Tips and Packing for Kailash

Tips for Kailash Yatra

1. Get everything in writing. The program, the charges, and payment receipt. The flight itinerary, program itinerary, the fact that you will be given a land cruiser. Everything that you can think of – get it in writing if you can.
2. Keep calling to make sure all permits are in order.
3. Ask about yak and porter prices upfront, so you know how much money to take.
4. Ask all sorts of questions….even if they seem silly. And make sure you get a definite answer for them – not just, “Everything will be okay once you are there.”
5. Nyalam is very high and one can start feeling altitude sickness from there onwards, so be prepared from Kathmandu with medications.
6. There are no restrooms anywhere on the road. Be ready to go anywhere. Don’t hesitate to tell the driver to stop if you need to go.
7. Keep extra batteries. You can find electrical outlets everywhere but since there are so many people, you may not get a turn.
8. Travel with family or good friends. Someone who understands you completely and will not divorce you after this trip is over. We lucked out and had the company of really good strangers who then became good friends. But it is easy to lose your cool after 4-5 days of close proximity.
9. If you are a non resident of India, then it is better you make your own group of travelers. Check the policies of China regarding non Indians before you make your journey. If it does not suit you, then don’t go. We found out the hard way that this policy of having 5 non Indians travel together ruined our trip.
10. The group you travel with is key. We traveled with south Indians and we got all south Indian food for 9 days.  The sherpas are amazing cooks, they are trained in a variety of cuisines.  They will cook your kind of food provided there is a majority.
11. Going to Mansarovar on Poornima is not the most important thing, unless it is a religious thing for you, but I will say the lake looks amazing in full moon. But the crowd is also the highest during those times.
12. If you are able to then get up at night to see two stars come down to Mansarovar at night.  Apparently they come down every night, some say they come only on Poornmasi. I don't know. The time is also not very clear - but people see them between 3-4 am. If you can camp out from 1-4 am then more power to you!!
13. Do not dismiss your health. Listen to your body.  There will be no doctor or hospital on route, so if you have high/low BP, diabetes, heart disease, then be careful of your health. Don't exert yourself.
14. You have the option of not doing the parikrama. You stay in Mansarovar for the two nights while the trekkers finish their parikrama.
15. Be an informed traveller.  Sadly I did not find much information about travelling to Kailash, which is why I was met with disappointment. I wish people would share information so that everyone's journey is fruitful.

Things to take on the trip

1. Warm clothes: really all sorts of warm clothes – don’t skimp on it, especially if you don’t like cold. Warm socks, gloves, cap, monkey cap, 2-3 layers of warm shirts. All travel agencies provide a good winter jacket, but if you think you have a different size then bring your own.
2. Medicines: pain pills are a must, antacids, energy pills, altitude sickness, any stomach/digestive issue pills, ginger candy (for nausea), vicks for stuffy nose, Halls or any kind of lozenges.
3. Personal hygiene items: in addition to what you use daily e.g. soap, toothpaste etc. you will need wet wipes – both disinfectant kind and just the wet kinds (plenty!!), hand sanitizer, deodorant.
4. Eatables: chocolates, mixed nuts, hard candies, health bars. All meals are given in plenty and it is usually quite okay; the only time you will need these is if the meals are delayed or during the parikrama, or in between meal time snack.
5. Equipment: camera is a must, flashlight (torch) is a must, extra batteries, pocket knife, walking stick, an insulated water bottle (in the cold temperature the water gets cold really fast), some personal entertainment (mp3 player, kindle etc. for the long drives).
6. Attitude: you have to do this journey with an open mind and adventurous spirit. Every day is unpredictable, you will get food that you don’t really care for, you will feel miserable because of high altitude and low oxygen and because you have not taken a shower for four days….for all these matter of fact incidents, you have to keep your spirits high yourself and keep positive. It is best to travel with good friends or family. The 10-14 day journey is spent is really close proximity to other people and unless you keep positive they all start getting on that one nerve that was doing well.