Kailash Tour frequently asked questions

01: Question 01: Do I Need a Passport?
02: What about Chinese visa?
03: How many days required for Mt. Kailash Tour Trek?
04: How we will be doing 13 days overland tour and how about 10 days by Helicopter from Simikot?
05: In how many days would I finish Mt. Kailash Kora and long it is?
06: When is the best time to Travel?
07: What is Land cruiser?
08: How many days would I need to hire the Pony/horse and a porter during the whole trip and how much it cost?
09: What are the hidden charges i.e. to be paid directly?
10: How much extra amount we should carry along with us and in what form?
11: How about accommodation facilities etc…?
12: What is your Cancellation policy?
13: What do you provide?
14: What Medical reports do I need to carry?
15: Besides the passport what other official documents will I need for the tour?
16: Is it worthwhile or good to start the trip on a full moon day?
17: Cam we tale children with age group of 6 to 10 years old?
18: What are the precautions taken for the children?
19: Will one oxygen cylinder be sufficient for four of us?
20: What will be the charges for Children?
21: Will your cook be travelling with us during the entire trip? Will he be carrying necessary kitchen logistics and can he make vegetarian meals for us?
22: Can we prescribe the menu for cooking on daily basis?
23: Can I bring video camera and digital camera? Weather we will have possibility to recharge the batteries or is there any restrictions to use these things?
24: How do I book trip/trek?
25: When we should book my holy journey to Mt. Kailash and how?
26: Are there any age restrictions?
27: Will my guide speak English?
28: Can we hire a guide who speaks our native (non-English) language?
29: What happens if the trip is shortened due to a natural disaster, catastrophe, flight cancellation, late arrival and/or emergency? Do we need to pay extra?
30: How will I be rescued in case of emergency?
31: Who will issue the visa and necessary permits for our trip?
32: What are the things that we must carry?
33: Why we travel with Alpine Eco Trek?

Question 01: Do I Need a Passport?
Yes, you will need a passport (validity most be at least 6 months) to travel Mt. kailash and Lake Manasarovar because Kailash is located in the Autonomous Region of Tibet, China.

Question 02: What about Chinese visa?
Please be informed that this is not regular Chinese visa which you would get on your passport is not valid at Tibet. Your travel permit and Visa for travelling to Kailash and Manasarovar is organized by our company with the help of our Lhasa partner. If you are Indian passport holder you need to provide us the original passport for visa application. Foreigners can send us their passport copies by email and we will apply their visa for Kailash here in Kathmandu with their passport copies but we need your original passport at least 3 days before to collect the visa from the Chinese Embassy here in Kathmandu. The visa charges differ depend on nationalities, contact us for more information on Visa and permits.

Question 03: How many days required for Mt. Kailash Tour Trek?
Answer: A journey to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar normally requires 13 days by overland (Van) and 10 days by Helicopter from Simikot Region. We are also organizing Lhasa Kailash Lhasa Tour.

Question 04: How we will be doing 13 days overland tour and how about 10 days by Helicopter from Simikot?
Answer: You will be doing 13 days Kailash tour by a deluxe Van or Bus. From Kathmandu to Kerung (Nepal- Tibet boarder) by a deluxe tourist coach, while in Tibet new model deluxe Van will be used. The route for the trip will be Kathmandu – Kerung – Saga – New Dongba – Manasarovar – Darchen – Dirapuk – Zuthulpuk – Darchen – Paryang – Saga – Kerung – Kathmandu.

For 10 days tour by Helicopter:
Kathmandu - Nepalganj - Simikot - Hilsa (by helicopter) - Taklakot - Mansarovar - Darchen - Dirapuk - Zuthulpuk - Darchen - Mansarovar - Taklakot (by Van)- Hilsa - Simikot (by helicopter) - Nepalganj – Kathmandu (by regular plane or private coach).

Question 05: In how many days would I finish Mt. Kailash Kora and long it is?
Answer: The holy Kora around Mt. Kailash is approximately 53 km trek to be completed in 2 nights 3 days. Night camping will be in Dirapuk and Zuthul- Puk.

