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 is believed to be Lord Shiva’s home – located in western Tibet. It stands at 22,000 ft (6,705m), where thousands of pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar tour (yatra) every year. Mainly, people to Kora (Parikrama) of Mount Kailash start/end from Darchen and 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 at the foot of holy Mt. Kailash. Pilgrims take a holy dip at this lake as it is considered one of the most sacred lakes in Asia and a part of the pilgrimage trip.
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 demanding tour where we will spend most of the time at high altitudes. At least two months of regular exercise, such as running, swimming, hiking, etc., is recommended to help accomplish your Kailash tour. Moreover, if required, you’d better cut alcoholic beverages and smoking and consult your doctor about your health condition and personal prescriptions from your physician. First, Aid Kit is essential for travel.
3-Day Kailash Parikrama is considered the most challenging 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 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 moderate 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 physically and moderately fit traveler, and no previous experience is required. However, it is suggested that some physical fitness is essential such as swimming, running, hiking, etc. It is necessary to consult with your physician about your physical and health condition before you make a plan for the Mt. Kailash tour. Remember that while in Kora, you will cross over 5000m and trek for about 7-8 hours.
We provide standard rooms in 3 to 4-star hotels with twin sharing bedrooms and breakfast. However, accommodation while on tour is essential in guest houses. The guest houses are considered very basic and have dormitory bedrooms, no attached bathroom, outside bathroom (acceptable), no shower facilities, 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 authentic Tibetan 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 we can tell our guide or cook to prepare the same.
HimalayanWindows is all about providing local insights, lifestyles as well we adventure. We use the best Toyota 4WD, SUVs, and comfortable coasters to drive across the Tibetan highland for the Mt. Kailash tour. On a city tour in Nepal, we use private vehicles for sightseeing such as Car, Hiace, Van, and Coaster. For big groups, we also use supporting vehicles such as Mini Trucks, Vans, etc. These vehicles are completely comfortable and reliable and they make your journey as smooth as possible.
The Best season for touring in Mt. Kailash is between April and October.
The climate of Tibetan terrain is dry, cold, dusty, and windy; night is more complex than a day. Flooding rivers and landslides are common, especially in the Nepal portion. The classic route is from Kathmandu to Kodari via Friendship Highway to Tibet and split from Shegar to Saga and further to Mansarovar Lake. Unfortunately, the way 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.
Other borders exist except for Kodari Borders, such as Lhasa, Hilsa Border, Rasuwa port (Recently opened in 2017), etc. Recently, the Mt Kailash tour via Lhasa has been running regularly since Earthquake in Nepal, and you also get an opportunity to travel to 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, roads can be closed due to heavy snowfall in eastern Tibet, especially at Mt Kailash and western Tibet.
The currency used in Tibet is Chinese Currency, Yuan, and 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 you should get for the trip as it depends on your package for the journey.
Clothing: Choosing clothes is an essential factor for traveling to high-altitude regions. As you will be trekking above 5000 meters, the climate could be harsh at any time. While traveling on the Mount Kailash tour, warm clothing will be required as soon as you come out of your Vehicle. We have listed some vital clothing and accessories that are highly recommended to carry while traveling to Tibet.
We recommend you buy some Diamox (250mg) or consult 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, etc. And do not forget to bring your other medication prescribed by the physician. And get a camera of good quality to keep you memorized of your travel for a lifetime.
Note: These 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 comprehensive insurance must cover tour cancellation, travel disturbance or delays, Emergency Medical support and evacuation, medical expenses, loss of baggage, etc.
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:
