Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour

The Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour is proposed for those seeking a short visit to pay divine attention to Lord Shiva's abode. This journey is specially made for travelers who have a deep desire to visit this holy place but are short on time and for those with physical limitations or senior folks. 

Mount Kailash with a height of 6714 meters, is often referred to as Tise, Kailasa & Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows). It has been held on Mt. Meru, the Axis Mundi, and as the center of the physical and metaphysical universe in many eastern cosmologies.

The holy Mount Kailash is viewed differently by worshipers from various nations, ethnic groups, and religions. Hindus worship this mountain as the residence of Lord Shiva, the destroyer of the universe. Buddhist mythologies refer to this sacred mountain as a terrestrial projection of the Cosmic Mandela of Dhyani: Buddha and Bodhisattvas. The Jains believe that this is where their first teacher, Adinath, attained liberation. And, according to the Bon believers (a pre-Buddhist faith), their saint descended from this summit and they honor Mt. Kailash as the sacred nine-story swastika mountain and a seat of spiritual power. 

In addition, four of the great rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Brahmaputra (the Yarlung Tsangpo) in the east, the Sutlej in the west, the Indus in the north, and the Ganges (The Karnali, the longest river in Nepal) in the south are born from the mighty Mount Kailash. 

Our high-end excursion of Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour departs from the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. The journey from Kathmandu’s highlands to the lowland of the Simikot district via Nepalgunj on a regular flight is stunning. After setting foot on Simikot, we journey in a personal helicopter to Hilsa while taking in the breathtaking scenery below us. From here, the overland travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar is easy and comfortable. We continue our ascent to Darchen with the assistance of a knowledgeable crew and guide to provide instruction, and from there we go on a three-day Parikarma journey, also known as Kora (circumambulation) around Mount Kailash in a clockwise direction, allowing the spiritual conviction to sink in.  After finishing the Kora, we continue our adventure overland to Taklakot and Hilsa, where we board a private helicopter to Simikot and then continue on to Kathmandu via connecting flight from Nepalgunj. 

Mount Kailash Helicopter Trip Highlights 

• Scenic flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj to Simikot and vice versa 
• Experience the thrilling Helicopter ride from Simokot to Hilsa and back 
• The three-day holy Parikrama/Kora on Mount Kailash
• Exploration of the sacred Manasarovar Lake along with Rakash Taal (Demon Lake)
• Discover many gompas, monasteries, and beautiful settlements 
• Cross the famous high mountain Himalayan Pass at 5620 meters, Drolma La Pass 
• Admire Tibet's awe-inspiring dry yet beautiful plateaus
• Pay a visit to the world’s most revered Hindu site Pashupatinath Temple along with Budhanilkantha in Kathmandu 
• Get an insight into the life of the lively Kathmandu valley and the mysterious Kailash region 

Best Time to do Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour 

The best time to do the Mount Kailash Manasarovar Lake Tour is during the Saga Dawa Festival which usually falls in May month. During this festival, Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death are commemorated, and great events are organized in the region. And during this festival season, a large number of pilgrims especially from Tibet and India visit here filling up every accommodation. So, if you are planning to do the Mount Kailash Tour during Saga Dawa Festival, you are advised to make prior reservations through an authorized company like Himalaya Trekkers. Also, note that the festival date differs every year and you should be updated with the festival date. 

Other than the festival season, you can do this Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour anytime during the spring and autumn months when the weather is stable, the temperature is moderate, skies are clear, trekking trails are dry and views are picture-perfect. 

Summer/monsoon and winter are not recommended for the Helicopter tour to Mount Kailash. It is possible to make a trip to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake during the summer/monsoon season. In fact, the summer months are best to visit the Mount Kailash region because rains are not regular and heavy obstructing the trek. Also, if it rains in the region, Kailash Manasarovar becomes even more mystical with much fresher air. However, our Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour starts from Nepal and includes a few plane and helicopter flights and Nepal receives heavy rainfall during the summer. So, the flights might get delayed or even canceled due to rain and view obstruction. 

Kailash Manasarovar Trip is avoided during winter because of the too chilly and severe conditions. Also, the majority of the path is blocked by thick snow, putting any trip to Mount Kailash Manasarovar at risk. 

Permits to do the Mount Kailash Helicopter Tour 

Travelers are required to obtain the following four permits to do the Mount Kailash Manasarovar Lake Yatra. 

1. Tibet Travel Permit 

Once you confirm and book the trip and travel plan with us, you will need to send us the scanned copy of your passport and photo. Then we send those documents to our Tibet travel partner and they submit those papers to the Tibet Travel Bureau (TTB). Once TTB checks and grants the permit, our Tibet Travel Partner will obtain them. Your Tibetan guide will keep it with him throughout the Mount Kailash Trip and he will show it where required. 

2. Chinese Group Visa 

Whether you have a Chinese visa or not, you must apply for a Chinese/Tibet Group visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu if you plan to visit Tibet from Nepal by land or air. Only people who have made bookings for tours through a licensed travel agency are eligible, and the agency will obtain it on their behalf once they arrive in Nepal because original passports are needed to secure the visa. Also keep in mind that getting a visa takes 3–4 working days, therefore you need to be in Kathmandu 3–4 days before your trip to Tibet. An interesting fact is that you cannot get your passport stamped with this visa; the Chinese Group Visa is a piece of A4 paper with your entry and exit times indicated. 

3. Alien Travel Permit 

As Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake in the Ngari Prefecture are considered restricted locations, you will also need the Alien Travel Permit. After you arrive in Tibet, your Tibetan guide will collect your original passport, Tibet Travel Permit, and Chinese Group Visa to obtain the Alien Travel Permit which can be issued within 1-2 hours. 

4. Military Permit 

Along with the Alien Travel Permit, Military Permit is also required when traveling to Mount Kailash and the Manasarovar Lake region. However, unlike Alien Travel Permit, it takes around 2 weeks to obtain the military permit. So, you are advised to book the trip at least a month before the departure. Once the booking is confirmed and your scanned passports and photos are received by us, we will send them to our Tibet Travel Partner. Once they receive those documents, they will submit those to Tibet Travel Bureau (TTB) for Tibet Travel Permit and to the military affairs office for Military Permit. 

Note: Obtaining all these documents and permits might seem too much work, but you do not have to worry because we will handle everything and obtain all the necessary permits on your behalf.