Kailash Pilgrimage Guide: Traversing the Ngari Southern Route from Lhasa to Holy Mount Kailash

Ngari Southern Route, a classic Tibet travel route, stretches from Lhasa to Kailash, covering a distance of approximately 1600km. Every year, countless pilgrims and tourists embark on this sacred journey to catch a glimpse of the mystical Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake. Here you can experience the unique natural beauty and Tibetan local customs, and feel the power of faith. The ultimate Lhasa Kailash travel guide covers all the details on Ngari Southern Route, like distance, road condition, duration, tour planning, accommodation, visa and permit, best travel time, and packing tips, to ensure your Kailash trip is safe and memorable.

1. Lhasa to Kailash Ngari Southern Route Distance and Road Conditions: 1,600km

The sacred mountain Kailash is situated at an altitude of 6,638 meters in Pulan County, Ali Prefecture, Tibet. Compared with other travel routes to Gang Rinpoche, the Ngari South Route from Lhasa to Kailash spans 1,600 km, which is not only a shorter distance but is also a popular route among tourists. The entire route can be divided into four sections: A paved highway from Lhasa to Shigatse offers an utterly smooth drive. From Shigatse to Everest Base Camp, the road condition is still good. From EBC to Saga County, the roads are mostly paved. There are many fuel stations and small retail stores along the way. The final section to Mount Kailash is also well-maintained, with no rough or bumpy sections. The entire journey has perfect road conditions.

For this journey, Tibet Horizon offers fully guided kailash tours with experienced drivers and reliable vehicles to ensure your trip is safe and comfortable, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the cultural landmarks and breathtaking scenery along the way, creating a richer and more memorable travel experience.

2. Lhasa to Kailash Ngari Southern Route Tour Duration: 12-17 Days

The south route from Lhasa to Kailash is a more time-consuming but scenic alternative to flights to Ngari. It is the preferred route for the majority of tourists. Although the full road trip takes 12-17 days, it offers a distinctive travel experience. Such a journey gives you more time to acclimatize to the high-altitude environment, reduces the risk of high-altitude sickness, and enhances the whole travel experience. For those wishing to undertake the overland journey to Kailash, we would recommend our popular tour packages as follows:

Most Classic Itinerary: 15 Days Western Tibet Kailash Pilgrimage Tour
Most Important Itinerary: 16 Days Lhasa Kailash Mansarovar Saga Dawa Festival Tour with One More Day to Touch Kailash
Most Auspicious Itinerary: 17 Days Lhasa Kailash Mansarovar Guge Kingdom Full Moon Tour

Ngari Southern Route Map

3. Lhasa to Kailash Ngari Southern Route Tour Breakdown

A journey from Lhasa to Kailash via the Ngari Southern Route is a pilgrimage that allows you to gain insight into the essence of Tibetan culture. Along the route, you'll encounter awe-inspiring vistas, which are a testament to the grandeur of nature and a reflection of the region's rich cultural heritage. Here we'll show you the popular tourist attractions along the travel route from Lhasa to Kailash.

Day 1-3: Sightseeing tour in Lhasa

You'll stay in Lhasa for the first three days, enjoying the beautiful scenery and adapting to the plateau environment. In Lhasa, you will see the following attractions:

Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet that once housed over ten thousand monks. You will learn more about the Tibetan Buddhist worldview and the stories of renowned figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.
Sera Monastery was established in 1419 and is regarded as a significant Buddhist seminary. Here you'll observe the renowned monk debates, a highlight of Sera Monastery.
Potala Palace is Lhasa's iconic landmark. You can explore these world-level architectures: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs, and countless lama's dormitories.
Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha, learn Tibetan Buddhism, hear the red-robed Lamas praying, take photos of the gold roof, and enjoy the bird's view of Lhasa.
Barkhor Street is the oldest street in Lhasa, and is full of a religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, religion, and arts.

Sera Monastery Monk Debating

Day 4-6: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga

After exploring Lhasa, you'll head southwest. Along the way, you can immerse yourself in Tibet's splendid scenery.

Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. This stunning lake unveils its beauty from the Gampa La Pass (4794m). Here you can get the first glimpse of Lake Yamdrok surrounded by snowy mountain peaks.
Karo La: On the way to Gyantse, you'll see the beautiful Karola Glacier that falls from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar.
Everest Base Camp: After enjoying the panoramic view of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5250m), you'll head to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Here you can appreciate the golden sunset and starry night at the base camp.
Rongbuk Monastery: Greeting the warm sunrise at EBC, you'll visit the world's highest monastery, Rongbuk Monastery. Sitting close to Mount Everest, it is a place where nuns and monks reside together.
Mt. Shishapangma and Lake Peiku Tso: When heading to Saga, you will see Mount Shishapangma (8012m), one of the world's highest peaks, and Lake Peiku Tso (4590m).

