13 days Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Tour

Today, you’ll explore some of the most sacred cultural and religious sites in Kathmandu Valley. Firstly, you will explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, where you will see ancient stone and wood carving.Visit the holy Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most important Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Continue to the peaceful Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world.The day also allows time for final tour preparation and permit checking.

• Driving Hours: 4-5 hours sightseeing
•  Altitude: 1,400 meters (4,600 feet)
•  Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
•  Highlight: Exploring sacred temples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Today begins your overland adventure toward Tibet. We’ll drive through beautiful Himalayan hills, rivers, and terraced villages toward the Nepal-Tibet border. After completing immigration formalities at Rasuwagadhi, we enter Tibet and continue driving to Gyirong. The road offers stunning mountain scenery, waterfalls, and deep valleys. Gyirong is surrounded by green hills and provides a comfortable place to rest while gradually adapting to higher altitude.

• Driving Hours: 7-9 hours
• Altitude: 2,850 meters (8,858 to 9,350 feet)
•  Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Gyirong
• Highlight: Entering Tibet and enjoying the first Himalayan landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau.

After breakfast, we continue our journey deeper into Tibet. The scenery changes dramatically as green hills slowly turn into the vast open landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau. Along the way, you’ll see snow-covered mountains, traditional Tibetan villages, yaks grazing in the grasslands, and beautiful river valleys. Crossing high mountain passes and wide plains makes today’s drive truly unforgettable before reaching the small Tibetan town of Saga.

• Driving Hours: 7-8 hours
• Altitude: 4,640 meters (15,223 feet)
•  Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Saga
•  Highlight: Scenic drive across the vast Tibetan Plateau.

Today is reserved for acclimatization to help your body adjust to the high altitude before continuing toward Kailash. You can take short walks around Saga, enjoy the surrounding mountain scenery, and relax. Proper rest and hydration are important for the upcoming days. The peaceful environment and thin mountain air offer a calm experience in the remote Tibetan region.

• Driving Hours: No long drive
• Altitude: 4,640 meters (15,223 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Saga
•  Highlight: Rest and acclimatization before entering the Kailash region.

This is a day you’ve been waiting for! We drove towards Darchen, the base camp for Mount Kailash. We’ll travel through wide grasslands. There will be plenty of sheep and yaks. Snowy mountains will be all around us. A big moment will be crossing the Mayum La Pass (which is 5,122 meters high). This means we are now recognized as being in the holy Ngari Region. Then, you will see it – the amazing holy Lake Manasarovar. It shines under the Tibetan sky. Mount Kailash stands tall far away. We’ll rest by the lake for a short time. After that, we’ll go to Darchen to get ready for the exciting Kailash Kora.

• Driving Hours: 7-9 hours
• Altitude: 4,600 meters (15,060 to 15,100 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Darchen
• Highlight: First view of Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.

Today begins the sacred Kailash Kora, one of the world’s most spiritual pilgrimages. The trek starts from Darchen and follows a beautiful valley surrounded by dramatic cliffs and prayer flags. Pilgrims from different cultures and religions walk this holy trail with deep devotion. As you move closer, the magnificent north face of Mount Kailash becomes more visible. The peaceful atmosphere, chanting pilgrims, and breathtaking mountain scenery make today’s trek truly unforgettable.

• Trekking Hours: 5-7 hours
• Altitude: 5,210 meters (17,093 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse in Dirapuk
• Highlight: Close-up views of the sacred north face of Mount Kailash.

Today is the most challenging yet spiritually rewarding day of the Kailash Kora. Early in the morning, we ascended gradually toward the sacred Dolma La Pass, the highest point of the trek. The pass is decorated with colorful prayer flags fluttering in the strong mountain wind. Nearby lies the holy Gauri Kunda Lake, believed to hold spiritual significance. After crossing the pass, the trail descends toward Zutulpuk through rocky landscapes and beautiful valleys.

• Trekking Hours: 7-9 hours
• Altitude: 4,820 meters (15,814 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse in Zutulpuk
•  Highlight: Crossing the sacred Dolma La Pass and visiting Gauri Kunda.

Today we complete the final section of the Kailash Kora. The trail becomes easier as we walk through peaceful valleys and open landscapes before reaching Darchen. After finishing the sacred circuit around Mount Kailash, we drive toward the holy Lake Manasarovar. Pilgrims often perform prayers, meditation, and holy rituals by the lake’s peaceful shoreline. The crystal-clear blue water with the reflection of snowy mountains creates a deeply spiritual atmosphere.

• Trekking Hours: 3-4 hours
• Altitude: 4,575 meters (14,975 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse near Lake Manasarovar/Darchen
• Highlight: Completion of the sacred Kailash Kora and spiritual visit to Lake Manasarovar.

After completing the pilgrimage, we begin our return journey toward Saga. The drive takes us once again through vast Tibetan plains, high mountain passes, and remote valleys. Along the route, enjoy the final distant views of Mount Kailash and the surrounding Himalayan wilderness.

• Driving Hours: 7-8 hours
•  Altitude: 4,640 meters (15,223 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Saga
•  Highlight: Scenic drive through western Tibet after completing the pilgrimage.

Today we continue driving toward Gyirong. As we descend gradually, the landscape slowly changes from dry plateau to greener valleys. Snowy mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and Tibetan villages accompany the journey. The lower altitude in Gyirong provides a more comfortable environment after days spent in high Himalayan terrain.

• Driving Hours: 6-8 hours
• Altitude: 2,850 meters (8,858 to 9,350 feet)
• Accommodation: Guesthouse/hotel in Gyirong
• Highlight: Transition from Tibetan plateau to lush Himalayan valleys.

After breakfast, we complete border formalities and drive back into Nepal. The scenic journey follows mountain roads, rivers, and terraced hills before reaching Kathmandu. In the evening, you can relax or explore the lively local markets and restaurants.

• Driving Hours: 7-9 hours
• Altitude: 1,400 meters (4,600 feet)
•  Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu
•  Highlight: Returning to Kathmandu after the sacred Himalayan pilgrimage.

Your unforgettable Kailash and Manasarovar journey comes to an end today. Depending on your flight schedule, our representative will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. You leave Nepal with spiritual memories, breathtaking Himalayan experiences, and the blessings of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

• Driving Hours: Airport transfer only
• Altitude: 1,400 meters (4,600 feet)
• Highlight: Final departure with lifelong spiritual memories.