Simikot to Kailash Overland Tour
- Duration
- 18 days
- Max altitude
- 5,630 m
- Difficulty
-
Strenuous
Difficulty scale
- Easy Short walking days on good trails below about 3,000 m. Suitable for anyone in ordinary health, including families.
- Moderate 5 to 6 hours a day with some steep sections, reaching up to about 4,000 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a few weeks of preparation walking recommended.
- Strenuous 6 to 8 hours a day, high passes or altitudes above 5,000 m, and remote stretches. Good fitness, prior trekking experience and proper acclimatisation days are essential.
- Very strenuous Long days, multiple high passes or technical sections, sustained time above 5,000 m. For experienced, well-conditioned trekkers only.
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Nov) · Monsoon (Jun–Aug) · Spring (Mar–May)
- Group
- Private
- From
- $3,315.00
Overview
The overland pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, entering Tibet the old way: six days on foot up the Karnali valley through Humla in far-western Nepal, over the Nara La (4,620 m) to the border at Hilsa. On the Tibetan side you drive by Purang to the lake, walk the three-day kora around Kailash over the Dolma La (5,630 m), and come home to Kathmandu by road through Saga and Kerung.
It is high, remote and administratively complex, which is most of why it is arranged rather than done alone. We handle the Tibet Travel Permit and the Chinese group visa, the Hilsa border opens for the pilgrimage season from May, and the rules for Tibet can change at short notice.
Every departure is private, led by a government-licensed Nepali guide in Humla and a Tibetan guide on the Tibet side, so the plan flexes to your party and to the mountain. Permits, the visa and local taxes are inside the price you see.
Trip highlights
- The Kailash kora over the Dolma La (5,630 m)
- A bath and puja on the shore of Lake Manasarovar
- Six days on foot through Humla and over the Nara La
- Tibet Travel Permit and Chinese group visa arranged
Day by day
The itinerary
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Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu 1,400 m Hotel (3-star) Notincluded
Our representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you to your hotel. Nothing else is planned today, so rest after the flight.
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Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing and trip preparations 1,400 m Hotel (3-star) B
A guided tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, and a full briefing for the trip ahead. We check your gear with you and finalise the Tibet permit and visa paperwork.
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Day 3: Fly to Nepalgunj 150 m Hotel (standard) B
A flight of about an hour west to Nepalgunj, a hot, busy town close to the Indian border and the hub for flights into Humla.
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Day 4: Fly to Simikot (2,985 m), trek to Dharapori (2,360 m) 2,985 m 4-6 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
An early 40-minute flight north over the hills lands at Simikot, the headquarters of Humla. It is reached from the rest of Nepal mainly by air, and the culture here is close to Tibet's. After lunch and the permit check at the police post, the trail climbs briefly out of town, then drops past Tuling and through forest and villages to the Karnali river at Dharapori.
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Day 5: Dharapori to Kermi (2,860 m) 2,860 m 5-6 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
A steady climb along the Karnali past fields of barley, buckwheat and potatoes. There are two hot springs near Kermi for tired legs, and the old Laikyo and Lhundrup Choeling monasteries are a short walk from the village.
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Day 6: Kermi to Yalbang (2,879 m) 2,879 m 5-6 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
The trail climbs to a small pass, then crosses the Salli river on a suspension bridge, with pine forest above and the Karnali gorge below. At Yalbang you visit Namkha Khyung Dzong monastery.
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Day 7: Yalbang to Tumkot (3,073 m) 3,073 m 5-6 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
The path runs high above the Karnali, and the valley dries out as you go, the forest thinning to scattered pine and bare rock. At Tumkot you visit Dhungkar Choezom, a monastery of the Sakya school.
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Day 8: Tumkot to Yari (3,663 m) 3,663 m 6-7 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
An easier trail, but the landscape changes fast. Pine gives way to low juniper and the valley turns open and rocky, a first taste of Tibet.
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Day 9: Yari over the Nara La (4,620 m) to Hilsa (3,647 m) 4,620 m 6-7 hrs Guesthouse (basic) B/L/D
The big pass of the Humla trek. From the cairns and prayer flags on the Nara La, the brown hills of the Tibetan plateau open up ahead. Then a long, steep, loose descent to Hilsa on the Karnali, the border village where the helicopters from Simikot land.
