A Complete Travel Guide to Mount Kailash and Kora Trekking

Mount Kailash shaped like pyramids of Egypt is situated in the far western Tibet. It is one of the most mysterious and sacred mountains in the world and recognized as the center of the universe by four religions: Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from India, Nepal and other parts of Tibet make their trip to Mount Kailash for worship, the circuit around Mount Kailash (or Mount Kailash Kora) is one of the most important pilgrimages in Asia. Mount Kailash with a height of 6638 meters (21,778 ft) is the main peak of the Gangdise Mountains, which forms part of the Trans-Himalaya or Gangdise – Nyenchen Tanglha range. At the base of the mountain are two vast lakes - Manasarovar Lake and Rakshas Tal, which are very close to the source of the four great South Asia rivers - the Indus River, Sutlej River, Brahmaputra River and Karnali River.
 

Lake Mansarovar is just at the foot of Mount Kailash, it is one of the four holy lakes in Tibet, it is believed by both Buddhists and Hindus that taking a dip in the water of Lake Manasarovar, all your past sins will be washed away. So you will often see the Hindu pilgrims take the bath or drink the water of Lake Manasarovar during the pilgrim season (June to September).      

Hinduism: Before the Indians had accurate written records, it was said that Mount Kailash was the center of the universe. Considered Mount Kailash to be the ultimate place of their soul. At the same time, Hinduism believes that Shiva and her wife live on Mount Kailash.

Ancient Jainism: Among the other major Jain religions in India, Mount Kailash is hailed as the highest mountain. Their founder Rishabha was liberated here. Therefore, it is believed to be the only way for believers to achieve liberation.

Tibetan Buddhism: In the legend of Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Kailash is also the center of the world, and it is the most outstanding place in the Buddhist world. In addition, many Buddhist monks and great virtues have practiced here, adding infinite mana to this mountain.

Bonism: Bonists believe that Mount Kailash is the mysterious soul of the entire Tibetan area, which is a "nine-layer four-dimensional mountain."

Mount Kailash Outer Kora and Inner Kora

Kora is a transliteration of a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation", it is a type of both pilgrimage and meditative practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans believe that completing Mount Kailash kora once will wipe away the sins of a lifetime, and while completing 108 circuits guarantees instant nirvana. Additionally, it is believed that completing the kora once during a full moon or in the Horse year in the Tibetan calendar is karmically equivalent to completing twelve circumambulations in other years. Buddhists, Jains and Hindus follow clockwise, while Bonists go anti-clockwise. 

There are two optional routes for trekking in Mount Kailash: outer Kora and Inner Kora.

Outer Kora: Mount Kailash Kora generally refers to the outer kora of Mount Kailash, starting/ending in the small village of Darchen, it is a complete circuit of Mount Kailash through the Dolma La (5,645m) pass - the highest pass during the kora, the total distance is 52 km, for travelers, the Mount Kailash kora is a test of both the mind and the spirit!  The whole kora normally takes up to 3 days for regular visitors to complete in a more comfortable way, some local Tibet could finish within 1 day while some others choose a more devout way by prostrating themselves the entire way which could take up to 3 weeks or more to complete the kora. The Kailash outer kora not only offers a close up see to one of the holiest mountains in Asia but also is great trekking that wonderfully integrates the spiritual, cultural and physical dimensions of a trip to Tibet, meeting the devout pilgrims during the kora is another plus.

3-day Outer Kora Route

Day 1: Darchen (4,600m) - Drirapuk Monastery (5,080m) 【6 hours / 20KM】

Day 2: Drirapuk Monastery (5,080m) - Dzultripuk Monastery (4,820m) 【7 - 8 hours / 18KM】

Day 3: Dzultripuk Monastery (4,820m) - Darchen (4,600m)【3 - 4 hours / 14KM】

Inner Kora: The inner kora of Mount Kailash lasts for 34 kilometers leading directly into the south face of Mt. Kailash, it offers greater proximity to Mount Kailash. It is said that only those Buddhist pilgrims who have completed 13 rounds of the outer kora can do the inner kora, however, this is not applied to regular tourists. The inner kora can be done within one day but however the route is more complex and dangerous, it includes some very challenging cliffs and passes, normally only mountaineering experienced trekkers with necessary equipment can do this route. Due to the uncertain safety issue, the local government has closed inner kora for tourists since 2018. 

