoy a 1 hour 20 minute flight to Lhasa. You will land at Lhasa (LXA) airport around 12:05 Lhasa Time. After checking out of the airport, you will be transferred to the Hotel.
Lhasa is located at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,995 feet). Since you will gain significant altitude today, take proper rest to adjust to the high-altitude environment. Drink enough water to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activities. Our Tibetan guide also monitors your condition and assists you throughout your stay.
Today, after breakfast in hotel, we will visit:
Today, after breakfast, you will visit:
After breakfast, we will leave Lhasa by driving toward Shigatse, Tibet's most beautiful landscape. We will stop at Yamdrok Lake to enjoy the lake view surrounded by snow-capped mountains and for photography. Then, from the lake, we will continue our drive toward Karo La Glacier, which is located near Karo La Pass. We will stop by the roadside to admire the beauty of this glacier along with mountain scenery before continuing our journey toward Gyantse. Upon reaching Gyantse, we will visit Pelkor Chode Monastery and its famous Kumbum Stupa. Here you will witness its rich cultural heritage and traditional Tibetan architecture.
After exploring Gyantse, we drive through scenic Tibetan countryside toward Shigatse (3,836 m) - Tibet's second-largest city. After reaching Shigatse, we will check into a hotel and stay overnight here.
Early in the morning, we will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, glowing beautifully in the morning light. It is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama and an important religious center in Tibet.
After the visit, we will leave Shigatse and drive along the iconic G318 National Highway to reach Sakya Monastery. Here, you can explore its massive historic library, fortress-like architecture, and ancient religious artifacts.
We will drive through remote landscapes, passing Tibetan villages with whitewashed houses and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. En route, you can also spot a herd of Tibetan antelope (chiru). Then, crossing Gyatso La Pass at 5,220 meters, we stop for lunch at Tingri.
Then, after crossing the checkpoint, we will reach Gawu La Pass(5,220 m), where you can witness five 8,000-meter peaks- Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.
Then continue driving until we reach the parking lot of Rongbuk Monastery. Change our vehicle to an eco-friendly vehicle and drive toward the Rongbuk Monastery. It is the highest monastery in the world, situated at an altitude of 5,100 meters.
Further driving from here after exploration, you will reach the Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters and check in at the Guesthouse. From here you can enjoy a magical sunset view over Mount Everest( Mt Chomolung in Tibet). Then, returning to Rongbuk Guest house we will enjoy a warm meal and spend the night here.
After breakfast, enjoying the view of five 8,000-meter peaks, we will depart from Rongbuk and drive toward Saga town. We drive through the remote Tibetan Plateau while enjoying the views of dramatic mountains, open valleys and traditional Tibetan settlements.
From Old Tingri, we continue toward Pelko Lake (4,592 m). We stop at this lake to enjoy the scenery and take photographs. After spending some time here, we will continue our drive toward Saga. Upon arrival, we will check into our Guest house and rest after a long and tiring drive. We will spend the night in Saga.
After breakfast, we will depart from Saga and drive toward Mansarovar Lake via the G219 National Highway. First, we will pass through Dongba (Zhongba) and cross Mayum La Pass (5,216 m). If the weather permits, from this pass you can witness your first distant glimpse of Mount Kailash.
Then, we will drive down toward Lake Mansarovar. The journey takes us deeper into the remote Tibetan Plateau, with vast open landscapes and rugged mountains.
Today, we will also complete half of the Mansarovar Lake Kora (circumambulation) by conservation vehicle. This allows you to enjoy the beauty of holy Mansarovar Lake and its surrounding Himalayan scenery.
Then we checked into the guesthouse and spent the night near the Lake.
We will wake up early in the morning and visit the shore of Mansarovar Lake and begin our rituals and prayers. You can take a holy bath here by collecting water from the lake. It is believed that performing these sacred rituals brings spiritual purification and blessings. Then we will return to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. We pack our things in the vehicle and begin our driving journey. First, we will reach the Chiu Gompa, which is located close to Manasrovar, approximately 35 to 40km. From here, the impressive south face of Mount Kailash can be seen.
After exploring this monastery, which is located on the red-colored rocky hill, we will continue driving toward Darchen. Darchen is a small village often called the main base camp of Mount Kailash. From here, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the southern face of Mount Kailash.
Here you can find lots of shops where you can purchase any essential items before your Kora.
After breakfast in Darchen, we will begin our day by taking a local eco-bus or van toward the Yamdwar. The ride will be short, around 10 to 15 minutes. After reaching Yamdwar (15,500 feet), you can find local pony handlers near the gate and hire a pony if needed for the Kora.
Before starting our walking journey, we will circle the Yamdwar 3 times and offer prayers. From here, we officially begin our 1st day of Mt Kailash Kora. Today, from Yamdwar to Dirapuk will cover approximately 12 km.
