Kailash Manasarovar Tour via Lhasa with Ali

Kailash Mansarovar Tour via Lhasa (Fly Lhasa to Ali): 10 Days (Ex-Lhasa)

Trip Facts
Duration10 Days
Trip GradeEasy
Maximum Altitude5650 M / 18373 FT
Group SizeMinimum 4 pax.
StartsMainland China OR Kathmandu
EndsMainland China or Kathmandu
Best TimeMid May to Mid September

This journey can commence from the mainland of China. One can fly to a prominent city in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, or Chengdu, and subsequently board a flight to Lhasa through Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province and a key access point to Tibet. If you wish, you can integrate this tour with a visit to some of the most significant sites in Sichuan province, China, including Chengdu.
 

Suppose you are limited by time and wish to avoid an extended overland trip. This option stands out as the most favourable for your needs. Upon arriving in Lhasa, one can engage in sightseeing tours for a couple of days, including the prominent locations and monuments in the city. Simultaneously, your body will have enough time to adjust to high altitude conditions. This enables you to travel at a higher altitude without difficulty.


Following your brief visit to Lhasa, you may board a flight to Ali (Khunsa airport), located 166 km to the west (nautical distance) of Mount Kailash. The flight from Lhasa to Ali is approximately one and a half hours. Upon arrival at Ali Airport, you will drive to Lake Manasarovar, 235 km from the airport. The journey from Ali Airport to Lake Manasarovar typically requires approximately two and a half hours.

This tour can also be initiated from Kathmandu. An additional period of at least five days is required in Kathmandu to process the Tibet visa at the Chinese Embassy.

Itinerary

NOTE:
The proposed itinerary commences in Lhasa. The journey can begin from either mainland China or Kathmandu, depending on your preference. The Kathmandu or mainland China segment can be seamlessly integrated into the main itinerary of the Tibet section, based on your preference.

Moreover, the frequency of flights from Lhasa to Ali each week is limited. A significant portion of flight quotas is designated for government officials. Participants in this tour should select and confirm their preferred date at their earliest convenience.

Trip PlanExpand all
Max Altitude: 3,650 m. / 11,972 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Inter ContinentalMode of Travel: Land Cruiser

Today is the day of your arrival in Lhasa. A representative will greet you at the airport in Lhasa and facilitate your transfer to the central city. The Lhasa airport is 58 km from the city, and the journey to the central town of Lhasa takes approximately 45 minutes. Today, there will be no scheduled activities. You will take time to relax and adjust at the hotel.

Max Altitude: 3,650 m. / 11,972 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Inter ContinentalMode of Travel: Land Cruiser

This morning, we will conduct a sightseeing excursion within Lhasa. Start your day trip with a visit to Potala Palace, the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. After lunch, we will continue to Norbulinkha Palace, the summer residence of the Dalai Lama. The conclusion includes a visit to the Jokhang temple. After you visit Jokhang Temple, you can delve into the vibrant atmosphere of the Barkhor market.

Max Altitude: 3,650 m. / 11,972 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Intercontinental

Today, we will visit two of the most significant monasteries in Tibet: Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Sera Monastery is five kilometres north of Lhasa's central area. Drepung Monastery, situated on a mountainside 10 kilometres from Lhasa, will be the subject of our exploration for the latter part of the day.
 

Max Altitude: 4600 m. | 15,088 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel Manas Hot SpringMode of Travel: Land Cruiser

Take an early morning flight to Khunsa Airport (Ali) from Lhasa. The flight requires approximately one and a half hours to reach Khunsa Airport in Ali (Western Tibet). Upon arrival at Ali Airport, our guide will greet and transport you to Lake Manasarovar. The distance between Ali Airport and Lake Manasarovar is 235 km, and the journey takes approximately two and a half hours. You will spend the night at Lake Manasarovar this evening to help acclimate.

Max Altitude: 4,690 m / 15,383 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel European ChampionMode of Travel: Land Cruiser

A holy bath in Lake Manasarovar will be taken in the morning, accompanied by Pooja and religious rituals. Following lunch at Lake Manasarovar, the journey to Darchen will commence in the afternoon. Darchen is located 37 kilometres away and can be reached in approximately 45 minutes.

