Easy-to-use Guide for Mt.Kailash Inner Kora

Snowcapped trekking circuit

Lhasa city is known as the roof of the world, while Ngari is named as the roof of the world roof. Throngs of sincere pilgrims and tourists at home and broad would gather together at Lhasa and pay a holy visit to Ngari every year. Here are two ways.

A map of Ngari Prefecture

Lhasa-Ngari Routes
Lhasa-Lhatse-Sansan-22Daoban: after driving about 240km, you would get to 22Daoban where the trail diverts into two directions and two routes come into view.
North Route(1760km)
Lhasa-Lhatse-Sansan-22Daoban-Coqen-Dongco-Gerze-Xungba-Ge'gyai-Shiquanhe-Darchen
South Route(1190km)
Route 1
Lhasa-Lhatse-Sansan-22Daoban-Saga-Zhongba-Payang-Darchen
As the section from Lhatse to Saga is still under maintenance, route 1 has kept closed in the daytime and only opened to public use at night(8pm~8am). Here comes route 2.
Route 2
Lhasa-Lhatse-Tingri-Gyirong-Saga-Zhongba-Baga-Darchen
We advise you to take the south route since the road condition is much easier and four days are enough for you to reach Darchen, while the north one would cost you six or seven days.

A map for trekking around Mt.Kailash

According to Buddhism’s doctrine, one circuit around Mt.Kailash would wash off all the sins in one’s life time. 108 rounds of circuits would bring enlightenment for them. Regardless of religion, trekking around Mt.Kailash would be an unforgettable traveling experience for you. There are two trekking circuits: outer kora and inner kora. The outer kora is named as the big loop/circuit centered on Mt.Kailash(Gangs Rinpoche, in Tibetan language). While the focus of the inner kora is Mt.Yinjietuo.

A sincere pilgrim is having a rest on the outer kora.

Compared with pilgrims who complete the 54-kilometer-long Mt.Kailash kora within one day, most Tibetan tourists usually trek along the outer circuit for two or three days. The big loop both begins and ends at Darchen. In the trekking, you would pass through Lha-chu valley, Lham-chu valley, and Dzong-chu valley. Hiking over Drolma La(5,630m), the highest point en route and catching a glimpse of Gaurikund Lake (Tuje Chempo Dzingbu) would be a once in a lifetime experience for you. Here you would spend one night in Dirapuk Monastery and another night in Zutulpuk Monastery.

The inner kora starts before sunrise.

As for the 30-kilometer-long inner circuit, you would start from the north of Darchen tracing back the river and turn left at the intersection. Then arrive at Selong Gompa and trek along the west of Mt.Yinjietuo till the foot of saint mountain where you can see the natural swastika formed by big ice cracks on the south face of Mt.Kailash and rock bed traces at the hillside. 

Having a closer look at natural swastika

Just right above the ice tongue, hundreds of thousands of prayer flags are fluttering in the wind. And the 13 golden chortens (over 5,800m) come into view, where relics of the former Gyangdrak administrators were enshrined. Here are many meditation caves too.  If possible, you can continue moving forwards along the slope and there is a 100-meter-high cliff in the end. You should be careful and do not try hard.

Gyangdrak gompa is the second landmark en route.

After the worship, you can trace down from the east face of Mt.Yinjietuo,go back to Selong Temple along the valley. The two glacier lakes en route is said to have black water in one and white in another. Move east towards the 5300-meter-high pass and then reach Gyangdrak Gompa which has been found in the early thirteenth century as the first monastery in Mt.Kailash region.After that, return to Darchen directly.

People trekking on inner kora would be much fewer.

One day is enough for the whole inner circuit. It’s said that only the pilgrims who have completed 13 rounds of outer circuits are qualified for the inner one. So compared with big loop, here are fewer people en route. But you can get a closer look at the Mt.Kailash and the scenery is definitely impressive. At the same time, you have better think twice before departure since hiking over the cliffs and passes to finish the inner loop is never easy. We Tibettravel with years of working experience would offer one-stop service and make a customized trekking trip for you.

Tips:
1.The best time to visit Ngari is May, June and early July to avoid rainy seasons and road closure.
2.Early mornings and nights can be quite chilly for the average altitude of Nagri is above 4,500m. Warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes are recommended to travel to Tibet.
3.Although you can replenish some supplies en route,the choices are very limited. In case you cannot get used to the Tibetan taste, you’d better bring one day’s foods like some chocolates, dry nuts and warm water.