The Best Time to Visit
Nearly all year round, Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar experience arid, severe, and windy weather. However, the temperature turns moderate and comfortable for about half of the year, making it a period when people may visit this area. Determining the best time for Kailash Mansarovar Tour is crucial for a successful pilgrimage. Early May to late October is the ideal time of year to explore this area. The climate in the Mount Kailash area will become warmer throughout this time, being warm and pleasant during the day but dropping to minus 5 to 8 degrees Celsius at night.
To go to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, we must travel across several high passes in isolated regions of western Tibet. Between November and April, the highways will be covered in snow. Furthermore, ice will obstruct the trekking route encircling Mount Kailash, hindering access to the elevated passes. Further, hotels and guesthouses along the road will close as local Tibetans employed as porters and horse riders leave the region.
Travel permits for visitors between November and April are often not quickly issued by the Chinese government.
How to Get to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar?
Kathmandu, located in Nepal, is one of the access points to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Kathmandu has connections to various major destinations around the globe through a wide range of international flights. Flying to Kathmandu is an option to begin your journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Two main routes from Kathmandu provide access to the sacred site, offering for your Best Route for Kailash Mansarovar Tour.
DRIVE FROM KATHMANDU TO KYIRONG (TIMURE) THE MAKE AN OVERLAND JOURNEY:
Travelling overland from Kathmandu to the Nepal-China border at the village of Timure requires an estimated duration of seven hours. After spending a night in Timure, the border town of Nepal, we can proceed to Kailash the following day. The Tibet tour requires 9 to 10 days, with an additional 5 days needed on the Nepal side, totalling the overall duration. The total duration of the program is projected to be at least 15 days.
This itinerary presents an alternative option as well. People might choose this option if they want to continue travelling to Lhasa but avoid taking the same route back to Kathmandu. The road to Lhasa may include Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side. From Lhasa, travellers may fly back to Kathmandu or mainland China.
FLY KATHMANDU TO LHASA, THEN TRAVEL TO MOUNT KAILASH COMBINED WITH A VISIT TO MAJOR CITIES OF CENTRAL TIBET:
Kathmandu regularly offers air access to Lhasa. In the itinerary, travellers may fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa, including Gyantse, Shigatse, Tsedang, and other culturally significant sites in central Tibet. For those with a keen interest, it is advisable to consider including the Mount Everest base camp (North Side) in the itinerary. After completing your visit to central Tibet, you may proceed to the Kailash and Mansarovar regions located in the west. After the journey, one can exit Nepal from the Kyirong border and travel to Kathmandu. Or one could consider returning to Lhasa from the same route and proceeding to mainland China or Kathmandu via air travel.
Attention: Airline service may be reduced or suspended in January, February, and March, depending on passenger demand.
TRAVELING TO TIBET VIA MAINLAND CHINA
Access to the Kailash and Mansarovar regions is possible by entering Tibet from the mainland of China. Chengdu serves as the entry point to Tibet from the rest of China. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has regular flights to Lhasa. Furthermore, Chengdu offers direct airline connections to various significant destinations around the globe. Flights to Lhasa regularly depart from Chengdu.
One can also arrive in Lhasa by taking the highest railway journey in the world. The trip to Lhasa takes approximately thirty-six hours.
HOW TO GET THE TIBET PERMIT AND GROUP VISA?
Only the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu can issue the group visa for Tibet. No Chinese embassy overseas grants Tibet group visas to visitors. According to current Chinese government rules, the group must have at least five members to qualify for the Tibet group visa. If the group consists of less than five people, it will be ineligible for a group visa.
There is a unique procedure for obtaining a group visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. The first step is to register the trip with a Tibet tour operator based in either Kathmandu or Lhasa (such as our company “The Trekkers’ Society P. Ltd.”). During the trip registration process, it is essential to clearly outline the tour program with dates, detailing the specific destinations you will explore throughout your journey. According to the company's policy, it is required to pay 20% of the total tour cost as an advance to register the trip with us. Furthermore, providing a clear copy of your passport and a passport-sized photo is essential. You must also provide a copy of your current Chinese visa if you already have one.
The second step involves submitting your documents to the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB / in Lhasa) to obtain your Tibet travel permit. Usually, the Tibet travel permit application procedure takes ten to fifteen days. After receiving the TTB (Lhasa) travel permit, we can apply for a group visa at the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. This procedure will be initiated upon your arrival in Kathmandu. Five business days are typically needed to complete the group visa application procedure from Kathmandu.
Tradition and Culture
For thousands of years, this region has been the ultimate destination for pilgrims. It is the home of the Gods for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Bon. Mount Kailash – 6714 metres high – is known in Tibet as Tise (the peak) of Khang Rinpoche (Jewel of Snows). For Hindus, Mount Kailash is the home of the Hindu God Shiva and his partner Devi, whilst for Tibetans, it is the home of God Demchong and his consort, Dorje Phangmo.
