Kailash Mansarovar Tour

Kailash Mansarovar Tour Overview

Kailash Manasarover Tour with Family Adventures takes you on a mystical, and dramatic journey. Mt. Kailash is the holiest of all holy sites for the Hindus, Buddhists, and Bon sect of pre-Buddhist including the Jain religions.

A spiritual journey around the world’s largest and highest Tibetan plateau.

Mt. Kailash is located in Tibet’s Far South West around the Nagri province, one of the most desolate and arid countries. Yet it is mysterious and beautiful full of charms and beauties, situated on an amazing, scenic, and windswept landscapes. In the early days, the pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash Manasarover Tour was an epic and tough journey. But in the past few decades, networks of motorable roads have been built. Making the Kailash, and Manasarover tour much easier and possible than in the early days. Interested travelers can now experience the fascinating dramatic views on this spiritual adventurous journey to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarover.

Various Routes to Reach Kailash Manasarovar

Image: Kailash-Mansarovar-Tour

Kailash Manasarover Tour can be reached by choosing various routes from within Tibet, and Nepal. Where most of the Tibetan Himalayan Mountain ranges border with Nepal, as far as Ladakh in northwest India.
Family Adventures has designed the best and shortest itinerary routes to the sacred land of Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarover. Making it possible for all people to visit this wild and mysterious country within over a week time frame.

Kailash Manasarover Tour begins from Kathmandu city heading northwest towards Langtang Himal regions of Rasuwa district to enter Tibet.

From the Tibetan frontier town of Gyirong or Kyirong, our adventure begins. Driving towards the world’s highest and largest Tibetan plateau, amidst barren and moonscape country landscapes. The drive follows through the nice towns of Saga, and Paryang, crossing over a few high passes to reach first at Manasarover.

The Sacred Manasarovar Lake:

Manasarover is a huge lake, located at 4,510 m high in between Mt. Kailash and Gurla Mandatta mountain ranges. Regarded the holy lakes, where pilgrims take a dip and bathe in the shallow part of the lake. The belief of the Hindu followers is that it relinquishes the sins of a hundredth lifetime.

After a wonderful time at Lake Manasarover, the journey continues closer to our main destination. The drive then reaches Darchen Town, located beneath the south face of Mt. Kailash. It is a major town, around Nagri County for all pilgrims.
It is the starting and ending points of the holy Kora, Parikrama, or circumambulation. The hike begins a little further from Darchen at another holy spot of Taboche, facing the West Face of Mt. Kailash.

The Holy Circuit: Kora of Mt. Kailash

The circuit or Kora begins heading towards a small settlement at Dhiraphuk, situated on the North Face of Mt. Kailash. The Parikrama, circimbullation of Mt. Kailash continues with a steep climb to the top of Droma-La Pass.

The highest point of the adventure, and the mid-way of holy circuit hiking. Droma-La is an exclusive sacred spot, with thousands of colorful prayer flags and offerings. From the pass enjoy the closest views of Mt. Kailash North and East Face. Then the route leads to a long descent reaching the wide flat plain at Lamchu Valley. The walks get pleasant on the gradual path to Zutulphuk, another holy place with an interesting deep cave.

Where 11th-century poet, saint, and tantric Guru Milarepa mediated. From Zutulphuk walk leads to the end of Kora and the holy circuit, for an exciting drive. After completing the full Parikrama, Kora, or circumambulation of four cardinal faces of Mt. Kailash. The drive heads on the same scenic route back to Saga town, and towards the Nepal and Tibet/China borders. Then bid farewell to Tibet, and enter towards Nepal frontier post at Rasuwagadhi. An exciting drive brings you to the hustle and bustle of city life in Kathmandu. On reaching Kathmandu concludes the overwhelming and mesmerizing adventures of the Kailash Manasarover Tour.

Overall Kailash Manasarover Tour leads to a sanctuary, for those who are in search of spiritual haven or refuge. It is a journey of a lifetime adventures overcoming the bleak and dry terrains, and high altitude. As you get blessed with the views of holy Mt. Kailash, and the sacred Manasarover Lake.

The Amazing Features of Kailash Mansarovar Tour:

Mt. Kailash towers high at 6,638 m / 21,778 feet, located Far South West of Tibet/China. An amazing mountain of beauty and grace, with four cardinal faces of the holy Mt. Kailash. The Eastern Face is believed to be crystal, the West Ruby, the South represents Sapphire, and the North is Gold. Mt. Kailash is the spiritual hub for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Jain, and the pre-Buddhist animistic religion Bonpo.

The main Parikrama, Kora, or holy circuit, is a clockwise route for all religions. The Bonpo sects do the opposite way around taking anti-clockwise directions as per their ancient religious practice.

Mt. Kailash’s other great features and importance to mankind are the source of four great rivers. The Brahmaputra or Yarlung Tsangpo, Sutlej, Indus, and the Karnali River which flows through western Nepal to join the Ganges. Manasarover Lake, is nestled on the great Barkha plain of Tibet South West Plateau at 4,510 m/14,796 feet high. The name Manasarover comes from the ancient Sanskrit language, the word ‘Manas’ means the mind of a god or holy spirit.

