Yala Mountain located in Ganzi Tibetan region in Sichuan Province. The summit is covered with snow all year round. It is a famous holy mountain in the Kham area. Around the mountain, there are ten ravines around with different shapes. This trip is with 5-day hiking at Yala Snow Mountain from Zhonggu village near Kangding, to Jiaju Tibetan village in Danba. Beautiful snow mountain views, lakes, forest and Tibetan villages are along the hike.
Arrival in Chengdu and transfer to the starting hotel. Relax before joining the welcome briefing and welcome dinner. (D)
Visit lovely pandas at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Pandas Breeding. Take a Chinese calligraphy class to learn about one of the world’s oldest surviving language, Hanzi (Chinese Characters). Explore the people’s park and the local teahouse. (BLD)
Morning transfer to Kangding. After lunch, explore the town with your leader to the local market and prepare our food for the five-day hiking. (BLD)
Drive about one hour to Zhonggu village(3150m), where we will meet our lovely horsemen. Take some time to walk around the village or relax in the hot springs. After the amazing home cooking dinner, there will be a briefing of the hike. (BLD)
Today is our first hiking day. Start from the village we hike all the way to Xindianzi Campsite (3700). The first day is relatively easy but a great chance to warm up. (BLD)
After breakfast start hiking from Xindianzi to Yalayoucuo lake(4060m). It’s more challenging today as there’s a climb before arriving at Yalayoucuo Lake. Then we will camp beside the beautiful lake with a great view to the snow mountain Yala. (BLD)
Hike from Yalayoucuo to Hot Spring Valley(4060m). It is quite an easy day hiking. Enjoy an amazing natural hot spring by the foot of Yala. If the weather is nice, you can also swim in the stream next to it. (BLD)
After the wonderful rest the day before, start early for the hardest day of hiking. From the hot spring campsite to the Tagong campsite(3900m) we will climb over the highest point of the trek at Tagong Pass (4750m). (BLD)
After breakfast, a short hike fo 3 hours takes us to the last hiking destination, Tagong Town. Change off your hiking gears and enjoy a good hot shower. Explore the town and visit a spectacular Tibetan Monastery in the afternoon. (BLD)
Drive via Danba to Jiaju Tibetan village – a village once voted as one of the most beautiful villages in China by Chinese National Geographic Magazine. Explore the village in the afternoon. (BLD)
Today is a travelling day to Chengdu. Enjoy a great farewell dinner in the evening. (BLD)
Depart any time for onward travelling. (B)
Inculsions
- 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners
- hotels/guesthouses/camping tents as listed in the detailed itinerary
- private air-conditioned vehicles as listed in the itinerary
- entrance for sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- expert bilingual tour leader throughout
- horses for luggage
Exclusions
- international airfares
- visa costs
- travel Insurance
- meals not indicated in the itinerary
- beverages and items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry etc.
- tips and gratitude
- emergency fund
accommodations
My own room option has no exception and includes a private tent for the camping days. During the hiking, there are no shower facilities at the campsites while in Chengdu we use comfort level hotel with great locations, and local guesthouse/hotel on Day 3, 4, 8 and 9.
meals
Daily breakfast, lunch & dinner are included. Much simpler meals are provided during the hiking due to limited conditions. While in the cities, hotel breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners will be in local restaurant and dishes are chosen by your tour leaders meeting the different requirements of group members.
hiking support
from the starting point of the hike, a team of horsemen, chef and local Tibetan guide will support the group along the way. The team size depends on the luggage we travel with during the hike, generally speaking, we use 7 horses, 2-3 horsemen for a group of 5 hikers.
