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[4WD Expedition to Gyarong and Kham] Day
01/Jul 26 Home/Chengdu(600M/ASL) (D) Arrive at Chengdu in afternoon, transfer to hotel. Evening program, starting on 19:00 to 21:00, is a combination of local snack taste, tea ceremony and opera. Over night at California Garden Hotel*** The German geographer Von Richthofen found Chengdu in 1870...among the largest cities in China, and of all the finest and most refined. All tea houses, inns, shops, private dwellings have their walls covered with pictures. No traveler can help being struck with the great artistic perfection of the triumphal arches. In no respect is the refinement more perceptible than in the polished manners and gentle behavior of people, in regard to which the inhabitants of Ching-tu-fu(Chengdu) are far ahead of the rest of China. Day
02/Jul 27 Chengdu – Rilong (3510m/ASL) 233km (B+L+D) Breakfast at hotel, early morning departure for Wolong Panda Reserve (132km), en routes visit to ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation Project. Stop over at Wolong for lunch and short visit to Panda zoo. Afternoon proceed to Rilong (97km) where Mt. Siguniang(6250M/ASL) is located, via high pass on Mt. Balang (4467M/ASL). Over night at Mt. Siguniang Grand Hotel Vertical mountains, clouds, gnarled trees – the Wolong Reserve is the landscape of Chinese brush painting. …At over twenty thousand feet, the ice pyramid of Siguniang held itself aloof from the hills. Siguniang means Four-Maiden Mountain, and legend has it that one day four maidens joyfully climbed its slopes. They decided to remain forever, and you can still hear their laughter and see their lovely shapes. For years, their mother called them, begging them to return, but they preferred the company of clouds, the mountain peaks of white jade, and below them the yaks on meadows of wildflowers in bloom. The original Tibetan name of Mt. Siguniang was Kula Shidak-meaning abode of the mountain god. Day
03/Jul 28 Rilong/Mt. Siguniang National Park – Xiaojin (B+L+D) Mt. Siguniang is famed for its’ gorgeous alpine scenery, and is regarded as the oriental Alps. Enjoying the equal fame as 7556m/ASL Mt. Gongga (Mt. Minya Konka) not far away which is known as King of Sichuan’s mountains, Mt. Siguniang is honored as Queen of Sichuan’s mountains. Full day jeep excursion (70km) in the park, late afternoon proceed to Xiaojin (56km). Over night at local government guesthouse In
ancient times, throughout all of east Tibet's Kham region no area could
claim a more impressive sacred peak than the Kingdom of Minyak's Mt.
Minya Konka. The peaks stunning truncated summit rising out of lush
rhododendron forests to 7,556 meters, demands the respect of those lucky
enough to gaze on it. Day
04/Jul 29 Xiaojin - Danba - Kangding(2600M/ASL) (190km)(B+L+D) Over night at Kangding Jiaotong Hotel Yuezha
Lamasery attracts of pilgrims from central Tibet, for a legend has it
that Yuezha Lamasery is able to bless local Gyarong wrestler special
power to defeat central Tibetan wrestler during every competition. Day
05/Jul 30 Kangding – Mugecuo Lake (3780KM)/50KM (B+L+D)
Visit to Mugecuo Lake, the most famous highland lake in Kham. Picnic at noon and horse trekking to the far side of the lake. A chance to take hot spring bath if time permits. Over night at Kangding Jiaotong Hotel Day
06/Jul 31 Kangding – Yajiang - Litang (4100M/ASL)/291KM(B+L+D)
Travel day, cross three high passes respectively the Gye La Pass (4290M/ASL), Gaoersi Pass (4300M/ASL) and Jianzhiwuan Pass (4700M/ASL). Cross the bridge over Gyarong River at Yajiang. Over night at local guesthouse A camp base will be built up for the group on the grassland, where they can have coffee, snacks, lunch and etc. Group members might like to experience various events on their own, in the same time they can come back the camp base any time for any assistance they need. Includes a chance to visit Litang Monastery. Over night at local guesthouse Litang
Festival is known as one of the largest and most spectaculars in Tibet.
