Holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra / Tour via Kerung / Naylam

Kailash Mansarovar overland yatra from Kathmandu, Nepal

Duration
13 days
Group size
20 people
Country
Tibet

Holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra / Tour via Kerung / Naylam Overview

Kailash Mansarovar overland yatra from Kathmandu, Nepal

Kailash Mansarovar overland yatra from Kathmandu, Nepal

This 13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra follows the route from Kathmandu to Kerung or Nyalam, Saga, Mansarovar and Kailash, and returns to Kathmandu by the same route.
The pilgrimage takes you to two of the most important religious sites in Tibet, Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, which are sacred to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the Bon religion. Earthbound Expeditions has taken thousands of people to Kailash Mansarovar since 1999.
You can read reviews from our travellers on TripAdvisor.

In 2023 we resumed our Tibet tours and organised trips to Kailash Mansarovar. You can see photos on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/earthboundexpd. We have also prepared a short video about the Kailash Mansarovar journey, which you can watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZWwbTq0nZU

Earthbound Expeditions has designed this 13-day itinerary, which starts in Kathmandu with darshan at Pashupatinath and continues to Kailash Mansarovar overland via the Nepal and China border at Kerung or Nyalam, returning by the same route. This is the shortest, least expensive and most reliable classic route to the Kailash Mansarovar area.
We can also organise the Kailash tour via Lhasa, or via Simikot and Hilsa in west Nepal.
If you wish to join the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lhasa and be in the Mansarovar and Kailash area on a full moon day, please email us. We have fixed departure dates for the 2024 Kailash Mansarovar tour on a group basis, and private groups can also be arranged. You can plan a Kailash Mansarovar tour with us from the USA, the UK or anywhere else in the world. Please contact us by email or WhatsApp on +977 9851017772 for details.
While you wait for your China visa and Tibet permit in Kathmandu, you can join our Muktinath tour or Gosainkunda trek, which helps with acclimatisation and lets you see more of Nepal.

Mount Kailash (6,638 m), known to Hindus as Kailash Parvat, is the most sacred mountain in Asia. Hindus believe that Kailash Parvat is the abode of Lord Shiva, which is why he is known as Kailashpati Mahadev. The peak is also sacred to Buddhists, Jains and followers of Bon. Lake Mansarovar lies on the Tibetan plateau beside Mount Kailash and is connected to nearby Lake Rakshastal by the natural Ganga Chhu channel. Its colour changes through the day. A pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and a holy bath in Lake Mansarovar are believed to bring salvation (moksha) and to remove all the sins acquired during a lifetime.

Several routes lead to Kailash and Mansarovar. On this trip we cross the China border at Kerung. The journey to Mt. Kailash Mansarovar is much easier today than in the past, but some people still find it challenging, particularly the circumambulation of the mountain (the parikrama or kora of Kailash). Please prepare yourself well, both mentally and physically, before joining the Kailash Mansarovar journey. If you have difficulty with the Kailash parikrama, you can hire a horse or yak to ride at extra cost.

Besides the Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar parikramas, the main highlights of this journey are Tirthapuri, the place of Vishnu where the Sutlej river flows; Gauri Kund, the lake of compassion; Yama Dwar, the starting point of the Mt. Kailash parikrama; Shivasthal; Ashtapad, at the foot of the sacred mountain; Tarboche, the flagpole; and the sky burial site.

Meals, transport and equipment for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
For the Kailash Mansarovar tour, we arrange your Tibet travel permit. We provide a duffel bag, down jacket, sleeping bag, beanie and buff. Our trained cook prepares hot meals every day (South Indian, North Indian and some Western food). You have caring staff, a good bus and a support truck. We perform puja and havan at Mansarovar. On the shore of the lake, we provide hot water from Lake Mansarovar for bathing in a shower tent before the puja and havan, and we prepare prasad. We also bring the havan samagri.

You benefit from our knowledge and experience, as Earthbound Expeditions has been taking people safely to Kailash Mansarovar for the last 24 years. We operate the tour ourselves and do not hand groups over to local agents.

Many companies run tours, and we aim to run and manage ours safely, to a high standard and in a spiritual way.

Our business is driven by passion rather than profit. We also support social causes: we played a key role in building over 155 classrooms after the earthquake, have built many schools and libraries, run health camps, help children with their education and create jobs for local people. Please see https://enepaltrekking.com/csr/our-business-is-more-passion-driven-than-profit/ for details. By travelling with us, you support an organisation with a commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Earthbound Expeditions is recommended by Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, the New York Times, the Guardian and many other national and international newspapers and magazines. The leader and co-owner of the company, Mr. Rajan, has led the trip to Kailash Mansarovar over 18 times, and our support team is trained and professional, with many years of experience on Himalayan expeditions.

