Kailash Inner Kora Trek-15 Days

Reach the Top Level of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra by availing our full-length Inner Kora Tour Package. Whereas the Outer Kora (52km) is done by thousands at a time, a few who are physically fit and spiritually inclined take on the tougher Inner Kora (Nandi Parvat).

Such an itinerary also includes a "3+1" trek: you do the easier 3-day Outer Kora to get acclimatised, before attempting the strenuous Inner Kora afterwards. T

his is not just a walk but an introductory semi-technical alpine pilgrimage placing you right on the South Face of Mount Kailash, Saptarishi Caves and Atmalingam.

Note: This trip is for experienced climbers - steep climbing and roped scrambling throughout to an altitude of 5,800m.

Kailash Inner Kora Trek - Ultimate 5,860m Pilgrimage Overview

For a real pilgrim, one kora of Mount Kailash is a boon. But to circle both routes, the original Outer Kora and the more gruelling Inner Kora, is a life-defining act of pure faith. This 15-day total pilgrimage tour is for disciples who are drawn to walk in all sacred steps around the Holy mountain Kailash

Your spiritual journey starts in Lhasa, where you acclimatise and see ancient temples. Later, a scenic drive will take you to the sacred Lake Manasarovar for a purifying dip. The actual pilgrimage begins at the foot of the mountain in Darchen. From here, setting out for the renowned Outer Kora.

For three days, you will walk about 52 kilometres (about 32 miles) on a well-worn path with fellow pilgrims. You’ll traverse trails lined with prayer flags, visit monasteries like Dirapuk, and cross the high Dolma La Pass at 5,630 meters.

But your journey goes deeper. Once Outer Kora is done, our experienced guides will take you to an even more challenging part of Mount Kailash, the Inner Kora. This 2-3-day trek brings you nearer to the very faces.

The route is harder, steeper and far less travelled. You will hike on rocky ground and sleep under the stars in the vicinity of places with powerful energy, such as the base of the soaring south face. This section of the walk is meant for those who are interested in the most direct way of connecting oneself to Kailash.

We take care of all the difficult details for you: special Inner Kora permits, comfortable lodging, food and a support team complete with guides who know the trail as well as the customs. You can fully enter into your prayer and personal quest.

At Dream Tibet Travel, we are experts and work towards a safe and successful yatra. We offer experienced Nepali and Tibetans guides to take you up the steep Nandi parvat.  Call today for the best price guaranteed and get your permit in hand for the 2026 season.

Highlights

• Circuit trek 34km around the base of Mount Kailash.
• The crossing starts and comes back to Darchen
• Trek through challenging terrains of rock, snow, ice and crevasses in the Himalayas.
• Hikes on 5,600–5,860 m high peaks for acclimatisation and endurance.
• Exploring the more holy places such as Asthapath, Nandi Parvat, Atmalingam, Saptarishi Cave and Rakshas Lingam.
• Enjoy a personal "darshan" of Mount Kailash with face-to-face sights and chances to touch the base.
• Inner Kora is for inner transformation-spiritual evolution, a path of purification and merit.
• Main monasteries visited: Dirapuk, Zutulpuk and Selung on the inner Kora route.
• Chiu Monastery near Lake Manasarovar Visit.
• Visit to Lake Rakshastal, the second sacred lake after Manasarovar.

Who This Is For / Who Should Skip in 2026/27?

The Devoted Pilgrim

This pilgrimage is ideal for those who consider their faith to be centred around Mount Kailash. The Inner Kora introduces them to sacred sites such as Golden Chortens, Saptarishi Cave and Atmalingam. It is said that falling on a pilgrimage of this nature brings an uncommon blessing and rich spiritual reward.

The Extreme Altitude Trekker

Those who love to push their boundaries at altitude will find the Inner Kora rewarding. The route will reach an altitude of more than 5,800m and involves steep ascents and basic amenities. It combines physical difficulty with cultural immersion, and is perfect for those who’ve already got some trekking experience.

Who Should Skip?

Casual tourists, those trekking for the first time, or hikers with medical conditions, need not venture to the Inner Kora. The altitude is relentless, and the terrain, relentless itself. If you’re not prepared, the risk can be high.

Alternatives

The 52-km, three-day Outer Kora is the preferred option for pilgrims or trekkers who seek a memorable experience without the intensity. Others might favour a cultural trip to Lake Mansarovar or the Tibetan monasteries for some spiritual depth without the exertion.

A Day on the Inner Kora

By first light, strong, cold winds will blow across high, cold, high-altitude plateau land. The temperature at that height is currently well under the freezing point. Breathing will be extremely hard going up to the Golden Chortens - it is very difficult for a non experienced one to reach this high, only at around 5500 m (18,063 ft)  and legs become heavy on the climb because of the high altitude and also because of the strong wind chill. The chill may affect the fingers and toes despite wearing gloves.

There are times when the trekking teams recite mantras, bow down in front of the sacred stones and offer butter lamps at various intervals. The guides carry flasks of hot tea to keep themselves warm and provide tea for those who come across them. The teams help carry some of the prayers so that the pilgrims can remember to be connected with the holy sites located at that altitude.

By the time the trekkers reach Saptarishi Cave or Nandi Parvat in the early afternoon, there will be a sense of awe and peace, as well as the physical toll of fatigue. The fatigue levels increase during the descent because of the heavy walking. Trekking staff travel from camp to camp, checking on each trekker and assisting them with their descent back down from the mountain.

Kailash Inner Kora Trek Price 2026, and 2027

We are firm believers in transparent, fair pricing. The price of the Inner Kora is also higher than that standard tour due to specialised guides, expensive special permits to the region and emergency logistics.

Group Size Pricing Matrix is listed below. The bigger your group, the cheaper it is per person, as costs for transport and support crew are shared out.

Combination Includes: 15-Day Itinerary, Visa, Permits, All Transport, Meals, Accommodation & guide Support.

Why the price difference?

• Small Groups (2-4) - You get the private Land Cruiser and a personal team all to yourself. This is the ultimate in flexibility and individual attention.
• Family Reunions, Large Groups (21+): For the overland transportation, we can use luxury buses and make the kitchen crew “in proportion” to your group.

Note for 2027 Bookings

Because permit fee increases are expected, any 2027 reservations made after December 2026 can incur a hiked cost by around 5-8%. Lock in 2026 Inner Kora Trek price with a 10% deposit.

Special Permit For Inner Kora Trek

The biggest headache of the trip is acquiring the right travel papers for Mount Kailash. The special Inner Kora and Nandi Parvat pass is extremely difficult to get. It’s pretty hard to get your hands on these papers yourself as a foreigner because most Chinese and Tibetan offices control access.

This is the reason our service exists. We are your credited tour company and take care of all the paperwork for you. For all the necessary permits, we apply to various government offices, including the special one for the Inner Kora.

We provide you with a detailed schedule prior to your departure, and we send you certified copies of your permits prior to the start of your trip. We are fair: we guarantee you the trek, and we start your permits after confirming that they are available for your chosen dates.

The "13 Kora Rule" Policy: Tradition vs. Modern Reality

For centuries, an intense spiritual culture has followed the inner kora: that a devotee must first do 13 outer koras (circumambulations) to cleanse themselves before they are worthy of entering the sacrosanct Inner Sanctum (Nandi Parvat). This tradition was designed to purify a disciple’s karma and prepare his physical self for the rigours of the inner path:

We know that this tradition brings anxiety to many of our modern pilgrims. “Can I go?” you may ask yourself. Will I be stopped? Is it disrespectful?"

Respectful and Modern Policy

Traditionally, Outer Kora must be done 13 times prior to Inner Kora. For international pilgrims, it is legally 'the exception' with our licensed guides.

At Dream Tibet Travel, there is just one obligatory Outer Kora first that you must complete. This guarantees an important acclimatisation for your safety, which also respects the spiritual requirement of purification.

We take care of all special permits, because a sound heart and adequate preparation matter more than published volume. Welcome to the Inner Sanctum.

The Team That Guides Your Soul: Meet Your Guardians

We will not be sending simply a tour guide but a group of thematically specialised Tibetan experts to see that you are well guided, spiritually satisfied and physically safe.

Chime Tasi (Kailash Specialist)

Amdo-tibetan, Born & raised in the Amdo (north east) region of Tibet, Chime Tasi is more than a guide; he is a son of to land. Chime, A veteran of many Mt Kailash tours that he guided himself, is perhaps the most knowledgeable about Tibetan history and Buddhism of all of our guides.

His Role: He ensures you not only pass by the sacred sites, but also understand them. On reaching the Saptarishi Caves, Chime entertains you with stories of the sages who once lived at these caves. He’s the one who deals with permits, police checkpoints and local logistics in a way that only someone born and raised in Tibet can manage.

Dawa Sherpa

Our experienced Trekking Leader, Dawa can contribute the legendary power and mountaineering skills of his Sherpa people to your trip.

His Role: Dawa is in charge during the steep, icy walls of the Inner Kora. He is managing the fixed ropes, inspecting your harness and studying your foot placement. When the path becomes vertical near the Nandi Pass (5,800m), Dawa’s firm hand is there to lift you.

