Kailash Kora — 16-Day Journey through Tibet

The journey to Kailash begins not with the walking route but with a measured entry into the region. After three days in Kathmandu the group flies to Lhasa, sees the Potala, the Jokhang and the monasteries, and takes a separate acclimatisation day. The road route then leads through Shigatse and Saga, gradually approaching the lakes Manasarovar and Rakshastal and the village of Darchen at the start of the kora.

That sequence is not only there for the cultural programme. Lhasa already stands at considerable altitude, and the road beyond it goes higher still. Days without sharp gains on foot allow you to judge your sleep, your appetite and your body’s response before the main crossing, but they do not rule out altitude sickness. Good athletic condition helps you carry the load, but it does not substitute for acclimatisation.

The kora takes three days. The first stage leads from Darchen to Dirapuk. The hardest day is the Drolma La, 5669 m, where altitude, wind, cold, possible snow or ice and a long descent all act at once. On the third day the group completes the circuit and returns to the road section of the route.

This is high-altitude trekking, not an ascent of Kailash itself. Crampons, ropes and an ice axe are not the standard basis of the programme unless the host team reports a change in conditions. The main requirements are endurance, a steady pace, suitable footwear and clothing, the ability to spend several days in simple lodges and discipline when anyone starts to feel unwell.

Kailash is a sacred place for followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and the Bon religion. Participants walk the route alongside pilgrims and observe local rules. The cultural meaning of the kora matters for understanding the journey, but Mountain Guide does not turn religious belief into a promise of purification, healing or a changed life.

The decision to continue rests with the guide, taking account of the weather, the state of the road and the trail, the pace and the health of participants. If symptoms increase, further gain in altitude stops. Insurance must cover high-altitude trekking to at least 5669 m, search and rescue and emergency evacuation.

Documents for China and Tibet are arranged under the rules in force with the host party. The passport, the route of entry and the dates cannot be changed once the permit procedure has begun without prior agreement.

Day 1. Arrival in Kathmandu.

You arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, a city that seems to join the past to the present. Bright colours, the scent of spices and the sound of prayer from ancient temples meet you, with the Himalaya above as a reminder that the journey is only beginning. After the flight you go to a hotel in the centre of Thamel, the historic and cultural heart of the city, where every corner is full of life: busy markets, the smiles of local people, quiet lanes of centuries-old houses. Today we walk the old streets of Kathmandu and take in its atmosphere. There is enough time to rest and gather strength after the flight. In the evening the group meets, gets acquainted with each other and with the guide, and has dinner. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. Sightseeing in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu opens up. The day begins with a visit to the Swayambhu stupa, which stands above the city like a spiritual beacon. We climb the 365 steps to meet the sunrise over the city, where red roofs merge into the horizon. The next stop is the Pashupatinath temple, one of the most sacred places in Hinduism, where the Bagmati river carries its waters past the sacred fires and ancient rituals are performed. We finish the sightseeing day in the Boudhanath district, where the stupa painted with the eyes of the Buddha seems to watch over the world. In the evening there is dinner at a traditional restaurant, where the group shares its expectations for the journey ahead. Night at the hotel.

Day 3. Preparation for the journey, and Patan.

The morning in Kathmandu begins with the noise of the bazaars. We go to the Thamel district, where Asia comes alive in sound, colour and scent, and where everything can be found, from bright woollen carpets to Tibetan pieces. For anyone already fully equipped, we offer an excursion to Patan, an open-air museum of a city. Among the ancient temples and carved wooden buildings you can feel like a traveller in time. The royal Durbar square in Patan reads like a living page from a book of legends, and a glimpse of the living goddess Kumari, if you are lucky, is a moment that stays with you. Night at the hotel.