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Day 10: Cross into Tibet at Hilsa, drive to Purang (3,772 m) 3,772 m Guesthouse (basic) Notincluded
You walk across the bridge at Hilsa, where Chinese officials check permits and passports, and meet your Tibetan guide and vehicle. A short drive of an hour or two past Khorzhak monastery and Kangje village brings you to Purang (Taklakot), the old trading town of this corner of Tibet. The afternoon is easy on purpose, to let your body adjust before the lake.
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Day 11: Drive from Purang to Lake Manasarovar (4,590 m) and Tarchen (4,575 m), 5 to 6 hours 4,590 m Guesthouse (basic) Notincluded
An early start for the drive to the shore of Manasarovar, the lake of compassion, for the ritual bath and puja. Then a drive around part of the lake by land cruiser, a stop at Chiu Gompa above the shore if time allows, and on to Tarchen (Darchen), the base for the Kailash kora. In the pilgrimage season it fills with pilgrims and tents.
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Day 12: Start the kora: Tarboche to Dirapuk (4,860 m) 4,860 m 5-6 hrs Guesthouse (basic) Notincluded
A short drive to Tarboche, where the great prayer-flag pole marks the start of the kora. The trail follows the valley under red cliffs and waterfalls, with the face of Kailash appearing between the walls. It is about 13 km on foot and mostly gentle, but at this height it takes most people five to six hours. Dirapuk sits right under the north face. The yaks carry your bags from here.
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Day 13: Dirapuk over the Dolma La (5,630 m) to Zuthulpuk (4,760 m) 5,630 m 9-10 hrs Guesthouse (basic) Notincluded
The hardest day of the trip. A long, steady climb past Shiva Tsal, where pilgrims leave a piece of clothing as a token of their old life, to the Dolma La, buried in prayer flags. Then a steep descent past Gauri Kund, the small green lake below the pass, and a long gentle walk down the valley to Zuthulpuk, where Milarepa meditated in a cave. Start early, keep a slow, steady pace and drink often.
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Day 14: Finish the kora at Darchen, drive to Saga (4,640 m), 8 to 9 hours 4,640 m 3-4 hrs Guesthouse (basic) Notincluded
A morning visit to the Milarepa cave and the small monastery at Zuthulpuk, then an easy three to four hours down the valley to complete the kora. After lunch in Darchen it is a long drive east across the plateau and over the Mayum La to Saga, eight hours or more on a paved road. The longest day in the vehicle.
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Day 15: Drive from Saga to Kerung (2,700 m), 5 to 6 hours 2,700 m Guesthouse (standard) Notincluded
A shorter drive on a paved road, over one more high pass and then down through forest into the Kyirong valley. Losing nearly 2,000 m in a day, most people sleep very well tonight.
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Day 16: Cross at Rasuwagadhi, drive to Kathmandu, 8 to 10 hours 1,400 m Hotel (3-star) Notincluded
A short drive to the border at Rasuwagadhi and the exit formalities, then the long road down the Trishuli valley to Kathmandu, usually eight to ten hours in all. The Nepal side of this road is rough in places and landslides close it after heavy rain, so the day can run long.
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Day 17: Free day in Kathmandu 1,400 m Hotel (3-star) B
A day to rest, shop or see what you missed. It is also the spare day for the Kerung road, so if the drive back was delayed, nothing else is lost.
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Day 18: Departure 1,400 m B
Breakfast at the hotel, and our representative takes you to the airport about three hours before your flight.
