Lhasa to Mount Kailash: Distance, Best Route, Travel Tips

 

It’s not difficult to travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash. Basically, you can either choose an overland tour or take a flight to reach this sacred destination. However, this pilgrimage odyssey is not as easy as a city tour, and is not for all. You’ll need to consider if your physical condition fits for the trekking around the mountain at relatively high elevation, and if you can bear the simple lodging and eating at some remote areas, etc. Follow our ultimate guide for the distance, best route, and road condition from Lhasa to Mount Kailash, and get the most useful insider’s tips to prepare yourself for a safe journey before you depart.

Travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash by Car

Mount Kailash is situated in Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet, and the total distance from Lhasa to Mount Kailash is about 1338 kilometers if you take the road trip. The most common route is to travel westward from Lhasa to Shigatse and then further west towards Mount Kailash. The road conditions may vary, so be prepared for a mix of paved and unpaved roads.

Lhasa to Mount Kailash Road Conditions:

Overall, the road condition from Lhasa to Mount Kailash is good. The main route is through smooth G318 and G219 National Highway, which is mostly asphalt and suitable for car driving. Although there may be some rural roads along the way that may not have the same road conditions as the main roads, even these unpaved roads are usually manageable for car. 

One section of the road from Lhasa to Mount Kailash

However, this long trip involves passing through several high mountain passes, some of which may have steep ascents and descents. Furthermore, weather conditions, such as snow or rain, can impact the road conditions, and the route to Mount Kailash for tourists will be closed in winter season for safety concerns, usually from November to next March.

Itinerary and Highlights from Lhasa to Mount Kailash:

Simply put, the outline of the route can be as follows: Lhasa (3650m) - Gyantse (4040m) - Shigatse (3836m) - Everest Base Camp (5200m) - Saga (4487m) - Darchen (4600m) - Mt. Kailash (6638m). 

After finishing the kora around the Mount Kailash, you can either get back to Lhasa or head to Gyirong border and continue the tour to Kathmandu. The landscape along the way is spectacular, here you can check what to see below:  

Day 1 Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse (360km / G349 National Highway)
Today, we’ll head to the second-largest city in Tibet-Shigatse via Gyantse. En route, you will have a fantastic view of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake (4441m), which is one of the four sacred lakes in Tibet and the largest waterfowl habitat in southern Tibet. Upon arrival in Gyantse, visit the Pelkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa, famous for its unique architecture, sculpture and mural art. Then continue driving and stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 2 Shigatse / Everest Base Camp (350km / G318 National Highway)
In the morning we will first explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Then we drive west on the Friendship Highway to Everest Base Camp. If the weather is good, from the top of the Gyalpo-la Pass you can see 4 of the highest mountains over 8000 meters (Mt. Everest; Mt. Makalu; Mt. Lotse; Mt. Cho Oyu) in the world at the same time. Before reaching EBC, you will first visit Rongbuk Monastery, which is the highest monastery in the world.

Day 3 Everest Base Camp / Saga (340km / Asphalt Driveway)
Today we will take the Old Tingri road to Saga, which is the gateway to the Mount Kailash region and has served as a transportation hub for food and materials. From Old Tingri, the road deteriorates and runs parallel to the Himalayan and Nepalese sides of the Anapurna ranges. The main road passes through the desolate plain of Digur tang with its huge sand dunes and the neighboring snow peaks of Shishapangma and Langtang to the south. Leaving the BUM-CHU basin, the road descends to the depression of Phelgu tso (4600m), a cobalt blue lake. Overnight in Saga.

Day 4 Saga / Mount Kailash (550km / G219 National Highway)
Today, first drive to Drongpa County, the region around the sources of Tibet’s mother river - Brahmaputra River. Then continue driving to the Lake Manasarovar. You can relax around the lake shore for a while and experience the natural beauty of the lake. In the late afternoon you will reach Darchen, where the Mt. Kailash Kora begins. Your tour guide will help to arrange trekking animal and porter and do some preparation for your following 3 days trekking around Mt. Kailash.

