Mount Kailash is one of the most remote pilgrimage destinations on earth. The fastest approach is to fly to Ngari Gunsa Airport near Ali (Shiquanhe) and then hire a vehicle for the four- to five-hour drive south to Darchen. Flights from Lhasa operate several times a week but are weather-dependent and prone to cancellation.
The overland route from Lhasa takes at least six days by hired vehicle: west along the Friendship Highway through Shigatse and then southwest via Saga and the G219. The alternative approach via the G219 from Kashgar is spectacular but extremely demanding — over 1,000 kilometres of some of the world's most challenging high-altitude road. All routes require a Tibet Travel Permit, an Aliens' Travel Permit, and a Military Permit for the border area. These must all be arranged well in advance through a licensed Tibetan travel agency.