According to legend, it is here that Milarepa - a great Tibetan Yogi and master of Tantric Buddhism - contested with Naro-Bonchung - a grandmaster of Bon - to prove the superiority of Buddhism. Many contests took place, but the final one was to see who could first reach the summit of Mt Kailash at the crack of dawn. Riding his damaru (ritual drum), Naro-Bonchung flew towards the peak, but Milarepa overtook him at the last second. Naro-Bonching was so astonished that he let go of his drum, which crashed down the mountain, leaving a vertical scar – a distinctive feature of the south face.
Read more about Mount Kailash, Lake Mansarovar, and Lhasa.
What items should you bring with you on your Kailash Mansarovar Tour?
Since Tibet's temperatures fluctuate considerably, we advise you to pack clothing for any eventualities. Equipment for wet conditions is also required. These considerations are crucial for a successful and Best Kailash Mansarovar Tour.
Sunglasses and abundant sunblock are essential in Tibet due to the High UV factor and the intensity of the bright light. Pack enough sunscreen because it's difficult to find in Tibet. Additionally, we recommend packing a hat with a brim for added protection.
Pack all your belongings in a duffel bag, and remember to bring a backpack with a waterproof cover to store essential items like your passport, personal medicine, toothpaste, toothbrush, and other daily necessities. The bus or truck will place your duffel bag in the luggage compartment, but you must bring your backpack.
A list of the things you should bring is as follows:
- A pair of walking boots (sneaker is okay).
- A jacket that is waterproof and windproof
- T-shirts and sweatshirts
- A minimum of one heavy sweater
- Skirts or shorts
- Track pants or trousers
- Warm underwear
- Water bottle
- Warm socks, ideally made of wool
- A flashlight with extra batteries
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Individual medical supplies
- Towels
- A daypack (to store valuables like cameras, cash, passports, and personal medications).
- A duffel bag or rucksack for keeping your clothes
- Down jackets
- A pair of gloves
- Hat with sun protection
First Aid Medical Kit
We will be bringing a primary first aid kit with us, which will include a variety of medications such as Diamox, Aspirin, Painkillers, Lip Balm, Mustard Oil, Vaseline, Plasters, Antiseptic, Salt, Mint, Vicks for sore throats, Antacids, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Iodine Tincture, Iodine Tablet, Electro Powder, Handy Plasts, Cotton Bandage, Scissor, Diomox or Acetazolamide, and more.
We recommend you consult with your physician or doctor before carrying your medications.
Packaging Suggestion for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (Click Here to Download)
Communication
In Nepal, purchasing local mobile SIM cards (NAMASTE or NCELL) is simple as you arrive in Kathmandu. International roaming services are available with various pre-paid call and data packages. You can select one and turn on the service.
We can assist you in Tibet by providing you with a local SIM card from China (China Telecom Service or China Mobile). Still, you can only receive calls because the Chinese government has prohibited outgoing calls. However, you may use WhatsApp, Viber, WeChat, or Messenger to make phone calls and use data services. However, to access all those apps, you must install a VPN service either in your home country or while in Nepal. None of these applications will function otherwise.
Precaution
Most persons at high elevations (over 2,500 m / 8200 ft) suffer from oxygen shortage. When altitude is raised, it takes time for the human body's physiological systems to adjust to lower oxygen levels. This procedure is known as acclimatization.
Acetazolamide, often known as Diamox, is required to treat altitude sickness. Your doctor's prescription is necessary since you must begin taking these drugs three days before your journey to Tibet/Mount Kailash & Lake Mansarovar. It is essential to take this medicine the whole way while going up and stop when you start descending. People allergic to sulfite-containing medications may choose to use Gingko Biloba over Diamox. Participants will pick up tried-and-true, easy-to-use methods for acclimating faster throughout the trip.
Accommodation during this trip
Lhasa and Adjacent Areas:
The major cities of Tibet offer a variety of accommodations, including budget and luxury options. A few of these places are Tsedang, Lhasa, and Shigatse. However, in small towns and cities, accommodations are usually straightforward, with few options.
Kailash- Mansarovar Area:
Some locations in western Tibet provide rudimentary accommodations, while others offer more luxurious accommodations with modern amenities. Locations like Kyirong, Darchen, and Saga (on the Chinese side) provide comfortable lodgings with attached restrooms and hot showers. Nevertheless, these areas still have a small selection of hotels and guesthouses. On the other hand, Mansarovar, Deraphuk, and Zutulphuk offer a more basic type of lodging that includes dorm-style rooms with shared outdoor bathrooms. Choices of lodging are unavailable at these three locations. The hotels and guesthouses have electricity in these locations, allowing guests to charge their mobile devices and cameras. However, the rooms are not equipped with heating.
Meals & Drinking Water
Our organization provides a team of personnel who are both experienced and professional. Through the voyage, they will accompany you. We establish our kitchen in each residence and prepare hygienic, fresh meals for the group. Following the client's preferences, we provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. Most of the food comes from Kathmandu, and a separate vehicle will transport the food and other necessary supplies.
During the morning and evening, we offer boiled water at the camp for drinking. Throughout the day, we provide bottled mineral water, which is safe to drink during the trip. We bring enough water for you on tour, and you should drink at least 3 litres daily.
