Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Road from Kathmandu

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

On the first day of your trip, you will arrive at Kathmandu International Airport. As soon as you land, our chauffeurs from WOO Adventures will be there to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Once you reach the hotel, you’ll have ample time to relax and unwind. All you need to do is rest and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing

Kathmandu offers a better sightseeing option than any other place. With Morning aarti, brightening your day with spirituality, today we will take you to the Pashupatinath temple around 9:00 am (before the aarti begins) and take you on a tour of the temple complex. After visiting Pashupatinath Temple, you will be visiting the Jal Narayan Temple and Guheshwori Mata Temple. After we finish at the temples, you can head back to your hotel and take time to prepare for the trip to the Nepal-China border the next day. But if you are interested in buying a few things for your trip, the popular Thamel market is a good place to go if you want to buy a few things or some trekking and adventure-related items. In the evening, there will be a short briefing program, and after that, we will introduce everyone to the group.

Day 03: Kathmandu to Timure

On the third day, after breakfast, we will board our bus and travel to Timure/Syabru Besi (2380m). While Timer is not a very long drive away from Kathmandu, the road conditions, traffic, and other factors can make this drive very arduous, uncomfortable, and time-consuming. Once we reach Timure, there will be a distance of 148 km and we will be expected to take 07-08 hours to reach our destination. Timure/Syabru Besi is where we will stay in local guest houses for the night and have dinner.

Day 04: Timure to Kerung

Day four of the Kailash Yatra by bus from Kathmandu truly unlocks the spirit of adventure as we take you across the Chinese border. Once the immigration formalities are complete, you’ll have the chance to experience the rich colours, culture, and landscapes of China.

We’ll begin with a short hike to Rasuwagadhi, the Nepalese border point at an altitude of 1850 meters, starting from Syabru Besi — a distance of about 15 km, roughly a one-hour journey. After completing the immigration process, the group will cross the border on foot. On the other side, Chinese buses will be ready to receive the pilgrims for a scenic 100 km drive to the town of Kyirong (2700m). You’ll travel aboard powerful, comfortable vehicles provided by the Tibetan authorities.

After making sure your baggage, food, water, and other necessities are loaded onto the bus, the accompanying Nepalese Sherpas will settle into their designated coaches. From there, you’ll continue your journey through the breathtaking Tibetan and Chinese landscapes toward Kyirong — a town also known by names like Gyirong, Kerung, or Keyrong.

Upon arrival, you’ll check into your guesthouse and have time to relax. Once the kitchen is set up (which won’t take long), our staff will serve you hot tea or coffee with light snacks. You’re free to stroll around the hotel vicinity or visit the local markets for a casual walk. Dinner, freshly prepared by our Nepalese chef, will be served between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM (local time). You’ll spend the night in a clean, dormitory-style guesthouse in Kyirong.

Day 05: Free day in Kerung

This day is for acclimatization to the harsh climate of Tibet. The tour manager of the trip will lead a short hike up and around Keyrong to help you adjust your body to Tibet's high altitude. Alternatively, you might spend the day in the accommodation chanting Katha or Bhajan.

Day 06: Kerung to Saga

The views are breathtaking during our drive from Kerung to Saga, considering the Tibetan plains and trekking mountains. Arrive at Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra River), cross it, then travel north until finding the beautiful town of Saga (4640m). Saga is a nice quaint Tibetan town with local stores, restaurants, and several good hotels or guesthouses where you could have as much fun as you want while adjusting to the new altitude. Saga will prepare breakfast and dinner along with providing a place for rest.

Day 07: Saga to Lake Mansarovar

This marks a significant moment in your Kailash Yatra, as you will now travel by bus to Lake Mansarovar where you will get the first glimpse of the revered Mount Kailash. This day will require extensive traveling. To reach Lake Mansarovar, we need to go through quite a few checkpoints, so we need to get on the road early. This part of your journey begins at about 7:00 AM from your accommodation. We shall pick you up from your lodging and stop at the checkpoint prior to Mayumla Pass (4900 meters above sea level). Our next destination is Lake Mansarovar where we shall have our first darshan of Mount Kailash as well. Although today is going to be a long day of travel, there are many places along the way that make the drive well worth it.

