High up on the Tibetan Plateau, lie two of the most unique mountains in the world: Mount Everest and Mount Kailash. Separated by about 828 kilometers, Mount Everest and Mount Kailash each attract different groups of people with their own unique charm. Most tourists come to Tibet for a visit to the Everest Base Camp to witness the world’s highest peak with their own eyes, while some others are eager to complete the lifetime kora around Mount Kailash.

So, which mountain is more worth visiting for you? How do you choose between the two? Is it possible to visit both during one single trip in Tibet? Here, we will share significant differences between these two greatest mountains in Tibet to help you make the best choice for your Tibet tour.

1# Reason to Go: The Top of the World vs. The Central of the World

Mount Everest, as everyone knows, is the world’s highest mountain, sitting at 8,844.43 meters above sea level. As the most popular mountain in the world, it sees travelers from all over the globe making the journey to its famous North Base Camp to view and photograph the mountain.

Conversely, Mount Kailash, which lies in the Gangdise Mountain Range in Ngari prefecture, is only 6,638 meters above sea level but has the distinction of being the most sacred mountain in the world. Never having been climbed, it is a sacred mountain reputed to be the center of the universe by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon religion.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

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2# Travel Altitude: 5,000m at Everest Base Camp vs. 5,648m at Dolma-la Pass

Altitude is one of the major differences between Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, with Mount Everest being 8,848 meters high while Kailash is just 6,638 meters. However, when visiting Everest, for most tourists, the highest altitude that you can get to is at Everest Base Camp, which is 5, 000 meters above sea level.

The Everest Base Camp, at 5,000 meters above sea level, is the highest point where ordinary tourists can get a close view of Mt. Everest.

Mount Kailash has a similar altitude for its visitors, especially for those taking the Kailash kora. The highest point of Mount Kailash trek is at Dolma-La Pass, which is 5,648 meters above sea level, one of the highest passes in Tibet.

To be honest, visiting Everest Base Camp is easier as you can easily reach the base camp by vehicle directly without any trekking or hiking. The Mount Kailash trek, on the other hand, is moderately challenging for those who are physically fit, requiring a 3-day trek over 5,000 meters.

3# Distance from Lhasa: 600km to EBC vs. 1300km to Mt.Kailash

Located at the foot of the north side of Mount Everest, the Everest Base Camp in Tibet is 600 kilometers away from Lhasa city. The general route from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp in Tibet passes through Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse ancient town, and Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Mount Kailash, situated in the remote western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, is over 1,300 kilometers from Lhasa. Besides taking an overland trip from Lhasa to Mount Kailash, you can also take a flight from Lhasa Gonggar International Airport to Ngari Gunsa Airport, reducing your transfer time to less than 2 hours.

Travel Tips: Although you can fly to Ngari, it's not recommended because the altitude increases rapidly from 3,650 meters in Lhasa to 4,274 meters in Ngari, which can easily cause high altitude sickness

17 Days Kailash Manasarovar Full Moon Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Zanda - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

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4# Time to Travel: Available all year round vs. Not accessible in winter

Even at 5000 meters above sea level, Everest Base Camp in Tibet can be visited all year round. In winter, the daily temperature of Everest Base Camp ranges between freezing and around 7 degrees, which is not extremely cold for daytime travel. Although there will be snowfall, the roads to Everest Base Camp will remain open. Therefore, you can visit the Everest Base Camp in winter.

Tibet Everest Base Camp winter tour.

However, with a higher latitude and an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, the road to Mount Kailash always be closed due to heavy snow. So, unlike a trip to Everest Base Camp in Tibet, a Mount Kailash Tour is not available in winter, from late October to early April.

Travel Tips: The tent hotels will be closed during winter seasons from November to early April. If you visit the Everest Base Camp in Tibet in winter, you can only stay one night at the local villages near the base camp, such as the Tashizong village.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

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5# Travel Highlights: Close view of the World’s highest peak vs. Pilgrimage Trekking

Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, has long been a draw for tourists, trekkers, and mountaineers. For many travelers, it is a lifetime memory to say, "I did that, I went there," when visiting Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

For ordinary tourists, without trekking and climbing, visiting the Base Camp is the closest way to witness the highest peak in the world. From a 5,000-meter base camp, the over 8,000-meter peak is right in front of you, clearly visible as a huge triangle covered in never-melting snow.

Enjoy a close view of Mount Everest from the base camp in Tibet.

If traveling to Mount Everest is a kind of challenge to reach the top of the world, a Mount Kailash tour is more of a spiritual adventure. As a sacred mountain never having been climbed, Mount Kailash is famous for the pilgrim’s kora route around Mt. Kailash for prayer and worship.

