The Kailash Mansarovar 2027 season

When does the 2027 Kailash season start and end?

Most likely late April or May to mid October 2027. No official date exists yet; the scenic area announces its opening each spring.

The pattern is steady. In 2025 the Kailash scenic area held its opening ceremony on 25 April, according to Tibet Tourism. In 2026 snow closed the kora on 26 September, earlier than usual. Explore Tibet has 2027 fixed departures from Lhasa between 5 April and 18 October, a wide window by any operator's standard.

Inside that window, the weeks are not equal. April and early May can still have deep snow on the Dolma La. July and August are the monsoon months and the time of the Indian yatra. Late September now carries a documented snow risk. For a first kora, we would pick late May, June or the first half of September.

When is Saga Dawa 2027?

Around 18 June 2027, according to the calendars of two Tibet agencies. The date follows the Tibetan lunar calendar, so confirm it with your operator.

Saga Dawa falls on the 15th day of the fourth Tibetan month, the full moon that marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death in Tibetan tradition. At Kailash the Tarboche flagpole is raised on that day and pilgrims walk the kora in large numbers. Go To Tibet and Tibet Travelers both give 18 June 2027. Treat that date as close but unconfirmed until the 2027 Tibetan calendar is published.

Two things to know. 2026 was a Horse year, believed to multiply the merit of one kora, and crowds were extreme; 2027 is not, so the pressure should ease. And in 2026 permits for Indian pilgrims were not issued during the Saga Dawa month (17 May to 16 June). No announcement says whether that repeats in 2027. If you hold an Indian passport, keep your dates away from mid May to mid June until it is clear.

When does registration open for the MEA Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027?

Not announced. In 2025 and 2026 the MEA opened online registration on kmy.gov.in in late April, closed it in mid May and held the draw soon after.

The yatra run by the Ministry of External Affairs is the government route for Indian citizens, via Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. In 2025, the first year after a five-year break, applications were open by 26 April and 750 yatris were picked by computer draw on 21 May. In 2026 the MEA announced the yatra on 30 April, registration closed on 19 May, and 1,000 places ran from June to August.

Expect something similar in spring 2027, and watch kmy.gov.in, the official site. The rules in 2026 were Indian citizens aged 18 to 70, a BMI of 25 or below and a medical screening. OCI and PIO holders were not eligible. Our yatra guide for Indians covers the application steps and both channels.

How many Indians can go to Kailash via Nepal in 2027?

China has not set a 2027 quota. It allowed 20,000 Indian pilgrims via Nepal in 2025 and 24,000 in 2026, against more than 40,000 requests.

The quota for Indian passport holders going through Nepal is set by Beijing each season, and Nepali operators learn it from Chinese authorities. The Kathmandu Post reported 24,000 for 2026, up from 20,000, and operators asking for 15,000 more. By mid June 2026 it was full, according to The Everest Holiday.

The trend has been up. 2027 has two things pulling the other way: it is not a Horse year, and the Kyirong road, which carried most budget groups, is closed. Our guess is that demand eases a little and the western route via Simikot takes a bigger share. That is a guess. If you are Indian and set on 2027, put your name down with an approved agency early and pay a deposit only once the season is confirmed.

How far ahead should you book Kailash for 2027?

Two to four months ahead for a tour from Lhasa, more for Saga Dawa or a single room. The permits themselves need about 25 days.

The Tibet Travel Permit and the extra Kailash permits are applied for by your agency, and they need about three to four weeks plus your passport and Chinese visa copies. That is the hard minimum. The soft one is beds: kora guesthouses at Dirapuk and Zutulpuk are small and fill at Saga Dawa.

One honest catch: applications cannot be filed until the season opens. A booking made now holds a seat, not a permit. Choose an operator who lets you move dates, because 2026 showed that both snow and floods can end a season early.

What changes for Kailash trips in 2027?

Three things: the Kyirong road from Nepal is closed, 2027 is not a Horse year, and the quota and yatra numbers start again from zero. Permit lead times stay at about 25 days.

For travellers from Lhasa, the trip itself looks the same. Explore Tibet runs the same 15-day route in 2027, with departures from 5 April to 18 October. The Lhasa side does not depend on Kyirong, so the flood changes little there.

From Nepal, the map is different. With Rasuwagadhi shut and Tatopani open only for goods, a trip from Kathmandu either flies to Lhasa first or takes the western route via Simikot and Hilsa. Any listing that still describes the road through Kyirong or the Friendship Highway needs a fresh answer from the operator on how it will run.

What a tour leaves out matters as much as the dates: yaks or porters on the kora, most meals, tips and insurance with helicopter evacuation cover. The guide to what a Kailash tour includes lists them. If your dates are fixed, the small-group tour from Lhasa is the route least affected by the border closure.

Fifteen days from Lhasa in a small group, per the listing. It does not depend on any land border with Nepal.

15-Day Kailash & Manasarovar Small Group · 15 days

Book this Tour details

Frequently asked questions