Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (13 Days)

You’re met on arrival in Kathmandu and helped with your hotel check-in. After a chance to rest, the group gathers for a Kailash orientation — an overview of the pilgrimage, the spiritual guidelines, and the practical briefings for the days ahead. In the evening there’s a temple visit for darshan and meditation before dinner.

An early-morning visit to Pashupatinath for the Rudra Abhishekam puja, performed at one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world. Afterwards we continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square for darshan of the Living Goddess (Kumari) and Kala Bhairav, then return to the hotel for rest and reflection.

After breakfast we drive north toward the border region — to Dhunche, Syabrubesi, or Timure depending on conditions — with a lunch stop at Trishuli Bazaar along the way. The whole route follows the Trishuli River through beautiful country, with villages, terraced fields, and mountain views unfolding the entire drive.

A short drive (or walk) brings us to Rasuwagadhi to complete immigration on the Nepal side. Our Tibetan guide meets us at Chinese immigration to handle the formalities, and we continue the short drive to Kyirong, where we stay overnight at a guesthouse.

A deliberately easy day to let your body begin adjusting to the altitude. The Kyirong valley offers lovely views of the surrounding hills and rivers, and you can visit the local market for a first taste of Tibetan culture, with traditional snacks or tea. A short hike on nearby gentle trails aids acclimatisation. Keep fluids up, eat an early dinner, and rest well for the days to come.

After breakfast we drive on to Saga, climbing onto the open Tibetan Plateau. Along the way we pass Ganesh Parbat and Lake Peiku Tso and cross the bridge over the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo). We take a packed lunch on the road and stay overnight in Saga.

A long but unforgettable driving day toward the holy Lake Mansarovar. We pause briefly at Rakshas Tal to take in its beauty before continuing on. Arriving at Mansarovar, we rest and have lunch, then prepare for the Mansarovar kora by vehicle — and catch our first glimpse of the great Kailash. We take a holy bath on the lakeshore and stay overnight nearby.

After our time at Lake Mansarovar, a short drive brings us to Darchen, the small settlement at the foot of Mount Kailash. We visit Ashtapada (5,600 m), one of the holiest vantage points of the mountain, where Tarboche — the outer Ashtapada — holds deep significance for pilgrims. The rest of the day is for gentle walks, meditation, and conserving energy, with an early night in Darchen to be ready for the kora.

After breakfast we drive to Yama Dwar (Tarboche), the starting point of the Kailash Parikrama. From here we walk along beautiful rocky cliffs and past waterfalls under a clear blue sky, taking in the immense grace of the landscape. We perform Guru Pooja along the way and take in views of Ganesh Parbat before reaching Deruphuk for the night.

The most demanding day of the kora. We climb to the high Dolma La Pass at around 5,600 metres, then descend gradually toward Zuthulphuk. From the top there are spectacular views of the east face of Mount Kailash and the source of the Uma River, along with Nandi Hill and Ashtapada. By late afternoon we reach Zuthulphuk — the "cave of miracles" linked to the master Milarepa — and stay overnight at a local guesthouse.

After an early breakfast we complete the final stretch of the kora and are picked up by vehicle near Darchen, where we reunite with anyone who did not undertake the parikrama. From there we drive together back to Kyirong for the night.

We drive from Kyirong to the border, complete immigration formalities, and continue on to Kathmandu, descending from the high plateau back into the green hills of Nepal over the course of the day.