Mount Kailash – also known as the abode of God Shiva – is one of the world’s most sacred holy places. It is a peak that has been believed to be the home of Lord Shiva – located in western Tibet. It is standing at the altitude of 22,000 ft (6,705m) where thousand of pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar tour (yatra) every year. Mostly, people to Kora (Parikrama) of Mount Kailash start/end from Darchen and they take a holy dip in Mansarovar lake. The Mansarovar is the highest freshwater lake in the world at an altitude of 14,760 ft (4,500 meters) and it is the foot of holy Mt. Kailash. Pilgrims take a holy dip at this lake as it is considered one of the holiest lakes in Asia and a part of the pilgrimage trip too.
Here are the top Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Mount Kailash tour below:
If you are preparing to travel to Mount Kailash or Yatra, you are kindly requested to be fully aware that it is a really demanding tour where we will be spending most of the time at high altitudes. At least two months of regular exercise is recommended such as running, swimming, hiking, etc which help accomplish your Kailash tour successfully. Moreover, you’d better cut alcoholic beverages and smoking and consult with your doctor about your health condition and personal prescriptions from your physician if required and First Aid Kit is important for travel.
3-Day Kailash Parikrama is considered the toughest part of the Mount Kailash Tour. The 52-KM whole trekking starts from Darchen (4,560m). You enter Lha-Chu valley, Lham-Chu Calley, Dzong-Chu Valley, and finally ends at Darchen. During the Kailash Kora, you would stay one night in Dirapuk Monastery and another in Zuthulpuk Monastery. The average altitude of the Kora around the Kailash Mountain is about 5,000m and the average walk is about 7 to 8 hours a day. Every pilgrim who comes to Kailash to make the Kailash Kora walks through the Kailash Mountain in a clockwise crossing the highest pass Dolma La (5645m).
Travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is suitable for the average travelers who are physically and moderately fit and no previous experience is required. However, it is suggested that some physical fitness is essential such as swimming, running, hiking and etc. It is very important to consult with your physician about your physical and health condition before you make a plan for the Mt. Kailash tour. Please bear in mind that while in Kora, you will be crossing above 5000m and trekking for about 7-8 hours.
We provide standard rooms in 3 to 4-star hotels with twin sharing bedrooms with breakfast included. However, the accommodation while on the tour is basic in guest houses. The guest houses are considered very basic and are of dormitory bedrooms, no attached bathroom, outside bathroom (acceptable), no shower facilities and etc. Although some of the guest houses are pretty good these are fully booked most of the time.
On the other hand, we can send our Sherpa crew from Kathmandu who fixes tents and prepare food. We can accommodate you in the tent and serve food ourselves which is far better than staying at the local guest house.
Well, if you are traveling with a stay at the guest house, our guide will help you find a good restaurant at a reasonable price. The guest houses provide local food like MOMOs, noodles, or any Tibetan authentic cuisine. Dinners will be provided either in the hotel or restaurant. While on the road, lunch will be provided at any one of the Local Tibetan tea houses along the way. Expect to spend about 20 USD per day on meals with soft drinks. If you are vegetarian, please inform us earlier so that we can inform our guide or cook to prepare the same.
HimalayanWindows is all about providing local insights, lifestyles as well we adventure. We use private vehicles for sightseeing such as Car, Hiace, Van, and Coaster in a city tour in Nepal and For the Mt. Kailash tour, we use the best Toyota 4WD, SUVs, and comfortable coasters to drive across the Tibetan highland. These vehicles are completely comfortable and reliable and they make your journey as smooth as possible. For big groups, we also use supporting vehicles such as Mini Trucks, Vans and etc.
The Best season for touring in Mt. Kailash is between April and October.
The classic route is from Kathmandu to Kodari via Friendship Highway to Tibet and split from Shegar to Saga and further to Mansarovar Lake. The climate of Tibetan terrain is dry, cold, dusty, and windy and night is colder than a day. Flooding rivers and landslides are common, especially in the Nepal portion. Unfortunately, the route to Mt. Kailash via the Kodari border has been obstructed since an earthquake in April 2015. We believe it will re-open as soon as possible.
Yes, there are other borders except for Kodari Borders such as Lhasa, Hilsa Border, Rasuwa port (Recently open in 2017) and etc. Recently, the Mt Kailash tour via Lhasa has been running regularly since Earthquake in Nepal and you also get an opportunity to travel central Tibet while joining this trip.
The best season to travel to Mount Kailash is between April to the end of September and the visit to central Tibet is from until November. The Extreme change in weather makes it unfavorable to travel to Everest Base Camp from early November to April, also during the winter season roads can be closed due to heavy snowfall in eastern Tibet and especially at Mt Kailash and western Tibet.
The currency used in Tibet is Chinese Currency, Yuan, and also other currencies like USD, EURO, and POUND are accepted in Tibet. However, we recommend you exchange your money for Yuan before you travel to Tibet. If you are entering via Kathmandu, exchange your money at any money Exchange in Kathmandu. Or, If you are entering from mainland China, you can also exchange or use ATMs in Lhasa. As you are traveling remote regions of Tibet, finding ATMs or Banks is very difficult so it is suggested to bring CASH with you to cover all the expenses. Please consult with your travel agent on how much should you bring for the trip as it depends on your package for the trip.
Clothing: Choosing clothes is an essential factor for traveling to high-altitude regions. As you will be traveling above 5000 meters and climate could be harsh at any time. While traveling to the Mount Kailash tour, as soon as you come out from your vehicle, warm clothing will necessarily be required. We have listed some of the important clothing and accessories which are highly recommended to carry while traveling to Tibet.
We recommend you buy some Diamox (250mg) or consult with your doctor, You can use it if you feel uncomfortable due to altitude sickness. Apart from this, you can bring throat lozenges, nasal decongestants, Aspirin, cold and flu tablets, Multivitamins, Diarrhea tablets, iodine, Motion sickness Tablets, and water purifying tablets. First Aid Kit with Compression Bandages, Small Scissors, Tweezers, Band-Aids and etc. And do not forget to bring your other medication prescribed by the physician. And bring a camera of good quality in order to keep you memorized of your travel for a lifetime.
Note: These sorts of services and equipment are provided only if you are in a group of four or more with a Full Board Package.
HimalayanWindows suggests every Kailash tour traveler needs to have a complete Insurance policy from your home country. This complete insurance must cover tour cancellation, travel disturbance or delays, Emergency Medical support and evacuation, medical expenses, loss of baggage and etc.
In order to book or confirm your Mt. Kailash Mansarovar tour, you will be requested to fill up the form of HimalayanWindows with at least 30% of the total cost as an advance deposit (Refundable). Please check our Terms and Conditions for more details.
Here are the lists of the document that you need to send while making a booking with HimalayanWindows:
