Weather and Best Time for Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter
The high altitude region like Kailash in Tibet has extremely harsh climate. On the same day, four seasons can literally occur. The icy wind can be followed by the scorching sun, then it can snow, and this happens even in dry and stable weather.
Regardless of this unpredictability, the most stable and dry periods are best for our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter that can be found from March through mid-October. The day time heat lingers between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, while nights remain comfortable above zero degrees.
Around April and June, the Saga dawa festival will bring thousands of cheerful crowds in Kailash. As July and August knocks, the light cloud start to gather showering the area with light rain.
For Hindus and Buddhists, the full moon in June, July, and August create the most sacred time for circumcmbulating Kailash thought to completely erase the bad karma of several lives.
However these months are typically rainy months in Nepal, but the rain isn’t constant, which means short helicopter flights can still occur. Please note that that bad weather may cause flight cancellations, so it’s essential to take this into account when planning your tour during these months.
When September and October arrive, they also bring in the excellent splendor of surrounding mountains with temperature dancing between 8 to 9 degrees Celsius. However, from late October to February, minus Even with all these measures, you may still have discomfort in breathing, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, sleep disturbances, and a lack of appetite. These can be the initial signs of altitude sickness.
Thus, it’s essential to keep hydrated aiming to drink 3 to 4 liters of liquid diet especially garlic, lemon and honey water. You should also avoid using oxygen as much as possible as it will only provide temporary relief and may not be effective when you really need it.
You should thus go down or rest where you are pausing the tour for a day or two. You may also Diamox easily available even in Tibet that will subside altitude sickness and promote your adaptation process.
Who can participate in our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter?
As our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter will suddenly take you from a lower elevation to higher grounds, we suggest only individuals in good health to participate. If you have any existing health conditions, particularly related to the heart, lungs, or kidneys, then the condition can deteriorate in harsher higher areas of Kailash where the medical facilities are hard to find.
Therefore, please obtain medical guidance before venturing to Kailash. However, if you possess average fitness and health, feel free to join us without hesitation. Our experienced and authorized local support team in both Nepal and Tibet will accompany you and ensure your well-being throughout the trip.
Physical and Mental Preparation Needed for this trip
The majority of our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter is facilitated by aerial and ground transport, with very little walking required. Even the trek to Kailash can be accomplished on horseback or yaks.
Since walking is kept to a minimum, you won’t need special and heavy physical training if you already maintain an active daily routine. However, if you choose to trek during the Kailash parikrama, it is better to prepare by jogging and climbing stairs to tackle the steep ascent and descent at Dolma La Pass.
Kailash will never be easy as the path to spiritual realm always tests you especially mentally. There are plenty of informative videos available online that can help you mentally prepare for the challenges Kailash throw on your way.
You should also be able to embrace the spirit of teamwork, coexistence, humor, and friendliness along the way.
Alternative Option for Mount Kailash Tour
We understand that the Kailash yatra during the religious months of June, July, and August holds deep meaning for many pilgrims. Since our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter involves several flights, which means that delays can occur due to flight cancellations or adverse weather conditions.
So not to hinder your journey, we also offer the two other alternative route to Kailash: Overland tour to Kailash via Kerung and the Kailash Yatra via Lhasa.
On the first route, you will travel by land through Syabrubesi and Kerung to reach Kailash and in the second option you will fly to Lhasa and then continue your journey to Kailash.
With these options, your dream of experiencing the Kailash pilgrimage during the new moon of these significant months can still come true.
Accommodation, Food, and Drink
When in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, you will be staying in high-quality three-star hotels that meet the expectations of Western travelers. Each room will be equipped with two beds, a private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, and a hot shower.
As you proceed to Hilsa, the night shelters may be simpler, generally providing two beds with shared toilet facilities inside or outside the lodge.
On the Tibet side, the hotels are now very good in condition, clean, and very well managed with excellent service. For the comfortable and warm nights during the Kailash Kora, we will secure beds for all participants in monastery guesthouses or government shelters.
However, if the beds are fully booked, then our team will set up comfortable tents for your overnight sleep.
We will also take care of your meals during the entire time of our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter. Vegetarian breakfasts, lunches, and dinners will be served both in Nepal and Tibet. However, please note that drinks and beverages are not included in our service.
The first few days will enable you to delight in various cuisines but from Darchen onward, your menu will mainly highlight the Tibetan and Chinese dishes.
Seeing the enormous flow of pilgrims from every corner of the world, the guesthouses in Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk also offer some pretty tasty freshly cooked local dishes. You can try the local tea, and yogurts to try new tastes.
Transportation
A private guide, driver, and transport (car, jeep, bus, or van according to the group size) will be provided for your transportation needs during our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter. This service includes all hotel and airport transfers (domestic and international), Kathmandu excursions, and Embassy transfers.
