The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by way of Lhasa is not simply a long journey over Tibetan roads. In the Kailash Yatra via Lhasajourney, the route departs from the cultural heart of Lhasa and gradually becomes more remote as it goes into the interior of the Tibetan Plateau, eventually reaching Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. The journey is long and is mainly due to the high altitudes and vast distance, and it involves border checks; also, the Kailash Kora has to be arranged properly together.
Those planning their visit are advised that not only are the price aspects of a tour important but also the itinerary of the tour. If the tour is designed in such a way as to cut down the acclimatization time, or the Kailash Kora becomes too hurried, then an apparently cheaper-looking tour plan can actually turn out to be really problematic. We at Holy Kailash Tours believe that the touring schedule should also constitute the elements of the safety plan, besides being only a sightseeing schedule.
Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra via Lhasa at a Glance
Kailash Yatra Lake Mansarovar
The traditional Lhasa road route will take you about 14-15 days based on the actual schedule of operations and arranging for the arrangement of permits.
You'll start the journey at nearly 3,650 m above sea level in Lhasa and slowly proceed towards much higher altitudes around Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, respectively.
In short, this steady hike is the reason why the Lhasa route remains highly successful as a Mount Kailash pilgrimage, and that's probably why it's still considered the most common and traditional way.
The body gets a chance to accustom several days to high altitudes before reaching the highest parts of this spiritual trail.
After the flight, your journey continues to Lhasa from the USA, UK, Russia, or elsewhere. The most common way for visitors to reach Tibet is via mainland China by flight or bus. But when flight tickets and permit arrangements permit, one can go directly from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
With an altitude of around 3,650 meters, Lhasa could be a big part of jet lag and altitude effects. Do not take your arrival day sightseeing. Take things slowly, drink plenty of water, take a few hours to get settled, let the change in altitude be gradual and don't push yourself much; it really is a matter of getting to a high place and staying there.
Day 2: Explore Potala Palace and Lhasa
Mount Kailash Yatra
The day after your arrival, you can discover the Tibetan culture. You will see the iconic Potala Palace as the central sight of the city, and the Jokhang Temple and its surrounding area in Lhasa will have a very special place in the hearts of all religious pilgrims because Jokhang Temple is one of the most sacred pilgrim sites in Tibet.
If you are thinking of a Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, then for you this particular sightseeing day serves a double purpose of not only getting you acquainted with the Tibetan culture but also having another night's stay and acclimatisation at altitude.
Enjoy a day of sightseeing in Lhasa including visits to Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street as well as exploring a bit of Sera Monastery. Watching the monks debating in the afternoon at Sera is a really great experience. It is a different kind of experience from the magnificent architecture of the Potala Palace.
Take time off to relax and enjoy the scenery as much as possible throughout the day. Lhasa is not just a starting point of the Kailash Mansarovar Tour, but it also is the pilgrim route itself; one can find hundreds of Tibetan Buddhist practices carried out in daily life on the streets.
Day 4, Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Shigatse
Kailash Yatra photo
Leaving Lhasa behind, you drive uphill to the elevated plateau. One of the early major views you will see is Yamdrok Lake, whose blue waters are bordered by a barren mountain range and snow-clad summits.
You carry on to Shigatse, at an altitude of 3,840 m, where you can go to Tashilhunpo Monastery. You gradually get acclimatzed with the altitude throughout your stay there.
Apart from really one is getting further and further away from the civilization, what really changes as we leave behind Shigatse are the features and characteristics of the road that we get to see. Broad valleys, the presence of livestock grazing around, the distant peaks, and lengthy barren stretches are the elements which tend to characterize the China Kailash Mansarovar route.
Saga, at about 4,450 m altitude, is where the real essence of your Mount Kailash journey becomes apparent. The scenery is breathtaking, but the altitude has to be respected.
Day 6, Acclimatization Around Saga
Kailash Yatra Yam Dwar
An extra acclimatization days' worth would definitely be a good idea in Saga's vicinity if the itinerary allows an additional halt there. At this level, it is not a sign that you are not healthy if you walk slowly. In fact, your body is trying hard to help you breathe well and to maintain your general activities normally through its effort.
One of the main reasons is that the veteran Kailash Mansarovar Yatra tour organizers not only base their evaluation of an itinerary only on the number of sites it includes.
The road leading up to Lake Manasarovar is probably the most unforgettable part of the road trip. With hardly any trees visible, the area turns into a desert where huge expanses of bare flatness stretch to the distant Himalaya, a range which appears to rise from the earth to form an immense wall.
Reaching Lake Manasarovar at the last moment of the day, the sight of the holy lake, with which so many hopes are connected that it could well bring tears, is one of the emotional highlights of the trip. Not just a beautiful lake destination, Lake Manasarovar, sitting at about 4590 meters in the Himalayas, poses a serious altitude challenge too.
