How to Get to Mount Kailash from Lhasa: by Flight, Overland or Train?

Mount Kailash is located in Purang County, Ngari, in western Tibet, at an altitude of 6,638m. Mount Kailash is about 1,309km away from Lhasa. Although the distance is long, there are direct flights and road connections between the two places, making it very convenient to travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash.

Travel to Mount Kailash from Lhasa by Flight

The fastest way to get to Mount Kailash from Lhasa is to take a direct flight from Gonggar Airport to Ngari. There are two airports in Ngari: Ngari Gunsa Airport and Ngari Pulan Airport, and there are direct flights from Lhasa to both airports. The following is a detailed flight information for you to check.

After you arrive at the airport in Ngari, you still need to take a car to arrive at Darchen at the foot of Mount Kailash. It is about 200km from Gunsa Airport to Darchen, and only 90km from Pulan Airport. Although the distance from Pulan Airport is nearly shorter 110km, Gunsa Airport has more options every day, while Pulan Airport currently has only one route, and there are only flights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with one flight per day. If you plan to fly from Lhasa to Ngari, we recommend that you choose Ngari Gunsa Airport, which has more flexible flight options.

Ngari Gunsa Airport

This method is more suitable for travelers who have a short time and do not want to take a car for a long time. Taking a plane can greatly reduce the time you spend on the road. However, for tourists who are visiting the Kailash for the first time, it is not recommended to take a plane from Lhasa to Ngari. Because the average altitude of Ngari is more than 4,700m, taking a plane may make your body unable to adapt to such a rapid altitude change, and you may face the risk of altitude sickness. In addition, if you choose to take a plane, you will miss a lot of beautiful scenery along the way.

Travel to Mount Kailash from Lhasa by Road

Traveling from Lhasa to Mount Kailash by road is a time-consuming but scenic way to travel, and it is also the way most travelers prefer. It allows you to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery of Tibet along the way, including snow-capped mountains, boundless grasslands, clear lakes, and ancient temples. You can feel the unique charm of Tibet before arriving at Mount Kailash. There are two famous road routes from Lhasa to Mount Kailash: the Ngari Southern Route and the Ngari Northern Route.

Route 1: From Lhasa to Mount Kailash via the Ngari Southern Route

The Ngari South Route is approximately 1,200 km and is one of the most popular routes from Lhasa to Mount Kailash. Most travelers typically stay in Lhasa for 2-3 days to gradually acclimate to the high altitude of Tibet and visit the city's landmarks. Then drive to Shigatse, passing through Gyantse, and visit attractions such as Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and Gyantse Kumbum Monastery. This route also passes through the Everest Base Camp, so most people will not go directly to Saga, but will choose a day trip to Mount Everest. It is a great experience to spend the night next to the majestic Mount Everest. In addition, spending a night at the foot of Mount Everest will help you acclimate to the high altitude of Mount Kailash. After visiting Mount Everest, continue to Saga to Darchen.

The road conditions on the southern route are better. From Shigatse to Saga, except for a short trip over a few mountains over 5,000m, the road is basically between 4,000 and 4,200m. And the accommodation and dietary conditions along the way are also better. You can not only taste authentic Tibetan food but also choose Sichuan cuisine. There is hot food in the small towns you pass by. But it should be noted that the average altitude of the southern route is above 4,000m, and it is not recommended to take a bath every day. After taking a bath, the body temperature drops quickly, and it is easy to catch a cold. Catching a cold at high altitude is most likely to cause pulmonary edema.

Beautiful Ngari Southern Route

Our 15-day Lhasa Everest Kailash Mansarovar Tour has always been popular with many travelers. The southern route from Lhasa to Kailash gives you more time to adapt to the high altitude environment, reduces the risk of altitude sickness, allows you to enjoy the beauty of Tibet more joyfully, and feel the magnificence of the sacred mountain and lake. If you have the time and adventurous spirit, this is an unforgettable way to reach Kailash.

Route 2: From Lhasa to Mount Kailash via the Ngari Northern Route

The northern route is longer than the southern route, about 1,900km. It usually starts from Lhasa, passes through Shigatse, Lhaze, Saga, Mansarovar, Zanda, Gerze, Nyima, Baigoin, and finally returns to Lhasa via Namtso. This route includes a lot of cultural and natural scenery, and is a route that travel adventure enthusiasts yearn for. Also, there are fewer tourists on this route, and you can visit the original natural scenery in remote areas. In addition, northern Tibet is famous for its beautiful lakes. You will see many lakes along the way.

The northern route is vast, with desolate grasslands and deserts. The road conditions are poor, and there are very few supply points along the way, so repairs, food, and accommodation are all quite inconvenient.

Our 17-day Everest Kailash tour will allow you to briefly experience the magnificence of the northern route of Ngari. After reaching Kailash, we will continue to move on to more remote places in Ngari, such as the Zanda Earth Forest and the Guge Kingdom Ruins.

How to Choose: Southern Route or Northern Route?

The southern route is dominated by Tibetan Buddhism, with many famous cultural landscapes; the northern route is mostly Bon religion, with primitive Tibetan rural culture. There are several differences between the two routes: The southern route features snow-capped mountains that are majestic and towering, while the northern route boasts abundant lakes. You may have opportunities to observe wildlife, whereas the northern route is teeming with it, and the southern route has sparse grasslands, primarily cultivated for barley cultivation. The northern route features expansive grasslands mainly used for grazing. The southern route also maintains better road conditions.

In summary, the southern route suits time-constrained travelers who appreciate ethnic culture, enjoy beautiful natural scenery, and are passionate about photography. The northern route is ideal for extended stays, particularly those interested in Tibetan culture or seeking to experience pristine natural landscapes and adventure. You can choose the most appropriate route according to the needs and preferences.

Travel to Mount Kailash from Lhasa by Train

The train here does not refer to taking a train from Lhasa to Ngari, but rather, you can choose to take a train from Lhasa to Shigatse first, and then travel to Kailash from Shigatse. In fact, this way combines train and road.

The train journey from Lhasa to Shigatse takes approximately 2.5 hours, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. After you arrive at Shigatse, you will travel along G318 and G219 to Kailash. The entire journey is approximately 1,000 km, and it typically takes 2-3 days to reach Darchen. This way may make you get to Kailash taking less time than the whole journey by road, which means that you will miss many iconic destinations in Tibet like Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier. If you want to save time, you can choose this way when you return to Lhasa from Kailash.

Conclusion

In fact, getting to Mount Kailash from Lhasa is not only these three ways. You can also take a bus to and from the two places. However, since foreigners cannot travel freely to Tibet and Mount Kailash, and we will arrange transportation for you during your Mount Kailash trip, taking a bus is not recommended, as it takes a long time and makes you feel very tired.

Lhasa and Mount Kailash are more than a thousand kilometers apart. For tourists who want to travel from Lhasa to Mount Kailash by land, the Ngari South Route via the Everest Base Camp is the best choice, with beautiful scenery and good road conditions along the way. In addition, if your travel time is very limited, you can choose to take a plane directly to and from the two places. If you have other questions about the route from Lhasa to Mount Kailash or want to know more detailed information, feel free to contact us.