Zeo Tourism
Nepal tours, Kailash Yatra and Himalayan travel planning
Zeo Tourism plans Nepal inbound journeys, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Everest Base Camp trekking, pilgrimage routes and selected international trips with a Kathmandu-based travel team.
Loading current travel content...The definitive pricing resource: compare Overland vs Helicopter vs Lhasa routes, Indian Passport INR rates vs NRI USD pricing, cost levers, and genuine exclusions with zero hidden surprises.
From INR 1,65,000 / $2,250
Overland 14D
From INR 2,45,000 / $3,450
Helicopter 11D
From $4,500 USD
Lhasa 17D
From INR 45,000 / $650
Aerial Darshan
Because Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar are located deep within the high-altitude Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China, package pricing reflects complex multinational logistics: Tibet Tourism Bureau permit tariffs, foreign exchange fees, Chinese Embassy group visa surcharges, high-altitude Nepali Sherpa teams, portable oxygen arrays, and private cross-border transport.
Unlike operators who quote low headline numbers only to add hidden fees at the border, Zeo Tourism provides 100% itemized pricing. Below is our definitive comparison of all official routes and rates.
Side-by-side comparison of duration, Indian national pricing (INR), NRI / Foreign citizen pricing (USD), accommodation standards, and Kora inclusion across all 4 routes.
| Route & Duration | Indian Passport (INR) | NRI / Foreign (USD) | Lodging Standards | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14-Day Overland via Kerung 13–14 Days | INR 1,65,000 – 1,95,000 | $2,250 – $2,850 | 3-Star KTM + Tibet Hotels & Kora Guesthouses | Best acclimatization & budget value | View Details |
11-Day Helicopter via Hilsa 9–11 Days | INR 2,45,000 – 2,95,000 | $3,450 – $4,250 | Air-conditioned KTM/Nepalgunj + Taklakot Hotels | Fastest route, avoids 4 days road transit | View Details |
17-Day Cultural via Lhasa 15–17 Days | On Request (CIPSC Quota) | $4,500 – $5,400 | 4-Star Lhasa/Shigatse Hotels + Kora Lodges | Potala Palace, Jokhang + Sacred Pilgrimage | View Details |
3-Day Aerial Darshan Flight 3 Days / 2 Nights | INR 45,000 – 65,000 | $650 – $950 | Nepalgunj 4-Star Resort | Seniors & visual darshan; zero China visa required | View Details |
* Note: Foreign passport rates in USD cover all mandatory Tibet Travel Permits, Alien's Travel Permits, and Chinese Embassy group visa processing logistics in Kathmandu.
* Crucial Product Distinction: Kailash Aerial Darshan does not enter Tibet or complete the Kailash Kora. It is a scenic high-altitude flight operated from Nepalgunj within Nepal airspace, offering aerial views with zero walking or Chinese visa constraints.
Understanding the trade-offs between overland road journeys and helicopter-assisted flights helps you select the best balance of budget, physical comfort, and yatra duration.
Scenic highway journey from Kathmandu via Syabrubesi to the Kerung (Gyirong) border, traversing Saga and Lake Mansarovar to Mount Kailash.
Fly from Kathmandu/Lucknow to Nepalgunj, fly to Simikot, and take a scenic charter helicopter to the Hilsa border before driving to Mansarovar.
Avoid generic quotes. These six operational variables directly determine your final invoice:
Joining a scheduled fixed departure (18 to 25 yatris) spreads the cost of Tibetan guides, private coach transport, and Sherpa kitchen crews. Private VIP departures (4 to 8 pilgrims) carry a 25% to 40% premium per person due to dedicated private support.
In major towns (Kerung, Saga, Taklakot, Darchen), standard itineraries include clean twin-share hotel rooms with attached bathrooms. During the 3-day Kora at Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk, all pilgrims stay in basic mud-brick dormitory lodges where private bathrooms are impossible.
The helicopter itinerary involves two scheduled domestic flights (Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Simikot) and chartered helicopter shuttles (Simikot–Hilsa). Operating high-altitude rotorcraft adds substantial logistical insurance and requires contingency fuel depots.
Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) and Alien's Travel Permit (ATP) fees are bundled with ground operations. Official Chinese Embassy group visa tariffs in Nepal vary by nationality (e.g. US regular group visa NPR 15,300, Canada NPR 6,100, other countries NPR 2,900, plus service/express charges). Together with Tibet invitation handling and consular liaison, the estimated visa/permit handling component ranges from $115 to $245 depending on passport nationality.