Your internal flight through the local airlines will be organized for Nepalgunj and Simikot and a chartered helicopter will also be hired for a ride to Hilsa both ways.
When traveling in Tibet, a comfortable vehicle for all-terrain will be arranged. The costs for these transfers are included in your tour price, with the exception of any charges for renting horses or yaks for the parikrama.
Communication, and the Internet
In Nepal, you can easily select from NTC or NCELL SIM cards, whether you prefer a physical card or a virtual one for your communication needs. For those venturing into Tibet, our knowledgeable Tibetan guide can assist you in acquiring a local SIM card from popular networks like China Telecom, Unicom, or China Mobile, all of which provide robust 5G internet connectivity.
To stay in touch with your loved ones during our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter, you can simply use the local mobile networks of Nepal and Tibet.
In Nepal, you can rely on Ncell or NTC, and when you travel into Tibet, China Telecom, China Mobile, or Unicom can be utilized to stay connected.
Both networks provide virtual SIM cards, or eSIMs, that can be activated online from your home country. You can also experience fast mobile internet with 4G in Nepal and 5G in Tibet.
As for WiFi, Kathmandu and Nepalgunj offer free WiFi for their guests while in Hilsa, you need to pay a small fee for their connection. When engaging in Kora around Kailash, you can stay online through 5G however, WiFi may be absent.
To use Western social sites, remember to set up a trustworthy VPN on your device because of their restrictions in China.
Rules and Regulations for Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter
To travel to Tibet irrespective of the route you choose, you need more than just a Chinese visa; you must also secure a special entry permit to Tibet known as a TTP (Tibet Travel Permit).
This permit is exclusively granted when booking an organized group tour either through an officially registered Nepal company (when choosing to travel from Kathmandu) or a Chinese tour operator.
Also, remember, you need to travel around Tibet under the watchful eye of a guide and driver in private transport. You need to start preparing all the documents at least a month before the planned trip.
When submitting your documents, keep in mind the following requirements:
- Your photo should be 51 mm by 51 mm in size with a plain white background and your natural looks- no makeup or glasses allowed.
- At least 6 months validity period on your passport
- It should have a minimum of 2 to 3 blank pages available for Visa stamps
- A color-scanned copy of your legal passport.
Required Permits and Visa for Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter
For our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter, there are two obligatory official documents we must have: the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) and the Chinese Group Visa.
Additionally, because of Kailash’s exclusive position within the military zone of Ngari, we require three more permits: a Foreign Affairs Permit, a Military Permit, and an Alien Travel Permit.
We will take care of the Chinese Group Visa and the Tibet Travel Permit, while our Tibetan travel partner will manage the other permits, who will collect them, and keep them until we arrive in Tibet.
The TTP, or Tibet Travel Permit, is the official authorizing paper provided by the Tourism Office of Tibet, allowing us to explore designated areas within Tibet.
After we collect your documents, we will send them to our local Tibetan travel partner, along with the details of all our participants and our itinerary, which includes accommodations and the tour’s start and end dates.
Once the permit is approved, alterations to your travel plans will not be permitted. We will also receive an official invitation letter, which is mandatory for obtaining a Group Visa from the Chinese Embassy.
You can expect the processing of the Tibet Travel Permit to take about 10 to 15 office days, and our Tibetan guide will keep it safe during our travels.
The Chinese Group Visa requires arriving in Kathmandu 2-3 full days before starting your trip to Tibet. You also need to be present in the Embassy and give your original passports and fingerprints for validation.
On the next working day, you will receive your passport back with visas. The embassy accepts and issues documents on weekdays from 9 am to 12 pm. The day and time of your Kathmandu arrival should therefore be planned accordingly.
When it comes to processing the Group Visa, you have two choices. The normal process requires four office days and needs the payment of USD 175 for U.S. citizens, while other nationalities need to make the payment between USD 70 and USD 170.
If you need it quicker, the express option is also available, which takes only 3 office days but it will set you back between USD 90 and USD 180 per person.
Kindly note that this Visa is granted for all group members, so you must all arrive in and depart from Tibet together.
Travel Insurance
Please remember that travel insurance for our Mt. Kailash tour by helicopter is mandatory and must remain active throughout the entire time of the trip.
The helicopter that we will use for this tour is only for transportation so if any rescue is needed in an emergency, you will be responsible for any associated costs.
We therefore suggest you wisely include coverage for rescue operations for elevations exceeding 5600 m, as well as medical expenses for injuries, lost luggage, and any potential flight delays or cancellations.
The Mount Kailash Manasarovar tour may open to Indian passport holders from May 2025. 
