Trip Overview
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet via Nepal for a total 14 days. The holy lake and the mountain is revered by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon tradition. This 14 day journey begins in Kathmandu with Pashupatinath and Doleshwar Mahadev Darshan before continuing through Kerung and Saga to the Kailash region.
The journey includes a visit to Lake Manasarovar and continues to Darchen, the starting point of the three day Kailash Kora. The Kora passes through Dirapuk and Dolma La Pass at approximately 5,630 m before reaching Zuthulphuk and returning to Darchen.
The best time for this yatra is generally from May to September, when travel conditions are more suitable in the Kailash region. The journey combines sacred sites, the Tibetan plateau, Lake Manasarovar, and the challenging Kailash Kora in one complete pilgrimage experience. A 3 day Muktinath Darshan extension is also available on request, extending the yatra to 17 days for pilgrims who wish to include Muktinath in their pilgrimage yatra.
Trip Detail
Information | Detail |
Trip Code | MK701T |
Starting Point / End Point | Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
Route | Kathmandu → Syabrubesi → Rasuwagadhi → Kerung → Saga → Lake Manasarovar → Darchen → Kailash Kora → Saga → Kerung → Kathmandu |
Accommodations | Hotels in Kathmandu and Syabrubesi, hotels in Kerung, Saga and Darchen, and guesthouses at Lake Manasarovar and along the Kailash Kora |
Max Altitude | Approximately 5,630 m at Dolma La Pass |
Duration | 14 Days, 13 Nights |
Country | Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China |
Trip Grade | Moderate to challenging, involving a three day trek at very high altitude and several long driving days above 4,500 m. Best suited to physically fit pilgrims with good general health |
Activities | Pashupatinath Special Puja, Guheshwari, Sleeping Vishnu and Doleshwar Darshan, overland border crossing via Kerung, Lake Manasarovar rituals, Kailash Kora trek over Dolma La Pass |
Season | Best undertaken between May and September, when the Kerung border and Kailash region are most reliably open |
Transportation | Private vehicle in Nepal, land cruiser convoy in Tibet, and on foot during the three day Kailash Kora |
Meals | Full board throughout the entire trip, meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner included on all days |
Best For | First time international pilgrims seeking a balanced and practical Kailash pilgrimage |
Optional Extension | Muktinath Darshan can be added on request as a 3 day extension, extending the total trip to 17 days, at an additional cost |
Itinerary Overview
This 14 day, 13 night yatra combines Nepal's most sacred temples with the full Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage in Tibet. You begin in Kathmandu with a special Puja and Darshan at Pashupatinath Temple, followed by visits to Guheshwari Temple, Sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha, and Doleshwar Mahadev. From there, you travel overland to Syabrubesi and cross into Tibet at the Rasuwagadhi and Kerung border. After acclimatizing in Kerung, you continue to Saga, then to the shores of Lake Manasarovar, and on to Darchen, the starting point of the Kailash Kora. Over three days you circle Mount Kailash on foot, crossing Dolma La Pass, before returning through Darchen, Saga and Kerung to Kathmandu.
Here is a quick look at how your 14 day yatra unfolds.
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel, rest, and prepare for the pilgrimage.
Day 2: Special Puja and Darshan at Pashupatinath Temple, followed by visits to Guheshwari Temple, Sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha, and Doleshwar Mahadev, then the yatra briefing.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi through the scenic Himalayan foothills.
Day 4: Continue from Syabrubesi to Rasuwagadhi, complete the border formalities, and continue to Kerung.
Day 5: Spend the day in Kerung for acclimatization and preparation for higher altitude travel.
Day 6: Drive from Kerung to Saga across the high altitude Tibetan plateau.
Day 7: Continue from Saga toward the sacred Lake Manasarovar and experience the surrounding pilgrimage landscape.
Day 8: Travel from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen and prepare for the Kailash Kora.
Day 9: Begin the Kailash Kora from Darchen and trek toward Dirapuk.
Day 10: Trek from Dirapuk to Zuthulphuk through Dolma La Pass, the highest and most demanding section of the Kora.
Day 11: Trek from Zuthulphuk to Darchen, complete the Kailash Kora, and continue by road toward Saga.
Day 12: Drive from Saga back to Kerung.
Day 13: Cross back into Nepal through the Rasuwagadhi border area and continue by road to Kathmandu.
Day 14: Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure from Kathmandu.
Why You Will Love This Trip
Complete the Sacred Kailash Kora
This itinerary gives you time to prepare and acclimatize before completing the three day Kailash Kora. The route includes the challenging crossing of Dolma La Pass and the sacred landscapes around Mount Kailash.Special Puja and a Complete Temple Circuit in Kathmandu
Your yatra opens with a special Puja and Darshan at Pashupatinath Temple, one of the holiest Shiva shrines in the world, followed by Guheshwari Temple, Sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha, and Doleshwar Mahadev, giving you a meaningful and complete spiritual start to the pilgrimage.Experience Lake Manasarovar
Spend time at the sacred Lake Manasarovar before continuing to Darchen. The lake provides an important spiritual experience and a peaceful setting within the high altitude landscape of Tibet.Pashupatinath and Doleshwar Darshan
Begin your pilgrimage in Kathmandu with Darshan at Pashupatinath Temple and Doleshwar Mahadev. These sacred visits provide a meaningful spiritual beginning before crossing into Tibet.Overland Journey via Kerung
Travel overland from Kathmandu through Syabrubesi and the Rasuwagadhi border to Kerung. The route allows you to experience the changing landscapes from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal to the high Tibetan plateau.Built In Acclimatization
The itinerary includes a dedicated acclimatization day in Kerung before continuing to Saga and the Kailash region. This gradual progression helps you prepare for the higher elevations reached during the pilgrimage and Kora.Cross the High Dolma La Pass
The Kora includes the crossing of Dolma La Pass at approximately 5,630 m. This is the highest and most demanding section of the pilgrimage and an important milestone of the Kailash journey.A Complete Himalayan and Tibetan Pilgrimage
In 14 days, the journey combines sacred sites in Kathmandu, the Kerung border crossing, Lake Manasarovar, the Tibetan plateau, and the Kailash Kora into one structured pilgrimage experience.