Single room supplements ($450–$650) apply for private hotel rooms in Kathmandu, Kerung, Saga, and Darchen. They do NOT apply during the 3-day Kora, where shared dormitory beds are the only physical infrastructure that exists at 4,900m+.
Every Zeo package includes medical-grade oxygen cylinders, hyperbaric Gamow bags, and oximeter monitoring. However, emergency helicopter evacuation from Simikot to Kathmandu ($2,500–$4,000) must be covered by your mandatory international travel insurance.
Be wary of operators advertising “100% all-inclusive” packages that fail to mention on-ground expenses. The following costs are never part of standard agency package fees and must be planned independently:
| Excluded Item | Estimated Cost | Why It is Excluded & How to Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Horse / Pony & Yak Porter During Kora | RMB 3,000 – 3,500 (~$450 – $550 USD) | Pilgrims unable to complete the 52 km trek on foot can hire a horse/pony with a local Tibetan handler. Rates are strictly regulated by the local Tibetan Horse Management Association and paid directly in cash (Chinese Yuan). |
| Personal Travel & Evacuation Insurance | $120 – $220 USD per person | Mandatory requirement. Must explicitly cover high-altitude emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, and emergency helicopter rescue up to 6,000 meters in the Tibet Autonomous Region. |
| Tips / Gratuities for Tibetan & Sherpa Crew | $80 – $120 USD (or INR 5,000 – 8,000) | Customary group gratuity divided among the Tibetan guide, Tibetan bus driver, Nepali tour leader, and Sherpa kitchen team who carry and cook satvik meals. |
| Personal Puja, Hawan & Ritual Materials | INR 2,000 – 5,000 / $30 – $75 | Special Brahman priest offerings, Hawan Samagri, Ganga Jal containers for Lake Mansarovar holy water, and personal temple donations at Pashupatinath or Taklakot. |
| Emergency Delays Beyond Itinerary Buffers | Actual modest hotel cost (~$40–$60/night) | Extra room nights or meals in Nepalgunj or Simikot if extreme monsoon weather or landslide road blocks ground flights beyond the scheduled buffer days. |
| Single Room Supplement (Where Available) | $450 – $650 USD (Optional) | Guarantees private single room in Kathmandu, Kerung, Saga, and Darchen. Shared multi-bed dormitory rooms remain mandatory during the 3-day Kora. |
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign passport holders (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, Singapore) travel under international Tibet tourist quotas with mandatory 3-day Kathmandu biometric visas. Zeo provides complete foreign remittance compliance:
Direct USD transfer from your US/UK/Canadian bank to our official corporate foreign-exchange account.
Real-time mid-market exchange rate transfers in USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, or AUD with zero hidden banking markups.
3D-Secure 2.0 encrypted card payments (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) with instant digital invoices and receipts.
Tell us your preferred route, passport nationality, and travel month. Our Kathmandu team sends an itemized cost schedule with full permit guarantees within 24 hours.
Kailash Planning Centre
Use the dedicated Zeo Tourism guides below for route, nationality, cost, departure, documents and traveller-readiness questions. Each guide links back to the main Kailash Yatra hub so travellers and search engines can follow one clear planning path.
Compare routes, packages, preparation and the complete 2026 yatra overview.
Read guide →Nationality-specific planning, documents, arrival steps and route choices.
Read guide →Review current group-departure planning, route options and important date windows.
Read guide →Check passport, visa, Tibet-entry and Nepal route-permit planning before travel.
Read guide →Plan route pace, mobility support, acclimatization and medical preparation for older pilgrims.
Read guide →Understand Inner Kora planning, physical demands, route context and suitability before travel.
Read guide →Verify before booking
Route permissions, border conditions and departure availability can change. Use official references alongside our planning guides, then request a route- and nationality-specific confirmation before paying a deposit.
Cite this Kailash guide
For journalists, partner directories and pilgrimage resources, cite Zeo Tourism as a Kathmandu-based Kailash Mansarovar Yatra operator with verified NATTA membership and a dedicated Kailash planning desk.
Zeo Tourism Pvt. Ltd. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra planning guide. Kathmandu, Nepal. Available at: https://zeotourism.com/kailash-mansarovar-yatra-cost