Walking through the narrow trail in a rugged landscape with your team, you can feel the spiritual atmosphere of the Kailash region. You will mainly follow the Lha Chu (Lachu) River. While approaching Diraphuk, Mount Kailash remains on your right, gradually revealing the magnificent North Face.
On the route, you will visit the Chuku Monastery, see Buddhist statues, mani walls, prayer flags and rich religious traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Once you reach Diraphuk, you will check in to the Guesthouse and stay overnight.
Om Namo Shivaya. Today is the second day of Kailash outer kora. Our journey begins with breakfast in the Guesthouse. Today is the most challenging day of the entire Kailash trek. We need to cross the Dolma La Pass situated at an altitude of 5,630 m. Crossing such a high altitude place is not an easy task.
Carrying our daypack, we will leave Diraphuk. Today we will cover around 22 kilometers. On the route, you can meet pilgrims from around the world. You can see local Tibetans performing Kora clockwise.
While ascending the steep trail that leads to Dolma La Pass, you can see thousands of colorful flags and the North Face of Mt Kailash. After walking for around 3 hours, you will be on top of the pass. Here, all the exhaustion will turn into happiness, and you will feel pride reaching here.
Now it's time to descend to the Zuthulphuk. You can also see many Yaks carrying heavy luggage on their back. A short distance below the Dolma La, you can witness the stunning Gauri Kund. According to legend, it is Parvati Sarovar, where she miraculously gave birth to Lord Ganesha.
Walking in the steep descend trail will be more difficult due to terrain conditions. So walk carefully and slowly. The East Face of Mount Kailash is visible while descending. Then, reaching the Zuthulphuk completely exhausted, you will relax and enjoy warm soup. Then later, after dinner, you will spend the night here.
After breakfast, we depart early from Saga (4,550 m) and drive toward Shigatse, following the same route we traveled earlier. After we arrive in Shigatse, we will check into hotels and stay overnight.
After breakfast, you will drive back to Lhasa through the same route you rode before. Tonight you spend the night in Lhasa.
Today, you will say goodbye to Tibet - the sacred land of Mount Kailash. After breakfast in the hotel, you will drive toward the Lhasa airport. Then, enjoying the flight with the breathtaking aerial view of mountain ranges including Mount Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma, we will land in Kathmandu.
This is kept as a buffer day for any unexpected travel delays. If everything goes as per plan, you can rest in your hotel or explore the vibrant streets of Kathmandu. Also, you can buy souvenirs and enjoy Nepali dishes before heading back to your home country.
Your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra journey ends today. Depending on your flight schedule, we will drive you to the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Collaborate with our specialists to create a unique itinerary.
Choose from our scheduled group trips below, or contact us to plan a private or family adventure tailored to your schedule.
Foreign citizens can obtain a Individual tourist visa from their home country. If you are able to obtain the Individual visa(L), entering Tibet will be much easier. For those who are unable to get the visa from their home country, they need to apply for a Chinese Group Visa from Nepal. For this, you need to arrive in Kathmandu at least 4 working days prior to your travel date.
Indian citizens can apply for the Chinese visa from India with the help of our coordination team in Delhi. They need to submit the physical passport by themselves through courier for the visa process. Once you obtain the Chinese Group Visa, you can collect your passport by yourself or here in Nepal.
Along with the Visa there are several permits that you need to obtain to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Once you obtain a visa, High Route Adventure will process the permit. The required permits are:
Important note: Schedule Is Subject to Change Under Unavoidable Circumstances
This Kailash Yatra via Lhasa with EBC is considered moderate to challenging in terms of difficulty level. However, it is one of the safest routes for visiting Mt. Kailash for Kailash Kora.
Here are the major factors that add difficulty to this pilgrimage journey:
Related: How to Plan and Prepare for Kailash Yatra
The best time for the Kailash Yatra via Lhasa with EBC is from May to October. During May and June, the mornings are cool with moderate temperatures during the day. The views of Mt Kailash and surrounding peaks are clear, and the Saga Dawa Festival also coincides in June.
July to August is another suitable time to visit Tibet for Kailash Yatra. During this time, crossing the Dolma La Pass becomes much easier, but the views can be obstructed sometimes.
The most favourable time to do Kailash Yatra is during September to October. During this month, the sky remains clear, and the best view of Mt Kailash and the surrounding landscape can be captured. Kailash Kora trekking remains comfortable due to cool and dry weather conditions.
High Route Adventure will book the best available hotel and Guesthouse in Tibet during the Yatra. You will share the room with your travel partner. The service inside the accommodation will depend upon the location. You will get toilets, Wifi, charging, and shower facilities where you will stay. However, these facilities will be limited, especially above Darchen. We recommend our travellers pack toilet paper, hand sanitizer, earplugs, and other essential toiletries with them for greater comfort.
