Ultimate Guide for Kailash Trekking
Detailed Guide of Mount Kailash Trekking
Mount Kailash is considered to be sacred in four religions: Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The holy mountain is revered as the center of the world by the above religions. Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune.
This is the ultimate guide for you to trek around the Mount Kailash.
The trekking map and route
Darchen - 6KM - Jingfan Square - 3KM - Qugu Temple - 12KM - Zhire Temple - 8KM - Drolma La Pass - 16KM - Zutrupuk Temple - 6KM - Zongdui —4KM—Darchen
The Best Time to Travel to Mount Kailash
It’s said that visiting Mount Kailash in the Year of Horse can wash off the sins and accumulate merit. The merit you gain from making a kora around Mount Kailash in the Yearof Horse may equal that of 13 koras in other years. May to October are the best months to make a kora around Mount Kailash. But the temperature in April, May and October is still low, and the path of the kora is still covered with white snow. Those, coupled with the strong sunshine, can make the journey even harder and tourists be sunburned. Besides, the temperature difference between day and night is huge during these months. Therefore, it is advisable to walk the kora in Mt. Kailash in June to September. The most appropriate time is June and September. July and August is the rainy season in Tibet. But the rainfall in Ngari is much less than other areas in Tibet, therefore walking the kora in the two months is feasible.
How many days are needed to finish the Kailash Yatra?
Generally speaking, most people can complete the tour in two days. But due to different physical strength, there are different choices for walking the kora.
One-day itinerary: suitable for local trekkers who have made several kora before and a few hiking ace (15 - 18 hours) Departure at 5:00-6:00 in the morning;
Arriving at the Zhire Temple around 12:00 noon;
At about 4:00 pm, trekking to the highest point of Drolma La Mountain Pass;
Returning to Darchen around 22:00 before dark.
2-day itinerary: suitable for people without altitude sickness and are physically strong
Day1: Darchen - Zhire Temple (22 km, 6-10 hours)
Departure at 9:00 - 9:30 after breakfast;
About one-hour climbing up to the top of the hill, where is covered with the colorful prayer flags;
About 1 hour walking downhill, you can arrive at the celestial burial ground;
Along the Laqu River, it takes about 3-4 hours to Zhire Temple, where the holy mountain can be seen on the east side;
Stay the overnight at Zhire Temple.
Day2: Zhire Temple - Darchen (34 km, 9-14 hours)
Departing at around 8:00, the section is of a high slope and the most difficult;
After 3-4 hours, you can trek up to the Drolma La Mountain Pass, where you can see a sea of prayer flags;
After 1 hour, you can arrive at the tent to rest and have lunch;
After 2-3 hours downhill to the Zuchu Temple;
After 3-4 hours downhill back to Darchen.
3-Day Itinerary: suitable for ramblers who are not in a hurry or the seniors and children.
Day1: Darchen - Zhire Temple (22 km)
Day2: Zhire Temple - Zutrupuk Temple (22 km)
Day3: Zutrupuk Temple - Darchen (12 km)
What are needed for hiking Mount Kailash?
Packing list for a Kailash Trekking Tour:
Clothes
Two jackets with waterproof fabrics are needed.The weather in the high-altitude areas changes rapidly. It is also necessary to wear breathable waterproof walking pants. It is recommended not to wear fleece pants, cause during the day it may be too hot.
Food
You have to bring some dry food and instant noodles. High-calorie food like chocolate and biscuits are really helpful when you get hungry. Prepare 1 liter of water one day. The water in the rivers and streaks are not recommended to drink.
Sleeping bag
During the peak seasons, you’d better bring a tent in case that no bed available in the high seasons. On top of that, a sleeping bag is necessary, given the poor conditions of the accommodations.
The change of altitudes during the kora in Mt. Kailash
The elevation map of the kora in the Mount Kailash shows a pyramid shape. The starting point of Darchen is relatively low, about 4675 meters. Then the altitude gradually rises until reaching the highest point of the Drolma La Mountain Pass, 5660 meters above sea level. Then the altitude shows a gradual decline until it returns to the town of Darchen.
Why to walk the kora in Mt. Kailash?
It’s said that circulating the mountain for one circle can wash away the sins of the whole life; 10 circles can spare one the suffering to the hell; 100 circles can enable one rise to heaven. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long. Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day, which is not considered an easy task. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the entire trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four weeks of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen.