Question 06: When is the best time to Travel?
Answer: The best time to travel to Holy Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar would be from the last week of April till end of October every year.Read More...

Question 07: What is Van?
Answer: Van is the most comfortable vehicle in Tibet, a four wheel driven deluxe Van. We accommodate maximum 9 tourists in one Van.

Question 08: How many days would I need to hire the Pony/horse and a porter during the whole trip and how much it cost?
Answer: If you wish to skip walking on the rugged trail it would be better to hire a pony or horse for Parikarma, It will cost you USD 500 to 600 per person for three days Kora.

Question 09: What are the hidden charges i.e. to be paid directly?
Answer: The additional expenses incurred due to the delay, accidents, Nature disaster and political action.
- Horse and horse Man cost
- Rescue or evacuation if needed, Tibet visa split charge
- Travel insurance, drinks, laundry, internet/phone calls and additional transportation cost
- If you are not going for Kailash Kora due to any reason and staying back in Darchen for three days, you will have to pay your food and accommodation on your own.

Question 10: How much extra amount we should carry along with us and in what form?
Answer: In Kathmandu you may use USD, Euro, AUD or even Indian currency. And in Tibet you will need Chinese Currency which is known as Gorma (YUAN) or RMB. For 11 days in Tibet we suggest you to carry approximately USD 1000 equivalent which you may need for emergency and to pay for horse during Kailash Kora (parikarma). Outstanding balance (unused RMB) may be exchanged again on the way back.

Question 11: How about accommodation facilities etc…?
Answer: In Kathmandu, we provide 3 to 4 star standard hotel accommodations with full board service and in Tibet we provide you the basic guesthouses and Mud houses or fixed tented camp while doing Kora.

Question 12: What is your Cancellation policy?
Answer: Our cancellation policies are given as below:
Cancellation made up to 45 days before the trip departure will incur a 15% fee of the total trip cost
Cancellation made up to 30 days before the trip departure will incur a 25% fee of the total trip cost
Cancellation made up to 7 days before the trip departure will incur a 50% fee of the total trip cost
Cancellation made less than 1 week before departure or upon arrival in KTM will be charged full price.

Question 13: What do you provide?
Answer: We provide 1 Big oxygen bottle tanks in each bus surface with mask- regulator 2. Blood pressure checking machine for team, every day check for Yatri, 3. Oximeter-checking every day our Yarty’s oxygen label in your blood, 4. We proved altitude medicine Diamox Pills for Kailash circuit Tour, 5. We provide 2 bottles of Mineral (1 litter) water per day for 1 Yatri, 6. We provide Kitchen Equipments and Duffle bags.

Question 14: What Medical reports do I need to carry?
Answer: No medical report is required but we insist every pilgrim to consult their doctor before travelling to high altitude. Also every pilgrim must declare their physical status and specify if they are allergic to any medicine.

Question 15: Besides the passport what other official documents will I need for the tour?
Answer: You need to carry your valid passport with 3 passport size pictures and medical insurance policy.

Question 16: Is it worthwhile or good to start the trip on a full moon day?
Answer: Yes, if you can manage your time for a trip that reaches Manasarovar on a full moon day then it would be worthwhile. And you can start your tour at any day as you wish to.

Question 17: Cam we tale children with age group of 6 to 10 years old?
Answer: Yes, you can take children (physically fit) along with you but at your own risk because you know your children better.

Question 18: What are the precautions taken for the children?
Answer: We suggest you to take the same precautions for your children as you are taking for yourself.

Question 19: Will one oxygen cylinder be sufficient for four of us?
Answer: Our guide will provide you oxygen cylinder in emergency. Usually oxygen cylinder is not required. However, some pilgrims prefer to carry their own handy oxygen cylinders. You can buy small portable cylinder in Kerung/Lhasa/Taklakot.

Question 20: What will be the charges for Children?
Answer: Normally 25% is off for children but contact us for up to date information.

