Heart of Kawagarbo

The route

Heart of Kawagarbo

Kawagarbo, the 6,740 m heart of the Meili range, has never been summited, and it is now closed to climbing out of respect for its place in Tibetan belief. This route walks a high section of the pilgrim kora around it — not a summit attempt and not the full circuit, but three days on foot through forest, pasture and ridgeline facing the peak. It is our most remote route, with two nights camping and no road anywhere near the middle of it.

What makes this one different

A pilgrimage, not a summit. Kawagarbo is closed to climbing out of respect. Walking part of the kora means engaging with why — a very different experience from ticking off a peak.

Two nights camping under the range. A glamping camp at Nanzhu pasture, then a high camp at 4,350 m facing Kawagarbo — no road noise and no light pollution. This is the part people remember.

Genuinely remote. There is no road to the middle of this route. If something goes wrong, the plan is ours, not a rescue service's — which is why we run it only in the right months and with a strict group limit.

When this route runs

The kora has the narrowest window of our routes — high ridgelines and a 4,000 m+ camp mean snow closes it earlier and opens it later than Yubeng. Realistically late April to June and September to mid-November. We don't run it in winter.

Legend: Best = stable trails and the clearest views · Good = runnable with caveats · Not advised = we don't run it, or only on request after checking conditions.

Next departures

How we grade difficulty

We grade every route on a 1–3 scale for how hard the walking is. This trek is grade 3 — Challenging.

Altitude is listed separately. A gentle day can still reach 4,000 m, so we show it on its own rather than folding it into the grade. On this trek: highest point on foot 4,500 m, highest night 4,350 m (Benggeding camp). None of our routes involves technical climbing — on some you look up at snow peaks, you don't climb them.

What's included — and what isn't

Single-room supplement. Single-room supplement applies only to the three hotel nights: US$70 per person. During the two camping nights, single tents can be arranged for US$60 extra if you prefer not to share — tell us when you book.

Joining others or adding people. Yes. Solo hikers and pairs can join a scheduled departure, up to 6 hikers in all, and private departures for your own group run from 2 people. Travelling solo and want a room to yourself? The single-room supplement above applies. Because of the altitude we ask every hiker for a short fitness and altitude-history note before confirming, and we will tell you honestly if we think the route is wrong for you.

Good to know

• Grade 3 (Challenging). Short daily distances but steep climbs — about 1,200 m on day 3 — two nights camping at 3,400 m and 4,350 m, and a high point of 4,500 m on day 5. Altitude, not distance, is the difficulty here.
• You will feel the altitude. We carry oxygen and a satellite phone; the guide monitors the group every day.
• Camping: two-person tents, all camping gear provided except your sleeping bag (a -10°C bag is required — bring or rent).
• This route is weather-dependent. If the ridgeline is unsafe, your guide will substitute a lower circuit and tell you before the day begins, not after.
• Porters carry the group camping equipment; you carry a daypack.