10 Days Mount Kailash Mansarovar Tour - 2025/2026

The best time for the Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage Tour is usually from May to September when the weather is much milder and is suitable for trekking.

From May to June, the temperature is about 8°C to 16°C during the day, while during the night, it may go down to around 5°C. This is a peak season since snow has melted from winter, and the trails aren't that hard. It also falls on the Saga Dawa Festival, one of the most auspicious times for pilgrims and believers to walk around Mount Kailash for multiplied blessings.

Monsoon season falls in July and mid-August. Some rain showers during this time, although day temperatures range from 10°C to 23°C. Rainfall is possible, but not for an extended period, and the view of the landscape is still outstanding. The crowds at this time are lesser than those in the peak summer months, making it rather peaceful.

During the post-monsoon period, from late August to September, the weather stabilizes again, which is the best time for trekking. Daytime temperatures are usually 20°C, while nighttime could be slightly cooler. This time of year also has fewer tourists, enabling a quiet atmosphere for a Mount Kailash Tour.

Early October is still considered a fine time for trekking, but the temperature drops drastically and then fluctuates between 5°C to 15°C in the daytime and below freezing during nighttime. Middle October marks the preparations of many services for winter, so it is not the best time for trekking.

Winter is not a good time, as it is pretty harsh; the temperature falls below -15ºC from November to April. Heavy snow blocks the trail and roads. During that time, the guesthouses and camps are also closed.

The Kailash Mansarovar Tour requires many permits. These permits involve time-consuming processes but are essential for a hassle-free and legally correct pilgrimage. Given below is an overview in detail of the required permits:

• Chinese Visa: This is a must for all foreign visitors to China and Tibet. If you are preparing to enter Tibet from Nepal, you must apply for a Group Visa, which a licensed travel agency in Kathmandu normally takes care of. Your tour operator will normally handle it.

• Tibet Travel Permit: This document is necessary for travellers entering the Tibet Autonomous Region. Currently, the TTP is issued only to licensed travel agencies, not individuals. Your travel agency will handle this application as soon as possible.

• Alien's Travel Permit (ATP): This permit is required for areas other than Lhasa. Mount Kailash is a restricted area, so it is necessary to visit it. Like the TTP, this permit is also arranged through a licensed travel agency.

• Military Permit: Mount Kailash falls under military-sensitive area admission. The permit can be issued with the help of your travel agency.

• Inner Line Permit: The Indian citizens travelling directly to Kailash from India may need an Inner Line Permit for some border areas. The permit is issued through local authorities in India, and an individual can apply for it by visiting government offices.

Dealing with an approved tour operator makes the application process for a permit easy. They will arrange all the formalities and arrangements and prepare all the necessary documents.

Normally, the departments require a valid passport, a passport-sized photograph and a tour itinerary document during the permit application process.

The accommodation options on the Kailash Mansarovar Tour range from ultra-luxury to low-budget and also differ according to individuals' tastes and preferences. There are hotels, guesthouses, and basic dormitories available.

In major towns like Kathmandu, comfortable three-star and five-star hotels boast amenities like private bathrooms and hot water. However, as one gradually approaches the starting point of the trek, Darchen, the accommodation becomes far from superior. Darchen itself has several three-star hotels where one may sleep ahead of time before taking up the Kailash trek.

The Kailash trek has basic guesthouses in remote areas, especially in Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk. Most of these guesthouses follow the prevalent pattern of shared rooms among many trekkers; hence, they are considered somewhat dormitory-like. In this way, guests share their feelings and stories regarding their experiences on the Kora.

Such guesthouses would provide comfortable beds, blankets, and shared bathrooms; however, the modern comforts of hot showers or private facilities would be lacking.

More adventurous trekkers can even camp out. This is a way to be entirely at one with nature; though, this is exceedingly rare because there are guesthouses all along the way. For people who want to have a little comfort, it is good to advise them to be able to book accommodations in advance, particularly during peak seasons for trekking, which starts from May through September.

