Has Anyone Climbed Mount Kailash? Why It Is Still Unclimbed

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday and third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586.

I get this question from almost every Kailash pilgrim before they book. I come from a family of Himalayan guides, and I will tell you straight: this is one mountain I would never want to climb. Here is what is actually known, and where the stories go beyond the facts.

Has anyone climbed Mount Kailash?

No summit has ever been recorded. Wikipedia lists the first ascent as "None (prohibited)" and says there has been no recorded successful ascent. The mountain is 6,638 m (21,778 ft), which is lower than many peaks that are climbed every year. Height is not what stops people. The ban and the faith around the mountain are.

Some early visitors did look at it as a climbing objective. The same Wikipedia article says Hugh Ruttledge visited in 1926 and thought it unclimbable, that a colleague, Colonel R. C. Wilson, reported an attempt that was stopped by heavy snow, and that the Austrian Herbert Tichy visited in 1936 hoping to climb it. None of these reached the top.

Why has no one climbed Mount Kailash?

There are three honest reasons, and the biggest is the first.

• It is sacred. For Hindus it is the home of Shiva. For Tibetan Buddhists it is Kang Rinpoche, the precious snow mountain. Jains hold that Rishabhadeva, their first Tirthankara, reached liberation here, and for Bön followers it is the seat of the sky goddess Sipaimen. Setting foot on its slopes is something none of these traditions would ask of anyone.
• It is prohibited. Chinese authorities state that climbing on Kailash is strictly forbidden.
• It is hard. It is a steep, remote peak in western Tibet and the old reports mention heavy snowfall. That said, I would not use difficulty as the main answer. Respect is the main answer.

Did Reinhold Messner turn down Kailash?

According to the sources I read, yes. Wikipedia says the Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner was given the opportunity by the Chinese government to climb the mountain in the mid-1980s, but he reportedly declined. He is quoted as saying that if we conquer this mountain, we conquer something in people's souls, and that they should go and climb something a little harder. I say "reportedly" because I have not seen a primary record of the offer, only what is published.

What happened with the Spanish team in 2001?

Accounts differ, so I will not pretend to be certain. In 2001 a Spanish team asked to climb Kailash. Wikipedia says permission was denied. Other travel and climbing sites say the team had received permission and withdrew after strong protest from religious communities around the world. All sources agree on the result: no climb took place, and the Chinese authorities said climbing on Kailash is strictly prohibited.

Can you climb Mount Kailash today?

No. You cannot climb it, and you should not walk up its slopes. What you can do is the kora, the walk around the base. Hindus, Buddhists and Jains walk it clockwise, and Bön followers walk it anticlockwise. On our itinerary the circuit is about 52 km over 3 days, and the highest point is the Dolma La pass at 5,630 m. I have written a full guide to Dolma La and one on the 3-day kora route.

Walking the kora is the thing that gets you closest to the mountain, and it is a very hard thing in its own right at that altitude. You will also visit Lake Manasarovar on the same journey.

Mount Kailash facts at a glance

Question	Answer
Height	6,638 m (21,778 ft)
Location	Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
First ascent	None recorded, climbing prohibited
Sacred to	Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bön followers
Kora (circuit) length	About 52 km, usually 3 days
Highest point of kora	Dolma La, 5,630 m
Reinhold Messner	Reportedly declined an offer to climb, mid-1980s
2001 Spanish team	No climb took place

Walk the kora with us

We are taking enquiries for 2027. Permits for Tibet are issued each year by the Chinese authorities, so I confirm dates once they open. For the current price, ask me on WhatsApp.

Two things to know early. The Chinese visa for this trip is a group visa, and any Chinese visa you already hold is cancelled when it is issued, so tell me before you apply for anything. I also cannot promise anything about quotas. Details are in this guide to the group visa and the permit guide.

The trips are the Kailash Mansarovar tour and the 14-day overland yatra.

Frequently asked questions

Has anyone ever reached the top of Mount Kailash?

There is no recorded successful ascent. Climbing is prohibited, so there is nothing to record.

Why can't you climb Mount Kailash?

It is sacred to four faiths and the Chinese government forbids climbing. Respect for the faiths is the real reason.

Is Mount Kailash too hard to climb?

It is steep and remote, and early visitors in the 1920s and 30s did not succeed. But at 6,638 m the height is not unusual. The prohibition is what matters.

Did Messner climb Kailash?

No. He reportedly declined an offer to climb it in the mid-1980s.

Can I walk around Mount Kailash?

Yes. The kora is about 52 km, usually 3 days, with Dolma La at 5,630 m as the high point. It is strenuous and you need a good level of fitness and time to acclimatise. See age and fitness requirements. Pilgrims over 70 are not accepted on the Chinese side.

Which religions consider Kailash sacred?

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the Bön tradition.

Can I visit Kailash from Nepal?

Yes, as part of a group tour with a Chinese group visa. Ask me for the current route and price.

Can a helicopter fly over Kailash?

Our helicopter tour is an option for people who cannot do the long drive, but the kora itself is on foot or by pony or yak. Ask me what is possible for 2027.

If you have questions about the pilgrimage, message me directly on WhatsApp +977 9810351300. I answer myself.