What we know about the 2027 season
The Kailash season via Nepal usually runs from May to mid-October, with the busiest departures around the Saga Dawa full moon in May or June and again in August and September. Pilgrims travel in groups on a Chinese group visa with a Tibet Travel Permit, arranged by a Nepali agency working with a licensed Tibetan agency. Independent travel in Tibet is not allowed.
Three things will shape 2027. First, the Rasuwagadhi–Kyirong crossing, the main overland route, was closed by floods from July 2025 to January 2026 and again from 26 August 2026; whether it reopens for 2027 is not yet known. Second, the visa process for resident Indians has changed in most seasons since 2023, recently through the Chinese embassy in New Delhi with original passports and biometrics. Third, an age limit of around 70 has applied, expressed for 2026 as birth year 1955 or later. Treat all of this as guidance and check current status before you travel.
Choose your route first
The route decides the length, the price and how your body meets the altitude. If the Kerung border stays closed, the Simikot route by helicopter becomes the main option from Nepal, and the Lhasa route the main alternative. Prices are per person on twin sharing for a group of about 10, from our 2026 packages; 2027 prices are set once permits and fees are announced.
| Route | Days | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simikot–Hilsa by helicopter | 11 | ₹2,95,000 | Short, weather-dependent flights |
| Lucknow via Nepalgunj and Simikot | 12 | ₹2,75,000 | Road from UP, no Kathmandu flights |
| Overland via Kerung | 14 | ₹2,10,000 | Only if the border reopens |
| Senior pilgrims, overland | 17 | ₹2,45,000 | Extra rest days, ponies arranged |
| Lhasa fly-in | 16 | ₹3,25,000 | Most comfortable acclimatisation |
| Mansarovar only, no parikrama | 9 | ₹2,45,000 | Highest point about 4,675 m |
Documents and the visa timeline
Every pilgrim needs an Indian passport valid for at least six months beyond the trip, with two blank pages. Check this now: renewing a passport can take weeks, and the agency needs a clear scan of the photo page to start the Tibet permit. In recent seasons the original passport has gone to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi about a month before departure, so you cannot travel abroad on it in that period.
- Passport with six months' validity and two blank pages
- Recent passport photographs on a white background
- Medical fitness certificate from a registered MBBS doctor covering heart health and fitness above 4,500 m
- PAN card copy, which some seasons have required
- Travel insurance covering altitudes up to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation
- Visa forms, online and on paper, as required that season
A 12-week fitness plan
The parikrama around Kailash is 52 km over three days. Day 1 to Dirapuk at 4,900 m is about 12 km and 5–7 hours; day 2 crosses Dolma La at about 5,630 m and covers 20–22 km in 10–12 hours; day 3 is 9–10 km to Zuthulpuk and the road. Ponies can carry you for much of it, but you still walk the steepest part near the pass, and the lake parikrama and Ashtapad trip add short walks at 4,500 m or more.
Fitness does not prevent altitude sickness, but it makes every day easier and leaves energy for prayer instead of survival. This is the plan we give pilgrims who are healthy but not regular walkers. Ask your doctor before starting if you are over 55 or have any heart, lung or joint condition.
- Weeks 1–4: walk 30–45 minutes, 5 days a week, at a pace where you can still talk
- Weeks 5–8: build to 60–90 minutes, add stairs or a hill twice a week, and one 2-hour walk at the weekend
- Weeks 9–12: two long walks of 3–4 hours with a 5 kg daypack, plus 20 minutes of stair climbing on other days
- Every week: breathing practice such as pranayama, and leg stretches for knees and calves
- Final week: rest, sleep well and avoid starting new exercise
Medical checks and altitude
Most of the yatra is spent above 4,500 m: Saga at 4,640 m, Lake Manasarovar at about 4,590 m and Darchen at 4,575 m. The body needs time to adjust, which is why good itineraries include rest days in Kyirong at 2,700 m or Purang at 3,900 m before the lake. Do not choose a package that cuts these nights to save money.
Ask your doctor about an ECG, blood pressure, blood sugar, haemoglobin and lung function, and discuss whether acetazolamide is right for you. People with heart disease, uncontrolled blood pressure, chronic lung disease, recent surgery, severe anaemia or pregnancy should not go above 4,500 m. Our groups carry oxygen cylinders and a pulse oximeter, and the guide checks readings every morning and evening; a headache that does not ease, vomiting or confusion means going down.
Packing for 4,500–5,630 m
Nights at Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk drop below freezing even in July, and the plateau wind is strong in the afternoons. Many agencies, including ours, lend down jackets and duffel bags. Bags are scanned at every border, so leave out images or books about the Dalai Lama, maps showing disputed borders, drones and political literature.
- Thermal base layers, a fleece, a down jacket, a windproof outer layer and rain poncho
- Broken-in walking shoes, woollen socks, gloves, a warm cap and a sun hat
- Sunglasses with UV protection, SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm
- Regular medicines for the whole trip plus a week, with prescriptions
- Dry fruit, glucose and electrolyte powder, a headtorch and spare batteries
- Puja items for the Manasarovar dip and havan, packed in sealed bags
Booking timeline for a 2027 yatra
Book earlier for Saga Dawa and September departures, which fill first. Ask your agency in writing about the current age limit, visa fee, which route is operating and the cancellation terms if permits are refused. Keep a day or two of flexibility at each end of the trip, especially on the Simikot route, where weather often delays flights. Check current status before you travel.
- Now to January 2027: decide on a route, check passport validity, start walking
- 3–4 months before: pay the deposit, send passport scans and photos
- 2–3 months before: medical certificate and insurance; the agency applies for permits
- 4–6 weeks before: submit the original passport and forms as instructed that season
- 1–2 weeks before: passport returned, final briefing and kit check
Regions and places in this post
- Kailash & Tibet (via Nepal)
- Rara & the Far West
- Mount Kailash
- Lake Manasarovar
- Darchen
- Simikot
- Kyirong (Gyirong)
Questions travellers ask
When should I book the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027?
Book at least three to four months before departure, and five or six months ahead for Saga Dawa in May or June and for September dates. The agency needs time for the Tibet permit, and in recent seasons resident Indians have handed in original passports about a month before travel for the group visa. Earlier booking also gives you a choice of route.
Is the Kerung route open for Kailash in 2027?
The Rasuwagadhi–Kyirong crossing was closed by floods from July 2025 to January 2026 and again from 26 August 2026. Whether it reopens for the 2027 season depends on repairs and decisions by both governments. If it stays closed, the Simikot–Hilsa helicopter route and the Lhasa route remain options. Check current status before you travel.
What is the age limit for Kailash yatra via Nepal?
In recent seasons the Nepal routes have applied an age limit of around 70, expressed for 2026 as birth year 1955 or later, with conditional exceptions in some years. A medical certificate is required at any age. The limit for 2027 is not yet announced, so check current status before you travel and ask your agency for the rule in writing.
How fit do I need to be for the Kailash parikrama?
You should be able to walk 4–5 hours with rests and climb several flights of stairs without stopping. The hardest day crosses Dolma La at about 5,630 m and takes 10–12 hours. Ponies help, but you still walk near the pass. Twelve weeks of regular walking, stairs and breathing practice make a real difference.
Which medical tests are needed for Kailash yatra?
You need a fitness certificate from a registered MBBS doctor addressing heart health and fitness for altitudes above 4,500 m. Doctors usually check ECG, blood pressure, blood sugar, haemoglobin and lung function. People with heart disease, uncontrolled blood pressure, lung disease, recent surgery, severe anaemia or pregnancy should not travel. Requirements change by season.
