Day01: Arrive LiJiang
Airport pickup and transfer to LiJiang DaYan Ancient Town
(boutique guesthouse in LiJiang old town)
Day02: LiJiang / LuGu Lake
After breakfast, transfer to LuGu Lake. The journey takes about 6hrs.
Overnight in LuGu Lake
(Mosuo guesthouse)
Day03: LuGu Lake / WaLaPian / Start trek to LiJiaZui (campsite1)
Right after moving off from WaLaPian village, you will start climbing uphill gradually for about 2hr. After this upslope, you descend slightly down for your lunch point, which is located on an open grass slope.
After lunch, the trail continues up to 3140m which is the highest point today, cutting through the pine forest, before you descend down to LiJiaZui Village.
LiJiaZui is a small village set in a valley surrounded with greenery.
The campsite is a further 45mins after LiJiaZui. This is a good spot for camping as it is located beside a stream, just before a gentle slope which you will trek up the next day.
Overnight at a grass patch by the stream
(camping tents)
Trekking distance: 13km
Est. trek time: 6-7hr
Day04: LiJiaZui / WuJiao village / YangPeng (campsite2)
You trek along the vehicular road after WuJiao village for 3hr before reaching the trailhead. Turn off from the road & follow the trail up the steep slope for about 2hr.
You will join the road again & follow the road gradually upslope for another 2hr before arriving at campsite 2.
Overnight near YangPeng
(camping tents)
Trekking distance: about 16km
Est. trek time: 6-7hr
Day05: YangPeng / DaKeGuDuo high-pass / No-Name Mountain (campsite3)
Today is a tough trek. After leaving the campsite near YangPeng, you climb steadily for 2hr up to the 1st high-pass at 4200m. From here, the terrain is relatively flat & open. You have to climb up another 100m to cross the 2nd pass at 4300m before descending back down to 4200m for your lunch point.
After lunch, it is another 2.5hr to the campsite near the base of No-Name mountain.
The trail is undulating & you will climb up from 4200m to a maximum of 4330m before reaching your campsite. You can see No-Name Mountain on your left.
Overnight near base No-name Mountain
(camping tents)
Trekking distance: about 14km
Est. trek time: 7-8hr
Day06: No-name Mountain / QiongYin village (campsite4)
The morning part of the trail is undulating. You descend from 4200m down to 4000m, & trek along the contour of the mountain back to 4240m in about 4hr.
Lunch point is at a nice open patio next to a wooden shed.
After lunch, it is a steep descend for about 3hrs, all the way down to 3100m. You will cross a wooden bridge as you enter the boundary of the village.
The campsite is located on a large open grass patch next to a stream.
Trekking distance: about 18km
Est. trek time: 7-8hr
Day07: QiongYin Village / LuDu village / TongTian River (campsite5)
Another tough day! First, you will have to ascend 800m up the BengGa Mountain high-pass at 3910m.
After this pass, it is a long descend to LuDu Tibetan village, & continuing downhill to TongTian River. Cross the big bridge where there is a split-junction & a mud road leading to MuLi. Total descend is 1700m. The campsite is at 2200m.
(camping tents or guesthouse)
Trekking distance: about 17km
Est. time: 8-9hr
Day08: TongTian River / DongLa village / Gold Mine / BaiShui River (campsite6)
A relatively easy trek today after yesterday’s tough walk. You will move gradually uphill on the vehicular road alongside TongTian River all the way to DongLa village, where there is a school & ruins of a few towers.
You should reach Gold Mine in about 6hrs after passing through the last village of DuLu. You can purchase some provisions from the settlement at Gold Mine, which essentially consists of some abandon buildings & ruins.
The campsite is beside the BaiShui River, near the small wooden bridge.
Alternatively, you may stay at the Tibetan house another 400m further down on the left bank of the river.
(camping tents)
Trekking distance: 18km
Est. time: 6-7hr
Day09: BaiShui River / GaLuo village / GaLuo ranch (campsite7)
Be prepared for probably the most difficult day of the entire trek!
From BaiShui River, it is an uphill climb all the way to the high-pass at 4400m. It takes about 6hr to reach this pass & you will get the first sight of the East face of the sacred Chanadorje Mountain of YaDing.
From here, you will trek another 3hr along the undulating trail before reaching the campsite at GaLuo ranch. You will be sleeping at 4500m. This is also the highest point you will sleep in the entire trip. Rest well; you will be crossing the final high-pass of Chanadorjie at 4940m the next day. The maximum altitude attained today is at 4580m.
Overnight at GaLuo ranch
(camping tents)
Trekking distance: about 15km
Est. time: 9-10hr
Day10: GaLuo Ranch / Chanadorje high-pass / ChongGu monastery
You will climb about 450m up to the Chanadorje high-pass. It takes about 2hr.
After the high-pass, it is all the way downhill along the right side of the mountain, following the contour.
Look out for the split junction after you trek for about 2-3hr. Take the left path which goes downhill further towards ChongDu Monastery.
Overnight in the monastery
(guesthouse/tents)
Trekking distance: 15km
Est. time: 7-8hr
Day11: YaDing / Milk Lake /5-colours Lake
Trek/horse-ride to see 5-colours Lake & Milk Lake, & the 3 sacred mountains
Overnight in LongLongBa (Tibetan home-stay)
Day12: YaDing / Pearl Lake / DaoCheng
Hike up to Pearl Lake behind ChongGu Monastery to see the reflections of Chenrizig sacred mountain.
Descend down to LongLongBa for early lunch. Depart LongLongBa, and transfer to DaoCheng. After so many days out in the wilderness, finally you are back to civilization today!!
(3-star hotel)
Overnight in DaoCheng (3-star hotel)
Day13: DaoCheng / Shangri-la
Detour to SangDui to visit BenBo Monastery, belongs to white-sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Continue with your long drive to Shangri-la YunNan
(3-star hotel)
Day14: Shangri-la / KunMing / Depart KunMing
Take the morning 50-minute flight back to KunMing. Connect to your flight back home.
Home Sweet Home! |
