Tibet is a popular destination for tourists from the United States, and the region sees thousands of American tourists heading to the plateau throughout the year. If you are planning a trip to the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA, for the outstanding trek around the world’s most sacred mountain, then you will need to book your trip with a registered Tibetan tour operator, as there is no allowance for independent travel in Tibet.

However, taking a Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA trip is not as hard as you may think. Since you need to be on a pre-arranged tour, the travel agency does most of the work for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the trip.

1. Join a Small Group Tour to Better Experience Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from USA

The only option for foreign travelers on a Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA is to take a pre-arranged organized tour with a registered tour operator in Tibet. All foreign travelers must use this as their only option, as foreign travelers are not permitted to travel unaccompanied in the region. And you have the choice of joining a group tour or a private tour.

It is suggested to join a small group tour since it has many benefits. Not only can a small group tour save you money, as the costs for transport and guides are split between all members of the party, but you get excellent logistical support during the trip, and you get to take it with other like-minded travelers who are there for the same reasons you are.

Our Mount Kailash Small Group Tour offers you the best quality service you would expect from a premier tour operator; tailored routes to Mount Kailash and back that include a wealth of other amazing sights and attractions on the vast Tibetan Plateau; local Tibetan guides that not only know the area they are traveling, but in most cases actually grew up there, and have intimate knowledge of the region.

You also get the good hotel and dining facilities available on the trip, based on the area of Tibet in which you are traveling. And while this may be just a tent at Everest Base Camp, a small monastic guest house, or the tiny basic hotel at the foot of Mount Kailash, you are guaranteed an authentic Tibetan experience for the whole trip.

2. Choose the Best Time for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from USA: April to October

Tibet is a land that can be visited throughout the year, but Mount Kailash, unfortunately, is not. Lying in the far west of Tibet, winters in Ngari Prefecture can be intensely cold and snow-bound, and travel to the sacred mountain in the winter months from December to March is not recommended.

The ideal time for a trip to Mount Kailash is normally in the spring and autumn, from April to May and September to November. These two seasons are the optimum times of the year for trekking in Tibet, as the weather is at its best for hiking around the massive mountains of the plateau. In the spring and autumn, the weather and climate in the area around the sacred mountain is calm and clear, with clear skies, little to no rain, and bright sunshine for almost all of the days. However, this time of year can still be a little cold, and you will need to pack warmer clothes for the trek around the sacred mountain.

Summer, from June to August is possible to take trips to Mount Kailash in Ngari Prefecture, despite it being the monsoon season in Tibet. Out in the far west of Tibet, at higher altitudes, there is a lot less rainfall in the monsoon season than in central and eastern Tibet, which means that the trek is still open in the summer months. You may find a few light showers can pester you during the trip and the trek, but the chances of heavy intense rain is negligible, and you can complete the trek without any problems.

Besides, for the festival atmosphere, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA can be done at the time of the famous Saga Dawa Festival. Held annually in the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (around May), the Saga Dawa Festival celebrates the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni whose birth, enlightenment, and nirvana all took place in the same month, though in different years. The awesome sense of festivities and general celebration makes the trek around the sacred mountain, along with thousands of others at the same time, an experience worth having.

3. Select the Best Way to Get to Kailash Manasarovar from USA: Travel via Lhasa

Traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet from the United States can actually be done via two different routes. One is to get from the US to mainland China, and then on to Lhasa from there before taking an overland trip to Mount Kailash. The other is to get from the US to Kathmandu in Nepal, and then travel overland across the border direct to Mount Kailash.

Via Mainland China and Lhasa (Recommended)

First, fly from the United States to a Chinese city with direct access to Lhasa, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Guangzhou. From mainland China to Lhasa, you can choose between flights or trains.

Flights to Lhasa depart from various cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, Kunming, and Xining. Although not the most economical option, flights are fast and convenient, ensuring a quick journey to Lhasa.

Alternatively, trains to Lhasa operate daily from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and Xining, and every other day from Chengdu and Chongqing. While trains take longer, they are more budget-friendly and provide stunning views of northern Tibet.

Upon arriving in Lhasa, take a few days to acclimatize to the higher altitude and explore the city. Afterward, embark on a four-day overland drive to Darchen, situated at the southern base of Mount Kailash.

During the journey, make stops in Gyantse and Shigatse for captivating sightseeing. Visit the renowned Everest Base Camp (EBC) to enjoy spectacular views of the world's highest mountain. The drive unveils exciting discoveries and breathtaking landscapes, offering some of the world's most beautiful scenery along the way.

The route via Lhasa is usually the preferred option for international travelers heading for a Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA. This way, you have a variety of flights that can get you to mainland China, and better flight options for getting to Lhasa.

After you arrive in Lhasa, you also get to spend the first couple of days acclimatizing and sightseeing, so that your trip is less exhausting in the high-altitude atmosphere. Then you will get to take the amazing overland journey through Gyantse, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp, and Saga, to reach Darchen, at the very foot of the sacred mountain.

