Kailash Mansarovar Tours and Trek

Nepal Hiking Team is praised for its professional, caring, and supportive staff who go above and beyond to ensure a smooth and spiritually meaningful journey. Past pilgrims highlight the team's expertise in handling complex logistics like Chinese visas, immigration procedures, and unexpected challenges, such as illness or itinerary changes. The company provides dedicated Nepali and Tibetan staff, including guides, kitchen teams, and yak support, creating a family-like atmosphere that helps trekkers feel motivated and safe throughout this demanding pilgrimage.

The team ensures your well-being by providing experienced guides, yaks to carry trekking luggage during the Kora, and a dedicated kitchen team that prepares warm, full-board vegetarian meals daily. Traveler reviews specifically mention the crew's attentiveness in keeping pilgrims hydrated with warm water and offering encouragement on the toughest sections, like the Dolma-La Pass. Their local Tibetan English-speaking guide also assists with cultural insights and permits.

Reviews from platforms like TripAdvisor and Google frequently commend the team's warmth, professionalism, and flexibility. One group of 11 women noted the staff managed "visas to immigration glitches" professionally and stretched themselves to ensure comfort when a guide was lost due to sickness. Another traveler described the Nepali staff as "true professionals who genuinely care," with special mentions of individuals like Dawa, Purba, and Gangaji for their dedication and responsiveness.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu Airport (1,350m), a representative from Nepal Hiking Team will greet you and transfer you to your 3-star hotel. On Day 1, you'll have free time to relax or explore Thamel. The team will collect your necessary documents for the Chinese visa application and handle the submission on the following Monday, streamlining a complex part of the process.

Yes, a Nepal entry visa is required and is not included in the package cost. You can obtain this on arrival at Kathmandu Airport. The Tibet travel visa and all necessary Tibet entry and road permits are fully included in the package. Nepal Hiking Team manages the entire Tibet visa process for you, as detailed in the itinerary, ensuring you have the correct documentation for entering the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The team collects the necessary documents from you on Day 1 in Kathmandu to apply for the Chinese visa. While the specific document list is not on the page, it's standard to require a valid passport with at least six months' validity. The team handles the submission and processing, making this administrative step hassle-free for your pilgrimage.

The tour requires a minimum of 4 people to operate. This group size ensures shared costs for transportation, permits, and guide services, making the pilgrimage feasible and more affordable.

To check availability and book, you need to get in touch by filling out the contact form on the package page. The Nepal Hiking Team will then check availability for your preferred dates and respond promptly. The page does not specify deposit amounts or payment schedules, so these details would be provided during direct communication.

The page does not list specific pricing. As the tour requires a minimum of 4 persons, the final cost per person may vary based on the final group size. The itinerary note also mentions that individual travel plans can be designed based on your preferences, suggesting pricing is customized. You must contact the company directly for a quote.

All ground transfers are provided by private vehicle. This includes the scenic 155 km drive from Kathmandu to the Nepal-Tibet border at Rasuwagadhi, and all drives within Tibet, such as the 230 km journey from Kerung to Saga and the 450-500 km drive to Lake Manasarovar. The same private vehicle is used for the entire overland portion of the tour, ensuring consistency and comfort.

Drives are long but scenic. Key drives include: Kathmandu to Kerung (155 km, approx. 8 hours), Kerung to Saga (230 km, 6-7 hours), and Saga to Lake Manasarovar (450-500 km, 6-7 hours). The journey also includes a short 40 km, 2-hour drive from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen, the base camp for the Kailash trek. These drives are a core part of the experience, crossing the high Tibetan plateau.

No, there are no internal flights included. This is a purely overland journey by private vehicle from Kathmandu to the Tibet border and throughout Tibet. International airfare to and from Kathmandu is also not included in the package cost.

This tour is rated as "Strenuous" due to the extreme altitude and remote terrain. The highest point is the Dolma-La Pass at 5,630 meters (18,470 feet) during the Kailash Kora. The trek involves three days of circumambulation: Day 1 (16 km, 6-7 hours to Dirapuk), Day 2 (22 km, 8-9 hours including the pass), and Day 3 (15 km, 4-5 hours). The trail is described as gravely with loose stones, and the crossing of Dolma-La is the most difficult part.

It is suitable for those who are physically fit and healthy. You will be traveling through areas with low oxygen levels and nighttime temperatures below freezing. The itinerary includes acclimatization days in Kerung (2,700m) to help your body adapt. However, those with respiratory or heart ailments should consult their physicians before booking, as the page specifically warns about the challenges of altitudes above 5,000 meters.

Yes, you have the option to hire a pony or horse to take you around Mount Kailash instead of trekking on foot. This is mentioned as an alternative to walking the three-day kora. The package includes yaks to carry trekking luggage, but not personal riding animals, so this would be an additional cost arranged locally.

The primary safety measure is the built-in acclimatization schedule. You have a full rest day in Kerung (2,700m) and gradually ascend to higher altitudes over several days before beginning the Kora. The itinerary paces the drives and treks to allow for adaptation. The package does not include supplemental oxygen in teahouses (listed as an exclusion), but the kitchen team ensures you stay hydrated with warm water, which is crucial for altitude acclimatization.

