The Kora follows a series of river valleys around the base of Kailas, leading from Darchen & the Plain of Barkha in the South. The valleys present generally easy walking, though do obscure much of the west and east faces of the peak. To the Northeast, the Drolma La (pass) at 5600m is both physically the most challenging, and spiritually the most significant point of the trek. The ground below the pass is steep and rocky, making good shoes or walking boots advisable.

Around the track are three monasteries offering accommodation rooms to official Indian Pilgrim groups. Space permitting they'll rent a bed to all comers. A more interesting but even less private option is to stay with one of the many nomad families living around the Kora, though their tents can be smoky, damp and flea-ridden! Finally, there's no shortage of camping space for anyone with a reasonable tent.

Timewise most organised groups following the Kora take three or four days, constrained in part by the leisurely pace of their pack animals. Two days (one short followed by one longer) is quite a manageable pace, but most pilgrims go around in a single (though long) day. Each morning in the summer, a large body of Tibetans leave Darchen around 3am, arriving back early evening. This kind of pressured pace would leave little time for side-journeys or photographs; though of course few pilgrims think of such earthly things!

The devout pilgrim will aim to perform an auspicious 3, 13 or 108 circambulations, the 108th of which is rumoured to lead to instant Nirvana! For the real die-hard (wish there was no pun intended), prostrations are the way to go! Gaining maximum merit, pilgrims bring their body into contact with the entire surface of the Kora - stretching themselves flat on the path with each pace taken, and pushing a stone along with their outstretched fingertips to mark the start of the next prostration. If interested, the 50km Kora takes around 25 days, and a yak hide 'apron' can be hired in Darchen to provide protection from the terrain!

Buddhists, Hindus and Jains follow the Kora in a clockwise direction, keeping the mountain to their right. Bön-po are instantly distinguishable as they follow the identical path, but in an anticlockwise direction!