Mount Kailash Overland Tour

Trip Information

Add-Ons

Upgrade Your Accommodation in Kathmandu

Most people choose upgraded Kathmandu accommodation for relaxation, luxury, especially after completing the Mount Kailash Overland Tour. We select properties based strictly on location and high-value services. Your pre-trek or post-trek stay occurs at establishments like Dwarika’s Hotel or Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. You are also free to choose any of the luxury hotels and resorts you like. But choosing one close to the Tribhuvan International Airport can be beneficial. This saves critical time before your early departures. Most of our guests book this add-on to access muscle recovery sessions after the parikrama.

Your upgraded room includes many luxury services. Breakfast service starts around 5 or 6 AM. You eat pre-departure meals in quiet private dining areas and avoid crowded buffets that waste time. Our selected hotels provide airport shuttle services every 30 minutes, with no waiting during critical transit windows. After the Mount Kailash Overland Tour, these properties offer immediate access to spa and massage sessions. We coordinate your appointment before arrival.

We provide room selection based on your specific needs. You can request ground-floor access if knee strain occurs during trekking. You can even ask for north-facing rooms to avoid morning sun disruption. Our team confirms your exact room assignment 72 hours pre-arrival. Book this upgrade to relaxingly control your expedition’s start and finish. You should confirm your room preference when booking the main trek.

Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu before the journey begins

We can add Kathmandu sightseeing before your trek begins, a great way to start your journey in Nepal. This six-hour morning tour starts at 9 AM, you have to arrive a couple of days early to do this tour around the city. This adds about 2 extra days to the Mount Kailash Overland Tour itinerary. You explore UNESCO World Heritage sites while your body adjusts to an elevation of 1400 meters as you walk through Durbar Square’s palace complex. Walk the same stone paths Nepali kings used for centuries. Observe woodcarvers restoring 17th-century windows. Their tools have remained unchanged since the Malla dynasty.

Swayambhunath Stupa comes next, we climb its 365 steps to gain about 100 meters of elevation. Monkeys watch from ancient trees as you circle prayer wheels and spin them clockwise like locals do. Everything related to religion in Nepal is done in a clockwise direction. You can feel the rhythmic chanting inside the main stupa. From there, we head to Boudhanath Stupa at around 11:30 AM. Circumambulate the massive mandala with cozy cafes and eateries all around. You can smell butter lamps and incense in the air. Our guide explains the 108 prayer wheels’ significance as you practice spinning them with your right hand.

Following that, we visit the Pashupatinath Temple to complete the tour at 1 PM. We walk along the Bagmati River where sadhus meditate. There, we observe traditional cremation ghats functioning as they have for 1500 years. We use private vehicles for the day tour and also provide you with a tour guide. We handle all entry permits and guide fees as part of the Mount Kailash Overland Tour package.

Pre-trek acclimatization in Nagarkot

Nagarkot sits 35 kilometers east of Kathmandu at an elevation of 2195 meters. We will move you here immediately after your flight lands in Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport. You reach Nagarkot within two hours of touching down. This location provides the perfect mid-elevation transition before Kailash. You spend two full nights at this altitude, sleeping at 2195 meters triggers your body’s natural adaptation process. Each morning starts with guided walks through nearby wooded areas. You climb 200 meters of elevation gain over 3-kilometer loops.

Afternoons include resting, enjoying the views, and a briefing on the Mount Kailash Overland Tour. You learn to recognize early altitude symptoms through practical demonstrations. Lunch features iron-rich Nepali dishes that support oxygen circulation in the blood. Nagarkot’s sunrise views over the Himalayas serve dual purposes. The visual spectacle builds mental readiness. More importantly, the morning light regulates your circadian rhythm for high-altitude sleep. You experience a couple of hours of direct sunlight exposure daily.