The Kailash and Mansarovar parikrama (kora)

We drive all the way to Mansarovar by bus. The Mansarovar parikrama is done by bus (provided by the Ngari Kailash tourism authority). For the Kailash parikrama (kora), we drive to Tarboche (Yama Dwar) and walk from there for 3 days. The total walking distance around Kailash is about 40 km over 3 days. The first day to Diraphuk is about 14 km, the second day via the Dolma La pass to Zuthulphuk is about 18 km, and the third day is about 8 km to the end point of the parikrama.
If you cannot walk, you can ride a horse, or return to Darchen from Yama Dwar and wait there for the others to complete the Kailash kora.

You can watch short video clips by Earthbound Expeditions on YouTube of the havan at Mansarovar, the parikrama walk and more, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny-NsLarXOo and the links below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny-NsLarXOo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0a_UYbBv_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZWwbTq0nZU&t=36s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkfdSCHOJXk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwJme3ITgOM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXA295iB0GE The Kailash Mansarovar tour can also be organised directly via Lhasa, Tibet, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can be combined with the Muktinath yatra in Nepal. Please email us for more details of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2024.

Key highlights of the Holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra / Tour via Kerung / Naylam

Itinerary

  1. Check in to the hotel. In the evening, we give a short briefing about the Kailash Mansarovar tour.

    Day 1, Arrive in Kathmandu (1300 m)
    Altitude
    1,400 m (4,590 ft)
    On foot
    None, arrival day
    Night in
    Hotel, Kathmandu
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. After breakfast, attend puja and rudra abhishekam at Pashupatinath Temple and visit the Sleeping Vishnu. After the temple tour, drive to the hill station of Nagarkot for the views and acclimatisation.

    Day 2, Pashupatinath Temple and drive to Nagarkot, photo 1 of 3
    Day 2, Pashupatinath Temple and drive to Nagarkot, photo 2 of 3
    Day 2, Pashupatinath Temple and drive to Nagarkot, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    2,175 m (7,140 ft)+775 m
    On foot
    Easy walking, 1–2 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Nagarkot
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Watch the sunrise and mountain views from Nagarkot, then drive back to Kathmandu. On the way, visit Doleshwor Mahadev (the head of Kedarnath) and Patan Durbar Square (the old palace) before returning to Kathmandu.

    Day 3, Sunrise at Nagarkot and drive to Kathmandu, photo 1 of 3
    Day 3, Sunrise at Nagarkot and drive to Kathmandu, photo 2 of 3
    Day 3, Sunrise at Nagarkot and drive to Kathmandu, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    1,400 m (4,590 ft)−775 m
    On foot
    Easy walking, 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Kathmandu
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. We leave Kathmandu very early in the morning by reserved tourist bus for the Nepal and China border (Timure and Syabrubesi). We meet our Tibetan guide and drive to Kerung in a Chinese vehicle.

    Day 4, Drive from Kathmandu to the Kerung or Nyalam border, photo 1 of 3
    Day 4, Drive from Kathmandu to the Kerung or Nyalam border, photo 2 of 3
    Day 4, Drive from Kathmandu to the Kerung or Nyalam border, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    2,800 m (9,190 ft)+1,400 m
    On foot
    None, 8–9 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Kerung
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. We take short day hikes to help with acclimatisation.

    Altitude
    2,800 m (9,190 ft)
    On foot
    Optional 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Kerung
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Drive across Tibet, with views of Mt. Shishapangma (8021 m), Gauri Shankar and other high mountains.

    Day 6, Drive from Kerung to Saga or New Dongba (4500 m)
    Altitude
    4,500 m (14,760 ft)+1,700 m
    On foot
    None, 5–6 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Saga
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Today you have your first view of Lake Mansarovar and darshan (view) of Mt. Kailash from the Horr Chu pass. We complete the lake parikrama by bus.

    Day 7, Drive to Lake Mansarovar, overnight near Chiu Gompa, photo 1 of 3
    Day 7, Drive to Lake Mansarovar, overnight near Chiu Gompa, photo 2 of 3
    Day 7, Drive to Lake Mansarovar, overnight near Chiu Gompa, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    4,590 m (15,060 ft)+90 m
    On foot
    None, 8–9 hr drive
    Night in
    Guesthouse, Chiu Gompa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. We spend half a day at Lake Mansarovar, which helps with acclimatisation. You can bathe in the lake and perform puja and havan. Afterwards, pack and prepare for the three-day kora (parikrama).

