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10 Days Minya Gonka Trekking Tour
Tour Type: Sichuan Tours
Duration: 10 days
Cost : Inquire Now
We offers a trekking expedition into eastern Tibet's Da Xue ('Big Snow') mountains, which are dominated by the 24,179-foot Minya Konka. This region of eastern Tibet, now a part of Sichuan province, is known to Tibetans as Kham. The accessibility of these mountains, coupled with their location deep in the heart of Tibet, makes this expedition a unique opportunity for trekking in a pristine area that is rich in Tibetan culture.
As in any physical endeavor, fitness is the most essential ingredient for success. That said, no previous Himalayan trekking experience is needed to take part in our Tibetan trips. In general, a love of mountains and hiking is all that is required. One should be physically fit, meaning that one should be capable of walking a full day with a day pack. If you have any questions about your qualifications or abilities, those questions can be readily answered through a phone conversation with one of our guides.
As in any physical endeavor, fitness is the most essential ingredient for success. That said, no previous Himalayan trekking experience is needed to take part in our Tibetan trips. In general, a love of mountains and hiking is all that is required. One should be physically fit, meaning that one should be capable of walking a full day with a day pack. If you have any questions about your qualifications or abilities, those questions can be readily answered through a phone conversation with one of our guides.
Option 1: Kangding – Laoyulin – Riwuqie – Moxi - Mt. Gongga - Shangmuju – Kangding - Chengdu
ITINERARY
Day 01 Chengdu/Kangding/Laoyulin Village, guest house
About 6 to 7 driving hours, from Chengdu to Kangding via Ya’an, then head for Laoyulin Village.
Day 02 Laoyulin Village (3600M) to Dacaoba(3500M), camping
Start to trek and acclimate to the climate and the altitude; Climb up along Riwuqie Valley, you can see the jungles and valleys; we will arrive at Dacaoba camp after climb over a knoll (5-hour trekking).
Day 03 Dacaoba(3500M)/Shangriwuqie (3800M), camping
Continue climbing up along Riwuqie Valley. The slope will be gentler one hour after departure. We can see the jungles, grassland and Single-plank Bridge. We can also meet the herdsman between times. After a 6-7 hours trekking, we can camp on a 90 square meters open ground.
Day 04 Shangriwuqie(3800M)/Mountain Pass of Riwuqie(4800M)/Moxi Valley(3900M), camping
Today will be a tough day. We need to go through the pass of Riwuqie. It is about 3 hours trekking from Shangriwuqie to Yakou. There is only a 5 square meters open ground at the pass and there are Mani Grounds and streamers at Yakou. We will camp at the foot of Mt. Leduomanyin; The whole day’s trekking time is 6-7 hours.
Day 05 Up-Moxi Valley(3950M)/Down-Moxi Valley(3800M), camping
A whole day trekking in Moxi Valley. We may meet some nomad in the valley. There are alluvial lakes, creeks, grasslands, bushes and primeval forests. The total trekking hour is 6-7 hour. It is a downhill way.
Day 06 Down-Moxi Valley (3800M/Konka Temple (3740M), camping
Trekking from Moxi Valley to Konka Temple passing woods and grasslands. Today’s trekking is continuous uphill and downhill among a lot of knolls. About 5-6 hours’ trekking.
Day 07 Konka Temple(3740M)/ Shangmeici Village(3480M), camping
Free time in the morning. If the weather permits, we can see the highest peak in the morning. We can see the highest peak by taking the northwest path and go back to Konka Temple before noon. We can also try to go head to the base camp. 2 hours trekking to Shangmeici Village in the afternoon.
Day 08 Shangmeici Village(3480M)/ Shangmuju Village(3700M),camping
4 hours’ trekking from Shangmeici Village to the pass of Zimeishang. We can see the whole Moxi Valley and the snow peaks near the pass of Rewuqie at Yakou. After crossing over Cimeishanyakou, we will go downhill along the river and then arrive at Shangmuju Village. 7-8 hours’s trekking. The trekking part ends here.
Day 09 Shangmuju Village(3700M)/ Kangding, hotel
We will pass Xindu Bridge, which is regarded as heaven of photography. Stay overnight at Kangding. 4-5hours driving.
Day 10 Kangding/Chengdu
Back to Chengdu.
About 6 to 7 driving hours, from Chengdu to Kangding via Ya’an, then head for Laoyulin Village.
Day 02 Laoyulin Village (3600M) to Dacaoba(3500M), camping
Start to trek and acclimate to the climate and the altitude; Climb up along Riwuqie Valley, you can see the jungles and valleys; we will arrive at Dacaoba camp after climb over a knoll (5-hour trekking).
