How to Plan Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Updated Guide for 2025 step by step Mt. Kailash Tour Packages
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is the most prominent and esteemed pilgrimage trip especially for the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain devotees. The kailash Yatra is considered to be a visit to the most exceptional form of the greatest Lord Shiva in a peculiar black granite contour which also brings the glimpse of Shivalingam. Mount Kailash is the holiest mountain in the earth which is acknowledged and worshipped by a number of pilgrims, yogi, and devotees all over the world. A journey to Kailash Mansarover is treated as an ultimate “Tirth Yatra” which can enlighten the ignorant to intellectual and upgrade the mind into grasping new meanings in life. The Mt. Kailash yatra is classified one of lifetime adventure and most sacred holy journey to the home of Lord Shiva, Nirvana.
Mount Kailash holds the supreme power of being the holiest mountain as it is believed to be sacred by four religions of the world.In the Hindu tradition, the mountain is the throne of the great god Shiva. In Buddhism, the mountain hosts the greatest tantric meditation god, Demchong, who represents supreme bliss. Before Buddhism even took root in Tibet, the native Bon religion saw Mount Kailash as being sacred. In Bon mythology, Mount Kailash is the site where their founder Shenrab came down from heaven. This is why the followers of the Bon religion believe that the entire region surrounding Kailash is mystical and that the mountain is a nine-story swastika that is the seat of all spiritual power. For all of these religions, Mount Kailash is the source of the four rivers that are able to give life; the Indus, Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali. These four rivers divide the world into four regions.
The Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon consider Mount Kailash as a sacred place. As per the Hindu belief, Lord Shiva, along with his wife Parvati, resides at the peak of Mount Kailash in a state of meditation. According to Jains, Kailash is the place where the first Jain Tirthankara attained Nirvana. In Buddhism, the belief goes that Kailash Parvat is where the Buddha, representing supreme bliss, resides. The Bon (a religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet), however, believe that the entire region is the seat of all spiritual power.
Lake Mansarovar lies on the foot of the divine Mount Kailash. It is the highest freshwater lake of the world and also holds a sacred importance. This lake is also believed to change colours. While it is clear blue near the shores, it changes to an emerald green colour towards the centre. The lake becomes absolutely beautiful ans surreal in the moonlight. With the incredible reflection of the summit of Mt.Kailash down on the lake surface, the holiness of the lake is multiplied.
Mount Kailash is surrounded by five monasteries, namely Nyari Monastery, Drirapuk Monastery, Dzultripuk Monastery, Selung Monastery and Gyangzha Monastery. Each monastery is endowed with different legendary stories and decorated by distinctive sculptures, statues, murals, thangkas and other Tibetan cultural objects. Thus, the visitors get to encounter the most divine places with sacred importance.
3 days Kailash kora – 52km. Clockwise hike in a pilgrimage trail with religious thought around the Mount Kailash from Darchen to Darche via Derapuk Monastery and Zutulpuk Monastery, over Dolmala Pass 5630 m. (the highest ascent of Kailash Yatra) is called sacred walk outer kora of Kailash.
The charan sparsh yatra is a formed of Kailash Sacred walk known as touch kailash directly from your hand and body. The yatra is a day trip from Derapuk monastery is a north side of Mount Kailash. It is a glacier walk along the Gange river bank which is started from the north face of Mt. Kailash. Every yatries can afford the directly touch to the feet of Mt. Kailash from the bottom of mysterious pyramid and get bless from Lord Shiva and get a shann from Sahashra Dhara fallig jal from Kailash Parvat.
Yatries can prey, meditation and offer a puja in the charan sparsh and the feeling of naturally haven in the lifetime. This yatra is quite hard to walk because it’s not a regular walking trail. Due to the glacier melt, the walking path is caning any time and our experience guide define the best and secure and comfortable way to reach charan sparsh. The Sacred walk is about (7km – One way) and it required almost full day for return trip. Charan sparsh know as Touch Kailash Parvat. One of must do and most hike spot while you are in Kailash tour.
The Touch kailash trip offer grater view of Mount Kailash from the North face which is outstanding, dramatic which is a formed of natural cosmic Mandala.
Inner kora in Kailash is one of most challenging sacred walk to the highest point and nearest view of Kailash. Nandi Parikrama begin from Darchen via Sealong Monastery to Saptarishi Cave (Known as Guru Rimpoche Cave in Buddhism) to touch kailash, make a circle of Nandi Mountain over 5800 meter pass back to Darchen via Gyandrak Monastery. Because of geographical difficulty, weather condition and lack of permit access, only few people participant for this inner kora in Kailash.
Rakshas Tal known as Lang-Tso in Tibetan language located in west side of Lake Mansarovar. The lake lake is believed origin through the Demon king Ravana who was the King of Lanka. In that time, while Ravana was meditating for 1000 years to get super natural power nearby abode of Lord Shiva to make him happy and get great bless. It looks one of beautiful lake but it says the lake figure is like a sleeping human body and it has salty water and there are no any living thins inside the lake. Another myth says after bath in Rakshas Tal, King Ravana get negative energy and he fallen with God Ram wife Goddess Sita. Until now also no one go to the lake and touch the water in this Rakshas Tal. But, some of Hindus people go to Lake and make a spiritual puja and hawan to clean negative Energy.
The holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not as difficult as the people anticipate but is definitely challenging in some trails. As the average altitude of the trip is around 5,000m, the trip happens to be demanding and challenging at times. So this trip can be a great test of strong perseverance, amazing spirit and relaxed mind. However the perfect time and perfect planning with the right team will help to make the Kailash Mansarovar yatra a trip full of memories to be cherished and remembered for a lifetime.