While the page doesn't detail emergency evacuation procedures, it strongly recommends having travel insurance, which is a cost exclusion. It also states that costs for transportation or services caused by unforeseen circumstances like landslides or illness are not included. For emergencies, the guide and support team would assist in arranging transport to the nearest medical facility, which would be in Saga or Kerung.

Yes, past traveler reviews indicate that the crew is attentive to sickness. In one review, when a teammate fell sick, the remaining crew stretched themselves to manage and ensure everyone's concerns were addressed. The dedicated Nepali staff, including guides and helpers, are there to provide care, encouragement, and logistical support if a pilgrim is struggling with altitude or health issues.

Personal trekking equipment is not included and must be brought by you. Based on the conditions (high altitude, cold nights, rocky trails), essential gear would include warm layered clothing, a high-quality sleeping bag suitable for sub-zero temperatures, sturdy trekking boots with good ankle support, trekking poles, a headlamp, sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen, lip balm, and a water bottle. The page does not provide a specific gear list, so you should prepare for a strenuous, high-altitude trek with basic accommodation.

During the three-day Kailash Kora, yaks are provided to carry trekking luggage. This is included in the cost. You will be responsible for carrying a small daypack with essentials like water, snacks, and extra layers while trekking. This service allows you to focus on the pilgrimage without the burden of a heavy pack at high altitude.

Accommodation is in basic guesthouses or local lodges, and during the Kora, you may stay in dormitories. Packing a sleep sheet or liner for your sleeping bag is advisable. Full-board vegetarian meals are provided during the Tibet portion, so you don't need to pack food. However, you should bring personal snacks, a reusable water bottle, and water purification tablets if you prefer not to rely solely on boiled water provided.

Accommodation varies by location. In Kathmandu, you stay in a 3-star category hotel with breakfast for four nights. During the initial trek to Chisapani, you stay in teahouses. In Tibet, accommodation is in guesthouses or local lodges, with basic guesthouses used during the Kailash Kora itself. The page notes that due to the remoteness around Mount Kailash, you may have to stay in dormitory-style rooms during the circumambulation.

Internet and phone services are not included in the package and are listed under cost exclusions. Connectivity in remote Tibet, especially around Mount Kailash and during the Kora, is extremely limited or non-existent. In towns like Kerung and Saga, basic internet may be available at guesthouses for an additional cost. You should not rely on consistent connectivity and should plan accordingly for the duration of the tour.

Full-board meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included during the entire Tibet tour and during the trek in Nepal. Meals in Kathmandu include only breakfast. The meals during the Tibet portion are vegetarian and prepared by a dedicated kitchen team. Past reviews mention being offered "good hot food" daily, which is crucial for morale and energy at high altitudes.

During the Tibet tour and trek, all meals are vegetarian. A dedicated kitchen team prepares full-board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for you. In Kathmandu, only breakfast is included at the hotel; lunches and dinners there are not covered. The focus is on providing warm, nutritious vegetarian food to support you through the strenuous journey.

The page does not specify a water policy, but past traveler reviews mention the crew ensured they "stayed hydrated with warm water." It is common practice for the kitchen team to provide boiled water for drinking. You should bring a reusable water bottle. Bottled mineral water and other cold drinks like Coke and juice are listed as cost exclusions.

The package does not explicitly mention special dietary accommodations, but as meals are prepared by a dedicated kitchen team, you should communicate any specific dietary restrictions or allergies to Nepal Hiking Team in advance. The standard fare is vegetarian, which aligns with the spiritual nature of the pilgrimage.

While the tour is listed with a minimum group size of 4 people, the itinerary includes a note stating: "If the above Kailash Mansarovar Tours and Trek itinerary does not meet your needs, we can design individualized travel plans based on your preferences and specifications." This suggests private tours are possible but likely come with a higher cost.

A group tour is the standard offering, which requires a minimum of 4 persons, and the itinerary is fixed. A private tour would be fully customizable: you can alter the itinerary, potentially travel with fewer people, and have more flexibility. However, costs for transportation, permits, and guides would be higher as they would not be shared across a group.

Tipping for trekking crew members, guides, and drivers is listed as a cost exclusion. While not mandatory, it is a customary way to show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the staff who support your pilgrimage. The amount is at your discretion based on your satisfaction with the service.

The Kailash Kora is the 52 km circumambulation of Mount Kailash, a sacred ritual for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bons. In this itinerary, the kora is a 3-day trek starting from Tarboche, a short drive from Darchen. Day 1 is a 16 km trek to Dirapuk Monastery (4,920m). Day 2 is the most challenging, covering 22 km to Zutulpuk Monastery (4,850m) via the high Dolma-La Pass (5,630m) and Gaurikunda. Day 3 concludes with a 15 km trek to the valley's end, where you meet your vehicle.

Dolma-La Pass, at 5,630 meters, is the highest point of the journey and holds great spiritual significance. Near the pass is Shiva Sthal, where pilgrims leave a personal item to symbolize leaving behind their old life and starting anew. Gaurikunda is a sacred lake encountered on the second day of the kora. These are key pilgrimage sites that add profound meaning to the physical challenge.

Yaks are provided to carry your trekking luggage during the three-day kora, which is included in the cost. You also have the option to hire a pony or horse for the circumambulation (at your own expense). A local Tibetan English-speaking guide accompanies you, and the full support team ensures meals and basic accommodation are arranged at the Dirapuk and Zutulpuk guesthouses.