Mount Kailash: How to Visit & Trekking Tips

Mount Kailash is one of Tibet's most unique spiritual and beautiful places. Learn about the pilgrimage to the mountain and why 4 different religions consider it an essential sacred space. This guide tells you everything you need to know to visit Mount Kailash.

Mount Kailash on a sunny day

About Mount Kailash

See Mt. Kailash from grassland

Mount Kailash is 6,638 meters, or 21,778 feet high, and an iconic part of the greater Kailash Mountain Range. Its extreme altitude means that the top of Mount Kailash is covered in snow all year round, so that visitors can get amazing pictures of the peak.
You'll want to acclimatize, or accustomize yourself to higher altitudes, before making the journey to Mount Kailash. This way, your body will be used to higher altitudes. Shigatse and Lhasa are excellent places to do this, as both are over 3,000 meters high.

Best Time to Visit

The sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet

The best time to visit Mount Kailash is from spring (April) to mid-fall (October), as the winter months are difficult or impossible to make the trek. Many places also close during the winter. Shoulder season, or spring and fall, is the most ideal time to visit, as summer is monsoon season in the Himalayas, and you could encounter surprise rainstorms on your trek.

However, during the summer, you can celebrate the Saga Dawa Festival, an important Buddhist holiday that happens in mid-June or April 15th on the Tibetan calendar. No matter when you visit, it's a good idea to start planning early, as you'll need permits and documents to see Mount Kailash.

Trekking to Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash Kora Map

Taking the pilgrimage, also known as "kora," to Mount Kailash is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While Tibetan pilgrims generally finish it in one day, many visitors prefer to break it up into several days, in a loop journey that starts and ends in Darchen.

• Day 1: Start in Darchen, then trek to Prayer Flag Square and end in Zhire Monastery (20 KM)
• Day 2: Start at Zhire Monastery, then go through Drolma La Pass, Zongdui Teahouse and end in end in Darchen (32 KM)

There are also eight supply stations throughout the route, roughly every 5-6 kilometers. The total trek is 52 kilometers.

Why is Mount Kailash Famous?

Admire Mt. Kailash in the distance

Mount Kailash is one of the most important religious and cultural sites in the world, surrounded by an extreme and beautiful landscape that you won't see anywhere else in the world. Despite pilgrims making the kora around Mount Kailash, nobody has ever summited the peak. It's a sacred space where Buddhists and Hindus believe that deities live.

Buddhists, Hindus, Bonpos, and Jains all consider Mount Kailash a holy place. It's also the source of natural wonders, including three sacred rivers, and has a naturally occurring pyramid at the top, which makes it a unique place to photograph.

How to Get to Mount Kailash?

There are four popular ways to get to Darchen for your trek around Mount Kailash. We recommend taking the Lhasa route as it's one of the most scenic, and you can acclimatize in Lhasa. As all foreign travelers in Tibet must join a private or group tour with a licensed guide and vehicles, we can help arrange all of this for you and help you secure the proper documentation prior to your trip.

Lhasa to Mount Kailash

The Lhasa to Mount Kailash route is an excellent option, as the roads in this region tend to be well-maintained, and there are plenty of interesting things to see along the way. You will see Manasarovar Lake, the historic village of Gyantse, and the beautiful Tashilunbu Monastery on your journey to Mount Kailash.

Ali to Mount Kailash

Another option is to start in Western Tibet in the town of Ali. At 4,250 meters, Ali is much higher than Lhasa, and some visitors may experience altitude sickness there. We recommend starting in a lower altitude like Lhasa and working your way up. It's also 27 hours from Darchen by car.

Nepal to Mount Kailash

You can start in Gyirong, a border crossing between Nepal and Tibet, and take a 2-day car trip to Darchen, which passes through Saga. Since Gyirong is only 2,700 meters above sea level, you'll need to acclimatize fast, which might impact your hike.

India to Mount Kailash

You can also access Mount Kailash from India. While this is a good option for Indian visa holders and citizens, it's not as appropriate for visitors from other countries. Plus, the acclimatization period is generally shorter, which can lead to problems on the trek.

Best Photography Spots Around Mount Kailash

A Tibetan temple with Mt. Kailash in the background

There's no doubt that some of the most treasured souvenirs from your trip to Mount Kailash will be photographs.

• Places like Zhire Monastery Camp give you a close-up view of the sacred mountain.
• Prayer Flag Square is the best location for photographing the beautiful night sky and the Milky Way. The stars are clearer in the mountains because there's little or no light pollution, so make sure you visit this spot for the best pictures.
• Mount Kailash looks stunning at sunrise and sunset, and Sewalong Monastery is the ideal place to get these photographs.
• Chiu Monastery is another excellent spot where you can capture both Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash in the same picture.

What to Prepare Before Visiting Mount Kailash?

The Mount Kailash afar

1. When it comes to visiting Mount Kailash, preparing for your trip in advance is the key. We can help you get together all of the necessary documentation, like a Chinese Visa, Military Permit, Tibet Travel Permit, and Alien's Travel Permit, before you go. You'll also need to visit with a licensed tour company.

2. While you'll find supply stations on the trek around Mount Kailash, it's also important to bring your own food. High-calorie, lightweight foods like nuts and dried fruits are good choices. You can also bring some dark chocolate to treat yourself and help with altitude sickness. Don't forget to pack additional altitude sickness medication, bandages, and oxygen bottles.

3. Good gear is vital on Mount Kailash, like sunscreen, sunglasses, waterproof layers, good high-ankle hiking boots, knee supports, trekking poles, and a warm down jacket. Mount Kailash is cold even during the summer, so pack plenty of warm clothing.

4. We also recommend that you talk to your doctor before booking the trek and make sure that you have the endurance to hike up to 22 kilometers per day at a high altitude.

5. You have the option of camping or staying in guesthouses along the way. We can help you book your accommodations and personalize your trip so it fits your needs and expectations.

Experience the Spiritual and Cultural Center of the Himalayas

Mount Kailash is full of spiritual and cultural significance for four different religions, and trekking around it will certainly be the trip of a lifetime. Let us help you make it a reality. Email trip@odynovotours.com or simply click here for your customized itinerary.