Max Altitude: 5080 m. / 16,663 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Ganditse GuesthouseMode of Travel: Trek OR Horse (optional)

Today, we embark on the sacred journey around Mount Kailash. After breakfast in the morning, we proceed from Darchen to Tarboche (Yam Dwar) - the final point accessible by vehicle. The journey by car typically requires about twenty minutes. Our trek commences from Yama Dwar, leading us to Deraphuk, the goal for the first day.

Deraphuk is at an elevation of 16,663 feet, equivalent to 5080 meters. Deraphuk is situated on the north face of Kailash. The distance from Yama Dwar to Deraphuk is approximately 13 km, and the trek typically takes around 7 to 8 hours to complete.

Max Altitude: 4,800 m./ 15,744 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Ganditse GuesthouseMode of Travel: Trek Or Horse (optional)

Today offers significant challenges and is the longest day of this trip. We will embark on a trek of approximately 22 km through challenging highland terrain to arrive at Zutulphuk, our next campsite. We have to pack up our belongings and leave Deraphuk at 5 a.m. Chinese time. Initially, the trek from Deraphuk presents a challenge; however, after approximately two hours of walking, the trail becomes more manageable with a gentle ascent. Half of the trail reaches an elevation of 4900 m/16,000 ft. or higher, which explains the potential for experiencing breathlessness or headaches. We should aim to maintain a slow and steady pace.

Remember to bring a small bag to store your water bottle, personal medication, dried fruits, and chocolates. Also, please ensure you always have your down jacket and raincoat. The weather in this region exhibits a high degree of unpredictability. Individuals have varying walking speeds, and there may be times when others are not present to assist you. You must thus be able to rely on yourself for necessities.

After a walk of approximately 8 to 9 hours in the evening, we will arrive at Zutulphuk, where we will stay overnight in a basic guesthouse that offers dormitory-style accommodations without in-room toilet facilities. We need to be mentally ready to step outside to address our natural needs.

Max Altitude: 4,690 m./ 15,383 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel European ChampionMode of Travel: Walk Or Horse (optional) - hours

Following breakfast, we begin our trek towards the endpoint, Zhongdau, near Darchen. The trail is straightforward and level, leading up to the endpoint. The trek will take approximately three hours to complete. Once all group members have gathered at the designated endpoint (Zongdau), we will board the Car and proceed to Darchen. Today, you can enjoy a hot shower and relax in Darchen.

- Zutulphuk to trek ending point (Zongdou): 6 km | 3 hours walk
- Zongdau (trek ending point) to Darchen: 4 km (20 minutes)

Max Altitude: 3,650 m. / 11,972 ft. Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinnerAccommodation: Hotel IntercontinentalMode of Travel: Flight + Land Cruiser

Drive to Ali (Khunsa Airport) from Darchen in the early morning, board your flight, and return to Lhasa. It takes around two and a half hours to drive from Darchen to Ali, then another one and a half hours to fly to Lhasa.

Our personnel will greet you at the airport in Lhasa and transport you to the hotel. In the evening, take some time to relax on your own.

Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: -Mode of Travel: Land Cruiser

You will be escorted to Gonggar airport in the early morning. Driving time is approximately one hour to reach the airport. It is time to bid our Tibetan staff team farewell and return to your destination onward.

Still Confuse?
Download brochure or customize your trip.
Customize Trip
Cost Details & Services
Includes
  • Accommodation in Lhasa (Hotel Intercontinental). 
  • Airport-Hotel-Airport transfers in Lhasa.
  • Two days sightseeing tour within Lhasa as mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Sightseeing entry fees and monuments entry fees.
  • Lhasa-Ali-Lhasa flight ticket
  • Ali-Kailash-Ali transfer by Land Cruiser.
  • All necessary travel permits for Tibet. 
  • Emergency vehicle.
  • English/ Hindi speaking Chinese guide.
  • Entry fees for Kailash & Mansarovar area.
  • Yak and Yak man during the parikrama to bring food & logistics.
  • Accommodation in Kailash and Manasarovar areas as mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Professional staff team (guide, cook, and necessary helpers).
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trip. 
  • Oxygen cylinder for emergency use.
  • A basic medical kit. 
  • All applicable taxes and service charge.
Excludes
  • Flight ticket to Lhasa & return from Lhasa.
  • Any service in Kathmandu or mainland China (but this part can be added).
  • Your travel Insurance.
  • Tips & gratitude for staff.
  • Emergency rescue and evacuation services in the event of unforeseen circumstances, if required.
  • Laundry bill, telephone bill/other personal expenses (except mentioned above).
  • Horse & porter to ride during the parikra (in trekking portion).
  • Drinks & beverages such as coke, Fanta, juice, red Bull, etc.
  • Any additional expenses that may occur due to natural calamity, unforeseen circumstances, or force majeure.
  • Any service that is not mentioned above.
Essential Information

The Best Time to Visit

Nearly all year round, Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar experience very dry, 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. 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.

