Kailash via Humla: permits, the Simikot to Hilsa route and what pilgrims are told to carry

Humla has become a preferred route for the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, and the paperwork has three layers: a Nepal permit for the restricted border area, a Chinese visa and a Tibet travel permit^5,1. This page covers what the Nepal and Indian government pages require, the legs from Nepalgunj to the Tibet border and the health advice that comes with them. The wider permit rules are in restricted-area permits and the permits hub; the walking route is on the Humla to Kailash page, and the district is in Humla.

The rule

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu sets out what Indian pilgrims should hold before and during the yatra through Nepal¹:

Pilgrims may ensure that the travel agent has obtained Restricted Area Permit for Nepal (Simikot/Hilsa or Rasuwagidhi as per itinerary/route).¹

Chinese Visa needs to be obtained from the Embassy of China in New Delhi (and not from the Embassy of China in Kathmandu).¹

Pilgrims may ensure that they have appropriate Chinese visa and Travel Permit for Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), prior to commencing journey from India.¹

The Nepal Tourism Board’s trekking permit page sets the rules on the Nepal side. Trekking in any area or along any route except the specified one is a violation of law, and the permit has to be shown to immigration employees or police on request³. A trekking permit for restricted areas must be obtained from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu³.

The Nepal permit

The restricted-area trekking permit for Humla comes from the Department of Immigration³. It is issued only through a registered trekking agency, because the areas are sensitive for security and management⁴. Foreign trekkers going to certain restricted areas must hold the permit by law⁴. In October 2026 the Department’s fee table priced Humla at USD 50 per person per week, with USD 10 per day beyond one week².

The wider table, including Mugu, Dolpa, Bajhang and Darchula, is in restricted-area permits. The district’s headquarters is Simikot⁵, and Simikot is the point from which the trekking route to Tibet starts⁵.

The route: Nepalgunj, Simikot, Hilsa

ABC Adventures’ 11-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027 jeep itinerary, seen in October 2026, runs from Lucknow through Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa to Purang, then to Lake Mansarovar and Darchen, and back the same way⁶. Its Nepal legs:

Older alternatives exist. The historic route is a 4-5 day walk from Simikot to Hilsa with overnight stops at a few villages⁵, and travel companies offer helicopter flights over the same distance that take about 20 minutes⁵. Flights into Simikot are covered in flights to Simikot.

The itinerary includes the three-day parikrama of Mount Kailash⁶, and its highest altitude is 5,630 m at Dolma La⁶.

Health, insurance and conditions

The Embassy of India’s checklist, as seen in October 2026¹:

• Insurance: pilgrims should have adequate insurance coverage for high altitude sickness, emergency medical relief, evacuation and extended stay¹.
• Medical facilities: there are minimal or no medical facilities in Simikot and Hilsa, so pilgrims should carry medicines for the tour plus a reserve for at least another 10 days¹.
• Money: ATM facilities are not available in Simikot or Hilsa, and pilgrims should carry adequate cash for any emergency¹.
• Communication: some locations offer Wi-Fi, though there is no mobile connectivity on the route¹.
• Altitude: pilgrims should halt at all designated acclimatization points, and should avoid the parikrama if health does not permit¹.
• Weather: the Simikot and Hilsa route is connected only through air, which needs fair weather and visibility, and delays may last for days¹.
• Lodging: expect hotels or lodges with basic food and lodging, including dormitories¹.

Other ways in from Simikot

Other operators sell different shapes of the same journey. Kailash Yatra’s listing, seen in October 2026, offers a 21-day Mount Kailash and Humla Valley trekking tour and a 16-day Kailash Inner Kora via Simikot, including a Simikot helicopter route⁷. It gives the Nepalgunj to Simikot flight as 297 km and about 45 minutes, against about 50 minutes on ABC Adventures’ itinerary^7,6. Its Simikot to Dherapuri leg reaches a high pass at 3,000 m⁷.

On foot, the Simikot to Hilsa trail goes along the mountain slopes on the left side of the Humla Karnali river⁵. The Nepal section of the Great Himalaya Trail ends at Hilsa, on the border with Tibet⁵.

Access to Humla

On the page seen in October 2026, Humla could be reached only by air or on foot, and road transport was still under construction⁵. Humla is the second-largest district in Nepal by area⁵. The walk, the jeep and the helicopter are the three ways to cover the 92 km from Simikot to Hilsa, which take 4 to 5 days, 5 to 6 hours and about 20 minutes^5,6.

When to go

The best season for ABC Adventures’ jeep itinerary is May to September⁶. Its first fixed departure in the 2027 listing arrives on 10 May 2027 and returns on 20 May 2027, and the list marks some batches as full-moon departures⁶. Pilgrims should avoid travel during or near full moon days: high traveller density and overbooking on those days have left pilgrims stranded in Simikot and Hilsa¹.

The operator’s list marks several 2027 batches as full-moon departures, which sits against the Embassy’s advice^6,1. The seasons are in best time to visit west Nepal.