Tibet Travel to Mount Kailash 6638 M Gangtise Kangrinboqe

Tibet Travel and Tour to Mount Kailash | Kangrinboqe

Mount Kailash is one of the most sought-after destinations for Tibet travel. This enchanting mountain is not simply a geographical wonder but a fabled portal to another world, beckoning travelers far and wide. According to age-old wisdom, Mount Kailash is said to hold a deep-rooted link to the vast universe.

Stories of enlightened yogis exploring its rugged terrain have been woven into legends. But before we dive into these captivating narratives, let’s take a closer look at the enchanting Tibet travel journey to Mount Kailash through the article in detail.

Mount Kailash is situated in the western region of the Tibetan Plateau, close to Manasarovar Lake, also known as "Mapham Yumtso," and another Lake, Duktso ("Dark" Lake).

Photo: Tibet Trip Stunning sunrise view of Mount Kailash in May 2025 from Dirapuk.

1. Mount Kailash

The name of the mountain is pronounced differently in various languages, including the local name as གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, Kangrinboqe, Gangtise, Gang Rinpoche, Chinese as 冈仁波齐, Pinyin: Gang Ren Bo Qie, and Sanskrit: Kailas. Located in Burang County, Ngari Ali Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and has an elevation of 6,638 m (21,778 ft).

2. Spiritual Impact

Numerous pilgrims embark on a Tibet travel journey to Mount Kailash, seeking the inner energy and blessings attributed to this sacred site, which is revered as a palace by various religions. The mountain’s silhouette resembles a majestic palace. Considering humanity’s understanding of the universe, it may be posited that Mount Kailash is perhaps the most magnificent palace of all, as the mentality of these spiritual seekers transcends the limitations of the five human senses, thereby rendering this precious mountain of immense significance to them.

According to Buddhists, Korlo Demchok, also known as Buddha Cakrasamvara, resides there. The term "Korlo" refers to a Chakra or wheel, while "Demchok" signifies never-ending happiness or bliss. According to an ancient text, Buddha once visited Mount Kailash along with 500 of his disciples.

According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Shiva, along with his consort Devi Parvati and their children Lord Ganesha, reside in Mount Kailash, which is considered their abode. Lord Shiva, known as the destroyer, is one of the most powerful gods in Hinduism.

Mount Kailash is also referred to as Mount Meru by Jains, and it is where the first Jain Tirthankara achieved liberation. Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, recognizes Mount Kailash as one of the "Swastika Mountains."

Photo: Tibet Trip Family of four travels to Mount Kailash in July 2025.

3. Kailash Trekking

One of the most sacred and daring treks in Tibet travel adventure is the three-day trek around Mount Kailash. The highest point on the trek is Drolma La, which stands at an altitude of 5630 meters or 18,471 feet above sea level. The entire trek covers 52 kilometers or 32 miles, and most travelers complete it in two or three days. Local pilgrims, on the other hand, usually prefer to finish the trek in just one day.

4. Legends Stories

Have you heard about Milarepa? According to a biography written by Yogi Tsang Nyon Heruka, Milarepa was the only person who climbed the summit of Mount Kailash in just a sunray. Milarepa is an 11th-century Tibetan Yogi who achieved enlightenment in just one lifetime! It has been challenging for those who are not Buddhist to understand the topic of Milarepa's ascent to the summit, so you can also check out Quora for the discussion on climbing the summit of Mount Kailash. China Mountain's association prohibits undertaking a mountaineering expedition to Mount Kailash to preserve its pristine environment.

5. Darchen Town

Darchen is the closest town to Mount Kailash, a key stop on the Tibet travel adventure. Arriving in Darchen means reaching the foothills of Mount Kailash, making this village important in the region. Also known as Darchin or Tarchen, it sits at an elevation of 4,500 meters (14,763 ft). The town’s name originates from the large prayer flag pole located in Tarboche Valley, about 13 km from Darchen, which is linked to the Saga Dawa festival.

Darchen is a town of great importance. Ngari boasts several attractions, including Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, the ruins of the Guge and Shangshung Kingdoms, Garuda Valley, Dungkar, Piyang wall paintings, and breathtaking scenery. The road from Lhasa to Darchen is fully paved now, making travel a breeze. Plus, many hotels and restaurants in Darchen have free wifi, so you can stay connected while exploring the foot of Mount Kailash. 

Photo: The beautiful town of Darchen near Mount Kailash Photoblog. 

6. Distance Darchen

The distance from Darchen to Lhasa is 1300km, from Darchen to Tada Guge Kingdom is 270km, and from Darchen to Ali Gar City, Shiquanhe is 320km. The Kora pilgrimage to Mount Kailash begins in Darchen Town. The entire trek covers 52 kilometers.

7. Saga Dawa Festival

During the full moon, the Tibet travel Saga Dawa Festival takes place at Tarboche, which is approximately 13 km away from Darchen. A massive pole for prayer flags is set up for this event. Annually, the Saga Dawa festival is celebrated on the fourth month, the 15th of the Tibetan Lunar calendar. This falls around May or June on the world calendar, coinciding with the month of Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment. 

The full moon on June 11th will mark the celebration of the Saga Dawa festival of 2025; travelers can join our Group tour on June 3rd, 2025. 17 Days to Mount Kailash, Mount Everest, and the Guge Kingdom. Similarly, the full moon day of May 31st, 2026, will also be celebrated as the Saga Dawa festival. In 2027, the full moon day of June 18th will be celebrated as the Saga Dawa festival.

8. How to get to Kailash?

1. Overland Tibet travel from Lhasa.
2. Flight from Lhasa to Ngari Gunsa Airport.
3. Nepal Rasuwa and Tibet Kyirong border to Darchen town.
4. Nepal Hilsa and Tibet Burang border to Darchen town.

9. Another dimension

Legend holds that Mount Kailash serves as a gateway to another realm, attracting numerous travelers. It is believed to possess a profound connection to the Universe. In the biographies of yogi masters, some ventured into mountainous sanctuaries, revealing a hidden world of exquisite beauty. This spiritual belief underscores Mount Kailash's significance as a portal to higher dimensions, revered by Yogi practitioners. However, access to this divine realm is said to be contingent on one's spiritual merit. Does Mount Kailash serve as the gate to a different dimension? This inquiry lingers.

Photo: Another popular Tibet trip is to the highest Mountain Everest.

There are three ways to do the Kora trek around Mount Kailash. The first is the outer Kora path, which is the actual Kora trek covering 52km and taking two or three days to complete. The second is the inner Kora path, also known as Kandro Sanglam or the Dakini's secret path. This path goes from the Dirapuk monastery towards the south and is considered very challenging due to heavy snow.

The final path is the Secret Path, located above Darchen, and provides an opportunity to touch the precious Palace Mount Kailash. For Tibetan pilgrims, it is necessary to complete 12 outer kora and 12 inner kora to visit the secret kora, which is considered the most precious path. Legend has it that time comes to a halt once you reach the secret kora, where there are 13 stupas located along the way.

10. Mountains nearby

1. Mount Kailash 
2. Mount Gurla Mandala
3. Bonri
4. Mount Everest

Mount Kailash is the most sought-after place in a Tibet travel adventure. While en route, one can catch a glimpse of Gurla Mandala. Darchen offers the opportunity to visit Bonri, a small snow-covered mountain. Finally, around 1000km into our journey, we will get a view of the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest.

11. Lakes nearby

1. Manasarovar Lake 
2. Nagtso Lake
3. Pang Gong Tso Lake
4. Namtso Lake
5. Yamdrok Lake

Photo: Tibet Trip to Mount Kailash view from the Lake Manasarovar.

12. Manasarovar Lake

The Tibetan Local name is Mapham Yumtso. Just 30 kilometers away from Mount Kailash and Darchen lies the Manasarovar Lake, which is considered sacred by Hindu, Buddhist, and Bon adherents. This lake is surrounded by mountains and monasteries, making it an ideal location to spend the night after completing the 52-kilometer trek to Mount Kailash. In the Tibet travel routes, there are nearly 1000 Lakes in Tibet, and Mapham Yumtso Lake is one of the highlights.

13. Nag Tso Lake 

Dark Lake, also called Tug Tso, is approximately 10-20 km away from Darchen. It has a dark hue. According to legend, it used to be a body of water inhabited by an evil spirit.

14. Pang Gong Tso Lake

The distance between Ali City, Shiquanhe, and Pangong Lake is roughly 270km, while the distance between Darchen and the lake is approximately 590km. One of the main attractions of this lake is its abundance of wild birds, particularly black-neck cranes.

15. Rivers nearby

1. Singge Kapap River. English: (Sindhu/ Indus River) Chinese: Shi Quan he.
2. Langchen Kapap River. English: (Sutlej River)   Chinese:  Xiang quan he.
3. Macha Kapap River. English: (Karnali River / Ganga River) Chinese: Kong que he.
4. Tachok Kapap River. English: (Yarlung Tsangpo / Brahmaputra River) Chinese: Yalu Jiang / Ma quan he.

16. Monasteries nearby

1. Gangdrak Monastery
2. Sera Long Monastery
3. Dirapuk Monastery
4. Zutrulpuk Monastery
5. Chiu Monastery

17. Gangdrak Monastery

An excellent day trip option from Darchen is to visit Gangdrak monastery. Due to a nearby hill, Mount Kailash cannot be seen from Darchen Town. Thus, the most optimal way to experience Mount Kailash is by embarking on a day hike to Gyangdrak monastery, which also happens to be the route leading to the inner Kora.

18. Serlong Monastery

For a day trip from Darchen town, Serlong can also be considered as an alternative. The scenery of the valley and Mount Kailash from Sera Long Monastery is incredibly captivating.

19. Dirapuk Monastery

The Dirapuk monastery is located along the Kora trek leading to Mount Kailash. It originally served as a place of seclusion for numerous renowned Yogis. When Tibet travels trekking on the 52-km Kora trek around Mount Kailash, visitors will typically halt at the Dirapuk monastery on their first night. Various guest houses, such as the monastery guest house, are available for lodging.

Photo: Trekking to Dirapuk Monastery during the Tibet trip.

20. Zutrulpuk Monastery

During the second day of the Tibet travel kora trek around Mount Kailash, visitors will spend a night at the Zutrulpuk monastery, which was previously used as a retreat by Je Milarepa. Currently, one can still witness the meditation cave being blessed with footprints.

21. Chiu Monastery

Chiu monastery, situated close to Lake Manasarovar, is also known as a bird monastery. It is the most popular monastery near Lake Manasarovar and served as a retreat for Je Padmasambhava in the 8th century.

22. Hotels nearby

1. 3-star Himalaya hotel
2. 2-star Shishapangma hotel
3. Youth hostel 

During the summer months, hot showers and private bathrooms are available at numerous hotels in Darchen town. However, due to the extreme cold during the winter season, access to hot showers is not feasible. While undertaking the Kora trek around Mount Kailash at Dirapuk and Zutrulpuk, there were no provisions for private bathrooms or showers.

Darchen 3-star Himalaya Hotel

Considering the challenging nature of the trek, hikers must secure comfortable accommodations that ensure a restful stay. We highly recommend the esteemed 3-star Himalaya Hotel, celebrated as one of the top lodging choices in the Tibet travel area. It offers exceptional services and the comfort necessary for a peaceful night’s rest before starting this extraordinary journey.

Photo of the double bedroom at the 3-star Himalaya Hotel, Darchen town.

Photo of the single bedroom at the 3-star Himalaya Hotel, Darchen town.

Photo of the bathroom in the 3-star Himalaya Hotel, Darchen town.

23. Restaurants nearby

Darchen boasts a variety of eateries, including both local establishments and Chinese restaurants.

24. City and Towns

1. Ngari Ali Gar City
2. Purang town
3. Tada town
4. Horqu town

25. Ngari Ali Gar City

The central city in western Tibet is Ngari Ali Shiquanhe. Heading towards the west, we are situated 320 km away from Darchen town.

26. Purang town

Purang is a town 160 km from Darchen, on the border between Nepal's Simikot and India.

27. Tada town

One of the main highlights of western Tibet travel is the Guge Kingdom ruins, and Toling monastery is a well-known attraction in Tada, also known as Tsaparang in the local Tibetan language. Tada borders Ladakh.

Photo: Tibet trip to the Guge Kingdom in July 2024.

28. Hor Qu town

Hor Qu is very close to Lake Manasarovar, with only 5km separating the two. Additionally, it is 25km away from Darchen.

29. Airport nearby

Gunsa Airport is the sole airport in Ngari, a city in the western Tibet travel journey. The airport is approximately 55 km from Ngari Gar City, and the distance from the airport to Darchen town is roughly 270 km.

30. Updates Kailash 2025

1. Year 2026 Tibet Travel Mount Kailash Kora trek opens around May.
2. Darchen town now offers numerous newly built hotels, one of which is the 3-star Himalaya Hotel.
3. The roads from Darchen to Dirapuk and Zutrul Puk Monasteries offer emergency vehicle service for travelers’ health.
4. Although the guest houses at Dirapuk Monastery and Zutrul Puk Monastery are constructed well, they do not offer hot showers.
5. Dirapuk Monastery and Zutrul Puk Monastery now have access to 4G internet.

31. Kailash Day 1 Trek

Although Mount Kailash is not visible from Darchen town, it can be seen clearly from a rocky mountain to the north after a two-hour trek. It takes about half a day of hiking to reach our first destination, the Dirapuk Monastery.

Photo: Trekking to Dirapuk Monastery on Day One of Kailash Trek.

Accommodation and food can be found at a Tibetan Guesthouse in the local area. Due to the nature of the Mount Kailash trek, all accommodation options are basic and do not include private bathrooms or showers. Dirapuk offers a clear and close view of Mount Kailash, making it one of the best spots to capture photos of the mountain with the stars at night.

32. Kailash Day 2 Trek

Based on my experience, many travelers opt to begin their trek early on this day. At the highest point of the pass, Drolma La (5600M), there tends to be a lot of snow. Therefore, it's best to arrive before the snow melts to make hiking easier. Afterward, we will hike down to Zutrulpuk monastery and spend our second night there. This is the place where the revered Tibetan Buddhist Yogi Jetsun Milarepa performed significant spiritual deeds. The name Zutrul means "spiritual deeds," and Puk means "cave."

Photo: Trekking to Drolma La Pass 5600 meters on the second day of the Kailash trek.

33. Kailash Day 3 Trek

On the final days of the trek, Travelers will return to Darchen town, covering a distance of 14km, which will take approximately two hours. Following the trek, I experienced a sense of lightness in my body and felt as though some of my negative karmic debts had been cleansed.

34. My Kailash Trip

At Tibet Travelers, we offer both Private and Group Tours of Tibet to Kailash. The Saga Dawa festival is a significant Buddhist event comparable to Christmas for Buddhists. It is a day to mark by performing good deeds. If you are interested, take a look at our Join group Saga Dawa festival for Travelers on June 3rd, 2025.

35. Kailash Trek 16hrs

As a child, I enjoyed scaling the small hill located close to my hometown, Mount Everest Region, which stands at 4,500 meters. The act of climbing not only allowed me to witness the breathtaking scenery but also helped maintain my physical well-being. I have a belief that the higher I ascend, the better my fortune becomes, which is why I am drawn to climbing. In 2005, I had the opportunity to visit Mount Kailash five times as a tour guide, and I accompanied many different tourists from around the world.

Photo: My Amazing Kailash Travel Experience.

36. Tarboche

I met some local Tibetan pilgrims on the way to Tarboche. When I reached the small hill before the Tarboche, known as Chaktsalgang (Prostration area), the view of Mount Kailash was terrific. From the Chaktsalgang, there is a path to the sky burial, where it is said that Buddha Shakyamuni and 500 disciples came for a blessing during the Buddha's time.

37. Tibet Trek Video

From Chaktsalgang, we descended on foot towards Tarboche, where the Saga Dawa festival takes place on the 15th of April each year according to the Tibetan Lunar calendar. This festival commemorates the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni's Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana.

Tarboche is a beautiful spot to stop, enjoy breakfast, and observe the breathtaking scenery of Mount Kailash.

38. Dirapuk monastery.

Upon completing a hike of approximately 18km, I arrived at the Dirapuk monastery, which was the first night of the trek. Tibetan Yogis from various sects frequented this location for retreats between the 11th and 17th centuries. I reached Dirapuk in the afternoon, but due to it being a day trek, my time there was brief. My concern about the snow melting at the Dromla la Pass, which was at an altitude of 5,600 meters, led me to hasten my trek from the Digpa la Pass towards the Dolma la Pass.

39. Droma la 5600 M

Due to the melting ice, the path was damp, and my footwear became soaked, yet I was pleased to arrive promptly. Following my trek over the Drolma la Pass, I took a break for approximately an hour and savored a can of Red Bull. Typically, Red Bull gives me energy, but on this occasion, I dozed off for several hours due to my complete exhaustion.

Photo: Tibet Trip group tour to Mount Kailash near the summit of Dolma La Pass at 5600 meters.

40. Zutrulpuk monastery

I resumed my journey, alternating between running and walking towards the southwest to reach Zutrulpuk monastery, the designated second-night camp for both trekkers and pilgrims. After spending a few minutes at Zutrulpuk, I began my trek towards Darchen town. I managed to arrive at Darchen before nightfall, covering a distance of 14km on foot from Zutrulpuk.

41. Made me humble

During my trek near Mount Kailash, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the locals. To my surprise, I met a Tibetan resident who had completed the 52km trek in just 11 hours. Learning this information helped to ease my mind.

42. Tibet Travel Kailash

Thinking about a Tibet travel journey to the stunning Mount Kailash? We invite you to explore our five unique Tibet travel experiences that promise to make your adventure unforgettable!

1. 15-Day Mount Kailash, Namtso Lake, Guge Kingdom, and Mount Everest base camp Journey.
2. 16-Day Mount Kailash, Guge Kingdom, Mount Everest base camp, and Nepal Journey.
3. 17-Day Mount Kailash, Guge Kingdom, Mount Everest base camp, and back to Lhasa Journey.
4. 15-Day No Trekking Mount Kailash to Lhasa Journey.
5. The shortest 13-day Tibet travel journey to Mount Kailash.

Photo: Tibet trip to Toling Monastery in July 2025.

Conclusion 

Mount Kailash is one of the most beloved travel destinations in Tibet. We warmly welcome travelers from around the globe to visit this sacred site and complete the unforgettable 52-kilometer trek around the breathtaking mountain, standing at an elevation of 5,600 meters—a milestone in life.

Circumambulating Mount Kailash fosters universal peace and joy for all living beings. Considered the most sacred mountain on Earth, its unique shape and position suggest it may have served as the ancient epicenter of our planet. We appreciate you taking the time to read our article about Mount Kailash!

Are you interested in stunning videos of the Tibet Trip? Check out our  Instagram and Facebook pages, where we’ve garnered over 1 million views! Additionally, travelers can check out our recent 2025 May Mount Kailash Tibet trekking article, which features photos of trekking in Tibet to Mount Kailash. Thank you for reading this article to the end. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please leave a comment.

If you're interested in visiting Tibet or booking a Tibet tour adventure, we would be delighted to chat with you on Instagram or via email. Feel free to contact us at info@tibettravelers.com. We look forward to hearing from you!