My Adventure Tibet travel to Mount Kailash - Tibet Tours

My Adventure Tibet travel to Mount Kailash 3 Days Trekking

During my adventure in Tibet around Mount Kailash, I undertook a three-day trek, covering 52 kilometers and ascending to 5600 meters! I documented every aspect of this journey to share with fellow travelers.

I recorded the entire adventure into a one-hour video utilizing two phones' cameras with an extra charger, making sure I captured all the highlights. This video chronicles the breathtaking scenery, the challenging terrain, and the camaraderie among my fellow trekkers, starting from nearly 4 am in the darkness, to the end of the journey, to the beautiful light.

If you're interested in experiencing the 52-kilometer Mount Kailash trek vicariously through my eyes, I invite you to check out the video at the end of the article. It's an immersive and unforgettable journey that I'm excited to share with you. So sit back, relax, and prepare to be transported to the heart of the wilderness.

Photo: Additionally, we updated our latest photoblog of the Tibet tour to Mount Kailash from May.

My Adventure Tibet travel to Mount Kailash

My first journey to Mount Kailash began in 2005, when I worked as a local Tibetan tour guide in Lhasa. That year, I had the privilege of traveling to Mount Kailash not once or twice, but a staggering eight times. During those visits, I undertook the remarkable Kora trek around Mount Kailash five times, immersing myself in the spiritual essence of this extraordinary mountain. 

Mount Kailash is genuinely one of the most beloved tour destinations in the Tibet travel itinerary! To share a glimpse of this extraordinary journey with fellow travelers, I’ve decided to embark on my adventure once more.

Fast forward to my more recent adventure on September 23rd, 2019, when I had the fantastic opportunity to return to this sacred site and seek its blessings once more. This time, my Tibet travel journey commenced from Lhasa, setting the stage for yet another magical experience.

Climbing the heights of Mount Kailash and absorbing its beauty and spiritual energy was nothing short of enchanting! Each visit has deepened my understanding and connection to this majestic mountain, and I am thrilled to recount these memories with you as they hold a special place in my heart.

Day1. Lhasa/Shigatse/Saga

On September 23rd, my companions and I embarked on our Tibet travel journey from Lhasa in the morning. We opted to move quickly this time around, covering the distance from Lhasa to Saga in a single day. Due to the daily altitude changes ranging from 3700 meters to almost 4400 meters, travelers usually take their time with the journey. However, we drove at a faster pace.

Traveling on the northern Friendship Highway, we covered 280 km from Lhasa to Shigatse, passing through several towns such as Choshul, Nyemo, and Rinpung. After that, we journeyed to Lhatse town, 150 km from Shigatse, for lunch. On the way to Saga town, we came across Namring town, which had two breathtaking lakes.

Photo: Beautiful snow on the way from Namring to Saga town. Upon our arrival, it was already late at Saga town, which serves as the initial checkpoint town near Mount Kailash. Numerous quality hotels and restaurants can be found in Saga town.

Day2. Mapham Yumtso / Darchen

Our journey took us from Saga town to Darchen, passing through Drongpa and Paryang town. After covering approximately 270 km, we reached the vicinity of Mapham Yumtso Lake, also known as Lake Manasarovar. We performed the vehicle kora around the lake while marveling at the breathtaking sight of Mount Kailash in the background.

Photo: View of Mount Kailash from Lake Manasarovar.

In the late afternoon, we reached the town of Darchen. The town has a variety of excellent hotels, including the Himalaya Hotel, a 3-star hotel with a nearby spa. We stayed at this hotel.

Day3. Darchen / Dira Puk

At approximately 6:30 a.m., we embarked on our trek while it was still dark enough to observe the stars. Upon arriving at the Tarchen Tibet travel spot, Saga Dawa festival prayer flag location, the sun had risen. We were fortunate to experience optimal weather conditions during our Mount Kailash journey.

During my Tibet travel journey, I encountered a lone female traveler from Xi'an who appeared exhausted and was on the verge of abandoning the trek. I engaged in conversation with her and offered my assistance in completing the kora. We proceeded together, with me carrying her bag and guiding her with my right hand at a leisurely pace.