    Day 8, Full day at Lake Mansarovar, puja and havan, photo 1 of 3
    Day 8, Full day at Lake Mansarovar, puja and havan, photo 2 of 3
    Day 8, Full day at Lake Mansarovar, puja and havan, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    4,590 m (15,060 ft)
    On foot
    Optional 2–3 hrs
    Night in
    Guesthouse, Chiu Gompa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. We drive to Darchen and then to Tarboche (Yama Dwar), and trek up to Diraphuk Gompa, which has a close view of the north face of Mount Kailash.

    Day 9, Drive to Darchen and Tarboche, trek to Diraphuk, photo 1 of 3
    Day 9, Drive to Darchen and Tarboche, trek to Diraphuk, photo 2 of 3
    Day 9, Drive to Darchen and Tarboche, trek to Diraphuk, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    4,900 m (16,080 ft)+310 m
    On foot
    12 km, 6–7 hrs
    Night in
    Guesthouse, Dirapuk
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. We trek up to the Dolma La pass (5600 m), offer short prayers at the pass, and descend towards Gauri Kund before continuing to Zuthulphuk Gompa. If you cannot walk, a horse or yak ride is available at extra cost.

    Altitude
    4,790 m (15,720 ft)−110 m
    On foot
    22 km, 8–10 hrs
    Night in
    Guesthouse, Zuthulphuk
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Trek from Zuthulphuk to Darchen, where the Kailash parikrama ends. On the same day, we drive to Saga.

    Altitude
    4,500 m (14,760 ft)−290 m
    On foot
    12 km, 3–4 hrs
    Night in
    Hotel, Saga
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  12. Drive to the Kerung or Nyalam border between Nepal and Tibet and continue to Kathmandu. Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.

    Day 12, Drive to the Kerung border and on to Kathmandu, photo 1 of 3
    Day 12, Drive to the Kerung border and on to Kathmandu, photo 2 of 3
    Day 12, Drive to the Kerung border and on to Kathmandu, photo 3 of 3
    Altitude
    1,400 m (4,590 ft)−3,100 m
    On foot
    None, 10–12 hr drive
    Night in
    Hotel, Kathmandu
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  13. After breakfast, you depart for home, or you can extend your trip to Muktinath, Pokhara or Chitwan National Park.

    Day 13, Departure
    Altitude
    1,300 m (4,270 ft)−100 m
    On foot
    None, departure day
    Night in
    No overnight
    Meals
    Breakfast

What's included

  • Arrival and departure transfers by air-conditioned coach.
  • Twin-share accommodation in 3-star hotels with full board meals (hotel upgrades possible at extra cost).
  • Sightseeing tours with monument entrance fees.
  • Bus from Kathmandu to Timure and back.
  • Luxury bus for the Tibet tour.
  • One support truck.
  • Best available accommodation at Kerung, Saga, Lake Mansarovar, Darchen, Diraphuk and Zuthulphuk during the Kailash journey.
  • Full board vegetarian meals prepared by our experienced cook and staff.
  • Boiled water free of charge.
  • English-speaking Tibetan guide.
  • One team leader and experienced support staff.
  • All travel permits.
  • Tibet and China visa fee.
  • Duffel bag, beanie and snood, free of charge.
  • Down jacket and sleeping bag, to be returned after the trip.
  • First aid medical kit.
  • Oxygen bottle and PAC (portable altitude chamber).
  • One bottle of holy water from Lake Mansarovar.

Not included

  • International flights and travel insurance.
  • Evacuation costs in the event of an emergency.
  • Hire of a horse, pony or porter during the 3-day Kailash parikrama.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Any other expenses not mentioned above.

Reviews

Exceptional5.0 out of 5Reviews from Tripadvisor
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Showing 10 reviews from 901 on Tripadvisor