The trip to Kailash Mansarovar best time is May till October. The weather after mid October can be freezing cold start snowfalls. The reason, many kailash tour high passes were affect from snow, difficult to drive and to get water around. And the locals tend to close their guesthouses up to April.
The best months to arrange the Kailash Manasarovar travel falls from May to June and September to mid-October with the high visibility and stunning beautiful views accompanied by comfortable temperature 0 to 33 C. But, in the night the wind pressure and temperature drop down rapidly to – C. as well. During these months, the weather in Kailash Mansarovar is very refreshing along with deep blue sky and fresh air of the holy mountain
For many visitors the trip to Kailash Mansarovar has a very special sacred importance. The most auspicious time to visit Mt. Kailash is in during Saga Dawa Festival (May and June time Local Tibetans are deeply convinced that going one circle around Mt. Kailash in the year of Horse, the blessings you get would be 13 times more than usual and the wish you made will be more likely to come true. While Saga Dawa fest is also the birthday of Lord Buddha Sakyamuni. During this festival, Tibetans from all over Tibet pour into this area of Mt. Kailash. The giant flagpole at Tarboche is ritually taken down and the prayer flags along its length replaced. It is also a great time to do a Tibet tour, though it could be a bit crowded. However the visit to Kailash Mansarovar is itself the most auspicious place to get the blessings at any time.
This trip is a bit demanding and challenging at places so the packing must be done accordingly. The packing is expected not to exceed 15 kgs. The weather conditions and terrain might vary significantly from one region or even from one trail to another so it is better to carry multiple layers of clothes rather than heavy or thin. The winds in some of the passes can be fierce so it is best to carry windproof clothes such as windproof fleece, Beanie, etc. Being a Mountain region, the temperature can be very low even in summer and the weather might change frequently so it is recommended to carry down jackets and thermal trousers.
Basic trip necessities such as trekking poles, sun protections and high calorie food snacks are also recommended. The high altitude might cause altitude sickness so some medications and first aid can also be taken along.
Every foreign travelers and yatries who wish to take a journey to this magical Kailash tour they required valid China Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit. After the necessary paperwork through the legal travel company they will apply it. It takes 3 to 4 working days from the application period. Beside of that, you need other regional travel permits and entry tickets to entering Mt. Kailash for Sacred walk Kora. You get group visa and travel permit in paper which is valid until your kailash journeys. You can’t extend individually this group visa while you are in Kailash Yatra.
We really happy to suggest the best kailash tour packages from kathmandu for travelers. Here are the lists of Mansarovar Yatra packages.
1. Kailash Yatra by Road from Kathmandu via Kerung – 15 Days
2. Kailash Charan Sparsh Yatra 15 Days
3. Kailash Tour by Helicopter via Simikot –Hilsa – 12 Days
4. Kailash Mansarovar Tour via Lhasa Flight – 17 Days
From Darchen city, if you like to hire a horse and horse many for Kailash Parikrama (sacred Walk) you can simply order that with the cooperation of our Tibet Guide. They will assist you to find both services for your kora. Please note: Horse and horse man when you paid the cost is non refundable and non transferable to your friends, group members and others to. The cost to hire a horse for Kailash Kora is not so cheap, because of remote area, less greenery and seasonal work; they will carry horse food by themselves. The cost may go up to 535 US$ for 4 days with horse man.
Spending night above 5000 meter with the minimum facilities lodges (Just a room with very basic bed and warm blankets without bathroom in the room) is wilderness experience. The lodges and Tent huts are called mud huts. They do have few rooms with as much possible beds. The Mattresses, pillows and blankets are quite clean. But, the outside toilet you need to walk with your flash light, without water it disgusting and it’s like just a whole on ground. But we need to survive for those two nights.
A valid passport required for Travel to Kailash Mansarovar.
Now a day, you cannot directly bath and deep in Mansarovar Lake. But, you can pickup holy water from the lake by bucket and along the lake side you can take a bath from holy water since 2017.
The Kailash yatra is one of difficult trip itself. And touching the Mt. Kailash is even more difficult. But, if you are physically good and able to walk of course you can touch Mt. Kailash from North Side is called Charan Sparsh. By taking an extra day kailash trek from Derapuk Monastery you really can reach to the feet of Mount. Please read yatra plan and information from Kailash Charan Sparsh Yatra page. (It called atmalingam) and south side from Saptarishi Cave.
The Legend of Hindu Grantha Mahabharat and Ramayana explain Mt. Kailash is symbol of Nirvana and it’s a Home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Mt. Kailash is a formed of Himalaya Parbatmala and it called Kailash Parbat as well.
Many of Hindu Mythology and Scientists from Russia and America explain Mt. Kailash is an axis point, formed of cosmic Mandala and Center of Earth. And, it’s a Harmony of Human Living, beginning point of the great four rivers.
The cost for Kailash Tour is very depending on agencies, their service and Nationality. There are different permits costs for different countries people. Generally the cost starting from 2900 to 3100 US$ by Road from Kathmandu, 4300 to 4700US$ by Helicopter via Simikot and 4300 to 4700 US$ via Lhasa flight and drive from Kathmandu. However for Indian passport holder they calculate in INR per person and it offer by Indian currency fare. Download the yatra booking form from here
Not only for the devotees with religious values but also for anyone who wants to experience a journey full of inspiration, mystic sacred places, glimpse of the holy mountain, majestic views of lakes and a trip worth a lifetime, Kailash mansarovar never fails to entice the visitors. To share the path with the pilgrims, often the most devout nomads who have saved for years to make the trip can get anyone amazed and inspired for searching new meaning of life.