$ 1,400
11N/12D
Everest Base Camp Trek
Nepal
Kailash & Manasarovar Yatra 2026
Overland or by helicopter, from Kathmandu or Lucknow
- Duration
- 12 nights / 13 days
- Max altitude
- 5,630 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Group size
- 4–30
- Best season
- Summer, Monsoon
- Starts from
- Kathmandu
Kathmandu → Kerung → Saga → Lake Manasarovar → Darchen → Dolma La (5,630 m) → Darchen → Kathmandu
Overview
The Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra 2026 is a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, operated by Nine Adventures from Kathmandu and from Lucknow, India. Three route variants run on full-moon aligned dates between May and September 2026: a 12-night/13-day overland journey from Kathmandu, a 10-night/11-day helicopter route from Kathmandu, and an 8-night/9-day helicopter route from Lucknow. All routes include permits and Chinese visa processing, hotel accommodation, four vegetarian meals a day, transport and 24-hour assistance.
Mount Kailash is not climbed. The pilgrimage is the parikrama — a 52-kilometre circuit of the mountain on foot, crossing the Dolma La at 5,630 metres — and a bath and puja at Lake Manasarovar beneath it.
We run three routes because the people who make this journey are not all the same. The overland route from Kathmandu crosses the plateau slowly, which is the best way to acclimatise and the least expensive. The helicopter routes cut the driving substantially, which matters for older pilgrims and for anyone who cannot take two weeks away. The Lucknow departure exists because a large share of our yatris fly from India and it removes a leg from their journey.
All dates are aligned to the full moon.
Trip highlights
- The 52 km Kailash parikrama, crossing the Dolma La at 5,630 m
- Snan and puja at Lake Manasarovar
- Full-moon aligned departure dates
- Choice of overland or helicopter routing
- A departure that leaves from Lucknow, not Kathmandu
- Chinese visa and Tibet permits arranged for you
Want this trip your way?
Tell us how many days you have, who is coming and what you want to see, and we will write the day-by-day plan around it — same guides, same published pricing.
What's included
Included in the price
- Pickup and drop, and all transport throughout
- Hotel and guest house accommodation
- Four vegetarian meals a day
- Sightseeing with an experienced guide
- 24x7 assistance for the whole journey
- Tibet travel permit and Chinese group visa
Not included
- International flights to Kathmandu or Lucknow
- Travel and emergency evacuation insurance
- Pony and porter on the parikrama
- Tips and personal expenses
Common questions about this trip
Which route should I choose?
Overland from Kathmandu if you have the days and want the best acclimatisation for the least money. Helicopter from Kathmandu if you want to save four days. Helicopter from Lucknow if you are travelling from India and would rather not route through Kathmandu.
How fit do I need to be for the parikrama?
The circuit is 52 km over three days with a 5,630 m pass. It is the hardest part of the yatra. Ponies and porters are available at Darchen and many pilgrims use them for the Dolma La day.
Do you arrange the Chinese visa?
Yes. The Tibet travel permit and the Chinese group visa are both included and processed by us. We will tell you exactly which documents to send and when.
Is the food vegetarian?
Yes, throughout, four times a day, cooked to yatra requirements.
Why are the dates aligned to the full moon?
Purnima is the traditional and most auspicious time for the parikrama, and our departures are set so the circuit falls on or near it.
Something else on your mind? Ask us — or read the general questions.
Been on this trip?
We publish reviews as they are written, and only from travellers we have actually taken. Yours would be the first for this one.