Why the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Is Worth Experiencing
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra combines deep spiritual significance with a challenging journey through the Himalayas. It takes pilgrims from Kathmandu through Kerung and the vast Tibetan plateau to the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.
Mount Kailash is sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon tradition.
Lake Manasarovar is one of the most revered sacred lakes in the Kailash region and an important part of the pilgrimage.
The Kailash Kora is traditionally completed on foot around Mount Kailash over three days.
Dolma La Pass reaches approximately 5,630 m and is the highest and most demanding section of the Kora.
The journey combines sacred sites, remote landscapes, high altitude travel, and Tibetan pilgrimage traditions.
What You Will See and Feel During the Yatra
The journey gradually changes from the green Himalayan foothills of Nepal to the dry and expansive landscapes of the Tibetan plateau. The sacred sites, remote surroundings, and challenging Kora create a memorable physical and spiritual experience.
Scenic Himalayan landscapes as you travel from Syabrubesi toward the Kerung border.
Vast Tibetan plateau views on the journey from Kerung to Saga and Lake Manasarovar.
Sacred Lake Manasarovar surrounded by high mountains and open landscapes.
Mount Kailash, prayer flags, chörtens, and mani stones along the Kora route.
The demanding Dolma La Pass crossing and the high altitude landscape around Mount Kailash.
Altitude and Activities
This 14 day pilgrimage combines long road journeys, high altitude acclimatization, sacred site visits, and the three day Kailash Kora. The highest point is Dolma La Pass at approximately 5,630 m, making the Kora the most physically demanding part of the journey.
Day | Location | Altitude | Activities | Travel Time |
Day 1 | Kathmandu | 1,324 m | Airport transfer and rest | Airport transfer |
Day 2 | Kathmandu | 1,324 m | Special Puja and Darshan at Pashupatinath, Guheshwari Temple, Sleeping Vishnu at Budhanilkantha, Doleshwar Mahadev, yatra briefing | Local sightseeing within Kathmandu Valley |
Day 3 | Syabrubesi | Approximately 1,467 m | Drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi | Approximately 7 to 8 hours drive |
Day 4 | Kerung | Approximately 2,700 m | Drive to Rasuwagadhi border, cross into Tibet, continue to Kerung | Approximately 4 to 5 hours drive including border formalities |
Day 5 | Kerung | Approximately 2,700 m | Acclimatization day, short local walks | Rest day |
Day 6 | Saga | Approximately 4,600 m | Drive from Kerung to Saga | Approximately 7 to 8 hours drive |
Day 7 | Lake Manasarovar | Approximately 4,590 m | Drive to Lake Manasarovar, rituals at the lake | Approximately 6 to 7 hours drive |
Day 8 | Darchen | Approximately 4,670 m | Drive from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen | Approximately 2 to 3 hours drive |
Day 9 | Dirapuk | Approximately 4,900 m | Drive to Yam Dwar, begin trek to Dirapuk | Approximately 5 to 6 hours trek |
Day 10 | Zuthulphuk | Approximately 4,760 m | Trek over Dolma La Pass at approximately 5,630 m to Zuthulphuk | Approximately 8 to 9 hours trek |
Day 11 | Darchen | Approximately 4,670 m | Final short trek to Darchen, Kora ends, drive to Saga | Approximately 3 hours trek plus 6 to 7 hours drive |
Day 12 | Kerung | Approximately 2,700 m | Drive from Saga to Kerung | Approximately 7 to 8 hours drive |
Day 13 | Kathmandu | 1,324 m | Cross border, drive to Kathmandu | Approximately 6 to 7 hours drive including border formalities |
Day 14 | Kathmandu | 1,324 m | Departure | Airport transfer |
Accommodation and Meals
You will spend three nights in comfortable hotels in Kathmandu, one night in Syabrubesi, and hotel accommodation in Kerung, Saga and Darchen. During the days at Lake Manasarovar and along the Kailash Kora at Dirapuk and Zuthulphuk, accommodation is in guesthouses, as these remote locations do not have hotel infrastructure. This yatra is offered on a full board basis, meaning breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on all days as per the itinerary below.
Day | Location | Accommodation | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
Day 1 | Kathmandu | Hotel in Kathmandu | N/A | N/A | Included |
Day 2 | Kathmandu | Hotel in Kathmandu | Included | Included | Included |
Day 3 | Syabrubesi | Hotel in Syabrubesi | Included | Included | Included |
Day 4 | Kerung | Hotel in Kerung | Included | Included | Included |
Day 5 | Kerung | Same hotel as Day 4 | Included | Included | Included |
Day 6 | Saga | Hotel in Saga | Included | Included | Included |
Day 7 | Lake Manasarovar | Guesthouse near the lake | Included | Included | Included |
Day 8 | Darchen | Hotel in Darchen | Included | Included | Included |
Day 9 | Dirapuk | Guesthouse | Included | Included | Included |
Day 10 | Zuthulphuk | Guesthouse | Included | Included | Included |
Day 11 | Saga | Hotel in Saga | Included | Included | Included |
Day 12 | Kerung | Hotel in Kerung | Included | Included | Included |
Day 13 | Kathmandu | Hotel in Kathmandu | Included | Included | Included |
Day 14 | Departure | N/A | Included | N/A | N/A |


