Why this trip
You cannot do this trip on your own, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something that will get you turned around at the checkpoint. Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit, a licensed guide and a fixed itinerary, which is why the kora is sold as part of a 13–15 day programme rather than a standalone trek. What you get for that is a genuine pilgrimage: Tibetans walking the same 52 km circuit, prostrating on the pass, and a mountain that no one has ever climbed.
Highlights
- The full 52 km kora, crossing the Drölma La at 5,648 m
- Walking alongside Tibetan pilgrims, many of them doing full-body prostrations
- Lake Manasarovar, the highest large freshwater lake in the world
- Everest or Shishapangma en route, depending on the routing
- A legally issued Tibet permit handled end-to-end by the operator
The shape of the trip
An indicative outline. The operator sets the exact daily routing for each batch, and we send it to you in writing before you pay.
- Days 1–4
Arrive Lhasa, permit processing, acclimatisation at 3,650 m. Do not skip this.
- Days 5–9
Drive west across the plateau toward Ngari, with acclimatisation stops and Manasarovar.
- Days 10–12
Three-day kora: Darchen to Dirapuk, over the Drölma La, out to Darchen.
- Days 13–15
Return drive and flight out. Schedule varies by batch — confirm final routing in writing.
What's included
Included
- Tibet Travel Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit processing
- Licensed Tibetan guide and driver
- All ground transport in Tibet
- Guesthouse accommodation on the plateau
- All meals outside Lhasa
- Yaks or porters on the kora for group gear
Not included
- China visa and Tibet entry formalities requiring your documents
- Flights to and from Lhasa
- Travel insurance including 5,600 m cover
- Tips
- Lhasa hotel
Before you book
This trip is listed ahead of the 2027 season opening. The following are set by the operator and confirmed in writing at booking, not in advance:
- Exact departure dates for the 2027 season
- Final per-person price for your chosen batch
- Group size and guide ratio for your dates
Every trip we sell requires travel insurance that covers trekking and reaches your maximum altitude (5,648 m (Drölma La)). A standard city policy will not cover an evacuation from this height. Send us the certificate before departure.
Who runs it
Leon Tibet Travel
Tibet-licensed operator. Permit applications are submitted on a fixed calendar — late documents can mean a missed batch with no refund from the authorities. Departure dates for 2026 are to be confirmed.
Batch reference: 2027 season — dates to be confirmed