The food during the Mount Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is mainly vegetarian because it is a pilgrimage. The travellers will be provided three meals daily: one breakfast meal, one lunch meal, and one dinner meal. Additionally, tea and soup will be included. The food is generally straightforward but nutritious and enough to maintain the energy level of trekkers.

Usual items are rice, dal or lentils, chapati or flatbread, vegetables, and khichdi. Then, as a little something different, sometimes you could have pasta, noodles, and even some Chinese dishes. Most of the meals are prepared by travelling kitchen staff among the group, who plan out and ensure that food is prepared fresh and served along the trek at different stops.

In towns like Darchen, you can have more substantial meals at local guesthouses or hotels since the quality is usually good. However, this option is limited on the trek further towards Mansarovar Lake and during Kailash Parikrama. Small food shops might be available along the Parikrama route, where trekkers can buy snacks like juices, cup noodles, and quick bites.

These shops provide relief for the trekkers with something light to munch on. A primary vegetarian meal facility is provided, but non-vegetarians are generally excluded from the packaged tour programs since the whole area falls under the category of holy and religious significance. People who want non-vegetable food must purchase it from local markets at their own cost.

You will first arrive in Kathmandu, take a flight to Nepalgunj that takes about an hour, and then have a connecting flight to Simikot, again about an hour. From Simikot, you will join an overland tour group that will take up to 12-15 days to reach Kailash Mansarovar. This gives ample time to visit some famous Buddhist sites on the way.

By road, you will take a bus from Kathmandu to Dhunche or Shyabru Besi, which takes approximately 6-7 hours. From here, it is a short drive to the Nepal-China border at Rasuwagadhi, from where you will cross on foot and board another bus to Keyrong en route to Kailash Mansarovar.

From Pokhara, one travels toward Kailash Mansarovar with the same steps. First, one must take a bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu, which will take up to 6 or 7 hours. From Kathmandu, one can follow the above routes to reach Kailash Mansarovar. This route will add an extra day or two from the ones that start directly from Kathmandu.

There are two main routes for those coming from India. The first route is via Nepal: one can fly or take a bus from cities like Delhi or Kolkata to Kathmandu. From Kathmandu, local jeeps or buses can be used to reach the Kailash Mansarovar via the routes mentioned above. This is a popular route among Indian travellers due to easy access to Nepal.

Alternatively, you can fly straight to Lhasa, Tibet, directly from Delhi or Kolkata within 3-4 hours. You can then join an organized overland tour group in Lhasa, which will take you to Kailash Mansarovar, a city with lots of scenic beauty and rich culture.

Again, to enter Tibet, one must acquire a Chinese visa and a permit.

Clothing

• Clothing on layers- thermal internal wear, long-sleeved shirts, fleece/down jackets

• Waterproof jacket

• Trekking trousers

• Warm beanie

• Gloves

• Moisture-wicking socks- several pairs

• Waterproof trekking boots

• Sun hat

• Sunglasses

Accessories

• Sturdy trekking backpack with rain cover

• Trekking poles

• Good sleeping bag

• Travel pillow- compact/inflated

• Water bottle - reusable

• Headlamp/flashlight with extra batteries

• Power bank

Toiletries

• Toiletry kit-soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, wet wipes

• Sunscreen (high SPF)

• Lip balm

• First aid kit

Documents and Money

• Passport and Visa

• Permits- as will be required

• Photocopies of important documents

• Cash and credit cards

Miscellaneous

• Altitude sickness medication

• Snacks- energy bars, nuts, dried fruits

• Duffle/dry bag

• Plastic bags-for organizing

• Local SIM card- optional

• Pen and notebook

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 is highly expected during the full moon, which enhances the spiritual experience of many travellers. The full moon dates in 2025 are important because they are the most promising moments to worship and reflect. For instance, the full moon falls on April 13th, May 12th, June 11th, July 11th, August 9th, and September 7th.

