Quick answer: From Kathmandu there are three ways to reach Kailash: fly to Nepalgunj and Simikot, then helicopter to Hilsa (about 11 days with parikrama); drive north through Rasuwagadhi into Tibet at Kerung (about 14 days); or fly to Lhasa and drive west (about 14 days). All need a passport and a Chinese group visa arranged by your operator. Kathmandu suits NRIs and yatris from south and west India.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
For a yatri flying in from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Dubai or London, Kathmandu is the natural starting point for Kailash. There is darshan at Pashupatinath before you set out, the Chinese embassy for NRI visas is here, and all three private routes into Tibet begin from this city. For families in Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, Lucknow is usually quicker; we compare the two below.
This guide explains each Kathmandu route day by day, how long it takes, what it demands of your body, and what the 2026 season taught us. 2027 departure dates and Chinese rules have not yet been announced.
Three routes from Kathmandu at a glance
| Point | Via Hilsa (fly + helicopter) | Via Kerung (overland) | Via Lhasa (fly + drive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you enter Tibet | Flight to Nepalgunj, flight to Simikot, helicopter to Hilsa, walk across the border bridge | Road north to Syabrubesi and the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung border | Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa |
| Typical days with parikrama | About 11 | About 14 | About 14 |
| Acclimatisation | Fast climb; a rest day at Purang (about 3,900 m) is essential | Gradual; rest day at Kyirong before the plateau | Gradual; first nights at Lhasa (about 3,650 m) |
| Weather risk | Flights at Simikot and Hilsa often delayed by cloud | Monsoon landslides on the Nepal side (floods in Rasuwa in August 2026) | Flight schedules; otherwise long but steady drives |
| Long drives | Few | Several long bus days | Several long road days |
| Extra darshan | Pashupatinath | Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha | Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Lhasa monasteries |
| Our package | 11 days, from ₹3,45,000 | 14 days, from ₹2,55,000 | 14 days, price on request |
Prices are per person on sharing basis as listed on our package pages, before GST and TCS; check each page for inclusions.
Route 1: Kathmandu to Kailash via Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa
This is the route most Indian yatris use. The Kathmandu Post reported in May 2026 that operators expected nearly 15,000 Indian pilgrims on the Humla (Hilsa) route that season, up from about 6,500 the year before. From Kathmandu it adds one flight compared with the Lucknow start, but saves the road crossing at Rupaidiha.
How the days run
- Day 1, Kathmandu: arrive, evening darshan at Pashupatinath, document check.
- Day 2, Nepalgunj: domestic flight of under an hour to the western Terai; briefing on small-aircraft luggage limits.
- Day 3, Simikot–Hilsa–Purang: early flight to Simikot (about 2,900 m), helicopter to Hilsa, walk across the bridge, Chinese immigration, drive to Purang (Taklakot).
- Day 4, Purang: rest and acclimatisation. Do not skip it.
- Day 5, Mansarovar: about two hours’ drive; snan where permitted, puja, lake circuit by vehicle, Rakshastal viewpoint.
- Day 6, Darchen: base village of Kailash (about 4,670 m); pony bookings.
- Days 7–9, parikrama: Yam Dwar to Dirapuk; Dolma La (about 5,630 m) to Zuthulpuk; back to the road head, then on to Dongba.
- Day 10, back to Kathmandu: Hilsa, Simikot, Nepalgunj and the connecting flight, all weather permitting.
- Day 11: departure.
Simikot and Hilsa sectors are run in small batches and depend entirely on the weather. A delay of a day or two is normal. Book your flight out of Kathmandu with at least one, preferably two, spare days.
Route 2: Kathmandu to Kailash overland via Rasuwagadhi and Kerung
The road route needs no small aircraft. From Kathmandu the hill road runs north through Trishuli and Dhunche to Syabrubesi, about 155 km that take 6 to 8 hours. Next morning you cross the Rasuwagadhi bridge into Tibet, where formalities can take two to three hours, and climb to Kyirong (Gyirong) town. After a rest day the bus climbs onto the plateau to Saga (about 4,640 m), then west to Mansarovar.
- Why choose it: the slow climb over several days is the gentlest introduction to altitude; there are no flight delays; it is usually the most economical way to complete the parikrama.
- What to expect: long bus days (Kyirong to Saga and Saga to the lake are each several hundred kilometres), simple lodges at Syabrubesi, bigger groups.
- Season: roughly May to September, sometimes into October, when the Kyirong road and permits allow.
- 2026 lesson: flash floods in Rasuwa in August 2026 damaged roads on this corridor and cut contact with some groups. Monsoon departures need spare days and a flexible return.
The Tatopani (Kodari) border on the old Arniko highway was reported still closed in 2026 and is not in use for Kailash.
Route 3: Kathmandu to Kailash via Lhasa
A flight of about an hour crosses the Himalaya to Lhasa’s Gonggar airport. Lhasa is about 3,650 m, so the first two nights there are themselves acclimatisation. The road then runs west past Yamdrok lake to Shigatse and Saga, reaching Mansarovar on about the sixth day. The return retraces the road with hotel nights, ending with the flight back to Kathmandu.