This location offers immediate medical access if needed. We timed your departure for Day 3 morning. You leave Nagarkot after the final vitals check. This ensures your system operates at peak efficiency for the Kyirung drive. We recommend packing light for the transfer. Keep your daypack ready with water and snacks.

Post-trek relaxation in Pokhara

You land in Pokhara at an elevation of 822 meters after Kathmandu. We book lakeside hotels with private balconies facing Phewa Lake. You walk flat paths along the lake within 24 hours of arrival, avoiding steep hills initially. You can rent a rowboat on a per-hour basis and roam around the lake, gliding past the reflection of Machhapuchhre peak on calm water. Later on, you can visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp area on day two. We then sip tea or Himalayan coffee in quiet courtyard cafes, eat steamed momos, and fresh fruit smoothies. Your digestive system readjusts to varied foods gradually. We recommend avoiding heavy spices for the first three days on the Mount Kailash Overland Tour.

By day three, walk to World Peace Pagoda, the 30-minute climb tests recovery without risk. View the Annapurna range across the valley and sit on stone and wooden benches. This elevation gain stays under 200 meters, and we include a minimum of three nights in Pokhara. Sleep patterns improve significantly compared to Kathmandu’s noise. You should pack light shoes for lakeside strolls. Pokhara provides the ideal transition zone. Flights fill quickly post-trek season, so we will confirm your return tickets to Kathmandu before departure.

How does our trip start?

We will meet you after your flight lands in Kathmandu. There you meet one of our reps who will take you to your accommodation for the night. But before you actually leave the airport premises, you are required to get a tourist visa. On the first day of the Mount Kailash Overland Tour, we board a 4×4 vehicle and start early to avoid Kathmandu traffic jams before 7 AM. You cross the Trishuli River within 45 minutes, following the Araniko Highway.

Road width narrows to a single lane after 80 kilometers. The Kodari border checkpoint appears at around 12 PM. After having our permits and documents inspected thoroughly, we are free to head towards Tibet. Our vehicle will enter Kyirung town by 3 PM. We require all documents days pre-departure to apply for your Tibet visa. One of our reps will ask for all the documents you need to provide to obtain the necessary permits for the Mount Kailash Overland Tour.

Difficulty

This tour operates between 2800 and 5630 meters in elevation. You face sustained high altitude for eight consecutive days. Himalayan Rescue Association confirms 40 percent AMS incidence above 5000 meters. We enforce mandatory rest stops every 45 minutes during drives. Daily distances range from 40 to 507 kilometers. Road conditions dictate speed – average 25 to 40 kilometers per hour on gravel sections. You spend 6-9 hours daily in vehicles. Seat cushions prevent pressure sores during long drives. Hydrate with 500ml of water hourly to combat dehydration.

The parikrama trek covers 52 kilometers over three days. Dira-Puk to Zuthul-Puk gains 550 meters of ascent over 18 kilometers, which is why physical preparation matters even though this is not a full-time trekking adventure. We recommend avoiding alcohol for 30 days pre-trek to optimize red blood cell production.

We monitor oxygen saturation above 4800 meters and headache or nausea requires immediate rest. Do not push through symptoms since they can worsen instantly. Your successful Mount Kailash Overland Tour depends on respecting the mountain’s rhythm, not your own schedule.

Best seasons

We operate this tour mostly in the spring and autumn seasons. May and September offer the optimal conditions, with daytime temperatures reaching an average of 12°C at Mansarovar Lake during these months. Nighttime lows stay above freezing at 2°C, but can reach up to -10°C. You avoid monsoon rains that wash out roads in July and August. It does not really affect the Tibetan region, only the Nepalese hills. April brings snow and a little snowmelt on Mayum La pass while October sees early blizzards above 5000 meters. We generally avoid November through March due to extreme cold and possible road blockages. Temperatures drop below -20°C at Darchen during that time of the year.

