Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu: Route, Permits and Cost

By Teerthayan • October 2026

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu is the most practical way for most pilgrims to reach Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. It takes about 12 days by road from Kathmandu, crossing into Tibet at the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung (Gyirong) border and climbing gradually onto the plateau, which helps the body adjust to the altitude. This guide covers the route day by day, the visa and permits, the parikrama, fitness and what the yatra costs.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu at a glance

The overland route, day by day

This is the plan our Kailash Mansarovar Overland Yatra from Kathmandu follows. The full rest day at Saga matters: going higher too fast is the main cause of altitude sickness on this route.

Visa, permits and documents

• Nepal: Indian citizens do not need a visa. For air travel to Nepal, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu accepts only a valid passport or an original Election Commission voter ID.
• Tibet: every pilgrim needs a Chinese Group Visa, applied for together with the rest of the group through a licensed tour operator, and Tibet permits. An existing Chinese visa in your passport cannot be used instead.
• Passport: needed for the group visa, so carry it even though Nepal itself does not require one.
• Timing: passport copies and photos are collected at booking so the visa and permits can be processed. Do not book non-refundable flights until they are confirmed.
• Age and health rules for Tibet are set by the Chinese authorities and can change from season to season; confirm the current rules at booking.

Lake Mansarovar

Lake Mansarovar lies at about 4,590 m, with Mount Kailash rising to the north. Pilgrims take a holy dip or bathe with lake water on the shore, perform puja, and watch the sunrise turn the snow peaks gold. Many carry home sealed Mansarovar jal. Nights by the lake are well below freezing even in summer.

The Kailash parikrama

The parikrama around Mount Kailash is walked over three days, about 47–52 km in all depending on where it is measured from:

1. Darchen to Dirapuk: about 13 km up the Lha Chu valley, with the first full view of Kailash's north face from Dirapuk monastery.
2. Dirapuk to Zuthulpuk over Dolma La: about 22 km and 8–9 hours, the hardest day, crossing the pass at about 5,630 m and passing Gauri Kund.
3. Zuthulpuk to Darchen: about 12 km of gentle descent to close the circuit.

Ponies and porters can be hired locally and paid directly; many older pilgrims ride for the Dolma La day. Pilgrims who do not walk can wait at Darchen.

Fitness and altitude

• Train for two months before the yatra: daily walks building up to 8–10 km, and stairs.
• Pilgrims over 60, and anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions, should get a doctor's clearance first.
• Ascend slowly, drink water often, and tell the tour leader at once about headache, breathlessness or nausea.
• Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover is essential.

What it costs

The overland Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu costs ₹ 2,50,000 per person with Teerthayan, Kathmandu to Kathmandu. The package includes Kathmandu hotel nights, all stays in Tibet and the border towns, vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 12 breakfast, the coach with a support vehicle, Chinese Group Visa processing assistance, Tibet permits, a Tibetan guide and a Nepali tour leader, oxygen in the support vehicle and a portable altitude chamber per group. Flights to Kathmandu, travel insurance with evacuation cover, pony or yak hire, the single supplement, GST and TCS are extra.

Overland yatra or aerial darshan?

The overland yatra is for pilgrims who want the Mansarovar snan and the full parikrama. If age, health or leave rule that out, the Kailash aerial darshan by flight shows Mount Kailash from the air in three days from Lucknow, with no trek and no Tibet permit. For Pashupatinath and Muktinath on the same trip to Nepal, see our Pashupatinath and Muktinath guide.