Every five years they put on an especially huge extravaganza. Litang
festival is actually three events in one. First, it's a classic Khampa
horse festival with a race, demonstration of stunts from horseback,
and a dance competition among troupes arrayed in regional finery. Second,
it's an arts and crafts festival; and third, it's a trade fair, with
items of every description offered in temporary shops within the sprawling
tent city. Day
09/Aug 03 Litang – Daocheng(3700M/ASL)/149KM(B+L+D) Early morning drive to Daocheng, via stop over on Mt. Haizhi (means lakes, 4500M/ASL, there are about 1145 of them) for a brief visit to the largest glacial erosion topography on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. En route, visit to Gangbo Lamasery (the first Garmapa's home monastery), the birthplace of reincarnation tradition in Tibetan Buddhism. On arrival at Daocheng, visit to local lamasery and market. Over night at local guesthouse Located on the
southeast of Qinghai – Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains,
is a county on the southwest border of Sichuan, China. Daocheng County
extends, across 27/58 – 29/30 north latitudes and 99/56 –
100/36 east longitudes, 174km from the south to the north and 63 km
from the west to the east. It covers 7323 square kilometers and its
30,000 inhabitants are mainly Tibetans people. It is part of ancient
Muli Kingdom. The Kingdom of Muli, located in SW Kham in Sichuan province,
is an area of vast grassland, high plateau, and glaciated mountains.
The area is home to 22 of China's 56 minority peoples. The region contains
some of the last great stands of old growth forest left in Sichuan. Day10/Aug
04 Daocheng - Yading National Park/ Lost Horizon/110KM(B+L+D) Early
morning drive to Lagu village (110km), en route visit to Konkaling Lamasery,
where possess a bronze statue of Maitreya presented by Dalai V. Horse
trek from Lagu to Conggu at the feet of three scared mountains in the
heart of Yading National Park. They consist of three snowcapped peaks
whose names were, according to a legend, conferred by Dalai V. Chenrezig,
the north peak with an altitude of 6032m, means Avalokitesvara, Jampayang,
the south peak with an altitude of 5958m, means Manjushri, Chanadorje,
the east peak with an altitude of 5958m, means Vajrapani. Like Mt. Kailash
they are circumambulated by Tibetans from near and far. The peaks here
are considered as the No. 11 Holy Tibetan Buddhism Mountain among 24
holy mountains in Tibet. Camping In
the late 1920s, American explorer Joseph Rock, ventured here and discovered
a group of three peaks more stunning than any he had ever beheld. The
peaks, all unclimbed, which represent some of the finest mountaineering
challenges left in eastern Tibet (Kham). This region of Sichuan is truly
remote, containing grasslands and old growth forests- some of the last
in China. Since then, only a handful of westerners have been able to
access this restricted area of Sichuan. After departing Chengdu, each
day brings us deeper into east Tibet. We travel through Litang before
reaching Daocheng, at which point we switch to horses and our own feet.
Finally we arrive at Yading, the last village before entering the valley
of Konkaling. From here, exploratory trekking at its best begins.
Day
11/Aug 05 Yading National Park/ Lost Horizon(B+L+D) Horse trek starts at early morning to join the local pilgrims to circle the scared mountains. Back to Congu Lamasery for overnight. Camping Day
12/Aug 06 Yading National Park/Lost Horizon(B+L+D) Horse trek to remote lakes, encountering with a variety of wild lives. Back to Conggu Lamasery in the same day for overnight. Camping Day
13/Aug 07 Yading National Park/ Lost Horizn - Daocheng /110KM(B+L+D)
Travel day, horse and jeep ride, back to Daocheng. Over night at local guesthouse Day
14/Aug 08 Daocheng – Xiangcheng(2900M/ASL)/113KM(B+L+D) Travel day to Xiangcheng(means Jewel in Tibetan, birthplace of 10th Dalai Lama), on arrival visit to local lamasery. Over night at Mt. Bamu Hotel Day
15 Xiangcheng – Zhongdian(Gyalthang) (222km) (B+L+D) Further south drive to Zhongdian (Gyalthang in Tibetan, the Shangrila), the pearl of south Kham on Hengduan ranges, an extension of the great Himalayas. On arrival visit Ganden Geluk Monastery. Over night at Diqing Hotel*** Drive to Lijiang in the afternoon, the home of Naxi people who even now maintain a matriarchal society in the shadow of the sacred Jade Dragon Mountain, en routes visit to Tiger Leap Gorge. Evening Naxi culture program. Over night at Lijiang Hotel*** Drive to Dali, on arrival visit to three Pagodas and old town of Dali. If time permits, take boat trip in Erhai Lake. Over night soft sleeper train to Kunming. Over night on train Arrive Kunming in early morning, transfer to Kunming Airport and fly to Hong Kong. SERVICE
INCLUDES: All transfers (4WD jeep, yak and horse), all meals (or picnic), accommodations (hotel, guesthouse and tent) on twin share basis, full board, all sightseeing as mentioned and entrance fees, guide (English speaking) and driver service, domestic travel insurance, Lijiang/Kunming airtickets, a national guide from Chengdu to Kunming. SERVICE
EXCLUDES: International flights, airport tax, services and trips not mentioned, expenses in personal nature, visa costs and tips. PRICES: up to 2,600USD/Pax for a minimal group of 2 Pax; more of people, cheaper of the price. |