The Kailash Kora route is 52 kilometers long and crosses over one of the highest passes in the region, at over 5,600 meters. It is not just popular as a pilgrimage kora, though. Many trekkers visit the mountain to partake in the three-day trek around this mystical black-rock pyramid of a mountain.

Trekking around Mount Kailash and staying in local monastery guesthouses is a great way to experience more about the culture of the Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims, learning more about their practices and the reasons why they often make their way around the kora by prostrating for the whole 52 kilometers.

13 Day Lhasa Mt. Everest Mt. Kailash Lake Manasarovar and Kathmandu Adventure Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

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6# Shortest Travel Length: 8 Days Everest Base Camp Tour vs. 10 Days Mount Kailash Tour

In order to better adapt to the high altitude and reduce altitude sickness, the most classic overland trip from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp takes 8 days. Although it only takes 4 days to drive from Lhasa to Mount Everest and back, it is NOT recommended for first-time travelers to Tibet due to the risk of altitude sickness.

Starting from Lhasa, you will spend the first three days in Lhasa city to explore the iconic highlights of the holy city, such as the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street for a glimpse of Tibet.

Then, you will take a land journey to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet via the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and the ancient town of Gyantse. You will deeply explore the villages and landscapes along the way between the two major cities.

On the fifth day, you will take your way to Everest Base Camp in Tibet, passing several mountain passes and enjoying panoramic views of the highest peaks of the Himalayas.

Staying one night at the base camp, you will get a chance to witness the sunset and sunrise from the top of the world. After visiting Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world, you will take the way back to Lhasa via the G318 National Highway.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

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Since Mount Kailash is farther from Lhasa than Mt. Everest, the overland journey from Lhasa to Mount Kailash generally takes 15 days. You can shorten the trip to 13 days, or extend the journey to the Ruins of the Guge Kingdom for an in-depth exploration of Ngari, which takes 17 days.

In fact, the shortest trip to Mount Kailash is not from Lhasa, but from Kathmandu, Nepal. You will cross the Gyrong border and drive directly to Mount Kailash. This is the best route for those who want to visit Mount Kailash but have limited time.

10 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Tour from Kathmandu, via Gyirong Port

Tour Route: Kathmandu – Gyirong – Saga – Mt.Kailash – Lake Manasarovar – Darchen – Saga – Gyirong – Kathmandu

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So, if you have just one week, you can only visit Mount Everest in Tibet. With 10 days, you can consider extend the EBC tour to Lake Namtso, or travel to Mount Kailash from Nepal. For a better comprehensive tour that includes both Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, plan for at least 13 days.

All-in-One Best Choice: 15 Days Mount Kailash Tour with Everest Base Camp

If your time permits, it is highly recommended to take the 15 days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar tour from Lhasa. As a great combination of the two greatest mountains in Tibet, this trip will show you the differences between Mount Everest and Mount Kailash in one go as you don’t need to worry about how to choose.

This tour takes you from Lhasa, the Tibetan regional capital, through Shigatse to Mount Everest Base Camp, where you can get the best photos of the mountain. Then it continues to Darchen, with a stop at the sacred Lake Manasarovar, one of the Great Three Holy Lakes of Tibet, before heading on to the sacred mountain.

At Mount Kailash, the tour includes the epic 3-day trek around the mountain, following the sacred kora route of Tibet Tibetan pilgrims. Covering about 52 kilometers, the Kailash trek takes you through some of the stunning landscapes that surround this ancient sacred mountain, crossing high passes and traveling through gorgeous valleys along the way.

This 15-day trip takes you across the vast Tibetan plateau, taking in the stunning views of the mighty Himalayas and the beautiful landscapes of Shigatse and Ngari Prefectures. A spectacular adventure that highlights both the amazing landscapes and the unique Tibetan culture and religion, there is no better way to experience Mount Everest and Mount Kailash together in one tour.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

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Conclusion

Mount Everest and Mount Kailash are the most renowned mountains in Tibet, drawing different types of tourists. If you want to fully experience Tibet, from local customs, stunning landscapes, and traditional spiritual traditions, and have enough time, take the 15-day Mount Kailash tour from Lhasa as your best choice.

Of course, if Everest is your life goal, then don’t miss our classic 8-day Everest Base Camp tour from Lhasa. Whatever you are looking for in your Tibet tour, feel free to share your travel ideas with us. Our local travel experts will be glad to share the best destinations and itineraries with you based on your interests.