Photo: I encountered a solo Chinese female traveler from the Mainland planning to go back, but we motivated each other and finished the trek together.

After completing a 21-km journey, we arrived at the Dirapuk monastery, where we were provided with small tent accommodations. During the summer months, two decent hotels with electricity and indoor bathrooms were available. I ascended a nearby mountain to witness the sunset over Mount Kailash.

Day4. Drolma La / Zutrul Puk

Day two was one of the most challenging Tibet travel adventure treks, climbing up to the summit of Drolmala Pass (5600 m). We enjoyed the terrific sunrise view of Mount Kailash (the Golden Kailash) near the Digpala Pass (5000 m).

Photo: Me enjoying the stunning Golden Mount Kailash.

In the afternoon, we reached the top of Drolma La Pass, which is at an altitude of 5600 meters—the highest point on our trip. Once we descended Drolmala Pass, we were greeted with the sight of Drolma Tso Lake, which had a lovely green hue.

On our Tibet travel journey, we witnessed numerous Tibetan followers performing prostrations, even on the unforgiving, slanted rocks that typify the beauty of Buddhism. While observing one of the pilgrims' prayers, I heard him say, "May all beings experience happiness." It was indeed a beautiful sentiment. He also made aspirations for the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

Photo: Tibetan pilgrims doing kora prostration around Mount Kailash.

Following the Drolma la Pass, the hiking trail becomes more manageable as it leads down towards the Zutrulpuk monastery. The snow that fell from the sky was considered a blessing for flowers. At the Zutrulpuk monastery, there is a comfortable meditation cave that belonged to the renowned Tibetan Yogi Milarepa. During our stay, we opted to stay at the monastery's guest house.

Day5. Zutrul Puk / Darchen

On the final day of the excursion of the Tibet travel adventure to Mount Kailash, we walked 14km to reach Darchen town. Along the way, we encountered various sacred locations that were significant to past spiritual leaders. These included imprints of hands and feet on stones, which served as reminders of their presence. If you're interested in seeing more, I have a one-hour video that documents the entire journey.

We made it to Darchen town in the afternoon, and we were so excited to celebrate our holy journey together. We hugged each other and couldn't stop rejoicing!

Tibet Tours to Mount Kailash

For travelers planning to travel to Tibet, we recommend Mount Kailash as the top Tibet travel destination. Our adventure will involve a thrilling 52-kilometer trek around this holy mountain, Gangtise Kailash, with the highlight being the Dolma La Pass, located north of Mount Kailash. Standing tall at an impressive 5,630 meters (18,471 feet) above sea level, it marks the highest point achievable on foot during our Tibet expedition.

Article Photo: Our latest Tibet trip article features four travelers on a 14-day tour to Mount Kailash.

Mount Kailash, cherished by followers of Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, holds great spiritual importance as a revered pilgrimage site. For those looking for this spiritual adventure in Tibet, we recommend embarking on a 17-day grand Tibet tour to Mount Kailash, starting from Lhasa and leading you to Mount Everest base camp (the roof of the world) and the ancient kingdoms of Guge, and ending the Tibet tour at Namtso Lake.

Conclusion

Many travelers believe that Mount Kailash is the heart of the world. Visiting this stunning Tibet travel destination offers a truly unforgettable lifetime adventure, especially for those who love meditation.

After completing an invigorating three-day trek covering 52 kilometers, I feel an extraordinary lightness in my body and a deep sense of spiritual blessing. It’s as if some of my negative karma has been lifted! As I reflect on all the beautiful moments I’ve experienced here, I can almost hear a melody in the air—the divine mother is calling to me, and I can’t wait to respond to her invitation.

If you’re considering a Tibet travel adventure to Mount Kailash, we offer six thoughtfully designed itineraries for Mount Kailash, ranging from 11 to 17 days. Prices for our group tours, accommodating 3 to 8 people, vary from $2,280 to $3,500 per person. You can explore these itineraries in the menu bar on our homepage and contact us via email at info@tibettravelers.com

Would you like to see some breathtaking videos of Mount Kailash? We've covered you on our Instagram and Facebook, with more than 1 million views! We appreciate you reading this article to the end. If you have any suggestions to improve it, please leave a comment. We wish you all the happiness that Mount Kailash can bring!