Mount Kailash Sacred Kora (Pilgrimage Trek)

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