Do I need permits for Mt. Kailash? Who arranges them?

Yes. You need the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) plus additional permits for Western Tibet (PSB/Border permits, and Alien’s Travel Permit). We handle all permits for you. You only provide your passport copy and China visa. Processing time: 15–30 days before arrival.

What is the difficulty level and maximum altitude?

Activity level 4/5. The highest point is Dromla La Pass at 5,630 m during the Kora. Acclimatization days in Lhasa are included before higher altitudes like EBC and Kailash.

What are the daily distances on the Kora?

Day 1 Kora: Darchen → Drirapuk Monastery: ~13 km (5–6 hrs). Day 2 Kora: Drirapuk → Dromla La 5,630 m → Dzutrulphuk: ~22 km (8–10 hrs). Day 3 Kora: Dzutrulphuk → Darchen: ~7 km (2–3 hrs) + drive to Lake Manasarovar.

What accommodation can I expect?

11 nights in 3–4* hotels (cities); 3 nights in simple guesthouse/dorms on the Kora (shared rooms, basic bedding, shared squat toilets, no showers on 2 nights). We recommend a sleeping bag liner.

Are meals included? Is vegetarian food available?

Inclusions: Breakfasts: 9, Lunches: 2, Dinners: 1. In cities there are more options; on the Kora food is simple (noodles, rice, soups). Vegetarian options are available; tell your guide your preferences. Bring energy snacks.

Is oxygen available and what about altitude sickness support?

We provide oxygen support when needed. Guides monitor symptoms and adjust pace. Consult your doctor about Diamox or similar before travel; stay hydrated and follow acclimatization advice.

Can I hire a porter or yak during the Kora?

Yes. Porter/yak service is available on request (extra cost, payable on site or in advance). Ask your advisor to pre-arrange if needed.

What should I pack for Kailash?

Layering (base layer + fleece + down/outer), waterproof shell, trekking boots, warm hat and gloves, UV400 sunglasses, SPF50+, lip balm, headlamp, power bank, reusable bottle/hydration system, purification tablets/filter, personal meds, wet wipes, toilet paper, sleeping bag liner.

How is water managed during the trek?

We provide bottled water daily and refills where possible. On the Kora, bring a reusable bottle and use purification tablets/filters for extra safety.

Will I have phone signal, Wi‑Fi and charging?

Signal and Wi‑Fi are limited or unavailable in remote areas (Kora/EBC). Charging may be paid or limited in guesthouses; bring a high‑capacity power bank. Mainland China plugs (Type A/C/I), 220V.

What are the toilets and showers like on the Kora?

Simple squat toilets, no showers most nights on the Kora. Use wet wipes for hygiene.

What’s included and not included?

Included: Tibetan English‑speaking guide, all Tibet permits, 11 nights 3–4* hotels + 3 nights guesthouse/dorm, breakfasts (9), lunches (2), dinner (1), private vehicle transfers, entrance fees, airport/train transfers (on schedule), oxygen support, butter/sweet tea tasting, local family visit. Not included: China visa, flights/trains, meals not listed, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance with high‑altitude coverage (required), porter/yak, Nepal exit/visa fees (if exiting via Kyirong).

What’s the group size and language of the guide?

Small groups of 4–13 travelers. Tibetan English‑speaking guide.

What is the best season and typical temperatures?

Late April–October. Expect cold nights at altitude; near Kailash nights can drop below 0°C even in summer. Monsoon brings occasional showers (Jul–Aug).

Can I exit to Nepal via Kyirong after the tour?

Yes, optional exit via Kyirong is possible (extra logistics and costs). You’ll need a Nepal visa (often available on arrival at the border); we help arrange the transfer and paperwork.

What is the booking, deposit and cancellation policy?

Deposit from 50% to secure your seat and start permits. If we cancel: full refund. If you cancel: 30+ days: full refund; 15–29 days: 50% of deposit; 14 days or less: 100% of full payment per person.

Do you help with flights or train tickets to Lhasa?

Yes. We can assist with domestic flights/trains (service fee applies). Train tickets to Lhasa typically open 15–30 days before departure.

Are drones allowed? Any photo restrictions?

Drones usually require special permits and are often restricted near borders and monasteries. Photography may be restricted inside some temples; follow your guide and posted rules.