Day 03 Dacaoba(3500M)/Shangriwuqie (3800M), camping
Continue climbing up along Riwuqie Valley. The slope will be gentler one hour after departure. We can see the jungles, grassland and Single-plank Bridge. We can also meet the herdsman between times. After a 6-7 hours trekking, we can camp on a 90 square meters open ground.
Day 04 Shangriwuqie(3800M)/Mountain Pass of Riwuqie(4800M)/Moxi Valley(3900M), camping
Today will be a tough day. We need to go through the pass of Riwuqie. It is about 3 hours trekking from Shangriwuqie to Yakou. There is only a 5 square meters open ground at the pass and there are Mani Grounds and streamers at Yakou. We will camp at the foot of Mt. Leduomanyin; The whole day’s trekking time is 6-7 hours.
Day 05 Up-Moxi Valley(3950M)/Down-Moxi Valley(3800M), camping
A whole day trekking in Moxi Valley. We may meet some nomad in the valley. There are alluvial lakes, creeks, grasslands, bushes and primeval forests. The total trekking hour is 6-7 hour. It is a downhill way.
Day 06 Down-Moxi Valley (3800M/Konka Temple (3740M), camping
Trekking from Moxi Valley to Konka Temple passing woods and grasslands. Today’s trekking is continuous uphill and downhill among a lot of knolls. About 5-6 hours’ trekking.
Day 07 Konka Temple(3740M)/ Shangmeici Village(3480M), camping
Free time in the morning. If the weather permits, we can see the highest peak in the morning. We can see the highest peak by taking the northwest path and go back to Konka Temple before noon. We can also try to go head to the base camp. 2 hours trekking to Shangmeici Village in the afternoon.
Day 08 Shangmeici Village(3480M)/ Shangmuju Village(3700M),camping
4 hours’ trekking from Shangmeici Village to the pass of Zimeishang. We can see the whole Moxi Valley and the snow peaks near the pass of Rewuqie at Yakou. After crossing over Cimeishanyakou, we will go downhill along the river and then arrive at Shangmuju Village. 7-8 hours’s trekking. The trekking part ends here.
Day 09 Shangmuju Village(3700M)/ Kangding, hotel
We will pass Xindu Bridge, which is regarded as heaven of photography. Stay overnight at Kangding. 4-5hours driving.
Day 10 Kangding/Chengdu
Back to Chengdu.
Option 2: Kangding – Tagong – Yulongxi - Mt. Gongga - Bawang Lake - Chengdu
ITINERARY
Day 01 Drive Chengdu to Kangding [Alt. 2,765m] (6 hours driving)
Day 02 Tagong, rest for acclimatization [Alt. 3,700m]
Day 03 Tagong – Yulongxi. Short walk above Yulongxi [Alt. 4000m]
Day 04 Yulongxi – Moxigou [Alt. 4000m]
Day 05 Moxi Gorge – Gongga Monastery
Day 06 Gongga monastery ----Gongga base camp
Day 07 Gongga base camp ----back to Gongga monastery
Day 08 Gongga Monastery – Bawang Lake
Day 09 Bawang Lake – Caoke (hot springs, civilisation)
Day 10 Caoke – Chengdu
Day 01 Drive Chengdu to Kangding [Alt. 2,765m] (6 hours driving)
Day 02 Tagong, rest for acclimatization [Alt. 3,700m]
Day 03 Tagong – Yulongxi. Short walk above Yulongxi [Alt. 4000m]
Day 04 Yulongxi – Moxigou [Alt. 4000m]
Day 05 Moxi Gorge – Gongga Monastery
Day 06 Gongga monastery ----Gongga base camp
Day 07 Gongga base camp ----back to Gongga monastery
Day 08 Gongga Monastery – Bawang Lake
Day 09 Bawang Lake – Caoke (hot springs, civilisation)
Day 10 Caoke – Chengdu
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 Drive Chengdu to Kangding [Alt. 2,765m] (6 hours driving)
There’s now a good road from Chengdu to Kangding which in good weather can be travelled in just six hours. A far cry from just a few years ago when trips routinely took over a day. We break in Luding for a quick typical Sichuan lunch. Kangding itself is a fair sized town and, although traditionally a trading post on the border of Tibet and Han cultures is now pretty sinicized compared with later days on our trip. The town is in the base of a steep sided valley on the Zheduo river with an altitude of around 2700m. Surrounded by hills it features the world’s second highest commercial airport a short drive away from the town proper at 4280m.