Sonam Tesi Sherpa 

Sonam Tesi, our Trekking Leader and  Head Cook, is a high-altitude nutritionist extraordinaire.

His Role: Whether it’s a piping hot garlic soup to heal you from altitude sickness or that packed energy lunch for the sharp bend of the pass, Sonam ensures you are fed and fit. He’s the head of the support team, and he’ll see to it that there’s a warm cup of tea waiting for you when, you are cold and exhausted.

• Most people send just one guide. We send a Team.
• Tibetan Guides help plug you into the Land.
• Sherpa Leaders (such as Dawa & Sonam) link you to the Mountain.
• With Dream Tibet Travel, it is simply the best of both worlds.

Inner Kailash Kora vs. Kailash Outer Kora

To see which of the pilgrimages is best for you relative to your place of spiritual maturity, look at these factors:

Choose the Outer Kora if you are:

• A pilgrim who had not seen Mount Kailash.
• In general good health and moderate trekking fitness.
• Pursuing the full, age-old blessing that removes this life's sins.
• Happy to rough it a little bit with simple teahouse lodging and long established route.

Go for Inner Kora if you are:

• An experienced high-altitude trekker who has already done the Outer Kora.
• In great shape, ready for technical and challenging ground.
• A spiritually committed person sensing a direct need for the strongest spiritual union and karmic detox.
• Ready for full-on expedition-style trekking with camping and self-reliance.

Kailash Inner Trek Spiritual Preparation in 2026/27

The pilgrimage itself is a sacred (yatri) undertaking.

Always keep the mountain on your right (Pradakshina). Keep up your chant with mantras "Om Namah Shivaya" for Hindus, "Om Mani Padme Hum" for Buddhists. Start the day with an unspoken prayer for intention (sankalpa).

Key Site Rituals:

• Beginning (Yamdwar): Rice/flowers; 1st prayer flag.
• Nandi Parvat: Water, milk or rice offerings and pradakshina if possible.
• Saptarishi Cave: Meditate in silence; thank teachers and ancestors.
• Atmalingam: Pray deeply within your heart with awe and respect.
• Gauri Kund (Bathing place of Gauri): A statue of goddess Parvati is established here, and the holy place is referred to as "Gauri Kund".

Create a small souvenir kit, which includes grains, prayer beads (mala), new flags and tilak material.

Do maintain Respectful, Prayerful Silence. Ask permission before taking people's pictures. Follow your guide's instructions. 

Key Spiritual Highlights of the Inner Kora

Asthapad: The Seat of Meditation

Asthapad is not just a place of beauty, but also a place of worship in all religion as a hallowed area for tranquillity and reflection.

Pilgrims gather here not only to look at the imposing north face of Kailash but also to take in its silent energy.

It is also the classic meditation spot, where you feel the mountain’s presence at its most intense and get a taste of shanti (peace) and fierce darshan before making your push-inner circuit.

Nandi Parvat

The Inner Kora includes a 'circumambulation' of Nandi Peak. This smaller mountain is historically regarded as Nandi, the bull of Lord Shiva. The circumambulation around Nandi provides many spiritual benefits.

During the circumambulation, pilgrims walk completely around the Nandi Peak and gain uninterrupted views of the south face of Mount Kailash, the mountain that the Nandi Peak protects. Through this experience, pilgrims honour Shiva's greatest devotee while concentrating on the same mountain that he guards. This reflection deepens their dedication and devotion to Shiva.

Saptarishi Cave

Saptarishi Cave is an important place for anyone who is seeking spiritual growth and knowledge in their life. According to Legend, this cave was the location where seven sages meditated before the time of Jesus. This cave serves as a space for people to come together in meditation, prayer, and contemplation of who they truly are; it offers people an opportunity to connect with their own spiritual self and those who have walked the path before them in this location.

Saptarishi Cave serves as an excellent site to meditate prior to completing the climb to Mount Kailash; people have an opportunity to be inspired by the teachings of those who have come before them, and learn from the experiences of others in their journeys through life.

Atmalingam & Charan Sparsh

Seeing Mount Kailash face-to-face is important during the Inner Kora. At the Atmalingam, there is an ice wall that pilgrims will pay respect to and consider sacred, representing Lord Shiva.

The end of the journey is Charan Sparsh, meaning "to touch feet," where one touches a piece of holy rock from Mount Kailash. Just touching the rock provides the highest blessing possible and cleans away one's sins and fulfils the purpose of a long journey.

This act of humility and connection represents the completion of the sacred trek.