Best Time to travel to Mount Kailash & Do its Kora 

Best Month: Normally Mount Kailash kora will be accessible from April to October. Before or after this period of time, the heavy snow may block the Dromala pass. The best time to do the Kailash kora should be from middle May to early October., with relatively warmer and stable weather. But however travelers should always prepare to have changeable weather in this high altitude place, snow could be encountered on the Drolma-la pass at any time of year. The temperature will often drop well below freezing at night, even during the summer months.
Due to the particularly harsh natural environment and climate in the winter in the Ngari Prefecture, Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar cease operations and receive tourists from mid-Oct, the time of mountain closure varies every year, basically between mid-October and early November.

A great time to meet pilgrims: A great time to meet the pilgrims at Kailash Kora is from June to September at the Hindu pilgrims season. Normally starts before or after the Saga Dawa Festival, one of the major festivals in Tibetan Buddhism.
Saga Dawa Festival: It begins on the 1st day of the 4th Tibetan month (generally between May and June of each year in Gregorian calendar) and lasts for a full month to celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth, Nirvana (enlightenment) and Parinirvana (death). The main purpose of the festival is to pray for the long life of all the gurus, for the spreading of teachings of Buddha, and for the happiness of all the sentient beings. Every year during this time you will witness thousands of Buddhist /Hindus pilgrims worshipping at the foot of Mount Kailash to celebrate this festival. 

The 15th day (also called full moon date) is the most special and important day in Tibetan Buddhism. Every year on this day the ceremony takes place around Tarboche at Mount Kailash, people gather to take down the old flagpole and replace it with a new one.The group of monks recite scriptures and play religious instruments. Pilgrims throw barley flour which is believed to bring luck. It is a great chance to see the highlights of the festival.

The Climate in Mount Kailash

Monthly Average temperatures overview of the Mount Kailash

Tour Kailash Mansarovar in the Monsoon Season - July and August: The monsoon is generally referred to as the season of rain. In Tibet, it starts from late June to early September, it receives the maximum amount of rainfall during this time. However the climate in Mount Kailash region is a bit different, it generally receives less rain than other parts of Tibet, so it will be no problem to travel to Mount Kailash at Monsoon season but just prepare that you may have a muddy road for part of the kora. The summer rain in Tibet normally does not last all day but lasts for up to an hour at a time. Also, it normally rains in the evening, which is a feature of the rainy season in Tibet. However, due to the high altitude of the Kailash region, you may experience some extreme weather such as snowing at the Drolma-La pass in mid of summer.
Impossible to Visit in Winter from November to March: Due to the extreme cold weather in winter in the Kailash region, the Ngari Prefecture local government closes Mount Kailash from Nov. to March. Therefore, it is not possible to visit Mount Kailash and do the kora during this time.

from the film 《Paths of the soul》

Other travel tips for Mount Kailash Kora

Lodging: Due to the special climate and geographical location, the entire Ngari Prefecture has poor infrastructure. Mount Kailash Kora's starting/ending point - Darchen, the small town at the foothills of Mount Kailash, has the most of the tourists' restaurants and hotels in this region, it can basically meet the needs of tourists, most of the travelers will make good use of the hot showers before or after the Kailash kora. Generally, the facilities of the hotels here are below the average level, the best hotel in Darchen - Himalaya Hotel is claimed to be a 4-star hotel officially, but however, it is just like a 3-star hotel in other places. The lodging in Darchen is in high demand during the Saga Dawa Festival, and if you plan to travel during this special time, then you’d better confirm your tour 2 months in advance so that we can lock the hotels, otherwise, you may have to set up the tent for the night.

The lodging during the Kailash Kora could be camping or monastery guesthouse (dormitory bed), due to the large pilgrim groups from India & Nepal at the months from June to September and more domestic tourists from July to August, there is a big chance that you need camp during those months.

Food: You will find many restaurants in Darchen Town which provide traditional Tibetan food, Chinese food, Indian food, western food, etc. 

