Mount Kailash Trekking Tour Guide

Because of Mount Kailash's magnificent yet special status and landscapes, Mount Kailash Trekking Tour is known, either by pilgrims or travelers, not only as an holy and epic spiritual pilgrim route in the world but also a mysterious and arduous adventure into the Himalayas. So, to get a clear picture of how to prepare and what to prepare for this once a life time tour into a very remote and unfamiliar land is so important that you cannot afford to neglect, otherwise your dreamed tour could be easily spoiled. What follows please find the most detailed Mount Kailash Trekking Tour Guide on different aspects concluded by our years' of experienced operation.

Part 1. Mount Kailash Weather
Part 2. What to Eat During Mount Kailash Trekking?
Part 3. Mount Kailash Accommodation
Part 4. Packing List for Mount Kailash Trekking
Part 5. Notice for Mount Kailash Trekking (Mountain Sickness)

Part 1. Mount Kailash Weather

Mount Kailash is located in the very western end of Tibet near the Himalayas with a plateau monsoon climate. Generally speaking, the trekking is possible when the snow is less from middle of April to middle of October. July and August are the rainy cloudy season, but since that area is quite dry and has the minimum rainfall, so it's also good to travel there in July and August. If you worry the clouds may prevent you from appreciating the mountain peak in July and August, then the best months to visit Mount Kailash are May, June, Sep and October. No matter which month, snow is still expectable on the way, especially on day two on two slopes of Dromala Pass, so it's also very cold in the early morning (before 10AM) and late afternoon (after 7PM). Also, the wind is strong and chilling, especially on the mountain passes. Also, do not forget the ultraviolet ray intensity here is also the highest. For detailed weather information, please click Mount Kailash Weather.

Mount Kailash Weather

Part 2. What to Eat During Mount Kailash Trekking?

There is no restaurant but simple teahouse on the way of trekking. The only places to get meals (breakfast and dinner) are the guesthouses we stay overnight, so when you order your breakfast at the guesthouse, better order good and sufficiently, because the teahouses on the way only has hot tea and instant noodles available. When you are in Darchen, buy some dry nuts, chocolate and fruits in your small backpack, those foods that high of heat can quickly energize you up.

Mount Kailash Accommodation

Part 3. Mount Kailash Accommodation

The conditions of accommodation around the Mount Kailash region are relatively much more basic and simpler due to its remoteness and tough environment. The best hotel in Darchen Town is Himalaya Kailash Hotel which is likely a 3-star standard hotel, but it's quite expensive compared with other basic hotels and guesthouses. If budget is not a problem for you, this is a good choice as it provides 24 hours electricity, WIFI and hot water with breakfast included. However, electricity, WIFI and hot water are not 24 hours available at other basic hotels and guesthouses, and breakfast is excluded too. Also, the number of hotels and guesthouses there is limited as well; early booking is advised to make sure there is room for you, especially during the Saga Dawa Festival period during which tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists will flood to this tiny town.

Mount Kaialsh Accommodation

Note that power supply is often short as there are no traditional power stations nearby but only onebig solar power stationthat easily running out in the evening, so most of restaurants and hotels will use a small power generator to supply some electricity in a certain period of time in the evening. The two guesthouses near the monasteries where tourist will stay during the trekking are more basic and rougher, nothing but some beds in a barrack-like room. Also, the blankets and quilts are not often exchanged due to weather and lack of water. So, if you can bring a blanket or a thin sleeping bag that can wrap you when sleeping, that would be ideal. It's also ok if you do not want to bring those in your suitcase, because though it's not that clear yet it's not dirty, just not clear enough. Anyway, place your expectation on lodging condition to the lowest during the trekking days. Like the guesthouses in Darchen, the two guesthouses trekkers will stay have no stable electricity supply at all, a small generator will be used temporarily for 2 or 3 hours in the evening, and that's the only chance you can charge your appliance.  