Home » Tours » 15-Day Mount Kailash Kora Tour from Lhasa | Northern Tibet Loop

15-Day Mount Kailash Kora & Northern Tibet Loop Tour from Lhasa

Small-group tour (4–13). Local Tibetan guide. All permits arranged

Duration

15 days

Tour Type

Group Tour

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This 15-day private tour from Lhasa takes you deep into western Tibet to complete one of the most sacred journeys on earth: the Mount Kailash Kora. Over three days you’ll walk the full 52-kilometer circuit around the holy mountain and cross the Drolma La Pass at 5,630 meters — a route that Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bön followers have walked for centuries.

The tour doesn’t stop at Kailash. The return journey follows the Northern Grand Route across the Changtang plateau, a vast and largely uninhabited wilderness where wild yaks, Tibetan antelopes, and kiangs roam freely. You’ll pass the sacred Bön lake Dangra Yumco, spend a night in the remote Wenbu South Village, and close the loop at Namtso before returning to Lhasa.

Lhasa to Kailash and back. 15 days. One complete northern Tibet loop. All permits handled.

Small Group

4-13 Participants

Meal Inclusions

not included

Attraction Transfers

Tourist vehicle transfers between attractions

Accommodation

14 nights 3/4 star hotels; dorm bed of guesthouse and tent

Permits Handled

Tibet Travel Permit + Alien Travel Permit + Ngari Permit

Activity Level: 4/5

Challenging

Local Guide

Tibetan English-speaking guide

Itinerary

Lhasa — Shigatse — Changtang — Kailash Kora — Ali — Dangra Yumco — Namtso — Lhasa

Altitude & Safety

Oxygen supply provided; altitude support

How can we help?

For advice on where to go, what to do and how to choose your perfect tour, talk to our Travel Experts.

How to Book

Lhasa and Shigatse cultural days

Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery debates, and Tashilhunpo — the seat of the Panchen Lamas.

Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier

One of Tibet's three holy lakes and a roadside glacier, both on the drive west from Lhasa toward Shigatse.

Wild Changtang traverse

Days of driving across the remote northern plateau with real wildlife: Tibetan antelopes, kiangs, wild yaks. Landscapes most Tibet travelers never reach.

Dangra Yumco and Wenbu South Village

A sacred Bön lake hidden in the wilderness and a remote lakeside village with traces of the ancient Zhangzhung kingdom.

Namtso Lake

Close the loop at one of Tibet's holiest lakes, with the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains reflected in the water.

Kailash Kora — 3 days, 52 km

Walk the full sacred circuit around Mount Kailash and cross the Drolma La Pass at 5,630 m. The high point of the Kora and of most travelers' lives.

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m)

Your guide meets you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station with a traditional white Hada and transfers you to the hotel. Rest and acclimatize. Don’t plan anything else today — altitude at 3,650 m deserves your full attention on arrival.

Day 2: Lhasa city tour — Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple

Morning at the Potala Palace on Red Hill: the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, with its stupa burial shrines and centuries of Tibetan history layered inside.

Afternoon at Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, to see the sacred 12-year-old Sakyamuni statue.

End the day walking Barkhor Street, where pilgrims have been circling the temple continuously for over a thousand years.

Day 3: Lhasa city tour — Drepung and Sera Monastery

Morning at Drepung Monastery, once home to over ten thousand monks and the largest monastery of the Gelug school.

Afternoon at Sera Monastery for the monk debates — fast, loud, and completely unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere.

Day 4: Lhasa to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse

Cross the Gampala Pass for the first view of turquoise Yamdrok Lake spread below.

Continue past the Karola Glacier, through the ancient town of Gyantse, and arrive in Shigatse by late afternoon.

Day 5: Shigatse to Nyima — entering the Changtang (550 km, 8-9 hours)

Early morning at Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas.

Then north across the Northern Tibetan Plateau through Namling and Shenzha counties.

The Changtang grassland opens up as the day goes on. First wildlife sightings are possible from the vehicle.

Day 6: Nyima to Ge'gyai — deep Changtang (700 km, 10-11 hours)

A long drive across the fringes of the northern uninhabited zone.

Vast gravel plains, continuous snow-capped ridges, and the best wildlife of the trip: Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, and kiangs in open terrain.

Arrive in Ge’gyai County, the eastern gateway to Ngari, by evening.

Day 7: Ge'gyai to Darchen — first sight of Kailash (370 km)

Drive south across the Ngari wilderness toward Darchen, the small town at the foot of Mount Kailash.

The pyramid-shaped peak appears gradually on the horizon.

Use the afternoon to prepare gear and rest before the Kora begins.

Day 8: Kailash Kora Day 1 — Darchen to Dirapuk (20 km)

The Kora begins with a gradual ascent along the Lhachu Valley past the Two-legged Stupa and prayer flag square.