Day 4. Flight to Lhasa.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and the flight to Lhasa, a gateway to another world. From the window you see the Himalaya standing guard over this sacred region. When the aircraft lands you are met by air carrying the scent of incense and the freshness of the mountains. Lhasa is not simply a city but the heart of Tibet. On the first day we go to the old Barkhor district. Narrow lanes, brightly coloured stalls and the ancient Jokhang temple make it feel like an old legend. Walking the kora, the ritual circuit of the temple, you become part of the flow of pilgrims who come here.

Day 5. The Potala and the monasteries of Lhasa.

Lhasa opens its greatest treasures. We go to the Potala, the palace that seems to float on the Red Hill. This residence of the Dalai Lamas, rising above the city, speaks of the spiritual strength and grandeur of Tibet; among the treasures, sacred relics and gilded statues, time seems to lose its meaning. We then visit the Drepung and Sera monasteries. At one of them you may see monks debating the sacred texts, an absorbing ritual full of energy and depth. The day closes with the Jokhang temple and its shrine, the jewelled statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. Night at the hotel.

Day 6. Acclimatisation day in Lhasa.

We begin the morning at the Ramoche temple, which holds a statue of Maitreya Buddha, a symbol of hope and of the future. We take part in the morning service, where the sound of mantras fills the space. After breakfast the day is your own: a walk through the Tibetan quarter, buying souvenirs, or resting in a tea house with a cup of masala tea. The day exists so that you can feel the rhythm of Lhasa properly. Night at the hotel.

Day 7. Drive to Shigatse.

We leave Lhasa for Shigatse, following winding roads along the Brahmaputra river. Snow peaks, wide plains and old Tibetan settlements pass by the windows. At Shigatse we visit the Tashilhunpo monastery, seat of the Panchen Lamas. Its centre is the Jampa temple, with a giant gilded statue of the Buddha of the future. Night at the hotel.

Day 8. Drive to Saga.

A day full of change. We drive to Saga, crossing high passes and desert valleys. The Sakya monastery is the main stop: its grey and red walls seem to merge into the mountains, and inside are some of the greatest relics of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is the centre of the Sakya school, which places its emphasis on philosophy, ritual and practice in ways that differ from other Tibetan schools, and which is known for its own tradition of writing and of transmitting knowledge. Night at the hotel.

Day 9. Lake Manasarovar and Darchen.

The morning continues the journey deeper into Tibet, towards the sacred lake Manasarovar. The road is a succession of landscapes: snow peaks, sand dunes, pastures with yaks and high plains. On the Mayum La, 5211 m, the air is cold and clear. Ahead lies the first sight of Mount Kailash, its white summit on the horizon. Our next stop is Lake Manasarovar, whose water reflects the surrounding peaks and which has been regarded since ancient times as an abode of the gods and a symbol of purity. We spend the night at a guest house in Darchen, the village at the foot of the sacred mountain. Night at the hotel.

Day 10. Lakes Rakshastal and Manasarovar.

The day is given to the sacred lakes of Tibet. First we go to Rakshastal, whose lifeless water sits beside Manasarovar, the lake of life. We then travel to Manasarovar itself, its emerald water ringed by the Himalaya. We visit the Chiu monastery, which stands above the cave of Padmasambhava, the great yogin. Later we drive back to Darchen to rest and prepare for the main undertaking, the kora around Kailash. Night at the hotel.

Day 11. First day of the kora — Dirapuk.

The kora around the sacred mountain begins. We leave Darchen on a trail that opens onto the Lha Chu valley. Along the way stand the great peaks named for deities: Amitayus, Chenrezig and Vajrapani. Our first objective is the Dirapuk monastery, from where there is the famous view of the north face of Kailash, known as the mirror. Night in a very simple but atmospheric lodge, where the plainness of the surroundings only emphasises the scale of the landscape. Night in a lodge.

Day 12. The Drolma La, 5669 m.

The main day of the kora. We set out for the Drolma La, the highest point of the route at 5669 m. Every step here is a genuine test. At the pass, prayer flags stand out in the wind, and pilgrims traditionally leave something behind to mark a break with the past. From the pass we descend into the valley below the north face of Kailash. The night is spent at the Zutulpuk monastery, built above the cave of Milarepa, the legendary yogin. Night at the monastery.