Part 4. Packing List for Mount Kailash Trekking

 1. Clothes 

As detailed above, it's cold and windy in the Mount Kailash area with expectable snow over mountain passes even in summer, so warm clothes are must-to-bring no matter which month you travel there. Down coat is advised in April, May, September and October, fleeced warm jacket with thermal underclothes is ok in July and August. Bring extra thermal underclothes or sweater to exchange after long walk without shower. Big-Brim-Hat and warm-socket are also must-to-bring no matter which month, gloves are also essential if you use camera a lot. Apart from these items, here are some necessities that must be brought.

• A Pair of Good Hiking Shoes that protect you from the stony, steep and snowy trail. Note this is very important as your feet will be moving on stony trails for 3 days, and some parts are quite steep and also snow-covered.

• A Hat that keeps your head warm and better protects you from the sunburn. The chilling wind is quite strong in the morning and on the mountain passes, so it's very important to keep your head (the commander of your body) warm so that he can functions properly on the way; the ultraviolet ray intensity in Tibet is times higher than the sea level area, and Mount Kailash area is one of the highest even in Tibet, so if you want to be still recognizable to your friends and families, when you buy a hat, better buy one with big brim. We saw before some Asian trekkers became “African” after the trekking without proper protection.

• A pair of sunglasses. Since the sunshine in Tibet is quite strong and lots of area along the road is snow-covered, so the strong glare from snow can cause snow blindness which makes you cannot tell the road. Without this glass, you can't even open your eyes when the strong wind with snow blows to you.

2. Equipment

• A Small Backpack. During 3 days trekking, you will leave your big suitcase in our vehicle (our driver will make sure they are safe) and bring some really important belongings with you, such as your passport, visa, cashes and etc. So a small backpack can hold some T-shirts (for exchange after sweats), tissues, simple food (containing high calorie like chocolate and banana) and some water is essential. A small backpack is the easiest way to walk with so many things. 

• A water cup to store some hot water before leaving the guesthouse each morning, simply hot water or with tea or milk warms your body up each morning, it's much better than drinking cold mineral water in bottles. And you can get hot water supply again from teahouses on the way.

• A pair of hiking sticks, the slope on both sides of Dromala Pass is quite steep with half area snow covered, the hiking sticks can not only help you walk on the very steep slopes but also help you find the right path under the snow. 

• A very thin sleeping bag (or a blanket), we must admit that the hygiene condition of the quilts and beddings of the only two guesthouses during the trekking is not ideal at all (because it's impossible to wash and exchange daily under that circumstance), so we advise you to bring a thin sleeping bag or a blanket to wrap you up from their quilts. However, rest assured that their quilts are quite warm and thick, that's why we only advise you to bring a thin one or even just a blanket.  

• A headlight, the two guesthouses we will stay during the trekking for two nights have no electricity supply after around 9 or 10 PM, it's better to bring a headlight in case you need it in the evening. 
• A Power Bank, not only the two guesthouses during the trekking are short of electricity supply but also the hotels on the town of Darchen as well, if you use camera app a lot on your smart phone, make sure to bring one power bank, you definitely need it on the way.

Part 5. Notice for Mount Kailash Trekking (Mountain Sickness)

The average altitude of Mount Kailash trekking region is around 4900 meters with Darchen Town at 4675 meters and Dromala Pass at 5648 meters. So altitude problem is quite a challenge for trekkers. Good rest and sufficient acclimatization before the trekking is the most important issue to consider. So when you choose a tour to Mount Kailash, make sure it has around 6 or 7 days before the trekking starts. No alcohol, sleep early, eat well and keep warm are essential to stay away the sickness. However, this does not mean trekkers will have no altitude problem at all if they drink no alcohol, sleep early, eat well and keep warm. The first day of trekking is not that arduous but still hard, lowers your speed and stop to rest when you feel hard. Because a good start and rest is very important for the 2nd day's trekking that is the most difficult part of the whole trip. Most of people quit because of the altitude problem in the second day. The slopes up and down the Dromala Pass are very steep; altitude sickness may happen when climb up the Dromala Pass. Some trekkers have to use porters or rent yaks or horses even. For detailed porters or packing animal cost, you can refer to Mount Kailash Tour Cost. Third day part is the easiest, no worry.

Mountain Sickness