While during the 3 day Kailash kora, on the way there are some small tea houses(tents) owned by local Tibetans selling snacks, drinking water and instant noodles. The guest houses for overnight offers very basic noodle soup or fried rice etc., the type of food is very limited. You can also prepare some lightweight, small, easy-to-eat food and snacks(bread, cookies, chocolate, etc.) before the trekking starts. Certainly, you could camp and cook, prepare tents, moisture-proof mats, and cookers that can be used on the plateau. 

Natural water sources abound during the Kailash kora, but you'd better bring some means of water purification if you want to drink the natural water. The tea houses(tents), the monasteries and guest houses also have hot water for taking away.

Yaks/Porters/Horses for Kailash Kora: For those that want to soften the load during those 3 day Kailash Kora, there is an option of hiring a porter or pack animals in Darchen, your local guide in Tibet can help you to arrange it upon arrival. Yaks and horses can help you carry the luggage or supplies, but please note that yaks will only travel in pairs or herds. For the animal keeper, normally one yak man can take up 3 yaks. There are also horses available to be hired for riding for the Kailash Kora, but please note you will not be allowed to ride the horse down the steep backside of the Drolma La pass (about 3 km long) as it is too risky for both you and the horse to get injured. Below is the price charged for your reference: 

• 1050 CNY per yak for 3 days. (One Yak can carry up to 30kg luggage).
• 1050 CNY per horse for 3 days.
• 1150 CNY per animal keeper (Yak-man or horse-man) for 3 days (Must hire a porter when you hire yaks, but for hiring the horse, each horse requires its own keeper.)

Note: The cost will be charged for at least 3 days no matter if you take for 1 or 2 days. During the peak months of the Hindu pilgrim season (June to September), the horses/yaks could be in high demand. 

Avoid high altitude sickness: We encourage visitors to check with their doctors first to confirm that their physical condition is okay for the high altitude areas - because the travel to Mount Kailash region is over 5,000 meters averagely. It's common for everyone to have some symptoms of high altitude. Please read over our high altitude sickness page for more details.

Travel Regulation, China Visa & Tibet Permits to Mount Kailash: Based on current travel policy for foreign passport holders, you are required to take an organized trip accompanied by a licensed guide during your entire experience in Tibet. The Tibet permit application to Mount Kailash takes around 3 weeks. Please keep that in mind when planning your trip. In order to ensure things are properly arranged, we suggest that you plan and book your trip only once you have fully committed to embarking on this grand adventure. Especially in the peak season, such as around the time of the Saga Dawa festival, we must book the accommodation, vehicle and guide in advance.

What to pack for Kailash Trekking/Kora
There is a big difference in the temperatures of the daytime / evening at the Kailash Kora. The mornings and evenings is always cold (the lowest could be 0- 5°C in the mid-summer and -5 /-10°C in the months of May and Sep.)., while when the sun is high in the afternoon, it could be incredibly warm (the highest could get to 16-20 °C in the mid-summer or 8-10°C in the months of May and Sep.). You need to be able to easily take off or add a layer when the temperature changes, the wind can be also very strong at the Kailash kora especially at the top of Drolma La pass. It is very important to pack the correct clothing for these 3 days trek:

How to choose a partner (travel agency)

1. The professional Tibetan guide who is familiar with the humanities, geography, environment and routes of Tibet, has rich experience in leading a team and has qualified rescue and first aid capabilities.
2. The professional driver who is familiar with the line and has extensive outdoor driving experience. The journey to Ngari Prefecture is very long and hard, most of the time of the journey is on the way. Therefore, choosing a good driver is very important for the journey. Be sure to look for vehicles with complete vehicle insurance and procedures from the channel. 
3. Local Tibetan staff who are proficient in languages ​​and cultures. They are responsible for guidance, cooks, animal management, camp construction, hauling, etc.

That's all WindhorseTour can provide!

Conclusion

The best time to arrange a kora in Mount Kailash is from late April to early October. You are required to send us a copy of your valid passport (up to 6 months) and China Visa to apply for Tibet Permits at least one month in advance. Make sure your physical body is well prepared for the kora in the altitude above 5000m. If you plan to experience and witness the grand Saga Dawa Festival at Mount Kailash, WindhorseTour will help you arrange the itinerary in advance. We would love to make your kora, or any other mount Kailash Tour happen!