The number of days required for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra depends on the starting point of your tour. If you are starting and ending in Kathmandu, it depends on the route that you choose to travel as there are 3 different routes from Kathmandu. It usually takes from 9 to 15 days on an overland journey or if you fly into Lhasa and then drive to Mt. Kailash. However, if you wish to travel from Kathmandu via the Simikot route and end the tour in Lhasa, then the journey will be around 20 days.

The direct answer to this question is: Yes! It is a very arduous and a challenging trip especially due to the altitude and thin air that is dry and contains 40% less oxygen that that at sea level. In such conditions, there is a high risk of catching altitude sickness. During the Yatra, pilgrims have to pass through high-altitude areas under hostile conditions. The extreme steep slopes and the long distances to be covered every day from one camp to another make the Kailash tour rather difficult. If you have a previous hiking experience in high altitude and do regular exercises and in a very good health, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

The highest point on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is during the Kora when travelers will reach the Dolma La Pass at 5,943m (19,500ft.). At such an elevation there are possibilities of getting hit by altitude sickness either mildly or seriously. It is a mandatory condition for joining this trip with Vi glaciers that you get good travel insurance that covers expenses likely to incur due to health issues and emergency evacuations. Make sure that your insurance company is well informed about all the activities being undertaken in the trip and the insurance also covers emergency air ambulance or helicopter rescue including medical expenses.

Mt. Kailash inner kora or parikrama starts and ends at Darchen. The inner parikrama is considered to be the most popular yet very challenging that requires some mountaineering knowledge and equipment. This journey involves walking a distance of about 34km/21mi starting the hike from Dirapuk visiting Kailash Charan Sparsa, exploring the Serlung monastery and getting a closer view of Mt. Kailash from here. The Kailash inner parikrama is considered more difficult than the outer parikrama as you need to cross a high pass and walk for more than 10 hours on high altitude area. The journey includes exploration of the Saptarishi caves, Nandi Parbat, Asthapada, Atmalingam, and Kuber Kunda.

Assuming that you will be taking the Simikot route via Nepalgunj, there is quite a lot of walking to be done beginning from Simikot through Dharapori, Kermi, Yalbang, Tumkot, Yari, and the Tibetan border towns of Hilsa and Purang. This route is usually more for an adventurous traveler rather than for a religious one. If you take the overland route via Kyirong or fly to Lhasa and drive onwards, then there is not quite much of walking. Although the walking distance is not large, the walking hours are long due to the undulating paths during the Kailash Kora. The second day is by far the hardest day as you will be walking for 10 to 12 hours. The first day of walking is about 4 to 5 hours while on the third day you need to walk for about 2 to 3 hours.

First and foremost, you should have a great determination and will power to decide doing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Once you have made up your mind to travel on this amazing spiritual journey of  Kailash Mansarovar, one of our travel experts will guide you from the very beginning on how to prepare yourself for the wonderful life-changing on this amazing spiritual journey of  Kailash Mansarovar, one of our travel experts will guide you from the very beginning on how to prepare yourself for the wonderful life-changing Yatra.

The direct answer to this question is: Yes! It is a very arduous and a challenging trip especially due to the altitude and thin air that is dry and contains 40% less oxygen that that at sea level. In such conditions, there is a high risk of catching altitude sickness. During the Yatra, pilgrims have to pass through high-altitude areas under hostile conditions. The extreme steep slopes and the long distances to be covered every day from one camp to another make the Kailash tour rather difficult. If you have a previous hiking experience in high altitude and do regular exercises and in a very good health, then it wouldn’t be a problem.