Blissful Muktinath, Lake Manasarovar and Kailash Yatra

June 2026, Tripadvisor

We came back a week ago after completing our Muktinath, Lake Manasarovar, and Kailash Yatra with Earthbound Expeditions, and we are still filled with gratitude for the extraordinary experience they created. For many of us, this was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime spiritual journey, and Earthbound made it possible with professionalism, compassion, and genuine dedication. From the start, Earthbound was upfront and transparent about all costs, providing detailed information and setting clear expectations. Their planning was meticulous, and the entire yatra unfolded exactly as per the original plan, which is impressive given the complexity of travel across Nepal and Tibet. We want to express our sincere thanks to Rajan Ji, Kedar Ji, Chattan, Chota Rajan, Kedar Jr, and the rest of the Earthbound team. Their coordination was outstanding—handling logistics, transportation, meals, and daily briefings with calmness and confidence. Even in high‑altitude and remote conditions, they remained composed, supportive, and attentive. Their timely updates, gentle encouragement, and warm smiles made every member of our group feel safe and cared for. A special mention goes to our drivers, who navigated challenging mountain roads with remarkable skill and patience, and to our local Tibetan guide, whose knowledge, cultural insights, and steady presence enriched every step of the journey. The support staff—from cooks to porters to helpers—played an equally important role, ensuring comfort, warm meals, and seamless transitions throughout the yatra. One of the most remarkable examples of Earthbound’s dedication was when they arranged to ship our passports and group visa paperwork by helicopter to Timure to ensure we completed the Tibet immigration process on time. This extraordinary effort demonstrated their commitment to making the yatra smooth and stress‑free. Accommodations throughout the journey were comfortable and well‑selected for the terrain. At Lake Manasarovar, the facilities were understandably basic due to the remoteness. As constructive feedback, Earthbound could consider keeping yatris in Darchen or nearby hotels and driving them to Manasarovar during Brahma Muhurtham for shooting stars, sunrise darshan, and Rudrabhishekam. This small adjustment could improve comfort while preserving the spiritual essence of the experience. Aside from this, every other aspect of the journey was exceptional. The crew’s dedication was evident in countless ways—ensuring warm meals, managing altitude challenges, coordinating transportation smoothly, and maintaining a positive, uplifting atmosphere. Their kindness and patience made even the toughest stretches feel manageable. This yatra was blissful, transformative, and beautifully organized. Earthbound Expeditions delivered far more than a trip—they delivered an experience that touched our hearts and strengthened our spiritual connection. We wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone planning Muktinath, Manasarovar, or Kailash Yatra. Om Namah Shivaya.

Arunkumar CIselin, New JerseyRead on Tripadvisor

Once in a lifetime spiritual journey - organized extremely well by Earthbound!

June 2026, Tripadvisor

Excellent tour operator with highly flexible tour schedule customized to your needs. This was a once in a lifetime spiritual journey, well organized by Earthbound Expeditions. Rajan/Kedar took care of the logistics, Chhota Rajan/Chattan assigned to our group as well as Sri/Arjan assigned to parallel group took care of our day to day needs. The acclimatization protocol helped us to get used to the higher altitudes well. Daily health checks and reasonable accommodations along the way. The team did their best to help us with last minute change of plans (such as helicopter ride from Syabu Benzi to KTM), Pitru Tharpana at Kali Gandaki river etc. The total tour was 3 weeks long and well worth every bit of the tightly packed schedule. Fees were comparable to other similar tour operators with often spotty records.

Ravi ADallas, TexasRead on Tripadvisor

Amazing experience with Earthbound team

July 2024, Tripadvisor

Visited Mt Kailash in July 2024 through Earth Expeditions headed by Rajanji. We chose them as their iterniary is different from other travel companies and they responded to most of my questions/concerns. They included Nagarkot, hiking and visiting Monastery in Kerung as part of the trip. We had a great group maintained positive energy throughout. We had an Emergency with health. Their team addressed it as a high priority, took us to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment before sending us to Kathmundu hospital. Rajanji, Tibet guides Tasha La and Kelsang la made sure to get expedited exit at Border. I strongly suggest Earthbound Expeditions for anyone planning to take Mt. Kailash trip.

Vacation791271Read on Tripadvisor

Family Adventure in Nepal

October 2014, Tripadvisor

We just got back from an excellent first trip to Nepal with our kids ages 8 and 11. I had initially contacted several agencies to make enquiries and got the best most prompt and thorough response from Rajan at Earthbound so decided to go with them. Definitely a good decision - we were impressed with the organisation and professionalism he provided from start to finish. He offered an initial itinerary which we adapted to suit our needs and was a private trip for just our family. Whatever we wanted to do was no problem to arrange. The hotels were all a good standard and very well located. We did a four day trek from Pokhara which was a perfect introduction for the kids . Our guide Namaraj was great, informative and entertaining. He even ran back an hour to our lodge to retrieve the kids' Kindles that were left behind! Thanks also to our porters Harry and Bhadri who held our kids' hands over the difficult bits whilst carrying our stuff. Even when we chose a different rafting company than Earthbound use, Rajan and Namaraj still arranged private transfers for us at no extra charge. It very much felt like the personal touch made all the difference. The last night included a special Nepali dinner which Rajan personally escorted us to. I would not hesitate to recommend Earthbound Expeditions and will definitely use them again next time, as there will definitely be a next time!

Fiona PDenpasar, IndonesiaRead on Tripadvisor

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13 days

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