Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred destinations for pilgrims and trekkers alike, revered by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon practitioners. Among its numerous spiritual practices, Mount Kailash Kora, a pilgrimage circumambulation around the mountain, holds profound significance.

In 2026, the Kora will take place during the Tibetan Year of the Horse, an even more auspicious time for this holy journey. The following guide will help you plan for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering different tour options and essential preparation tips.

What is the Year of the Horse in Tibet?

The Tibetan calendar follows a 12-year zodiac cycle, with each year represented by an animal. Each year begins on Losar, Tibetan New Year, and each animal carries a unique symbolic significance. The zodiac is thought to influence the personal qualities of people based on the year they are born. It is sometimes used to judge romantic compatibility, determine career paths, and predict fortunes. The last year of the horse was in 2014, and it will occur again in 2026.

Local Tibetans attach great importance to Kailash Kora in the Year of the Horse.

Why take a Mount Kailash Kora in Year of Horse?

The once-in-every-twelve-year of undertaking a Mount Kailash yatra in the year of the horse is considered equivalent to performing thirteen koras in a regular year. This heightened spiritual merit offers pilgrims an extraordinary opportunity for purification and accumulation of karmic merit, aligning their journey with deeper, sacred energies and blessings.

Various traditions give rise to the spiritual importance of this time. Most significant, in Tibetan tradition, this year marks the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha. Moreover, a famous battle of wits between the Buddhist saint Milarepa and Naro Boncham, a follower of the Bon religion, also took place during the year of the horse. The two settled their competition by seeing who could reach the summit first. Milarepa is said to have won, riding on the rays of the sun to the top of the mountain.

All these connections enhance the spiritual significance of completing a Kailash Kora in the Year of the Horse, making the year of horse especially sacred for undertaking the pilgrimage.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Most Popular Lhasa to Mount Kailash Tour in 15 Days

The most popular Mount Kailash tour from Lhasa takes 15 days. It's the perfect amount of time for an unhurried journey across the Tibetan Plateau, capped up with the pilgrim and trekker's dream circuit around the holy mountain.

Lhasa is the starting point. The time spent acclimatizing is not wasted with tours of iconic landmarks like Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. The experience of Lhasa isn't all rooted in history. You will spend some time soaking up local culture on Barkhor Street and relax with locals in a Tibetan tea house.

Visit the Potala Palace, the starting point of your 15-day sacred adventure to Mount Kailash.

Then, you’ll enjoy an overland journey via the G318 National Highway to Shigatse. After crossing over Gampala Pass (4,790m), you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake. Keep your journey to Shigatse and stay overnight before going to Everest Base Camp. Then, you will head to Everest Base Camp to get a close view of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

Visit Everest Base Camp and enjoy the majestic views on the way from Lhasa to Mount Kailash.

It takes two days to cross through Saga, with incredible sights like Mt. Shishabangma (8,027m), Gongzhuzuo Lake, and herds of grazing animals in the vast grasslands. The sight of Lake Manasarovar announces the approach to Darchen, where you'll stop overnight before embarking on the Kora.

The typical Mount Kailash trek takes three days. Each night, you will stop at a guesthouse of a local monastery. At the peak of the trek, you'll be at 5,630 meters and will see all the faces of the mountain on the journey.

Before starting back for Lhasa, visiting Lake Manasarovar is a must. It is a great place for meditation, and there are hot springs nearby where you can relax.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Epic Tibet Nepal Overland Journey with Kailash Kora in 13 Days

If you plan to travel from Lhasa to Kathmandu and are interested in Mount Kailash Kora, you can complete the journey in 13 days. Starting from Lhasa, you can travel across the plateau to Mt. Kailash and return through Gyirong to Kathmandu. Visiting two of the great Himalayan regions is a chance to explore more of the unique cultures that have developed in the shadows of the mountains.

The first sections of the tour are the classic Lhasa tour, followed by the journey to Shigatse and EBC. Be ready for the incredible sight of the five highest peaks of the Himalayas lined up in the amazing panorama seen from Gawula Pass (5,198m).

13 Days Lhasa Mount Kailash and Kathmandu Tour Map

After one night stay at the Everest Base Camp, you will drive to Darchen via Saga and complete the Kailash Kora in 3 days.

The return from Mt. Kailash goes through Saga but then diverts south through the Gyirong Valley. On the descent, you'll watch as harsh mountain terrain slowly transforms into lush forests and deep canyons. It has been called the most beautiful valley in the world and is a tranquil setting of peaceful Sherpa villages.

Our Nepali staff will meet you at the border in Nepal. The route to Kathmandu travels through the southern foothills of the Himalayas with peaks such as Gaurishankar Himal (7,134m), Ganesh Himal (7422m), and Annapurna Range's Annapurna III (7,555m).

13 Days to the Sacred Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar: Most Classic Small Group Tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD2069 p.p

Most Essential Kathmandu to Mount Kailash Tour in 10 Days

For most pilgrims traveling from Kathmandu, a 10-day round trip to Mount Kailash is the best choice. From Kathmandu, the drive to the Gyirong Border passes through beautiful landscapes of forests stretching to clouds running up the southern Himalayas.

Saga is only a 250km drive from Gyirong, and the tour sets out after an overnight stay to acclimatize. Mt. Shishapangma and the picturesque Lake Peiku are highlights of the journey to Saga County. Then, enter the vast grasslands of Ngari Prefecture and stay overnight near Lake Manasarovar.

Take the essential Mount Kailash Tour from Kathmandu

The 3-day Kora around Mt. Kailsh is full of unforgettable moments. There are the sacred stupas in sight of the western slope and the stunning sunrise over the northwest slope. Pilgrims believe each step is a way of accumulating merit and brings them closer to enlightenment.

After completing the Kailash Kora, you will typically return to Kathmandu by following the same route. This is the shortest and most essential travel route to Mount Kailash.

10 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Tour from Kathmandu, via Gyirong Port

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Gyirong - Saga - Mt.Kailash - Lake Manasarovar - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD1749 p.p

Can I book a Mount Kailash Tour in the Year of Horse now? Absolutely!

It is never too early to book a Mount Kailash tour. Spots fill up quickly, and 2026 will be the most popular year for the Kailash Kora in over a decade. Booking early will ensure you can join a tour at the best time of year.

Travel permits take some time to arrange, applying ahead of time is the best way for all arrangements to go smoothly. Accommodations in Mount Kailash are also limited along the Kora route. Making early reservations after securing all the permits will help you get the best spots.

Definitely book now if you want to visit Mount Kailash during the Saga Dawa Festival on May 31, 2026. Saga Dawa is the most important religious festival in western Tibet and always attracts many pilgrims. In the year of the horse, it will be an even livelier time, with religious ceremonies and activities taking place. Travel at this special time for a deeper immersive experience in the local culture.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Conclusion

The Year of the Horse in 2026 offers a unique and spiritually significant opportunity to undertake the Mount Kailash Kora. Whether you choose a comprehensive 15-day tour from Lhasa, an adventurous 13-day overland journey through Tibet and Nepal, or a compact 10-day Mount Kailash tour from Kathmandu, you can expect a deeply transformative experience. With early preparation and planning with us, this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage will resonates on both spiritual and personal levels for years to come.