Via Kathmandu, Nepal

The other option is to first travel to Kathmandu and then take the overland tour to Mount Kailash via Gyirong Port. Regular flights operate to Nepal from various locations in the United States, and you can discover the best deals on comparison sites for global flights.

For the overland journey from Nepal to Mount Kailash, you will initially traverse the challenging yet scenic route to Rasuwa Gadi at the Nepal-China border. From there, proceed to Gyirong, where you can explore the lush Gyirong Valley before heading to Saga, passing by Mt. Shishabangma (8027m) and Pelku Tso Lake. After crossing Lake Manasarovar, you will finally reach Darchen at the foot of Mount Kailash.

This route via Nepal typically takes four days. While it is a shorter route, it presents challenges in terms of altitude adaptation and may cause you to miss some of the best sights of the Tibetan Plateau.

4. Obtain the Required Permits for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from USA

Before you can travel to Mount Kailash, there are several permits that you are required to have. The first thing to obtain is your Visa to enter China. For those traveling through mainland China, you can obtain a simple tourist visa from the Chinese Embassy, while those traveling through Kathmandu will be provided with a Chinese Group Visa for entry to China from Nepal.

Once you have the Chinese Visa, or Chinese Group Visa, your tour operator will apply for the Tibet Travel Permit on your behalf, as well as the other permits you will need to travel to Tibet for a Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA.

The Tibet Travel Permit is required to enter Tibet and travel in the area of Lhasa, while the Alien’s Travel Permit allows you to travel to the unopened areas of Tibet outside Lhasa. To get to Mount Kailash, you will also need the Military Permit. All these documents can be applied through us on your behalf, as long as you book your tour with us.

5. Pack Essentials for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from USA

Ideally, clothing should be breathable for trekking around Mount Kailash, and layers should be used with the innermost layer being the most important. Thin t-shirts, hiking shirts, or long underwear are ideal for this and are comfortable to wear.

The middle layer should be warm and able to trap the air to help maintain a good body temperature. Fleece, wool, and feather or quilted clothing is the best option here, and should be thin enough to be comfortable but not too thin that it will not keep you warm. Sweaters, sweatshirts, fleece sweaters or jackets, or quilted jackets are deal for this, but you should not allow yourself to get too hot.

Your outer layer should consist of raincoats, windproof jackets, or mountaineering jackets, and should only be used depending on the time of year in which you are traveling. You do not want to get too hot on the trek, so if the weather is already warm, these are not required while trekking. However, they are useful for the evenings, when it can get colder.

Trekking pants are the best option for the lower body, and can be useful for keeping out the cold and the wind together. Long underwear is essential in the periods of the year when it is colder on the mountain, but you should not add too many layers to the legs, or you may find it harder to move freely.

Footwear should really be a good strong pair of hiking boots, which have adequate grip and are waterproof up the ankles. Strong ankle support from the boots is also essential as the ground around the sacred mountain can be rough and rocky, and you do not want to twist your ankle on the hike.

If you want to pack light, and only bring the bare necessities, there are a range of items that can be bought in Lhasa once you arrive. Clothing suitable for trekking in the mountainous region, along with hiking boots, can be purchased after you arrive, and certain other equipment, such as cold weather gear and sleeping bags, can be hired for the trip in Lhasa.

6. Prepare Altitude Acclimatization for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the USA

One of the most common illnesses for travelers to Tibet is altitude sickness. This is brought on by the thinner atmosphere at higher elevations such as the Tibetan Plateau, where the amount of oxygen in each breath is lower than at sea level.

Altitude sickness can cause sufferers to experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, increased blood pressure, headaches, dehydration, and other general feelings of malaise and fatigue.

Aside from preparing yourself both physically and mentally before you take the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, and taking a slower, more acclimatic route to Tibet via train. Once you arrive in Lhasa, there are some useful tips that can help you acclimatize better to the higher altitude.

The first is to rest and let your body naturally get used to the lower oxygen intake per breath, which it will normally do after a couple of days. Avoid overdoing exercise, and eat more vegetables and fruits, to assist the body in the production of more red blood cells. You should also refrain from smoking and drinking.

Also, you can try the options of primary drugs to combat altitude sickness, such as Acetazolamide. Or you could even try the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) available in most Chinese pharmacies, such as “Hong Jing Tian”, made from the root of the Rhodiola plant, and used to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

Conclusion

A Kailash Manasarovar tour from the USA is an epic adventure that can take you to one of the most amazing destinations on the Tibetan plateau. You can choose to travel via either mainland China or Nepal, and have the option of taking a private or group tour to Mount Kailash. The tour to the sacred mountain in the far west of Tibet is a wonderful journey, and you are guaranteed that it will be the ultimate trip of a lifetime.