Overview
Walk the 52km kora around Mount Kailash, the sacred axis of the world for four faiths, crossing the 5,630m Dolma La pass on Tibet's ultimate pilgrimage.
About This Tour
For more than a thousand years pilgrims have walked the kora — the sacred circuit — around Mount Kailash (6,638m), the pyramid-shaped peak revered as the spiritual center of the universe by Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and followers of the ancient Bon faith. This three-day, 52km trek in the remote far west of Tibet is the most powerful pilgrimage trek on Earth, and one of the few places where you walk shoulder to shoulder with Tibetan and Indian pilgrims, prostrating yogis and grazing yaks beneath the holy mountain's untouched north face. The trail follows the Lha Chu and Dolma Chu valleys, climbs over the formidable Dolma La pass at 5,630m — where pilgrims leave offerings and cross a symbolic threshold of rebirth — and descends past the Lake of Compassion before returning to the trailhead at Darchen. The walking itself is moderate, but the extreme altitude makes this a serious undertaking that demands proper acclimatization. Best from May to early October. This is a guided private tour, priced per person, with full Tibet permit support. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and border-area regulations. Good to know: • Permits: foreigners CANNOT visit Tibet independently — a Tibet Travel Permit plus an Alien's Travel Permit and a border/military permit for the Ngari region are mandatory and arranged by us in advance; you must travel with the guide at all times • Documents needed: passport and Chinese visa scans required weeks ahead to process permits — book early • Best season: May to early October; the kora is closed/impassable in deep winter • Fitness level: moderate walking but at extreme altitude — you must be in good health • Altitude: the kora runs from about 4,600m to the Dolma La pass at 5,630m — full acclimatization in Tibet beforehand is essential and built into the wider trip • High-altitude warning: serious AMS risk above 5,000m — oxygen and a medical kit are carried; diamox strongly advised • Pilgrimage etiquette: walk clockwise (Buddhist/Hindu custom), respect prayer sites and pilgrims; follow your guide • This is a private, per-person, fully permitted tour
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Darchen to Dirapuk｜The Sacred North Face
The kora begins at Darchen (4,670m), the small pilgrim town at the foot of Mount Kailash. After a short drive or walk to the trailhead at Tarboche — where the great prayer-flag pole and Saga Dawa festival ground stand — we set off up the broad Lha Chu valley. Today is the gentlest day: roughly 20km over 6-7 hours with modest ascent to about 4,900m, walking alongside Tibetan pilgrims and yak trains beneath towering red cliffs. As the valley turns, the sheer 6,638m north face of Kailash reveals itself directly ahead, an unforgettable sight. We overnight at the Dirapuk guesthouse, set almost beneath the glaciers of the holy peak. Optional pack yaks can carry your bag. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
2
Day 2: Dirapuk to Zutulpuk over Dolma La｜The Great Pass
The hardest and most sacred day. We start very early for the climb to the Dolma La pass at 5,630m, the highest and most revered point of the entire pilgrimage — roughly 22km over 8-9 hours. The ascent is steep and the air dangerously thin; we move slowly and steadily past the Shiwatsal 'death and rebirth' site, where pilgrims leave clothing and offerings. At the prayer-flag-draped pass the views and the spiritual atmosphere are overwhelming. A knee-jarring descent follows toward the turquoise Lake of Compassion (Gauri Kund), then a long valley walk down the Dolma Chu to the Zutulpuk guesthouse at about 4,800m, beside Milarepa's meditation cave. An exhausting but profound day. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
3
Day 3: Zutulpuk to Darchen｜Completing the Circle
The final, easy stage of the kora. After visiting Milarepa's cave and its small monastery at Zutulpuk, we walk out down the narrowing Dolma Chu gorge, roughly 10km over 3-4 hours, gently descending past mani stone walls, prayer flags and grazing pilgrims' ponies. The valley opens onto the high Barkha plain and the trail returns us to Darchen, completing the sacred 52km circle around Mount Kailash — an achievement that, in pilgrim belief, cleanses the sins of a lifetime. We meet our vehicle at Darchen, share a celebratory lunch, and the kora portion of your journey concludes. Onward travel in Ngari (Lake Manasarovar, Guge ruins) or the return to Lhasa can be arranged. Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included.
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking Tibetan guide Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit & military/border permit arrangement Private vehicle & all transfers in Tibet Guesthouses along the kora (Darchen, Dirapuk, Zutulpuk) Yaks/porters available to carry gear (on request) Listed entrance and pilgrimage area fees Meals as specified (B/L/D on trekking days) First-aid kit and supplementary oxygen for emergencies
✕ Not included
International & domestic flights China visa Travel insurance (mandatory) Personal trekking gear and warm sleeping bag Tips & gratuities for guide and driver Meals not specified and personal expenses Single supplement Optional inner kora / extra activities
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.7★★★★★Based on 128 reviews
Tom W.🇫🇷 France★★★★★2026-06
For us, there are plenty of polished photos online; the useful surprise was having time at Mount Kailash without being moved along every five minutes.
Hugo P.🇧🇪 Belgium★★★★★2025-09
Practically speaking, the guide checked the pace before the steeper section rather than after someone fell behind. That made the trail feel supportive without becoming fussy. I would keep the Lhasa outline as it was.
Priya M.🇧🇷 Brazil★★★★☆2024-08
Expect uneven ground and a few sections where conversation stops because everyone is concentrating on their feet. The views near Mount Kailash repay the effort.
Pierre L.🇸🇪 Sweden★★★★★2025-07
Honestly, this wasn't a “see everything” tour, and that was a strength. The time around the trail felt specific to Lhasa, not interchangeable with another city.