Day 13. End of the kora and drive to Saga.

The final stage of the kora returns to Darchen. This section is less demanding but still striking. We walk beside a loud river, through small gorges and across plains that open onto Gurla Mandhata, the peak that stands opposite Kailash. The return to Darchen marks the end of the circuit. After lunch we drive to Saga for the night, taking stock of the route behind us. Night in a lodge.

Day 14. Drive to Kyirong.

The drive from Saga to Kyirong, a village on the border with Nepal. This part of the route is a display of landscape: high plateaux give way to green valleys and the mountains grow lower. Kyirong meets us with the scent of pines and moist, fresh air. After a long stay above 4000 metres, breathing is easy here and the body begins to recover. The evening is quiet. Night at the hotel.

Day 15. Return to Kathmandu.

We cross the border and travel back to Kathmandu. The road runs through Himalayan gorges, over bridges above fast rivers, past rice fields and terraces worked by local farmers. Kathmandu meets us again with its noise, colour and scent, but now the city feels familiar. Night at the hotel.

Day 16. End of the programme.

The last day of the journey. There is a chance to walk the streets of Kathmandu once more, visit the souvenir shops and finish any shopping left over. In the evening you go to the airport, taking with you not only souvenirs but the memory of Kailash, the high passes, the ancient monasteries and the sacred lakes. Flight home.

• An experienced Mountain Guide leader, for groups of 4 participants or more
• Meeting and seeing off at the airport
• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu — 2 nights, 4-star
• Accommodation in lodges and hotels according to the programme
• A kit bag for personal belongings, provided by our team on arrival
• Arrangement of all the permit documentation required for the trek, including trekking permits and national park entries, where these are required by law or by local rules

• The international flight
• The domestic flight Kathmandu — Lhasa
• Visas
• Insurance covering mountaineering and helicopter evacuation
• Single-room accommodation
• Early check-in or late check-out at the hotel before or after the programme. We always try to arrange additional benefits for our guests with our partners, and early check-in or late check-out is often granted free of charge
• Meals on the trek, itemised in the written quotation
• A personal porter, at the rate confirmed in the written quotation for up to 20 kg, usually shared between two participants; the porter’s insurance is included in that rate
• Tips
• Any deviation from the programme
• Any costs arising from a change to the programme

Documents:

• International passport
• Airline tickets
• Medical insurance covering helicopter evacuation

Personal equipment:

• Backpack 30–50 liters
• Duffel bag for personal belongings (provided by our team on site)
• Sleeping bag with comfort temperature down to −20°C
• Sleeping pad
• Trekking poles with baskets at least 70 mm
• Steel crampons
• Ice axe with leash
• Climbing harness
• Helmet
• Carabiners – 4 pcs
• Safety lanyards
• Jumar (ascender)
• Belay / descender device
• Mug–spoon–bowl set

Clothing and footwear:

• Triple or double mountaineering boots. Double boots – plastic or leather
• Trekking boots, WELL treated in advance with waterproofing agent
• Sneakers (for city use)
• Waterproof membrane layer – jacket + pants
• Fleece suit
• Thermal underwear top + bottom
• Mid-weight down jacket with hood
• Warm mittens
• Thick gloves
• Thin gloves
• Bandana or buff (in addition to sun protection in the valley, can be used to protect the neck or face from frost)
• Hat
• Warm trekking socks for summit day
• Windproof face mask for the lower part of the face

Miscellaneous:

• Headlamp with battery life of at least 12 hours
• Power bank
• Sunglasses
• Ski goggles
• Rain cover / rain jacket
• Thermos – 1 liter (preferably without a push-button lid)
• Gaiters
• Sunscreen SPF 50
• Lip balm SPF 10–15
• Chemical hand warmers (optional, but can be very useful)
• Personal first-aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or support brace
• Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, flip-flops
• Towel
• Toilet paper (available for purchase in lodges along the route)