Trekking to Mount Kailash in Western Tibet

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Mount Kailash / Photo: ynwangjing (pixabay)
Mount Kailash / Photo: ynwangjing (pixabay)

Isolated for centuries behind the Himalayas in Tibet is a mysterious and mythical mountain, the 6,714-metre high Mount Kailash. For over a thousand years the mountain has been a central pilgrimage site for some of the world's major religions.

READ ALSO: Trekking in the Himalayas".

The 4-5 day Sacred Mount Kailash trek in western Tibet follows the pilgrims' route around the sacred mountain. Although short, this high-altitude trek should not be undertaken lightly: Mount Kailash remains isolated and remote, and getting there is an epic journey in itself.

A visit to the lost kingdom of Guge, still largely unknown in the west, is also a must in the area. The ethereal ruined fortress of Tsaparang, the ancient capital of Guge, is Tibet's greatest Buddhist treasure trove of art and painting, an impressive site not to be missed.

Practical guide

When to go?

Spring (late April, May and early June) or autumn (mid-September to late October)

How to get there?

Routes to Tibet (via China and Nepal)

  • Flights from China to Tibet
  • Overland from China
  • Flights to Nepal

Kathmandu - Gateway to Tibet

Lhasa

Cities & Services

Simikot, Kathmandu, Lhasa; Darchen; Zanda

Difficulty

Long trek to access Kailash itself. A high altitude trek in a very remote area. Acclimatisation is essential.

Not to be missed

  • The lost cities of Guge, Toling and Tsaparang
  • The amazing scenery around Kailash.
  • The pilgrimage/hiking experience.

Access routes, How to get to Kailash?

  • From Simikot: the trekking route // Stage 1 Simikot to Tuling (Masigaon) / Stage 2 Tuling to Kermi / Stage 3 Kermi to Yangar / Stage 4 Yangar to Muchu / Stage 5 Muchu to Yari / Stage 6 Yari to Sher / Drive to Purang / Stage 7 Purang to Lake Manasarovar/Darchen / Alternate return route from Sher to Simikot /
  • Kathmandu to Kailash (Darchen) (by road) // Kathmandu to Kodari ferry / Kodari/Zhangmu to Nyalam / Xixapangma trekking routes / Xixapangma to the south / Day trip from Nyalam to Tara Tso / Nyalam to Saga ferry / Saga to Paryang ferry / Paryang to Lake Manasarovar/Chui Gompa / Lake Manasarovar to Darchen /
  • Lhasa to Kailash (by road)

Trekking Mount Kailash Kora

  • Stage 1From Darchen to Chuku Monastery
  • Stage 2From Chuku Monastery to Driraphuk Monastery / Day Hike to Kangyam Glacier
  • Stage 3: Driraphuk to Shabje Draktok, via Drolma La
  • Stage 4: Shabje Draktok to Zutrulphuk Monastery
  • Stage 5: Zutrulphuk to Darchen

Other routes in the Kailash region

  • Day trip to Darchen // Darchen ridge walk / Gyangdrak Monastery / Serlung Monastery
  • Kora Interior
  • Lake Manasarovar // Trekking to Lake Manasarovar Circuit / Stage 1 Chui Monastery to Hor / Stage 2 Hor to Seralung Monastery / Stage 3 Seralung - Trugo Monastery / Stage 4 Trugo Monastery to Gossul Monastery / Stage 5 From Gossul Monastery to Chui Monastery / Trekking on the ridge to Chui village
  • Rakhas Tal Lake
  • Tirthapuri