Thus, many pilgrims prefer to reach Kathmandu a few days in advance to complete their preparations. The holy itinerary starts with the arrival of participants at Kathmandu, and the participants can take advantage of this day to sightseeing and visit various holy places like Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa. After a few days of acclimatization and visa processing from Kathmandu, the group travels from Syabrubesi to reach Kerung in Tibet. 

A full moon brightens the grand Mount Kailash and fills the atmosphere with cultural celebrations and rituals. Of course, it is considered an auspicious time to seek divine blessings since spiritual connections may be enhanced during bright moonlight nights. However, full moon dates may mean larger crowds, so travellers searching for more tranquillity may find other dates within the trekking season advantageous.

The full moon presents a rare sighting of the beautiful scenery and deepens the spiritual activities that one engages in while on this sacred region of the earth.

This is the most important thing tourists must do on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025. Essentially, tourists are supposed to have a Chinese Visa, which can be obtained from the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate. The most common type is an L-type tourist Visa.

If you enter Tibet from Nepal, you will also need a Group Visa organized through a licensed travel agency in Kathmandu. In addition to the Chinese Visa, you must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP). A TTP is required of all foreign travellers to Tibet, and it has to be submitted to a travel agency in their application since the Tibet Tourism Bureau does not handle individual applications.

It generally takes about 8-10 working days to process the TTP; thus, it is best to apply at least 20 days before your travel date. A scanned copy of your passport and Chinese Visa is required to make an application. If you are travelling from Nepal, arrive in Kathmandu at least three days before your planned entry into Tibet.

You must fill in the Group Visa application form and present your original passport with a personal photo and visa fees to the travel consultant. After this, the tour operator will submit your documents to the relevant authorities.

Therefore, it is very important to plan and contact your travel agent to collect information about special requirements or any recent regulation changes. Prepare all the required documents, and have a smooth trip to one of the most frightening sites on earth.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is spiritually famous but also very exhausting due to the strenuous travel the pilgrims need to endure. The trekking route extends around Mount Kailash and is about 52 kilometres long, with the highest altitude at Dolma La Pass, about 5,600 meters high.

The trail lies at an altitude that means the thin air can leave trekkers open to altitude sickness, which in itself brings on symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and nausea. The terrain is rugged and varied, with steep ascents, rocky trails, and tricky descents. 

Pilgrims must be prepared for the physical demands of long days of trekking, many in harsh conditions. Another factor that amplifies the difficulty is the unpredictable weather: even during summer, there can be a sudden drop in temperature, snow, and strong winds. Hence, proper gear and clothing will be needed to cope with that kind of challenge. Besides, mental preparation is in its place. A journey, in general, requires a lot of patience and determination.

Trekkers must endure physical problems and high-altitude trekking, which may cause mental disturbances. Thus, participants are advised to maintain physical fitness before embarking on the Yatra, which will help them tackle exhaustive conditions more successfully.

Mount Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is highly likely to cause altitude sickness as it is above 6,638 meters or 21,778 feet, if it refers to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake at 4,588 meters or 15,755 feet. Symptoms usually appear when trekking at more than 3,000 meters or 9,843 feet, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleeping problems.

The climate during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra depends on the season and height/altitude. Generally, the temperatures are milder between May and September.

Day temperatures can reach 15°C to 20°C in the lower regions, like Darchen. During ascents at higher altitudes, such as around Mansarovar Lake and Mount Kailash, day temperatures can drop from 5°C to 10°C.

Nights are much colder, with temperatures usually well below 0°C (32°F), especially at higher elevation sites. Nighttime temperatures near Mount Kailash can quickly drop to -5°C (23°F) or lower.

The region experiences sudden and unpredictable weather conditions, including rainfall, snowfalls, and gusty winds. Light rains are occasionally observed during the monsoon, and heavy rainfall is rarely encountered. The impact of the monsoon is typically witnessed during July and August.

