"As the dew is dried up by the morning sun, so are the sins of human beings by the sight of Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar" - Skanda Purana

Few foreigners travel to this remote western corner of Tibet, but for those who do there is only one destination in mind – Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. From time immemorial this area has been sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and the followers of Bon, Tibet's indigenous religion. Even today, pilgrims from all over the Himalaya region travel to Kailash to perform the arduous parikrama or kora (circumambulation of the mountain).

Ancient cosmography identifies Kailash as Mt. Sumeru, which marks the central peak of the world. To Buddhists, Mt. Kailash is the "father mountain", representing the means to enlightenment, and Lake Mansarovar as the "mother principle," representing transcendental consciousness. Hindus consider Kailash to be the throne of Lord Shiva, one of the three principle gods of the Hindu pantheon, whose long, matted hair forms the holy Ganges River. As a Bon center, Kailash enjoys great popularity in the folk religion of Tibet. It is the soul of the country and assures protection for all Tibetans.

Scenically, the area is outstanding. At 6,714 meters (22,022 ft.), Kailash is a glittering snow dome towering above the Tibetan Plateau like a beckoning jewel, visible from miles away, and Manasarovar is famous as one of the highest lakes in the world. Four of the greatest rivers of South Asia, the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali and the Brahmaputra (known as the Yarlung Zangpo in Tibet), originate from around Mount Kailash.

West of Kailash lie the ruins of the "lost cities" of Tsaprang and Tholing, once the capitals of the powerful kingdom of Guge, which house some of the finest and earliest Buddhist wall paintings ever discovered.

According to many travel professionals who have evaluated us, Karnali Excursions is the trekking source to all the major rivers that originate from near Kailash, and can organize every imaginable trip around Kailash, Lake Manasarover, and other off-the-beaten-path destinations. Karnali Excursions has been bringing people through Tibet for more than ten years, with a special focus on Mt.Kailash. If our list of excursions to Tibet and Holy Mt. Kailash is not quite what you were looking for, please let us know and we will customize a trip to meet your needs and desires.