2700m ASL, hostles, breakfast, lunch, dinner
There’s now a good road from Chengdu to Kangding which in good weather can be travelled in just six hours. A far cry from just a few years ago when trips routinely took over a day. We break in Luding for a quick typical Sichuan lunch. Kangding itself is a fair sized town and, although traditionally a trading post on the border of Tibet and Han cultures is now pretty sinicized compared with later days on our trip. The town is in the base of a steep sided valley on the Zheduo river with an altitude of around 2700m. Surrounded by hills it features the world’s second highest commercial airport a short drive away from the town proper at 4280m.
2700m ASL, hostles, breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 02: Tagong
After breakfast we Leaving Kangding and over the Zheduoshan Road Pass to Tagong; the site of a number of Buddhist temples. Ambling around the town and temples helps with acclimatization to the altitude.
3700m ASL, hostle, breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast we Leaving Kangding and over the Zheduoshan Road Pass to Tagong; the site of a number of Buddhist temples. Ambling around the town and temples helps with acclimatization to the altitude.
3700m ASL, hostle, breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 03 Tagong – Yulongxi. Short walk above Yulongxi
Yulongxi village at around 4000m is about as far as it’s possible to get by road and is generally considered pretty remote. Our hosts have limited power and no telephone line or mobile coverage. We’ll stay in a local Tibetan home with time for an hour or two’s walk before dark.
4000m ASL, home stay, breakfast, lunch, dinner
Yulongxi village at around 4000m is about as far as it’s possible to get by road and is generally considered pretty remote. Our hosts have limited power and no telephone line or mobile coverage. We’ll stay in a local Tibetan home with time for an hour or two’s walk before dark.
4000m ASL, home stay, breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 04 Yulongxi – Moxigou
The morning brings a start to our trekking proper with a slow ascent to the Yulongxi pass at 4602m. After crossing this pass we descend the valley and spend the night at a yak ranch in Moxigou at an altitude of a little under 4000m.
4000m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
The morning brings a start to our trekking proper with a slow ascent to the Yulongxi pass at 4602m. After crossing this pass we descend the valley and spend the night at a yak ranch in Moxigou at an altitude of a little under 4000m.
4000m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
Day 05 Moxi Gorge – Gongga Monastery
Gongga monastery at 3700m is traditionally the base of climbing expeditions in the area, although a camp a few hours walk up the valley actually makes a lot more sense for those wishing to extend the trip with climbing. The monastery usually has some basic accommodation available outside of times of religious festival, otherwise we are able to camp outside.
3700m ASL, camping/monastery, breakfast, dinner
Gongga monastery at 3700m is traditionally the base of climbing expeditions in the area, although a camp a few hours walk up the valley actually makes a lot more sense for those wishing to extend the trip with climbing. The monastery usually has some basic accommodation available outside of times of religious festival, otherwise we are able to camp outside.
3700m ASL, camping/monastery, breakfast, dinner
Day06 Gongga monastery ----Gongga base camp
Uphill trek 5 hours to the base camp of Minya Konka and If we are luck we can see the big glaciers.
4300m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
Uphill trek 5 hours to the base camp of Minya Konka and If we are luck we can see the big glaciers.
4300m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
Day07 Gongga base camp ----back to Gongga monastery
3700m ASL, camping/monasteryl, breakfast, dinner
3700m ASL, camping/monasteryl, breakfast, dinner
Day 08 Gongga Monastery – Bawang Lake
From the Gongga monastery we’ll head back down via Zimei village then East to Bawang Lake where we camp for the night.
3200m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
From the Gongga monastery we’ll head back down via Zimei village then East to Bawang Lake where we camp for the night.
3200m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner
Day 09 Bawang Lake – Caoke (hot springs, civilization)
From Bawang lake and then to the road-head at Caoke. A reasonable hotel with hot springs lets us relax in the evening.
1800m ASL, twin share hotel, hot spring, breakfast, dinner
From Bawang lake and then to the road-head at Caoke. A reasonable hotel with hot springs lets us relax in the evening.
1800m ASL, twin share hotel, hot spring, breakfast, dinner
Day 10 Caoke – Chengdu
An late start returns us to Chengdu by mostly good roads breaking for lunch in an ancient restaurant in Tianquan then a final group meal in Chengdu.
500m ASL, , breakfast, lunch
An late start returns us to Chengdu by mostly good roads breaking for lunch in an ancient restaurant in Tianquan then a final group meal in Chengdu.
500m ASL, , breakfast, lunch