Kailash parikrama permits are issued faster in popular seasons. Processing takes 3 days on average in May compared to around 4 to 5 days in peak August. You experience shorter queues at the Dolma La checkpoint. The mornings stay near 0°C even in summer while afternoons reach 18°C near Lake Mansarovar. Wind chill reduces effective temperature by 5°C on passes. Road conditions determine our schedule in winter. Gravel surfaces stabilize after April snowmelt while dust becomes problematic in September.

Can a beginner join this trip?

First-time trekkers can easily complete this with proper preparation. We require medical clearance confirming fitness for 5000+ meter altitudes. You do not have to train with heavy packs for months, you can just do some light exercises to prepare for the Mount Kailash Overland Tour. Building endurance before arrival is always a plus point for any trek. This tour demands consistent daily movement, you spend 6-9 hours in vehicles or walking for a couple of kilometers, completing the parikrama walk. Beginners often underestimate cumulative fatigue, which is why we have our own pre-trek fitness program for beginners.

We require trekkers to focus on acclimatization discipline and walk slowly during rest days and ascending days. Hydrate with 3 liters daily during the trekking days and 2 liters should be enough during the driving days. Avoid alcohol completely during the Mount Kailash Overland Tour. Beginners who follow pacing protocols reduce AMS risk significantly. You can carry Diamox as prescribed by your physician.

Physical readiness matters more than experience. Avoid rushing through ascending days and let your body adapt at a slow pace. Beginners must commit to group pacing. Success depends on preparation not prior high-altitude exposure.

Altitude Sickness

Himalayan Rescue Association data confirms that 35 percent of travelers experience mild AMS between 4500-5000 meters. But with proper acclimatization techniques, you are highly likely to avoid any of the effects of high altitude. In general, you need to keep yourself well hydrated, avoid too much coffee, no alcohol at all, and eat a carb-rich diet.

If you get slight symptoms and ignore them, they can worsen above 5000 meters. So, we recommend trekkers never ignore a persistent headache, as it precedes severe complications. Walk slower than your instinct tells you – 30 steps per minute uphill. Descend 500 meters immediately if you experience vomiting or confusion. Your safety depends on recognizing early signs and not pushing through discomfort. If you require immediate evacuation, we will call a rescue helicopter to take you to the nearest medical center.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

Guesthouses provide basic rooms with attached bathrooms. Heating comes from dedicated heaters in common areas only, while remote stays might not have such a luxury. Food focuses on digestible carbohydrates since it’s easy on the stomach and also good for avoiding altitude sickness. Breakfast means plain porridge, pancakes, Tibetan bread, toasts, boiled eggs, etc.. Lunch features steamed buns, vegetable soup, meat stew, noodles, pasta, and perhaps some local dishes. Dinner serves rice, flat breads, noodles, vegetable stew, stir-fried veggies, different types of meaty dishes, etc. Avoid dairy and raw foods completely and drink only purified water.

Carry 2 liters of water daily in reusable bottles. You can even add electrolyte powder to every refill for extra hydration. Hydration prevents 70 percent of altitude issues. You should also monitor urine color; pale yellow indicates proper intake. Avoid salty foods that cause dehydration and pack ginger candies for nausea during drives. Your body processes food more slowly above 4500 meters, so we recommend eating small portions every 2 hours.

Transportation

We use Land Cruisers with 4WD capability for all road segments. Each vehicle carries five passengers plus gear, excluding the Mount Kailash Overland Tour guide. Drivers hold Tibet Autonomous Region commercial licenses with high-altitude experience. You ride in reinforced suspension vehicles tested for gravel roads. The jeep carries spare tires and tools, any kind of breakdown cases are highly unlikely since we inspect the vehicle thoroughly before sending it on a long journey.

As a part of the package, we cover all your transportation expenses as per the standard itinerary. However, we will not cover any kind of flight expenses, those are considered to be your personal expenses that you should pay for separately.