A typical day on Kailash Mansarovar Tour follows a scheduled routine that balances physical exertion, spiritual practices, and acclimatization with the high altitude.

Generally, the day starts with an early rise at about 6:00 AM and a light breakfast, mainly porridge, bread, or fruit, to give energy for the drive or trek ahead. The pilgrims get ready after having breakfast, packing all their gear and essential items for the day's journey.

They usually begin by 7:00 AM, participating in a warm-up session to orient their bodies for the challenges. Normally, they adopt a slow and steady pace since most will take time to acclimate to the altitude levels, as they will normally ascend to higher altitudes throughout the day. Along the way, hydration and snacking breaks are scheduled for every couple of hours; these comprise energy bars or dried fruits.

The group stops for lunch around noon at a pre-arranged resting point, often near a monastery or a viewpoint. Lunch is normally a simple meal from local cooks of rice, vegetables, and lentils.

By 4:00 PM, the trekkers reach overnight accommodation, including a guesthouse or tents pitched near a monastery. After sorting themselves into their rooms, participants rest and freshen up for evening prayers or meditation sessions.

Dinner is provided at around 7:00 PM, with heavy vegetarian food to keep them running after a long, exhaustive trek session. After dinner, discussions may be held or experiences shared by the group members.

Finally, by 9:00 PM, the trekkers go to their respective beds for proper rest before embarking on another day of trekking. This daily schedule showcases bodily stamina and spiritual contemplation and builds camaraderie among those on this divine pilgrimage.

Mobile connectivity was better during the Kailash Mansarovar Trek compared to previous years, yet it was inferior in some areas, including most of the trek's parts. Along this route, mainly in towns and at lower altitudes, Indian mobile networks such as Airtel, JIO, and BSNL work.

BSNL is upbeat about providing better mobile coverage by installing 2G and 4G towers at strategic locations along the pilgrimage route, including Kalapani and Jolingkong. This will improve communication facilities for the pilgrims and the local inhabitants of the area.

Indian travellers are advised to activate international roaming before starting. This way, their Indian mobile number will be functional for almost the whole trek. Another alternative is to buy a local SIM card in Lhasa, which gives better connectivity during their stay in Tibet. However, active local SIMs may pose their own set of problems. The wifi system is available in the hotels and guest houses on the trail, but the connectivity may be poor and the bandwidth limited.

Travellers should also be reminded that widely used social media outlets like WhatsApp and Facebook are banned in China. To stay connected to those services while travelling in Tibet, it is recommended that travellers arrange for a VPN or Virtual Private Network before arrival.

The Kailash Mansarovar Tour has very few and far-between ATMs, especially once one goes further away from the towns and cities. Several of them are installed in Kathmandu, including the ones outside the banks working 24*7, from where travellers can draw Nepali Rupees before embarking for Tibet.

Once you reach Tibetan territory, specifically from Kerung onwards, the facilities for drawing on an ATM are scant. Most remote areas do not have ATMs, and people do business in cash. In this regard, it is recommended that all trekkers carry sufficient cash in Nepalese rupees or Chinese yuan for their expenses, such as accommodation, food items, and personal purchases during the entire trekking duration.

You can book Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with leading hiking and trekking agencies in Nepal, focusing on pilgrimage tours. The best examples include Well Nepal Travels, which provides complete packages for this tour, from arrival, transportation and accommodation to great permits and meals.

Most programs start with choosing your travel dates and preferred itinerary, which can be longer or shorter depending on your program but usually lasts 10 to 12 days. To confirm, the agency will begin helping with Visa and permit procurement, which is necessary for travel to Tibet.

They will also guide you through the required preparation, including physical training and packing essentials for the trek. Well-experienced guides and support staff assure Nepal Treks of a safe and filled-with-meaning spiritual journey to Kailash Mansarovar, thus allowing you to focus on the depths of this sacred pilgrimage.