Day 8, Lake Manasarovar Puja and Darchen
Kailash Yatra Namtso Lake
The whole morning of your day 8 shall be devoted to Lake Manasarovar. Those who are on pilgrimage may either do the puja, meditate, offer prayers or follow a spiritual rite based on their faith and subject to how the weather has been.
The holy lake Manasarovar and the holy mountain Kailash are a pair in the sense that the spiritual journey of a devotee is completed by their combination. Having spent some time near the lake, you proceed on to Darchen, which is about 4670 meters above sea level and which forms the base camp of the Kora.
This physical highlight of the Yatra happens as you embark on the three-day Kora. The first leg runs from Darchen through to Dirapuk.
The distance usually varies from 13 to 15 km, according to the chosen trail and circumstances. The backdrop at Dirapuk, of course, is the famous North Face of Mount Kailash, sometimes even called Kailash Parbat or KailashParvat. Just take a look at it!
The trek here is a long walk only, but the truth is, climbing is not really important. It is one of those places where you simply cannot climb. Kailash Mountains are holy ground for several major religions, and that's why climbing Mount Kailash is banned.
The day is physically very challenging. One part of the trail heads up at around 5,630-meter Dolma La Pass, and the other part is Gauri Kunda valley down towards eventually the Zuthulpuk.
Truth is, the section demands great mental and physical stamina due to several factors: altitude, freezing temperatures, strong winds, uneven surface, and long walking hours together. At places where the difference between an ordinary Trekking Expedition and a pilgrimage to a high altitude is clear, such is at this place. Walk at an easy pace, be very respectful, and if something comes from your own physical condition which is alarming, respond positively and take the sign.
This section follows the last segment of Kailash Kora, which brings you from Zuthulpuk to the direction of Darchen. After walking nearly 52 km, you will be provided transportation in line with the day's travel plan.
The completion of the 52 km pilgrimage walk for pilgrims does not mean physical fitness or health is the reason, but a personal significance of completing the walk all the way around Mt. Kailash. The mountain is not climbable and stands over the route only as a sacred presence rather than a summit to climb.
After the Kailash Kora, the drive return towards Saga feels different. Your muscles may have become fatigued by the end of the hike; meanwhile, the long crossroads over the Tibetan Plateau afford you enough time to reflect on the experiences you just had.
This is also the time when many travelers start to figure out and appreciate that in a well-organised Mansarovar Yatra Tour Package, one of the key elements is to make provision for recovery rather than to fill each hour from sunrise to sunset with new and diverse activities.
Traveling back from a pilgrimage to one of the holiest mountains on earth must feel very different from the way you first came, right? Now the roads you have traveled along on your way to Mt. Kailash - the sacred mountain that stands alone in the heart of Tibet - will take you to Shigatse, one of the important religious and cultural centres in Tibet.
Anyone who might be interested in checking out different Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Packages and is wondering what the return journey includes can have their doubts cleared in advance by getting details on accommodations, vehicles, food, guide and permits, etc together with the timings of the roads from the travel agent before making the final booking.
In Lhasa, you will spend your last evening on this amazing journey, so make the most of it. You could take another wander through the city or even do a bit of shopping at Barkhor. Whatever you decide, it will be a special memory you have.
This place also serves as an excellent spot to have a chat with yourself about the journey's size and your experiences. You could easily go from the beautiful, towering Potala Palace and get a view of the remote valleys around Kailash.
The last day, when the scheduled flight is available, will bring you back toward Kathmandu. That's the end of the journey, but for most people, time does not seem to diminish the feeling of traveling Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Whether you prefer to refer to it as Kailasa Manasa Sarovara Yatra, Kailas Manas Sarovar, Manas Sarovar or the Mount Kailash Pilgrimage, what is important is this: going into one of the holiest places in the Himalaya knowing you are ready to give it your best, with an awareness of your limitations, and gaining from it an experience that will stay with you always.
The Lhasa circuit offers a strong cultural introduction to the pilgrimage. The religious journey is not filled with wilderness immediately. Instead, it involves a period in Lhasa, and journeys through Shigatse and Saga before arriving at Manarasovar and Kailash. It matters.
Mount Kailash is located in the interior of the Tibetan Plateau, well away from any passenger rail or road travel and outside of urban convenience. There is no easy luxury bypass, no way to avoid the altitude, the long highways, or the required circumambulation.
If you are a traveler searching for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Cost, the right question is not, What is the lowest-priced package? Rather, inquire what the package is offering.
Verify the needful, like permits; modes of transport; stay during the journey meals guide services; rest days; emergency provisions; and logistics support during the Kailash Kora. On Holy Kailash tours, we think the best Kailash Mansarovar Tour is one where the logistics are fully sorted before you arrive in Tibet. Your mind should be immersed in the journey, rather than wondering, "Where is my original plan?Is there an extra 1000 yuan missing?
Oh, how can I find the driver after one week? Note: all flight schedules, Tibet entry requirements, permits, road conditions, accommodation & border procedures change with seasons. The final Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Tour itinerary must always be checked in line with the rules & regulations and operational conditions at your departure year.