Walking alongside you are pilgrims from across Asia completing the same circuit for their own reasons.

Arrive at Dirapuk Monastery at 5,080 m in the late afternoon, with unobstructed views of Kailash’s north face.

Day 9: Kailash Kora Day 2 — Dirapuk to Zultulpuk via Drolma La Pass (22 km)

The hardest and most sacred day. Ascend to the Drolma La Pass at 5,630 m — the highest point of the circuit.

From the pass you overlook the Lake of Compassion (Khandro Sanglam Tso).

Descend steeply into the valley and arrive at Zultulpuk Monastery by evening.

Day 10: Kailash Kora Day 3 — Zultulpuk to Darchen, then drive to Ali (Shiquanhe)

A shorter final stretch completes the 52-kilometer circuit back at Darchen. The Kora is done.

Drive to Shiquanhe, the administrative center of Ngari Prefecture, for a hotel night with proper facilities.

Day 11: Ali to Gertse — heading north (490 km)

The return journey begins along the Northern Route. Rolling wilderness, colorful mountain ridges, and the characteristic emptiness of the high plateau.

Arrive in Gertse County by evening.

Day 12: Gertse to Wenbu South Village via Dangra Yumco (430 km)

Head into the realm of plateau lakes. Dangra Yumco is a sacred Bön lake hidden deep in the wilderness — one of the least-visited major sacred lakes in Tibet.

Arrive at Wenbu South Village on the lakeshore in time for sunset. The village preserves traces of the ancient Zhangzhung kingdom.

Day 13: Wenbu South Village to Baingoin across the Changtang (450 km)

Leave Dangra Yumco at dawn. Pass highland lake clusters including Dagze Tso and cross the heart of the Changtang grassland.

Grazing yak and sheep herds, plateau wetlands, and the long open road east.

Arrive in Baingoin County by evening.

Day 14: Baingoin to Namtso and return to Lhasa

Morning at Namtso Lake, one of Tibet’s three great holy lakes at 4,718 m.

Walk the Tashi Peninsula with the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains reflected in the water.

Cross the Nagenla Pass in the afternoon and descend back to Lhasa via Damxung. The northern loop is complete.

Day 15: Lhasa departure

Transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station at your scheduled time. End of tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to process the Tibet Travel Permit?

Typically, it is recommended to apply at least 15-20 days before your planned travel date to ensure ample processing time.)

Q: When is the best time to travel to Tibet?

The best time to visit Tibet is from April to October when the weather is most favorable, with clearer skies and milder temperatures. However, for those looking to experience specific festivals or less crowded seasons, other times of the year can also offer unique advantages.

Q: Is it easy to find vegetarian food during the trip?

Yes, vegetarian options are available, especially in larger cities like Lhasa and Shigatse. Hotels typically offer simple Western meals, and vegetarian dishes can be found in local Chinese restaurants or noodle shops in remote areas or small towns during long journeys.

Q: WVhat about breakfast at the hotel?

Breakfast at the hotel usually includes simple Western options. In larger cities, you’ll have a wider range of choices, whereas in more remote areas, the selection may be more limited but still satisfying.

Q: What is the difference between 3-star and 4-star hotels?

4-star hotels generally offer a higher standard of accommodation, with more spacious rooms, additional amenities, and better service compared to 3-star hotels. Both options provide comfortable lodgings, but 4-star hotels may offer a more luxurious experience.

Q: What is the maximum andnum number of people in a group?

Our tours are designed for small groups, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 13 people. This ensures a more personalized and enjoyable travel experience.

Q: Will medical assistance be provided for altitude sickness?

Yes, we provide 1L oxygen bottles for each tourist. For destinations further from Lhasa, we also supply medical-grade oxygen canisters, which are more effective than small bottles. It’s also advisable to prepare some altitude sickness medication as a precaution.

Q: How do most guests travel to Tibet?

Most of our guests choose to fly into Tibet, with many domestic cities offering flights to Lhasa. It’s the quickest way, usually taking 1-3 hours, compared to over 20 hours by train. Train tickets can only be booked 15 days in advance.

Q: Do we have to carry our luggage, or will it be transported?

Large luggage can be stored in the vehicle or left at hotels during your stay. You’ll only need to carry personal items and anything you might need for the day’s activities.

Here’s a general overview of hotels in Tibet; actual stays may vary depending on the tour and pricing.

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* Tibet Travel Permit Information: International travelers generally need a Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet. We recommend booking in advance to allow sufficient time for permit arrangements.

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Small-group tour (4–13). Local Tibetan guide. All permits arranged

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