Permit

Tibet Travel Permits require 4 to 5 days of processing through the Lhasa authorities. As per a recent report, the China Tibet Tourism Bureau rejects 12 percent of applications with incomplete documents, so provide us with all the documents we ask for. We submit passport scans, Tibet group visa forms, and itinerary details electronically on your behalf. Your passport needs six months’ validity and two blank pages. You also need to submit a single identical passport photo, applications fail if photos show head coverings or glasses. We verify all documents against the Chinese embassy requirements.

The group permit lists every traveler’s name, passport number, and nationality, and a group should have at least 5 travelers to qualify for the group visa. Our agency handles all Tibet group visa coordination with the Lhasa offices. Kodari border officials cross-check permits against electronic data. Missing Tibet permits halt entire groups for 24 hours or until we get a replacement after checking the electronic records. Tibet Tourism Bureau requires original permits, not photocopies; the digital copies serve as backups only. Officials stamp permits at each checkpoint along the route.

Trip preparation and fitness

Preparing for this Himalaya journey does not require much; you can just hike 15 kilometers on uneven terrain weekly for about a month. Since most of your days will be spent riding on a 4WD jeep, you do not have to be greatly fit for the trek; however, there are a couple of trekking days that require a minimal level of physical preparation. Apart from the physical requirements, you should also prepare for the trek by packing all your essentials. Things like essential meds if you are on any, cameras, phones, altitude sickness tablets, warm clothes, light clothes, etc. are very important for the completion of the Mount Kailash Overland Tour.

Cost & Budget

You pay USD ____ for the base tour. This package covers all Tibet permits, vehicle expenses, morning breakfasts, and basic lodging. Permit costs are fixed by the China Tibet Tourism Bureau, so fluctuations might occur in case of dramatic changes. As for your daily lunch and dinner, you should budget $40 daily for meals not included and snacks on the go. Renting trekking poles will set you back about $40 for the entire trek. All in all, you should carry about $600 in cash for all your extra expenses.

There are no hidden costs on our Mount Kailash Overland Tour package. Your trek guide will make all inclusions clear on the first day of the tour. You will know exactly what you are paying for and what you have to pay for separately.

Gadgets charging & Internet

Unlike Nepal, there are no frequent power outages in Tibet. So charging your devices should not be an issue at all, just bring a universal adapter so that it fits in the socket tightly, no wobbling mess. Internet services are available at most of the eateries along the way. These services thin as we gain more elevation and reach over 4500 meters above sea level. China’s firewall blocks Google services completely, so you will not get to use some of your phone services at all. Download offline maps and translation apps pre-trek if you want to use them. Your internet expectations must reset completely. No internet access in the highlands since it’s not practical anyways.

Your Extra expenses

Daily lunches and dinners cost during the journey, souvenirs, porter’s daily wages (if hired), rescue and evacuation services if you ever need any, and any additional costs due to unforeseen circumstances are your extra expenses. In addition to that, there are extra hotel nights, Mobile SIM cards, tipping, and upgraded accommodation.

Things to Remember Before Doing The Mount Kailash Overland Tour

• Verify passport validity exceeds 6 months from the departure date. Ensure two blank visa pages remain for Tibet stamps. China Tibet Tourism Bureau rejects damaged passport photos.
• Test all trekking boots on 15km walks before departure. Blisters form faster above 4500 meters due to reduced oxygen, so break in footwear at least 10 days pre-trek. Tape problem areas during trial hikes.
• Confirm travel insurance covers at least 5300 meters. Basic policies include high-altitude medical evacuation; however, verify that helicopter rescue coverage starts above 5000 meters.
• Pack two pairs of UV-blocking sunglasses, a small satchel of sunscreen, a beanie, mufflers, warm down jackets, etc., for the tour.
• Avoid alcohol for 30 days pre-trek. Alcohol dehydrates and can impair acclimatization, since it slows red blood cell production with regular consumption. Your body needs a full oxygen-carrying capacity.