Korala

Overview

Kora La is a serious high-altitude challenge: 12.9 km of sustained climbing at a 6.27% average gradient, earning it a Category 1 rating — the tier just below hors catégorie, the hardest classification of all. What makes this ascent stand apart is where it lives on the mountain. You start already at 3801 m and top out at 4607 m, a summit elevation where the thin air alone turns a moderate gradient into a genuinely punishing effort. The net elevation gain is 806 m, with 788 m of total ascent accumulated along the way. On paper the numbers look manageable; in the saddle, the altitude rewrites the math entirely.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.27% average is the honest headline, but averages hide the story. With a maximum gradient of 13.08% — more than double the average — the climb clearly stacks its difficulty into steeper pitches rather than holding one steady incline. That spread between 6.27% and 13.08% tells you to expect a rolling, uneven rhythm: stretches where you can settle into a sustainable cadence, broken by sharp ramps that force you out of your comfort zone. Over 12.9 km, those hardest kicks are where the effort compounds, especially as you push deeper toward the 4607 m summit and the air keeps thinning. Read the road ahead and save something for the pitches, because the steepest sections are where a good day unravels into a bad one.

Pacing Notes

Altitude is the wildcard here. At these elevations your sustainable power drops noticeably, so pace to feel, not to your sea-level numbers. Ride the first half well within yourself — the FTP you can hold at 4607 m is meaningfully lower than what you'd manage in the valley. If you don't know your baseline, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you travel, then mentally discount it for the thin air. The goal across all 12.9 km is a smooth, repeatable effort you can hold up to the 13.08% ramps without redlining. Blow up early on a climb like this and there's no recovering it at altitude.

Gearing

Gear for the steep pitches and the elevation, not the average. A 34-tooth inner ring is the sensible starting point up front. Pair it with at least a 34×32 low gear for most riders; if you climb at a lower cadence, run tired legs, or simply want insurance against the 13.08% maximum at 4607 m, step up to 34×34. The extra range costs you nothing on the shallower stretches and buys you a spinnable cadence exactly where the 806 m of climbing bites hardest. On a Category 1 climb at this altitude, err toward easier gearing — you will never regret having one more sprocket in reserve.

Summary

Kora La is a climb defined by its ceiling as much as its slope: 12.9 km at 6.27% is demanding on its own, but doing it between 3801 m and 4607 m makes it exceptional. Pace conservatively, gear generously, and respect the altitude, and this Category 1 ascent becomes one of the most memorable days in the saddle you can have.

Length: 12.9 km
Average gradient: 6.27%
Max gradient: 13.08%
Start: 3801 m
Summit: 4607 m
Net gain: 806 m
Total ascent: 788 m
Category: 1