Question 21: Will your cook be travelling with us during the entire trip? Will he be carrying necessary kitchen logistics and can he make vegetarian meals for us?
Answer: Yes, there will be expert cook will be travelling with you during the entire trip. The crew will carry all the necessary cooking logistics with them and you will get only vegetarian meals during holy journey.

Question 22: Can we prescribe the menu for cooking on daily basis?
Answer: Yes, definitely you can prescribe the menu for cooking and you may discuss and suggest your choice. If possible and other pilgrims agree our cook will be happy to cook your choice of food.

Question 23: Can I bring video camera and digital camera? Weather we will have possibility to recharge the batteries or is there any restrictions to use these things?
Answer: Yes, you can bring camera & videos along with you. The voltage in Tibet is 220V. Can be re-charging most of the places but not during 3 days Kora. We suggest you to travel with extra batteries.

Question 24: How do I book trip/trek?
Answer: Alpine Eco Trek can be booked from anywhere in the world. Reservations can be make online or contacting our sales office by Phone +977 98510 36844(Ram Kumar) or email at alpineecotrek@gmail.com, sending the scanned copy of your passport (by email) and your flight arrival and departure details are good enough for the confirm booking with us.

Question 25: When we should book my holy journey to Mt. Kailash and how?
Answer: You should book this journey minimum 45 days in advance. To book the trip, we need your copy of passport (1st page only) along with USD 500 per person advance deposit in our company's bank account.

Question 26: Are there any age restrictions?
Answer: Well, anyone over 10 year of age can join this holy journey. Those under 16 years will require parental permission and assistance. We do have clients and even leaders up to age 81 old on the high Himalayan trip.

Question 27: Will my guide speak English?
Answer: Yes, Alpine Eco Trek employs only the best qualified and well trained guides with good history who are familiar with all necessary routes, languages and cultures to provide the best service and safety possible. That makes a huge difference to have very success trips.

Question 28: Can we hire a guide who speaks our native (non-English) language?
Answer: Yes, on request, we will be glad to arrange a guide who speaks your native language but it may cost you extra.

Question 29: What happens if the trip is shortened due to a natural disaster, catastrophe, flight cancellation, late arrival and/or emergency? Do we need to pay extra?
Answer: Alpine Eco Trek has no desire to benefit from anyone's misfortune. In the event of a cancellation or early return from a tour, we will compensate by providing you with lodging at a standard hotel in Kathmandu for the days that have been cancelled. This also includes breakfast at the hotel. We cannot replace with days plan for Tibet if you are coming on your own decision.

Question 30: How will I be rescued in case of emergency?
Answer: In this case, we can usually arrange road or a helicopter rescue in case of emergency, depending on weather and location. Above, we have given a briefing on the rescue program with Alpine Eco Trek.

Question 31: Who will issue the visa and necessary permits for our trip?
Answer: Alpine Eco Trek will arrange for all the necessary permits (visa for Tibet, all the permit, National Park entries) required for your trip to Mt. Kailash. We just need your passport copy!

Question 32: What we must carry?
Answer: Be sure you have those needy items!
Warm clothes, water bottle, water purification tabs, sun tan lotion utility knife, dusk musk, medicine for headaches, fever, colds, stomach disorders and diamox (unless you are allergic to sulpha drugs) for altitude sickness, It is also good to carry dry fruit, juice powder, breads, candy, canned or packed food, nuts, pickles and biscuits. if you do not have any of the above items, our executive will assist you in Kathmandu. Read more at Packing list and Essential info

Question 33: Why we travel with Alpine Eco Trek?
Answer: At Alpine Eco Trek our goal is to provide an affordable Himalayan travel experience for our clients that is second to none, an experience that reveals the full beauty and grandeur of this magical and holy land. Read more why travel with Alpine Eco Trek

Further Information:
Our website contains as much information as possible about Mount Kailash & Tibet Tours and Treks. However, if you have any questions regarding trip, please feel free to contact us. We answer all enquiries within 24 hours. If you want to book a trip, you can send us an email or contact us directly by phone: 0977 98510 36844 (Ram Kumar Adhikari).