Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026: Routes, Visas and Preparation

There are two practical ways to reach Kailash. The Kathmandu overland route via Kerung is the one most private groups use, and the Lipulekh route through Uttarakhand runs as a government-organised yatra with a lottery selection.

Via Kathmandu you need a Chinese group visa arranged in Nepal, which means your passport stays with the agent for a few days and the group must travel together. Passports need at least six months validity and blank pages.

Altitude is the hard part. Dolma La on the parikrama sits above 5,600 m, and the walk is 52 km over three days. Start walking five kilometres a day at least two months out, and get a cardiac clearance if you are over fifty.

Mansarovar at 4,590 m is where most groups spend the emotional core of the trip — an evening puja and a night by the lake, with Kailash across the water at sunrise.

Ponies and porters are available for the parikrama and should be booked in advance, not negotiated on the trail.

Our 2026 groups include the Tibet visa, permits, vegetarian meals throughout, oxygen support and a yatra manager who has done the circuit multiple times.