This is the longest and usually the most expensive way, but also the most comfortable: hotels on most nights and a full week for the body to adjust before the parikrama. It suits yatris with time who also want to see Lhasa’s monasteries.
Kathmandu or Lucknow: which start is better for you?
| If you… | Start from | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Live in UP, Bihar, Delhi NCR or nearby | Lucknow | Road crossing at Rupaidiha to Nepalgunj saves a flight and about two days |
| Fly from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune or Ahmedabad | Kathmandu | One international flight replaces a long train to Lucknow |
| Hold a foreign passport or OCI card, or are an NRI | Kathmandu | Visa is generally processed at the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu |
| Want the gentlest acclimatisation | Kathmandu (overland or Lhasa) | Gradual climb over several days |
| Have only 5 days and no parikrama plans | Lucknow | Shortest helicopter darshan programmes start there |
Our Lucknow options include the 9-day yatra with parikrama and the 5-day helicopter darshan. For the full comparison of every route, including the government yatra, see Kailash Mansarovar routes explained.
Documents and visa when starting from Kathmandu
- Indian passport holders need no Nepal visa, but must carry a passport valid at least six months beyond return for the Tibet section. Resident Indians usually hand their passport to the operator about a month ahead so the Chinese group visa can be processed.
- NRIs, OCI cardholders and foreign nationals generally complete the Chinese visa in Kathmandu. In 2026 operators reported that applicants had to be present for fingerprints and that processing took around six working days. OCI and foreign passport holders also need a Nepal visa.
- Everyone needs a medical fitness certificate, photographs and, for Indian residents, a PAN card copy because TCS applies to overseas packages.
The June 2026 MEA advisory asked pilgrims not to set out until visas and permits are approved. Our full Kailash documents guide lists everything.
Extra darshan in and around Kathmandu
Many yatris add a day or two in the Kathmandu valley before or after Kailash. Pashupatinath on the Bagmati is the heart of it, along with Budhanilkantha, where Vishnu reclines on Shesh Nag in a water tank, and Guhyeshwari. Some extend to Muktinath in the Mustang region by helicopter. See our Kathmandu Valley Darshan Yatra and Muktinath yatra guide.
How we can help
We arrange all three Kathmandu routes through authorised partners in Nepal and Tibet: the group visa and permits, flights and helicopters, hotels, a yatra manager from Kathmandu, a Tibetan guide, pure vegetarian meals, oxygen with the group and the Mansarovar puja. If you live in India and your visa is processed through New Delhi, we will not ask you to travel until it is confirmed; NRIs and foreign passport holders complete the visa in Kathmandu, so ask us how the timing works for you. The three packages in the table above show full day plans and inclusions; every option is also on our Kailash Mansarovar page or in Hindi at कैलाश मानसरोवर यात्रा. Use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
How many days does Kailash yatra from Kathmandu take?
About 11 days by the flight-and-helicopter route via Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa, including the three-day parikrama. The overland route via Kerung and the route via Lhasa each take about 14 days. Add one or two spare days for weather, especially on the helicopter route, and book onward flights from Kathmandu accordingly.
Is there a direct road from Kathmandu to Kailash?
Yes, in the sense that you can go all the way by road. The route runs north to Syabrubesi and the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung border, then west across the Tibetan plateau through Saga to Mansarovar. It takes several long bus days. The older Kodari (Tatopani) border was reported closed in 2026, so Kerung is the road crossing used now.
Which Kathmandu route is easiest on the body?
The overland route via Kerung and the Lhasa route both climb gradually over several days, which helps acclimatisation. The helicopter route via Hilsa is quickest but takes you from about 1,400 m to Purang at about 3,900 m within two days. A rest day at Purang is built in for that reason. Discuss your choice with your doctor.
Do NRIs have to start from Kathmandu?
In practice, most do. NRIs and foreign passport holders have generally completed their Chinese visa at the embassy in Kathmandu, which in 2026 reportedly needed their presence for fingerprints and about six working days. Starting the yatra from Kathmandu fits naturally with that wait. Indian passport holders resident in India can start from Kathmandu or Lucknow.
What happens if the Simikot flight is delayed?
Delays at Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa are common because small aircraft and helicopters fly only in clear weather. The group waits and the programme shifts. Some time is built into most plans, but extra hotel nights beyond that are usually charged at actual cost. Keep your return flexible and carry travel insurance that covers delays.
Can I combine Kailash with Pashupatinath and Muktinath?
Yes. Pashupatinath darshan is part of our Kathmandu programmes, and many yatris add a day for Budhanilkantha and Guhyeshwari. Muktinath can be added before or after Kailash by helicopter from Kathmandu or by road and flight via Pokhara. Allow extra days and do not do Muktinath immediately before the parikrama without discussing acclimatisation.
Is the Kerung route open during the monsoon?
The road is generally usable from May to September, sometimes into October, but monsoon rain in July and August can trigger landslides on the Nepal side. In August 2026, flash floods in Rasuwa damaged the corridor and stranded groups. If you travel in those months, keep spare days and follow your operator’s advice on timing.