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

For Indian pilgrims, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu sets out what to 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 adds the permit rules that apply on the Nepal side: trekking in any area or along any route except the specified one is deemed a violation of law, and the permit has to be shown to immigration employees or police on request³.

The Nepal permit

The restricted-area trekking permit for Humla is issued by the Department of Immigration³, and it is issued only through a listed trekking agency, because the areas are sensitive for security and management⁴. In October 2026 the Department’s fee table listed 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

An operator’s 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. The 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 for pilgrims gives the most specific wording on conditions along this route¹:

• 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.

When to go

The operator lists the best season for its jeep itinerary as 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. The Embassy of India advises pilgrims to avoid travel during or near full moon days, because high traveller density and overbooking on those days have left pilgrims stranded in Simikot and Hilsa¹.

That advice and the operator’s marked full-moon batches point in different directions, so check dates before booking. Weather and road conditions on the Nepal side also decide when flights run; the seasons are in best time to visit west Nepal.