Day 08: Lake Mansarovar to Darchen

In the morning, visit the Mansarovar Lake for a holy bath and puja, hawan, and other rituals according to tradition. The lake is beautiful in the morning spectacle, and a clear view of Mount Kailash only makes this visit to a holy lake more remarkable. The water would definitely be very cold, and devotees always show incredible devotion and spirituality and usually do not care about the cold, and it is very important to get this holy bath. It is also important to note that the Tibetan Government has changed the law and made swimming in the lake illegal and a crime, so please do not swim in the lake. Ask our sherpas to get you a bucket of water for your bath. After checking out, praying, and jumping in, the group is ready to go on to the Village of Darchen, where they will pass Rakshasa Taal and Chiu Gompa and have completed 70% of the parikrama of the sacred lake. After the circumambulation of Mount Kailash, the last part of the parikrama will be done on the way back from Darchen. After you reach Darchen, check into the Hotel and use the rest of the time to rest and prepare for the Kora of Kailash the next day.

Day 09: 1st Day Kora/Parikrama of Mt. Kailash, 13 km trek to Dirapuk

We will wake up early today, and after a simple breakfast, we will depart for Tarboche. Remember to fill your water bottle before heading out on the hike. Prior to starting on a trip (kora), all pilgrims will have a chance to visit Yama Dwar. Tarboche is also where you can arrange for a horse/pony to ride on the Kora adventure to the South Face of Mount Kailash. Our staff will have no influence on the cost or availability of horses, ponies, or porters: they are operated and set by the local Union and Kailash Yatra tour providers. We will travel to Yama Dwar, which is considered the start of Kailash Kora. We leave from Tarboche.

We begin the 13-kilometre walk to Dirapuk slowly and methodically from Yama Dwar. Today's journey to Dirapuk Gompa is quite easy, but because you're walking at a high altitude and there isn't much oxygen in the air, it can be a little challenging because you get out of breath. In the middle of the hike, we will pause to see a few small shops and a tea stall before continuing on to Dirapuk. The pilgrims will glimpse the magnificent Mount Kailash, which rises high on the right side of their journey, as they arrive at Dirapuk. After taking some lovely pictures, proceed to your guesthouse close to Dirapuk Monastery. We shall eat a light and quick dinner because it will be extremely cold at night, below zero degrees.

Day 10: 2nd Day Parikrama, 19 km trek to Zuthulpukh via Gauri Kund

Get up well before sunrise to see the first rays of the day on Mount Kailash, which offers a breathtaking vista of the "Golden Kailash." Before starting the hike towards Zuthulphuk, have a quick, light breakfast, fill your flask with hot water, and pack your lunchtime munchies. Due to the constant steep ascent to Dolma-La pass (5630 m) and subsequent steep descent to Gauri Kund, this day is regarded as the most difficult of the entire journey. You can see people's things strewn about and colored flags flying around Dolma La Pass. This place goes by the name of Shiva Tsal (Shiva Sthal). Those who do parikrama leave materials behind—something they have used, clothing, jewelry, a drop of blood, or hair. The material is said to be what represents leaving this existence and hoping that a bad one comes to an end. In total, we need to hike about 19 km today to reach Zuthulpuk Gompa for the night.

Day 11: 3rd Day 06 km trek to Darchen, Drive to Saga

Today, we will complete our final walk around Mount Kailash. After having a simple breakfast, we will begin our descent toward Darchen. After walking about 6 km, we will reach the point where vehicles will be waiting to take us to Darchen, where we will regroup with the rest of the group. After a short rest, we will drive to Saga, completing around 30% of the Lake Mansarovar Parikrama by car on the way. Upon reaching Saga, we will have time to relax before staying overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 12: Saga to Kerung

After breakfast, we will set out on our journey to Kyirong. Crossing the bridge, we’ll take a moment to admire the stunning beauty of the Brahmaputra River before continuing our drive across the expansive Tibetan plains. The drive promises to be breathtaking, offering spectacular views of the Himalayas, including glimpses of Pieko-Tso Lake and the majestic Shishapangma. After navigating a mix of steep and well-paved roads, we will finally arrive in Kyirong, where we will spend the night.

Day 13: Kyirong to Kathmandu via Rasuwagadhi

Following breakfast, proceed to the Keyrong border. Here we will walk to Rasuwagadi’s Nepal immigration office where we will complete all the entry requirements for Nepal. Afterwards, we will take a vehicle waiting on the Nepal side and head to Kathmandu. The bus journey may take around 7 to 8 hours depending on road conditions and traffic. We will have dinner and spend the night in a hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 14: Fly back home from Kathmandu

Today is the day to bid adieu to your tripmates of Kailash Yatra by bus from Kathmandu . A little ahead of time, you will be taken to the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport for your flight back to your hotel or next destination.