Altitude profile
The climb, day by day
Comfort tiers
Choose your level of comfort
| Amenity | Standardfrom $3,980.00 | Comfortfrom $4,696.40 | Luxuryfrom $5,771.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel | 3★ | 4★ | 5★ |
| Trail accommodation | Standard teahouse | Best lodge in each village | Premium lodge where the route has one |
| Porter support | Shared porter | Private porter, lighter load | Extra porter, carry almost nothing |
| Transfers | Shared | Private | Private, throughout |
What's included
Included
- Included: Four nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Included: One night in a standard hotel in Nepalgunj with breakfast
- Included: The best available twin-share guesthouses on the Humla trek
- Included: The best available twin-share guesthouses on the Tibetan side
- Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner with tea or coffee on the Humla trek
- Included: Flights Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and Nepalgunj to Simikot, with departure tax
- Included: All ground transport by private vehicle: airport transfers, the Kathmandu sightseeing, the Tibetan side from Hilsa to Kerung, and the drive back to Kathmandu
- Included: Entry fees for the Kathmandu sightseeing
- Included: Upper Humla restricted area permit and the local municipality fees in Humla
- Included: Tibet Travel Permit, Chinese group visa and the entry fees in Tibet
- Included: A licensed, experienced Nepali guide for the Humla trek
- Included: Porters for the Humla trek, one for every two travellers
- Included: Food, lodging, wages, insurance and equipment for the Nepali guide and porters
- Included: A Tibet Tourism Bureau approved Tibetan guide on the Tibetan side
- Included: Yaks and yak herders to carry your bags on the Kailash kora
- Included: Oxygen carried on the Kailash kora
- Included: All government taxes and our service charge
Not included
- Not included: International airfare and the Nepal entry visa
- Not included: Travel insurance with cover for trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation
- Not included: Meals on the Tibetan side and any meal not listed in the itinerary
- Not included: All drinks, including bottled water, alcohol and soft drinks
- Not included: A Nepali guide on the Tibetan side (Chinese rules require a Tibetan guide there)
- Not included: A pony or horse for the kora, if you want one (hired locally at Tarboche)
- Not included: Personal trekking gear
- Not included: Shopping, laundry, internet and phone bills
- Not included: Extra transport, porter or hotel costs caused by landslides, snow, border closures or flight delays
- Not included: Extra nights in Kathmandu or anywhere else beyond the itinerary
- Not included: Tips for the guides, porters and drivers
- Not included: Anything not listed under what is included
Know before you go
Suitability & requirements
This trip runs from May to September, when the Hilsa border is open for the pilgrimage season and the Dolma La is usually clear of deep snow. Humla is a restricted area, so a licensed guide is mandatory on the Nepal side; since March 2026 that permit is issued to solo travellers too. The Tibet side has its own rules for the Tibet Travel Permit and the Chinese group visa, which we confirm for your party when we apply. We need a clear passport scan at least a month ahead, and border dates and rules for Tibet can change at short notice; if anything changes we tell you as soon as we know. The altitude rises quickly once you are in Tibet: from Purang (3,772 m) to Tarchen (4,575 m) in one day, and over 5,600 m two days later. The Humla trek and the Nara La are your acclimatisation, so walk them slowly and tell your guide early about headaches. Book your flight home for day 18 or later. The Kerung road to Kathmandu is sometimes blocked by monsoon landslides, which is why day 17 is kept free.
Your team
Led by a licensed guide
Every route is led by a government-licensed guide from our team. Licences are on record with us before departure, and you'll meet your guide once your trip is confirmed.
Guide language(s): English, Nepali
Group-size pricing
Walk together, pay less
Every trip is private, so the guide, permits and transfers cost the same however many walk. Sharing them is why the per-person price falls: arithmetic, not a sale.
| Group size | per person | You save each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $3,980.00 | base rate |
| 2 to 3 travellers | $3,315.00 | $665.00 |
| 4 to 6 travellers | $3,115.00 | $865.00 |
| 7 or more | $2,915.00 | $1,065.00 |
Per person, including permits, park fees and taxes. Nothing is added at checkout.
Weather
What to expect, month by month
- Autumn (Sep–Nov)The most reliable trekking season: clear air, stable weather and cold nights, right after the monsoon clears.
- Monsoon (Jun–Aug)Wet and cloudy on most routes, though Mustang and Dolpo sit in the rain shadow behind the main range and stay walkable.
- Spring (Mar–May)Warmer than autumn, with rhododendron forests in flower and slightly hazier mountain views as the season goes on.
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