Kailash Mansarovar Overland Tour

The Kailash season runs from mid-May to mid-October. Mount Kailash lies in the trans-Himalayan rain shadow, so even the July and August monsoon months remain dry and viable on the plateau itself; the wet weeks mainly affect the Nepal-side road days, where the drive to Kerung can meet landslides and delays. June is one of the best months to travel. From November to April snow blocks the high passes and the tour does not operate.

Saga Dawa Festival: The Saga Dawa departure is the most popular of the year. Saga Dawa celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha; it is observed throughout Nepal and Tibet and the area around Kailash is at its most vibrant and spiritually charged. The kora route will be crowded with pilgrims, and ceremonies and rituals take place including the raising of a great prayer-flag flagpole at Tarboche. If you are interested in visiting during Saga Dawa, contact Swotah for the exact date for your year (it falls in May or June; 31 May in 2026).

In Nepal, temperatures in Kathmandu during the season range from around 12°C / 53°F at night to 29°C / 84°F at the height of summer, and Pokhara is warmer still. In Tibet, daytime temperatures in season range from 15°C / 59°F to 20°C / 68°F; nights drop to 5°C / 41°F and can reach minus 10°C / 14°F on the Kora—especially at the Drolma La Pass.

Nepal visa: Most nationalities receive a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. The current fee is USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days (bring two passport-size photos and the fee in USD cash). For an 18-day tour, the 30-day visa is recommended. The Nepal visa is not included in the tour price.

Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) and Tibet group visa: All foreign nationals entering Tibet must hold a Tibet Travel Permit and a Chinese Group Visa. Individual visas are not accepted for Tibet; tourists must enter as part of a licensed group. Travel to the Kailash and Ngari region additionally requires an Alien's Travel Permit, a Military Area Entry Permit and a Foreign Affairs Permit beyond the standard Tibet Travel Permit; Swotah arranges all of these for you as part of the tour. The minimum group size is four people—Swotah cannot obtain permits for groups of fewer than four. Swotah applies for the Tibet permits roughly 25 to 30 days before departure using a scanned copy of your passport; the Chinese group visa is then processed in Kathmandu in about 3 working days, for which your original passport is required. All Tibet entrance fees for monasteries and sites are included in the tour price. Do not attempt to enter Tibet independently or with a standard Chinese visa only.

Important: Do not bring photographs or items depicting the Dalai Lama into Tibet. These will be confiscated at the border and can cause serious problems for you and your guide. Do not raise the topic of the Dalai Lama with local people unless they initiate the conversation.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara you will have comfortable 3-star accommodation with Wi-Fi, attached bathrooms, and AC heating and cooling. A 4-star upgrade is available on request (additional charge applies).

In Tibet, accommodation ranges by location. In Saga and Darchen there are 3-star hotels with attached bathrooms. In Kerung, Diraphuk and Zuthul Puk—the guesthouses on the Kora route—accommodation is more basic: government-authorised tourist guesthouses, possibly dormitory rooms with shared bathrooms. These guesthouses are simple but adequate for one or two nights on the Kora. Bring a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth. Single rooms are not available at guesthouses in Tibet on this tour; all Tibet accommodation is on a twin-sharing basis.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, a wide range of cuisines is available—from Nepal's classic dal bhat takari (lentil soup, rice and vegetable curry) to Continental food, burgers and pizza. Vegetarian and vegan options are readily available in Thamel (Kathmandu) and Lakeside (Pokhara). Breakfast is included in your hotel price; lunch and dinner are at your own expense. USD 40 per day is sufficient for meals and personal extras.

In Tibet, the local cuisine includes Thukpa (a thick noodle soup with meat or vegetables), Sha Phaley (a fried meat pastry), momos (steamed dumplings with meat or vegetables) and Tsampa (roasted barley flour). Vegetarian options are available. Breakfast is included in the guesthouses and hotels; you purchase your own lunch and dinner. Bring snacks—power bars, dried nuts and fruit—for the long driving days and for the Kora, particularly day two when you leave before dawn and will not reach your next guesthouse until evening.

All the places on this tour are used to dealing with international tourists and should maintain reasonable hygiene standards. Your own stomach, adjusting to different spices and bacteria, is the more likely concern—bring stomach remedy and indigestion tablets as a precaution. Bottled water is available everywhere on the tour.

Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara (and the return) are included in the tour price. The flight takes approximately 25 minutes and gives early views of the Himalaya on clear days. All transfers within Kathmandu, Pokhara and Kirtipur are by private vehicle.

The Nepal–Tibet road leg uses a private coach for the Kathmandu–Kerung–Kathmandu sections. Within Tibet, you travel in a government-authorised private vehicle with a licensed Tibetan driver throughout. The vehicle carries a first aid kit and an oxygen cylinder for altitude emergencies.

Currency: exchange USD, Euros or GBP for Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu. Only Chinese Yuan (CNY) is accepted in Tibet; you can exchange to Yuan in Kathmandu or at the border. ATMs and credit cards work in Kathmandu and Pokhara but not in Tibet—bring sufficient Yuan cash before crossing the border.

Nepal is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The 2021 census recorded 142 ethnic groups and over 124 languages. Nepali (derived from Sanskrit) is the official language taught in schools and understood throughout the country, but in remote areas many older people still speak their mother tongue. The Newars—the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley—continue to speak Newari among themselves today; Kirtipur on day 15 is a Newari town and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the valley. Around Pokhara, the Gurungs are the dominant group—many of them veterans or descendants of Gurkha soldiers in the British and Indian armies. Nepal was a Hindu kingdom until 2008; Hinduism remains the majority religion, blended in the Kathmandu Valley with a Buddhism unique to the region.

Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China. The ethnic Tibetan population is genetically and culturally close to other Sino-Tibetan groups such as the Bhutanese; it is believed Tibet has been inhabited for around 30,000 years. Buddhism has been the defining culture of Tibet for over 1,300 years. Despite the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976, when religion was outlawed across China, Tibetan Buddhist culture has endured. Han Chinese migration means Han Chinese now make up an estimated 12% of Tibet's population, concentrated around Lhasa. Reverence for the Dalai Lama—the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism—remains strong among Tibetan people, though expressing this publicly carries risk. Do not bring photographs or images of the Dalai Lama into Tibet.

Mount Kailash is the only mountain on earth that is sacred to four living religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon.

For Hindus, Kailash is the home of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati—the god of creation, destruction and transformation, the supreme being of the Shaivite tradition. For Tibetan Buddhists, it is the home of Chakrasamvara (Demchog), a tantric deity representing supreme bliss, and is tied to the life story of Milarepa, Tibet's greatest yogi. For Jains, it is where Rishabhanatha—the first of the 24 Tirthankara spiritual teachers—achieved enlightenment. For followers of Bon—Tibet's pre-Buddhist indigenous spiritual tradition—the mountain is where the founder of Bon, Tonpa Shenrab, descended from the sky. Bon practitioners can be recognised by the direction of their Kora: they walk anti-clockwise, while Hindus and Buddhists walk clockwise.

Lake Manasarovar (4,590 m / 15,058 ft), to the south of Kailash, is among the highest freshwater lakes in the world and is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. Hindu pilgrims believe bathing in its waters purifies the soul of a lifetime's sins. Chiu Monastery, perched on a rocky outcrop on its northwestern shore, offers one of the most dramatic views in Tibet: the white pyramid of Kailash rising above the deep blue of the lake.

The Kora is the ritual circumambulation of a sacred place—in this case Mount Kailash. 52 km / 32 miles long with a maximum altitude of 5,630 m / 18,471 ft, it is one of the most demanding and spiritually significant walks in the world. Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from India, Nepal, China, Bhutan and beyond arrive every year in the summer months; some complete the Kora multiple times, and a small number prostrate themselves the entire way round (lying full length on the ground, standing, stepping to where their hands were, and lying down again), a feat that takes two to three weeks.

Day one of the Kora (13 km, 5 to 6 hours): Drive from Darchen to Yama Dwar, the official starting gate of the Kora, and walk along the Lha Chu river valley with the north and west faces of Kailash gradually revealing themselves. Overnight at Diraphuk (4,950 m), a guesthouse on the north face with some of the best close-up views of the mountain.

