The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is more than a trek; it’s a spiritual odyssey that tests your physical limits while elevating your soul. If you’re planning this sacred journey via the Kathmandu-Kerung route, here’s what your 13 days will look like.
The Journey Overview
Starting from Kathmandu at 1,337 meters, you’ll gradually ascend to 5,670 meters at Dolma-la Pass, circumambulating Mount Kailash and bathing in the holy waters of Lake Mansarovar. The trip is graded moderate to strenuous, combining long drives across the Tibetan plateau with challenging high altitude trekking.
Days 1-2: Kathmandu Spiritual Preparation
Your journey begins with a traditional welcome at Kathmandu airport, where you’ll receive a sacred Rudraksha mala. Day two includes visits to Pashupatinath Temple and Budhanilkantha’s reclining Vishnu statue, setting the devotional tone. The afternoon briefing covers everything from altitude sickness prevention to cultural etiquette in Tibet. This is your last chance to buy forgotten gear in Kathmandu’s Thamel district.
Day 3: Drive to Timure – Entering the Mountains
The seven-hour drive through Langtang National Park offers your first glimpses of snow-capped peaks. You’ll pass through terraced hillsides, pine forests, and traditional villages before reaching Timure at 1,900 meters. The road winds significantly, so motion sickness medication is recommended. Accommodation becomes more basic from here: simple hotels with squat toilets and limited hot water.
Day 4: Crossing into Tibet – Kerung
After a short walk across the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge, you’ll complete immigration formalities and enter Tibet. The border crossing takes 1-2 hours with thorough document checks. The drive to Kerung (3,000 meters) passes dramatic waterfalls and pine-covered hills. This is your first significant altitude gain expect mild headaches and slight breathlessness. Hydration becomes critical from this point forward.
Day 5: Saga – Into the Tibetan Plateau
The five-hour drive to Saga (4,610 meters) transforms the landscape completely. You’ll cross the sacred Brahmaputra River and witness nomadic Tibetan lifestyles against vast, treeless high-altitude plains. The air becomes noticeably thinner, and you may experience disturbed sleep completely normal at this elevation.
Day 6: Acclimatization Day at Saga
This crucial rest day allows your body to adjust before the final push to Mansarovar. Use it for gentle walks around town, hydration, and mental preparation. Don’t overexert yourself—acclimatization happens while resting, not by forcing your body.
Day 7: Sacred Lake Mansarovar (4,560m)
After a nine-hour drive, you’ll experience your first darshan of Lake Mansarovar with Mount Kailash’s southern face reflected in its turquoise waters. Many pilgrims report overwhelming emotions at this moment. You’ll perform parikrama around the lake, visiting Chiu Gompa monastery and seeing Rakshas Tal (Ravan Lake). The high-altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and sunglasses are essential.
Day 8: Mansarovar to Darchen – Preparation
Morning is free for spiritual activities, puja ceremonies, and the holy dip in Mansarovar at dawn. The short drive to Darchen (4,670 meters) brings you to the base camp for the Kailash parikrama. Rest well tonight—tomorrow begins the most challenging part of your journey.
Day 9: Darchen to Driaphuk – First Day of Kora
After driving to Yam-Dwar, the starting point, you’ll trek 12-13 kilometers over six to seven hours. The trail follows the river originating from Kailash’s northern face, offering stunning views of the western face—considered the most beautiful. Accommodation at Driaphuk is in basic guesthouses with shared facilities and no heating. Dress in layers and expect minimal comfort.
Day 10: Driaphuk to Zhuthulphuk – Crossing Dolma-la
This is the most challenging day physically and spiritually. The 22-kilometer trek takes nine to ten hours, crossing Dolma-la Pass at 5,670 meters. You’ll pass Shivasthali, Ganesh Kund, and Gauri Kund before the steep descent to Zhuthulphuk. The eastern face of Mount Kailash, resembling a sacred Shree Yantra, reveals itself during the descent. Many pilgrims experience profound spiritual moments at the pass despite the physical exhaustion.
Day 11: Completing the Kora – Return to Saga
A three-hour morning trek completes your parikrama. Vehicles meet you at the endpoint for the drive back to Darchen, then seven to eight hours onward to Saga. The sense of accomplishment is overwhelming—you’ve completed what millions aspire to do.
Days 12-13: Return Journey
Drive back through Kerung, complete border formalities, and return to Kathmandu via Timure. The final morning is for departure to your onward destination, carrying Mansarovar’s holy water and memories that will last forever.
What You Really Need to Know
Physically: Prepare for long hours in vehicles on rough roads, basic accommodation, and altitude challenges. Training should begin three months prior with cardiovascular exercise and hill walking.
Mentally: Expect discomfort as part of the spiritual process. Prayer flags, mantras, and the company of fellow pilgrims provide motivation during difficult moments.
Spiritually: Many report life-changing experiences—vivid dreams, emotional breakthroughs, and profound peace. The journey strips away the superficial, leaving you face-to-face with both Mount Kailash and your inner self.
Practically: Pack light but smart. Bring layers for temperature extremes, water purification tablets, high-energy snacks, and any personal medications. Toilet paper and wet wipes are essential as facilities are basic.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra demands respect, preparation, and surrender. It’s not about conquering the mountain but allowing the mountain to transform you. Every step becomes a prayer, every breath a meditation, and every challenge an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Are you ready for the journey of a lifetime?