Day7-10: Saga - Darchen - Kailash Kora - Darchen

On the way to Kailash, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga Valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range, pass by the holy Lake Mansarovar, and finally arrive at Darchen.

Mount Kailash: Normally, the Kailash kora is a 3-day trek. If you desire to get a closer touch with Mount Kailash, you can spend one more day trekking from Dirapuk Monastery to the western slope of Mt. Kailash.
Dirapuk Monastery: Stay overnight at Driapuk Monastery and watch the sunset over Mount Kailash.
Dolma La Pass and Cibei Lake: You will trek over Dolma La Pass (5639m), the highest pass of the Kora. All the way, you can see pilgrims prostrating along the Kora path and beautiful Cibei Lake (Gauri Kund).
Zutulpuk Monastery: Stay overnight at Zutulpuk Monastery and trek back to Darchen.
Mansarovar Lake: Located at the southern foot of Kailash, Mansarovar (4590m) is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet as well as the highest freshwater lake. You can enjoy a bath in the lake or a leisure trek around.

Our clients are trekking around Kailash

Day 11-15: Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Traveling back from Darchen to Lhasa will give you some other different views.

Gyirong Valley: Upon arriving in Gyirong Town, you'll venture into the most beautiful valley in the world - Gyirong Valley. Here you'll have the opportunity to visit Sherpa villages, wander through dense forests, and capture the vistas of the snow peaks.
The Himalayas: Traveling from Gyirong back to Tingri, you'll marvel at the enchanting beauty of the Himalayas.
Tashilhunpo Monastery: Return to Lhasa from Shigatse, you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery. Qamba Buddha Hall houses the highest and largest bronze Qamba Buddha statue.
Yarlung Tsangpo River: Traveling back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, you can frame the breathtaking landscapes in your memory.

4. Accommodation and Hotel in Darchen, the Base Camp of Kailash

When you start your journey from the southern route, you can choose the accommodation according to your preference and budget. Darchen is the starting point of the Mount Kailash trek. Himalayan Kailash Hotel is the best option. It is a 4-star hotel with 114 rooms. The surrounding environment is quiet and the whole hotel is full of Tibetan style. In addition, the hotel's restaurant also provides a special flavorful breakfast, where you can taste authentic Tibetan food and sweet tea.

Kailash Castle Hotel, all rooms of this hotel provide oxygen-enriched service to help tourists relieve altitude sickness, and there are also different types of rooms, such as loft view rooms, Goddess Peak view rooms, oxygen-enriched twin-bedded rooms, etc., which are dedicated to providing perfect service for customers.

If you want to opt for a room with a lower budget, Jingruihonghao Hotel is a nice choice with a good infrastructure. There are also Pulan Jinmantang Holiday Hotel, Kailash View Hotel, and so on. All in all, there are many hotels along the way that you can check to compare prices, and if you have a hotel in mind that you prefer, you can contact us and we will be able to make a reservation for you in advance at a more favorable price.

5. Visas and Permits for Lhasa to Kailash Tour via Ngari Southern Route

Kailash tour requires a series of necessary documents, including a valid passport, a Chinese Visa, Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens'Travel Permit, and Military Area Entry Permit. Some of these documents cannot be applied for individually. As a professional travel agency with a longstanding commitment to Tibet travel, we promise to assist our clients in applying for Tibet Travel Permit and other documents related to traveling to Kailash, thereby ensuring a seamless journey.

6.Best Time to Travel from Lhasa to Kailash via Ngari Southern Route

The best month to visit Kailash is typically the spring months of May and June, and the autumn months of September and October. During this time, the weather is more stale, with temperatures in the Kailash region being fit for outdoor activities.

7. Packing Advice for Ngari Kailash Tour

Clothing: Layers of clothing, including a warm jacket, windproof outerwear, a thick jacket, thermal underwear, and windproof trousers to cope with the changing temperatures. Gloves are also essential. Non-slip shoes are suitable for long walks and hikes.
Sun Protection: UV rays are strong at high altitudes, so bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats.

8. Conclusion

Ngari southern route via EBC is the best choice for tourists to travel overland from Mount Kailash to Lhasa. Through the perfect asphalted-paved roads, you can appreciate the most awesome landscapes, explore ancient monasteries, and marvel at extraordinary natural wonders. If you are planning a pilgrimage to Kailash, Tibet Horizon is your best partner with a one-stop service for your Tibet tour, covering personalized itinerary planning, handling of entry permit application, accompanied by experienced drivers and tour guides, as well as comfortable accommodation arrangements, so that every moment of your stay in the holy land will be hassle-free.