If you join our group, we will have our own cook and kitchen assistants. The food items will be carried here in Nepal, and we will buy in Tibet to provide you with fresh and organic meals daily. We will provide you with a meal three times during the Yatra. For lunch, we will pack early in the morning, and it will be served in the middle of the trip. In buffet style, we will distribute the food. All the items will be veg, which are cooked by a Nepali chef in Nepali style. The menu will be like Paratha, Samber, Rice, Roti, Dal, Salad, etc.
If you are interested in doing a private Kailash Yatra, then you will dine in a Tibetan restaurant. You can expect Tibetan dishes such as Thukpa, Tsampa, Momo, etc. You can choose the meal from the restaurant menu.
Related: Food and Accommodation on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
In our 17 Day Kailash Yatra Via Lhasa tour programme, we have kept 2 acclimatization days in Lhasa. This will help you adjust your body to high altitude before heading to even higher altitudes around Mt. Kailash. So the risk of catching altitude sickness(AMS) remains high.
When we experience altitude sickness, the initial symptoms we may face are headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. To prevent these symptoms from occurring, we need to follow these acclimatization tips:
Before heading to Tibet, we request that you obtain Travel insurance. You can obtain the insurance from your home country as well as here in Nepal. If we need any assistance finding the right company and policy, we can help you. Make sure your insurance policy cover this things:
Himalayan Airlines operates the Kathmandu to Lhasa flight several days a week. From Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA) to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport(LXA), the flight duration will be 1 hour and 20 minutes. During the flight, you can witness the aerial view of Kathmandu city, the Himalayan range and the Tibetan Plateau. Flight schedule can be changed as it depends upon travel season and airline operations.
Once you will land in Lhasa airport our Tibetan guide and driver will assist you through the journey. The road conditions from Lhasa to Mt Kailash are overall good condition. Highways are paved while remote areas you will find are rough, uneven and bumpy. A/C Deluxe Coaches / Coaster Buses will be arranged for the large group. For the private group we will arrange Toyota Land Cruisers / 4WD SUVs.
We never know when an unseen situation can arise while travelling. So, for emergency support on this Kailash Yatra, our Tibetan Guide will provide assistance and support in case of emergencies. They will seek help from the local authority and medical services when necessary. For safety, always follow your guide's instructions and stay with your group. For financial protection during an emergency, it is essential to have travel insurance with you.
Travellers have the option to hire a pony or horse for those who are unable to walk to reach the Dolma La Pass. Pony and horseback riding help to reduce the physical effort required during this challenging section of the trek. Remember, it is not possible to do the entire Kora by riding on a pony or horse; still, you need to walk due to difficult terrain.
Hiring a pony or Horse expenses are on you. Hiring a pony or horse is available at Darchen and at Yam Dwar gate. You need to deal on your own and pay the price.
Pilgrims who wish to perform special puja, rituals, or spiritual practices on Mansarovar Lake can hire a personal pujari/guru. a personal Pujari/Guru depends on the services, duration, and arrangements required. The cost of hiring a personal Pujari/Guru depends on the services, duration, and arrangements required. Please get in touch with us in advance if you would like us to arrange a Pujari or Guru for your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Here is a comprehensive packing list for the Kailash Yatra via Lhasa with EBC:
Real experiences shared by trekkers and travelers who joined our trips.
Tibet had long been my dream, and this journey exceeded all expectations. Everest Base Camp tested me physically, while Kailash touched me spiritually. The tour organization was excellent, with attentive, professional guides at every step.
I signed up for the adventure and stayed for the spirituality. Trekking to Everest Base Camp was a highlight of my life, but nothing prepared me for the stillness and energy around Kailash. Highly recommend this combined itinerary over doing them separately.
From the moment we arrived in Lhasa to our final morning at Kailash, everything felt carefully thought through. The Everest Base Camp walk was enjoyable and rewarding, with stunning Himalayan scenery along the way. Reaching Kailash afterward felt like the perfect, peaceful conclusion to an unforgettable journey.
At 68, I wasn’t sure I could complete this journey, but the team’s pacing, oxygen support, and encouragement made it possible. Seeing Kailash with my own eyes after years of dreaming about it was worth every step.
Combining Everest Base Camp with the Kailash Mansarovar circuit felt like touching heaven twice in one trip. The high-altitude support and medical care gave me confidence even on the toughest days.
I’ve done treks before, but nothing prepared me for the scale of this journey – from the ancient monasteries of Lhasa to the sacred parikrama around Kailash. The organization was flawless, and the guides understood exactly what a pilgrim needs, physically and spiritually.”