Day two of the Kora (22 km, 9 to 10 hours): The most demanding day. Leave before dawn for the ascent to the Drolma La Pass—5,630 m / 18,471 ft, the highest point of the Kora and among the highest walking passes in the world. Bring a packed lunch. Pass Shiva Tsal, a sacred spot for Hindus. At the pass, hundreds of prayer flags mark the crossing. The descent is long and steep, passing Gauri Kunda lake below and crossing a valley before reaching Zuthul Puk guesthouse (4,850 m). The cave at Zuthul Puk is said to contain Buddha's footprints and handprints. Overnight at Zuthul Puk.

Day three of the Kora (approximately 2 hours): A shorter, easier morning walk to complete the Kora circuit back near Darchen. There is time to explore caves near Zuthul Puk before the vehicle collects you. Pony hire: for those who cannot manage the full Kora trek, ponies are available at Darchen (USD 100 to USD 150 per day, depending on season; book in advance through Swotah). Ponies carry you to the top of the Drolma La Pass; you must descend the far side on foot. Even with a pony you pay for a full day.

The Tibetan Plateau—sometimes called the Roof of the World—averages around 4,500 m / 14,764 ft above sea level across its entirety. For this tour, you enter the plateau at Kerung (2,800 m), ascend to Saga (4,400 m), and spend the most intensive days at Darchen (4,700 m) and on the Kora at 4,950 m to 5,630 m. The landscape is striking and alien: vast, treeless plains; brown and grey mountains; desert-like conditions; snow peaks rising above a dry plateau in what feels like another planet.

Altitude sickness (AMS): There is no way to predict who will suffer from altitude-related problems—it is not related to age, sex or fitness level. Common symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and difficulty sleeping. If you experience these symptoms, tell your guide immediately. Symptoms that are severe, worsening, or accompanied by confusion, loss of balance or shortness of breath at rest require immediate descent. The vehicle carries oxygen. Do not push through severe symptoms. An acclimatisation day at Kerung (2,800 m) is built into the itinerary before the plateau ascent. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol in the first days at altitude, and moving slowly all help.

Practical note on road travel: Landslides and road blockages do occur, particularly after heavy rain. Be patient if there are delays; follow your guide's instructions and do not wander away from the vehicle at remote stops.

Tibet is a culturally sensitive destination. Follow all signage regarding photography restrictions—no photographs inside many monasteries or of military installations and personnel. Remove shoes when entering any monastery or temple. Do not criticise Chinese government officials or policies. Do not bring or display anything related to the Dalai Lama—photographs, books, flags. Do not raise the subject of Tibetan independence or the Dalai Lama with locals unless they initiate the conversation. These are not political positions: they are practical guidelines to protect your guide, who is a Tibetan national, and to ensure your group can complete the tour without incident.

On the Kora, be aware that some pilgrims are prostrating—lying full length on the ground as an act of devotion. Walk carefully around them and do not step over or on their path. Do not damage or remove prayer flags, mani stones, cairns or any religious objects. Toilets on the Kora will be basic and shared by hundreds of pilgrims daily; bring your own toilet paper, wet wipes and hand sanitiser. Do not litter anywhere on the tour.

Safety: Road travel in remote Tibet can be delayed by weather and landslides. Never wander away from the vehicle at remote stops and always tell your guide where you are going at overnight or lunch halts. Keep valuables secure.

Budget: Breakfast is included everywhere. For lunch and dinner, approximately USD 40 per person per day covers meals and personal extras comfortably in Kathmandu and Pokhara (less in Tibet). Bring enough Yuan cash before crossing the border for all Tibet meals, drinks, pony hire and tips—there are no ATMs or card facilities in Tibet outside major towns.

Fitness preparation: Increase cardio exercise (running, swimming, cycling, gym) and hike on consecutive days before your trip. The Kora day two is a 10-hour day at 5,000 m to 5,630 m; arriving in the best possible shape significantly reduces the risk of altitude problems and makes the experience more enjoyable.

Communication: Most hotels and guesthouses on the tour have Wi-Fi. Mobile coverage is unreliable on the Kora. A Chinese SIM card (available in Kathmandu or at the border) with the WeChat app is recommended for Tibet; your guide can help with this on arrival in Tibet. Debit and credit cards work in Kathmandu and Pokhara but not in Tibet.