You may be interested in: Mount Kailash & Mount Everest Pilgrimage Tour

Lodging and Eating Options from Lhasa to Mount Kailash 

About lodging: When traveling from Lhasa to Mount Kailash, you’ll encounter different types of accommodations along the route. Various lodging options ranging from hostels to luxury 5-star hotels are available in Lhasa and Shigatse. But there are only simple hotels or guesthouses when you travel to some remote areas, especially during the 3-day trek at Mount Kailash. So, some basic toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste and facecloth) are advised to take along in advance.

Guesthouse room for staying while trek tour around the Mount Kailash

About eating: Decent restaurants are available in Lhasa and Shigatse, and you can opt for Tibetan, Chinese and Western cuisine in these two cities. But when you are in small towns or counties en route, the food options are much fewer. There are no restaurants during the trek, however, you can find several supply booths selling instant noodles, butter tea and bottle waters along the way during the high season. Therefore, carrying some chocolate bars and snacks before departing from Lhasa is necessary. 

Travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash by Air 

Actually, there is no direct flight or any helicopter tour from Lhasa to Mount Kailash. However, there is an airport in Ngari, which is near Mount Kailash. So, you can first fly from Lhasa to Ngari Gunsa Airport (4,274 m) in Shiquanhe Town, and then take about 3 hours drive (200 km) to the mountain. But for those who come from lower places (e.g. coastal regions at zero sea level elevation), and those who are without fully acclimatization on the plateau, we don’t recommend traveling by this way, as there are higher risks of suffering the altitude sickness while you reach the Mount Kailash. 

Ngari Gunsa Airport is the closest airport to Mount Kailash

Nevertheless, if you really have limited time, you can choose to travel there by overland first and take a flight back to Lhasa from Ngari after finishing the Kailash tour. It will save you 2 days for the whole itinerary by this way. Here you can find the flight details for both ways below:
 

Cities	Flight No.	Airline	Airport & Time	Duration	Frequency
Lhasa-Ngari	TV9807	Tibet Airlines	LXA(07:50)-NGQ(09:55)	2h5m	Everyday
Ngari-Lhasa	TV9808	Tibet Airlines	NGQ(10:40)-LXA(12:50)	2h10m	Everyday

What to Pack for Travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash

Planning what to pack for your trip to Mount Kailash is crucial to completing this pilgrimage. Some of the items should be brought from home, while others can be prepared in Lhasa. To help you travel light and smart, we have outlined the most essential packing lists below.

1. Proper clothing
It's important to prioritize comfort and practicality over fashion when you prepare clothing and footwear for the Mount Kailash tour. High altitude weather can be unpredictable and changes quickly, plus, the temperature difference between day and night is huge, so it's recommended to dress in layers that can be easily added or removed as needed. Hiking pants that are wear-resistant, breathable, and waterproof are also necessary. It is suggested not to wear fleece pants if you visit in summer season. Although they are suitable for wearing in the morning and evening, they can be very hot to wear when hiking in the sun during the day. For shoes, it's best to bring sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good grip and ankle support to cope with the rugged terrain. A comfortable pair of cotton socks is also essential.

2. Trekking Gears
You need to use one hiking stick on each hand, two at the same time for this pilgrimage adventure. You can either bring your own ones or purchase them in Darchen Town (usually around 100 yuan per stick). Micro-spikes for hiking boots are also useful if you take this trekking tour in April or early May when you’ll still encounter snow-covered trails and frozen terrain at Mount Kailash region. These trekking gears can play a very important role in crossing the Droma La Pass and retreating from the chaotic rock mountain.

3. Backpack
Normally, it takes about 2-3 days to complete the trekking around the Mount Kailash. So, you may need to bring sleeping bags, warm gloves, toiletries, 2 pairs of underwear and socks for the 2 nights overstay at simple guesthouses. However, a large backpack which does not exceed 50L is suitable. In addition to a backpack, it is recommended to prepare a one small bag for your dirty clothes, and a waist bag, which is convenient for storing things that need to be accessed at any time, such as mobile phones, sunscreen, etc. 

4. Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag is not a must for the Mount Kailash tour. But due to limited facilities of the accommodation along the trekking route, it’s optional to bring your own sleeping bag for the sake of hygiene. The materials of sleeping bags are mainly divided into fleece, cotton sleeping bags, and down sleeping bags. If you come in April, May or October when the temperature is lower than summer, a down sleeping bag is the first choice to keep you warm. From June to September, the temperature is around 5-10 Celsius degrees, a cotton sleeping bag is fine. Followed by a fleece sleeping bag, which is easy to clean and can be used to lay on the bed, serving as a dirt barrier. 

5. Medications
Medicine is a must on the packing list for Tibet travel. Diamox tablets are used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), and you may need to continue taking this medication while staying at the high-altitude areas. Meanwhile, Ibuprofen capsules (to cope with fever and headache), and medications for travelers’ diarrhea are also suggested. You can also bring some glucose that can replenish energy and help alleviate symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Please consult your doctor before you set off on the journey.

6. Cash
Credit cards are not a popular way of payment in Tibet, so, for international tourists, cash is king! Currency exchange services are available in Lhasa and Shigatse, and you can easily exchange US dollars at Bank of China. It's necessary to bring enough cash in Chinese Yuan (CNY) if you are traveling to the Mount Kailash region, where is one of the most remote areas of Tibet, and there are no banks or ATMs along the way during the 3-day trek. It's also a good idea to carry a mix of larger and smaller denominations.

Some More Tips on Travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash

Understand the possible challenges you may encounter on the plateau, get well prepared both physically and mentally would make this expedition easier and more enjoyable. Below you can find some insider's advice to plan this unforgettable trip. 

1. Best Time to Travel: Generally speaking, the best months to travel to Mount Kailash are from May to early October. Besides, Saga Dawa Festival (which falls on May 23rd in 2024) is good time to do this pilgrimage tour, as there is a special ceremony held at the foot of the Mount Kailash on the first day of the festival. People gather to celebrate by erecting a new flagpole to replace the old one. You'll also witness monks chant and perform rituals with religious instruments.

2. Tibet Travel Permit: According to the regulation from the authority, all foreign tourists will need to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet. And different from the other city tours in Tibet, the whole application process for a Mount Kailash tour will take longer time up to 30 work days. So, contacting a Tibet travel agency 1.5 - 3 months prior to your arrival is proper, as they will also prepare for some paperwork before applying all the necessary permits for you.

3. Acclimatization: Get your body fully acclimatized to prevent from AMS (acute mountain sickness) is very important while traveling in Tibet. The average altitude during the trekking around the Mount Kailash is about 5,000m, therefore, you’ll need to ascend to higher regions little by little starting from Lhasa (3,650m). Avoid alcohol drinking and smoking when you arrive, and be aware of the altitude sickness symptoms.

4. Respect Local Customs: During your journey, it is important to respect local customs, traditions, and religious practices. Remember to do the circuit kora in the clockwise direction around the Mount Kailash. If you are taking photos of people, especially in rural areas, always ask for permission first. Additionally, when visiting Tibetan temples and monasteries, please dress modestly, take off your hat, and lower your voice.

Conclusion:

A complete trip from Lhasa to Mount Kailash by car usually takes about 2 weeks, so if you have enough time, we would recommend this route, as you'll be ascending at a slower pace, which is best for acclimatizing to the high altitude. However, if you are short of time, you can also consider to fly to Ngari airport first and drive a short distance to Mount Kailash, nevertheless, the flight option is somewhat demanding for your physical fitness. 

Although you may face some challenges, with thorough planning and preparation, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip filled with excitement, enlightenment and sense of accomplishment.