Pilgrimage · · 1 min read
Kailash Yatra 2026: overland, helicopter, or from Lucknow?
Three routes, three different kinds of pilgrim. A plain comparison of days, altitude, cost and who each one actually suits.
We run the Kailash and Manasarovar yatra on three different routes in 2026. People ask us constantly which one to take, so here is the honest comparison.
Overland from Kathmandu — 12 nights, 13 days
You drive across the plateau via Kerung and Saga. It is the longest route and the least expensive, and — this matters more than the money — it is the best for acclimatisation, because you gain height over several days instead of in a single flight.
Take this route if you have the time and you are at all worried about altitude.
Helicopter from Kathmandu — 10 nights, 11 days
Cuts out the longest driving days. You still cross to Tibet, but the journey to the lake is much shorter.
Take this route if you cannot take a fortnight away but want to start from Kathmandu.
Helicopter from Lucknow — 8 nights, 9 days
For yatris travelling from India, this removes the Kathmandu leg entirely. It is the shortest of the three.
Take this route if you are coming from India and would rather not route through Nepal first.
What is the same on all three
The parikrama. All three routes walk the 52 km circuit and cross the Dolma La at 5,630 metres, and that is the hardest part of the yatra regardless of how you reached Darchen. Ponies and porters are available at Darchen.
All three include the Tibet travel permit and the Chinese group visa, hotel accommodation, four vegetarian meals a day, transport and 24-hour assistance.
The dates
Every departure is aligned to the full moon. See all 2026 dates.
- kailash
- manasarovar
- yatra
- tibet
- 2026