In order to go to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, we must travel across a number of 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 horsemen leave the region.

Travel permits for visitors between November and April are often not easily issued by the Chinese government.

How to Get There?

Kathmandu, located in Nepal, serves as one of the access points to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. 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. There are two main routes from Kathmandu that provide access to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

DRIVE FROM KATHMANDU TO KYIRONG (TIMURE) THE MAKE AN OVERLAND JOURNEY:

Traveling 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 tour in Tibet necessitates a duration of 9 to 10 days, with an additional 5 days required on the Nepal side, totaling the overall duration. The total duration of the program is projected to be a minimum of 15 days.

This itinerary presents an alternative option as well. People might choose this option if they want to continue traveling to Lhasa but avoid taking the same route back to Kathmandu. Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side may also be included on the route to Lhasa. From Lhasa, travelers may fly back to Kathmandu or go to the Chinese mainland.

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. Travelers may fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and include Gyantse, Shigatse, Tsedang, and other culturally important sites in central Tibet in the itinerary. 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 Manasarovar regions located in the west. After finishing the journey, one can exit Nepal from the Kyirong border and then travel to Kathmandu. Or one could consider returning to Lhasa from the same route and then proceeding to mainland China or Kathmandu via air travel.

Attention: Airline service may be reduced or even suspended in January, February, and March depending on passenger demand.

TRAVELING TO TIBET VIA MAINLAND CHINA

Access to the Kailash and Manasarovar 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 journey to Lhasa takes approximately thirty-six hours.

Tradition and Culture

For thousands of years this region has been the ultimate goal for pilgrims. It is the home of the Gods for Hindu, Jains, Buddhists and Bon. Mount Kailash – standing at 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 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 onlu to be overtaken by Milarepa at the last second. Naro-Bonching was so astonished that he let go of his drum, which crashed down mountain leaving a vertical scar – a distinctive feature of the south face.

Read more about Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar and Lhasa 

What items should you bring with you on your journey to Kailash?

Since Tibet's temperatures can fluctuate greatly, we advise you to pack clothing for any eventualities. Equipment for wet conditions is also required.

Sunglasses and an abundance of sunblock are essentital in Tibet due to High UV factor and intensity of the bright light. Make sure you 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 are responsible for bringing 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 that you consult with your physician or doctor before carrying your own personal medications.

Packaging Suggestion for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra (Click Here to Download)

Communication

In Nepal, it is simple to purchase local mobile SIM cards (NAMASTE or NCELL) as you arrive in Kathmandu. International roaming services are available with a variety of pre-paid call and data packages. You can select one and turn on the service.

We can assist you in Tibet by providing you a local SIM card of China (China Telecom Service or China Mobile), but 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 consume data service. However, in order to access all of those apps, you must install a VPN service either in your home country or while you are in Nepal. None of these applications will function otherwise.

Precaution

Most persons who are 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.

For the treatment of altitude sickness, acetazolamide, often known as Diamox, is required. Your doctor's prescription is required since you must begin taking these drugs three days prior to your journey to Tibet/ mount Kailash & Lake Mansarovar. It is necessary to take this medicine the whole way while going up and stop when you start descending. People who are 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 very simple, and there aren't many options.

Kailash- Manasarovar area:

Some locations in western Tibet provide rudimentary accommodations, while others provide 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, there is still a small selection of hotels and guesthouses in these areas. Manasarovar, Deraphuk, and Zutulphuk, on the other hand, 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. In these locations, the hotels and guesthouses are equipped with electricity, 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. All the way through the voyage, they will accompany you. Each place we reside, we establish our own kitchen and prepare hygienic, fresh meals for the group. In accordance with the client's preferences, we provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. The majority 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 to drink. But throughout the day, we offer bottled mineral water, which is safe to drink for the trip. We bring enough water for you to drink on the tour, and you should drink at least 3 liters of water every day.

Did not find what you are looking for? Let’s talk!
Need Help? Call Us.+977 9851087278