The native Tibetan name is Mapham Yutsho for Manasarover, which translates as the ‘Unconquerable Turquoise Lake’. It is also called Tsho Rimpoche means ‘Precious Lake’. Lake Manasarover is situated amidst Mt. Kailash toward the north and Mt. Gurla Mandatta in the south.

Manasarover Lake with a circumference of 88 km/55 miles, and a maximum depth of 70 m/230 feet. This huge lake represents an eight-petalled lotus or a mandala square with four doors to the cardinal directions. Tibetan pilgrims do Kora around Manasarover Lake taking more than 3-4 days. Visitors can take the comfort of a 4WD Jeep or Land cruiser ride around Lake Manasarover takes approx. 3-4 hours.

Most of the hotels and lodges are located on the west of Manasarover Lake, visitors can perform worship and prayers. Enjoy a short hike above Manasarover Lake to Chu Gompa, tucked in a large red mud-overhanging cave.

The Routes and Difficulties of the Kailash Mansarovar Tour:

Kailash Manasarover Tour lead to a long overland journey in the comfort of four-wheelers. The difficulties on this tour are the long drives rather than facing the high altitude. The Tibetan plateau is the highest and world’s largest with an average altitude of 3, 000 to 4,000 meters. The drives follow the wide windswept landscapes, traversing over the high passes of above 4000 m to 5,000 meters. The route also runs parallel with the southern Himalayan snow-capped peaks, which form the boundary of western Nepal. Some travelers might get a slight touch of high altitude known as HAS (High Altitude Sickness) or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

But staying overnights at certain altitudes like Gyirong / Kyirong, Saga, and west of Manasarover, including Darchen Town. Travelers will get acclimatized to the high altitude, the other difficulty is spending overnights in a simple lodge.
On leaving Gyirong/Kyirong and Saga the big towns and city, the lodge and guest-house facilities are quite Spartan. It means basic with simple rooms, especially on hikes or Kora for 2-3 overnights. Including at Manasarover with basic accommodation in a simple lodge or inn. Most overnight lodges after Saga, with common bathing and toilets, and electricity facilities.

The food is simple and basic, most meals are Tibetan and Chinese with some variations. Includes meat and egg products and fresh seasonal vegetables, most travelers who are not accustomed to this type of food. Some might face difficulty to consume and the best is to carry some light snacks with you. In larger groups of 8 and above, camping can be organized with nutritious food, served by the camp chef’.

The hike around Mt. Kailash is not too difficult, apart from the gain in altitude. But the views of surrounding landscapes and snow peaks make the walks enjoyable and exciting. The only hardest part of the Parikrama/Kora or circuit is on the second day. From Dhiraphuk reach the high Droma-La Pass, after a few hours of strenuous climb. Taking slower and shorter rests in between the climbs will overcome the difficult sections of the Kora. The rest of the walks are on the gradual path, with a few short ups and downhills. To stay fit and healthy on this trip, one needs a positive attitude and take things as they come. Travelers must be well aware beforehand of the Kailash Manasarover Tour. It is a long driving journey around the remote and isolated corners of Tibet Region and the Himalayan Regions.

The Best Season for Kailash Mansarovar Tour:

Kailash Manasarover Tour can visit from late spring of April and May. As well as autumn/fall from September to mid-October. Spring starts from March until May, March will be cold, and the best time is April to May. During the end of April or beginning of May, a great festival takes place as per the Buddhist Lunar calendar. The religious event is Saga Dawa, the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Thousands of pilgrims from all around Tibet, and western Nepal pay homage to Mt. Kailash. On this festival a large number of pilgrims throughout the hike and Kora

During these months days are longer with enough sunshine hours, from early 5 a.m. till 7 p.m. Tibet follows Beijing Standard Time, which is 2 hours and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal Standard Time. The next best season is autumn of September to early October, days are crystal clear with blue sky. But it gets dark soon during autumn, with cold mornings, late afternoons, and nighttime. The Tibetan gets windy during the afternoon nearly all seasons of the year till dusk.

Family Adventures runs the Kailash Manasarover Tour during summer times of monsoon season from June to August. Tibet falls in the rain shadows, and the dark monsoon wet clouds are obstructed by the Himalayan Mountain ranges.

This is why the Tibetan Plateau is dry and arid with less moisture, with bright sunshine. Travelers require sunblock’s and sunglasses, wearing long pants and shirts to avoid the strong rays of UV (Ultra Violets). The bright sunshine with UV is normally above 3,000 meters high around the Himalayas and in Tibet.

During the summer monsoon season, Tibet gets less rain but is lively with green hills and valleys. The grassy fields are carpeted with miniature wildflowers of various species and colors, the Iris, Himalayan blue poppies, and azalea.

The only problem to encounter during summer and monsoon season is the drive from Syabrubesi to Kyirong/Gyirong. The motor road can be obstructed sometimes, by landslides and rock falls from the monsoon rain at lower altitudes.

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes