Kailash Mansarovar Yatra By Helicopter From Kathmandu

30 Minutes Hotel in Kathmandu

Your pilgrimage begins the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. An Everest Helicopter Service representative will receive you and transfer you to your pre-booked 4-star hotel. The afternoon is yours to rest and acclimatise to Kathmandu's altitude of 1,400 metres.

In the evening, the Everest Helicopter Service team conducts a comprehensive Yatra briefing. Our experienced Nepali team leader — fluent in Hindi and English — will walk you through the route, what to expect at each stage, altitude protocols, emergency procedures, and answers to all your questions. This is also when you will be introduced to your fellow pilgrims and the support staff who will accompany you throughout.

Before dinner, visit the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Many pilgrims also visit Guheshwari Temple and Jal Narayan Temple on this evening to seek blessings before the yatra begins. Dinner and overnight at your 4-star hotel in Kathmandu.

1 Hour Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Kathmandu's domestic airport terminal for the one-hour scheduled flight to Nepalgunj in western Nepal. At just 152 metres above sea level, Nepalgunj is significantly warmer and lower than Kathmandu — and this change is deliberate. The lower altitude gives your body a gentle reset before the dramatic ascent ahead.

Upon arrival at Nepalgunj, transfer to your pre-booked 4-star hotel. In the evening, Everest Helicopter Service's local team will conduct a secondary briefing covering the helicopter flight to Simikot and Hilsa. Pilgrims joining from Lucknow or other Indian border cities will meet the group here. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Nepalgunj.

3 Hours Guest House in Purang

This is the day the mountains take over. Wake early. After breakfast, transfer to Nepalgunj Airport for the 40 to 50-minute scheduled flight to Simikot (2,910m), the headquarters of Humla district in far-western Nepal. Simikot sits in a restricted Dolpo zone area, which is why a restricted zone permit is required — Everest Helicopter Service arranges this as part of your package.

After a brief rest at Simikot, you board the chartered helicopter for the defining leg of the Kailash Mansarovar helicopter yatra: the Simikot to Hilsa helicopter flight. This 25-minute ride over pristine Himalayan wilderness and remote valleys is one of the most breathtaking aerial experiences in the world. As the helicopter descends into Hilsa (3,640m) on the Karnali River, you can already sense the energy of the Tibetan plateau that lies just beyond.

At Hilsa, complete immigration formalities at the Nepal-Tibet border crossing. Cross the border on foot, then board vehicles on the Tibetan side for the drive to Purang (Taklakot, 3,900m) — approximately 45 minutes. Purang is a small, clean Tibetan town with guesthouses, local markets, and the supplies needed for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Dinner is freshly prepared vegetarian food by Everest Helicopter Service's dedicated cook. Overnight at Hotel Purang or similar.

Whole Day Guest House in Purang

This is a full acclimatisation day — one of the most important days of the entire yatra. Do not underestimate it. At nearly 3,900 metres, your body needs time to adjust before ascending to Mansarovar (4,590m) and eventually Dolma La Pass (5,630m). Rushing this stage is the primary cause of altitude sickness on the Kailash Mansarovar helicopter yatra.

Spend the morning resting and hydrating. In the afternoon, you may visit the ancient Khojernath Temple (also known as the Ramsita Temple) and explore the monastery at Purang. A short, gentle walk in the surrounding area helps your body acclimatise without overexertion. Views of the distant Himalayan peaks begin to emerge. Dinner and overnight at Purang.

Everest Helicopter Service's medical kit, supplemental oxygen, and high-altitude sickness medicine are available throughout this acclimatisation phase. If any pilgrim shows symptoms of acute mountain sickness, our team leader will intervene immediately.

3 Hours Guest House

Today marks one of the most spiritually charged moments of the entire Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by helicopter: your first sight of holy Lake Mansarovar. Drive approximately 2 hours from Purang through sweeping Tibetan plateau landscapes. En route, you will see the haunting Rakshas Taal (the Lake of Demons) — a brackish lake that stands in stark spiritual contrast to the fresh, holy waters of Mansarovar just beyond.

As the vehicle rounds a final bend and the shimmering blue expanse of Lake Mansarovar comes into view, with the white crown of Mount Kailash rising behind it on a clear day, many pilgrims weep. This is the moment they have waited decades for. At 4,590 metres above sea level, Lake Mansarovar (also written as Lake Manasarovar) stretches across 320 square kilometres of the Tibetan plateau, fed by glaciers and revered as one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world.

In the Hindu tradition, bathing in Lake Mansarovar washes away the sins of countless lifetimes. Many pilgrims drink the water, which is believed to purify the soul. After the holy dip, puja rituals are performed on the lakeside. Our cook prepares a warm vegetarian meal as the sun descends over the water. Overnight at the Mansarovar guesthouse on sharing basis (twin, triple, or multi-sharing depending on availability). Accommodation here is basic but spiritually immersive — you fall asleep to the sound of the lake.

Whole Day Guest House

Today is dedicated entirely to Lake Mansarovar. Wake at 3:00 AM to watch the stars reflected in the lake's surface — a sight that defies description. As the sky lightens, the outline of Mount Kailash appears on the northern horizon, its four faces catching the first rays of sunlight.

The Mansarovar Lake Parikrama (approximately 105 kilometres) is completed by vehicle, with stops at designated viewpoints along the southern and western banks. This vehicle-based parikrama allows pilgrims of all ages and fitness levels to complete the circumambulation while absorbing the lake's sacred energy from every angle.

After the parikrama, drive to Darchen (4,575m) — the base camp and starting point for the Kailash Kora. This drive takes approximately 2 hours. Upon arriving at Darchen, you will meet the yaks and yak-men who will carry your tents, kitchen equipment, and group luggage during the three-day Kailash Parikrama. Pilgrims who wish to hire a personal horse or porter for the Kora may confirm arrangements with our Tibetan guide here. Note that horse and porter charges are paid directly and are not included in the Everest Helicopter Service package. Overnight at a hotel in Darchen.

6 Hours Guest House

Har Har Mahadev. The Kailash Kora begins.

After an early breakfast and final preparations, the group walks from Darchen to Yama Dwar — the Gate of the God of Death — which marks the spiritual entrance to the Kailash Parikrama circuit. Most pilgrims pause here for prayer and contemplation before crossing the threshold.

The walk from Yama Dwar along the western face of Mount Kailash to Dirapuk is approximately 14 kilometres and takes 5 to 6 hours at a comfortable pace. The trail is gradual at first, climbing steadily along the valley floor with Kailash's magnificent west face visible above. As you approach Dirapuk (5,050m), the north face of Mount Kailash — considered the most sacred — comes into full view. This is often the most photographed moment of the entire yatra: Kailash's ice-capped summit reflected in the glacial waters below, the sky impossibly blue against the white rock.

Overnight at Dirapuk camp or guesthouse. Dinner prepared by Everest Helicopter Service's cook. Rest well. Tomorrow is the most demanding day of the entire journey.

8 Hours Guest House

This is the most physically and spiritually intense day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Wake at first light, eat a good breakfast, and prepare for the ascent to Dolma La Pass at 5,630 metres — the highest point of the Kailash Kora and one of the highest mountain passes regularly crossed by pilgrims anywhere in the world.

The climb from Dirapuk to Dolma La takes 4 to 5 hours. The trail is steep and exposed in places. At this altitude, every step requires deliberate effort — slow and steady is the only way. Everest Helicopter Service's Nepali team leader and Tibetan guide accompany all pilgrims throughout this section. Supplemental oxygen is available. The yaks carry all group gear, ensuring pilgrims carry only their personal daypacks.

At the summit of Dolma La Pass, prayer flags snap in the wind. Pilgrims drape their own kata scarves and offer prayers. The view from the pass — glaciers, ridgelines, and the vast Tibetan plateau stretching in every direction — is indescribable. This moment is considered the spiritual peak of the entire yatra.

Just below the pass on the eastern descent, Gauri Kund (Holy Lake of Goddess Parvati) sits at 5,608 metres. Access to Gauri Kund itself requires a steep additional descent and return climb, and is optional. The main trail descends steeply from Dolma La into the broad valley below. The total walking distance on Day 2 of the Kailash Parikrama is approximately 22 kilometres, taking 8 to 9 hours. Overnight at Zuthulphuk guesthouse (4,760m). Dinner by our cook.

4 Hours Guest House

The final day of the Kailash Kora is a 6-kilometre walk from Zuthulphuk to Chongdo, where Everest Helicopter Service's vehicles await. Along the way, pilgrims may visit the sacred Saptarishi Caves — seven caves where the seven Vedic sages are said to have meditated. The eastern face of Kailash accompanies you on the left as you walk.

From Chongdo, drive 6 kilometres to Darchen for a hot lunch prepared by our cook. The group gathers — including those who opted not to complete the full Kora — and vehicles proceed to Taklakot (Purang) for the overnight stay.

Today, there is a palpable sense of quiet joy among pilgrims. The Kailash Parikrama is complete. Dinner and overnight in Taklakot.

For those wishing to extend their spiritual experience, the optional Ashtapada Darshan (a close-up view of Kailash's south face from the Asthapada viewpoint) may be arranged with local jeeps at approximately 500 yuvans per person — payable directly.

5 Hours Hotel in Kathmandu

The return journey retraces the route in reverse. After breakfast, drive approximately 45 kilometres to the Nepal-Tibet border at Hilsa. Complete Chinese immigration and exit formalities, cross the border, and arrive on the Nepal side at Hilsa (3,640m).

Board the chartered helicopter for the return flight from Hilsa to Simikot (25 minutes). From Simikot, a scheduled flight to Nepalgunj (40 to 50 minutes). At Nepalgunj, the group may split: pilgrims continuing to Lucknow or other Indian cities depart here; those returning to Kathmandu board the final connecting flight.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by helicopter from Kathmandu concludes at Tribhuvan International Airport. Everest Helicopter Service's representative transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Dinner and overnight in Kathmandu.

Whole Day -

Your final day in Kathmandu. Spend the morning visiting Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), or simply reflecting on the extraordinary journey you have just completed. Everest Helicopter Service provides a complimentary airport transfer at your scheduled departure time.

We strongly recommend booking your onward international flight from Kathmandu with at least one buffer day after your scheduled return. Weather delays are common on the Simikot-Hilsa helicopter segment, and having a spare day in Kathmandu ensures you do not miss connecting flights.