Mt.Kailash Tour Itineraries & Travel Guide
Much talked about but little visited, Mt.Kailash occupies one of the most remote and sacred corners of Asia. Until very recently this trip entailed a rugged 4WD expedition, but the increasing number of paved roads under sonstruction on the southern route is gradually making this a much more comfortable ride. Check out our pre-designed and most popular Mt.Kailash tour packages for your referrence.
Map of Mount Kailash Tour Route
If you just want to visit Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, the most direct route is the southern road (870km), a four-day drive from Lhasa along the spine of the Himalayas. Most people stop en route at Shigatse, Saga and Paryang, though Zhongba and Lhatse are also possibilities. Figure on a minimum of two weeks. See the first half of the Lhasa to Kathmandu itinerary for worthwhile extra stops in Gyantse and Sakya.
Stop in Shigatse – Tibet’s second-largest town
A kora (pilgrimage circuit) of the mountain will take three days and you should allow at least half a day afterwards to relax at Lake Manasarovar, probably at Chiu Monastery. You could easily spend a half-day at Darchen visiting Gyangdark and Seylung monasteries. After the kora pilgrims traditionally then visit the sacred hot springs at Tirthapuri.
Darchen – the starting point of Kailash Kora
An ambitious but rewarding alternative is to travel one way to/from Lhasa along the longer (1700km) northern route to Ali, making a loop that will take three weeks. The six-day drive is astonishingly scenic but the towns en route are mostly charmless, so consider camping somewhere such as Tagyel-tso. From Ali you can make a good day trip to Pangong-tso and Rutok Monastery. You’ll need at least three extra days if you want to visit the Guge Kingdom sites around Zanda: one day from Ali, one to to Mt.Kailash (or vice versa) and at least one day to visit the sites. You need most of a day to explore the otherworldly ruins at Tsaparang, plus a few hours in Zanda at Tholing Monastery. En route to Kailash, adventurers could add on an extra day to explore the Bon school Gurugyam Monastery and the amazing ruins of the ancient Shangshung kingdom in the Khyunglung Valeey.
Guge – the ancient Kingdom of Tibet
Finally, if you are heading to Nepal from Mt.Kailash, it’s well worth taking the short cut south via stunning Peiku-tso and its views of Shishapangma to join the Friendship Hwy near Nyalam.
Related Route
16 Days Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Tour
Itinerary: Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhatse - Saga - Prayang - Darchen - Dirapuk - Zutulpuk - Darchen - Saga - Lhasa
12 Days Tibet Kailash & Everest Group Tour + Optional Tour
Itinerary: Lhasa - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Mansarovar - Saga
