Mount Gongga Lodge-based Hiking 7 Days

Start from Chengdu in the morning from your hotel and drive for about 6 hours from the Chengdu plain into the mountains. An optional visit to the tea plantation in Ya'an on halfway if time allows. Arrive in Caoke in the afternoon and optional hot spring available. You can start directly from the airport where our guide will pick you up if you are well-informed and well-prepared of this tour. Recommended to have flight arrival before 12pm at Chengdu so to have enough time driving there. Check in hotel in Caoke after arrival. There is hot spring available in Caoke that you can choose to enjoy after dinner. Caoke is a very small village at the elevation of 1400m. We can buy some basic food there.

Total around 6 hours' driving.

Overnight hotel by 1400m.

Today we will first use a car from hotel and drive for around 40 minutes to road end by Jiebeishi at 3000m and to start walking from there. Caoke is the last village in the valley leading to the south of Minya Konka Reserve. The whole area is a very natural and beautiful place due to its diverse species and plants, as well as wild animals. Jiebieshi means "Border-Marking Stone", meaning the border of Kangding, a traditionally Tibetan place and Ya'an, a traditionally Han Chinese-dominated place. There are no roads but a small trail connecting the border, making it a wild and secluded place. The walk starts by the ranger post by the car park by end of the road and total walking is around 15km and around 7-8 hours from 3000m to 3200m. The 3200m location is the lower Tsemed village where we will use their bunk for overnight. During walking chance to see some glaciers by the south of Minya Konka and the marshy lake of Bawang. After arrival, check into your local Tibetan guesthouse. Please note the shared room is very basic. Bathroom is shared and basically all modern conveniences are not available including heating, hot water for shower, internet, shops, etc. Normally you can just think it as a basic shelter that has a warm kitchen. There are no more than 5 families in Lower Tsemed Village.

Total walking 15km between 3000m and 3200m. Medium Pace.

Overnight shared bunk by 3200m.

Start from the village and walk through primitive rhododendron forest on trail of gradual ascents. The first part of the trail is challenging as it is steep. Trail becomes wider where there is decorated prayer flags. These Tibetan Buddhists prayer flags waft the trail leading us to Gongga Gompa, the hidden monastery of Minya Konka. Read the bilingual "Notice" before head towards the Gompa at the open-air doorway. This Kargyupa monastery has long been a basecamp for Minya Konka expedition teams. Gonga Gompa offers excellent views of Mt. Minya Konka, the eastern-most 7000er, the highest mountain in Hengduan Mountains and the highest of Sichuan Province at 7556 meters. Visit the Gompa temple after arrival if available. If time allows go up behind the gompa to see a grand view of the mountains. Today's walking is not very long by distance. You will have chance to sit by the temple to watch the mountain of Minya Konka especially during sunset when it will turn into golden color.

Total walking 8km+ between 3200m and 3700m+, medium pace.

Overnight shared bunk by 3700m

Today is a full day trek to base camp of Minya Konka to gain closer views of Minya Konka and its surrounding mountains and glaciers. Start after breakfast by Gongga Monastery and walk down to the bottom of the valley and start to walk up following the glacier stream. Today's walking is the hardest of all days. The trail is fine but rather rocky. During certain seasons the trail may not be so recognizable since not many come up so far. There are climbers going to Mt. Nama to climb this 5588-m mountain will also use the trail. The first half of the trekking up is steep and on rocky trail. After arriving to the older BC of Nama at 4000m, it starts to become less steep and views get more open. Today's hiking is flexible since it is one way in and the same way out. By 4000m on to the new BC of Nama at 4200 the views are amazing. We will see the snow-capped mountains including Minya Konka itself and the glaciers. After 7km we arrive the Nama BC and have a short break before starting to go back. You are recommended to use walking poles to protect your knees since the walking back is 7km and some sections steep. Today we also have chance to see wild animals including ibes, and we are really lucky we can even see red pandas. After arrive back to the monastery, rest and have dinner.

Total walking 14km between 3600m and 4200m, Challenging pace.

Overnight shared bunk by 3700m

In the morning leave the monastery and retrace the track we walked two days ago. Trek ends in Tsemed Village after around 3 hours. From Tsemed we use a local car to transfer to Shanmuju en route catch a panoramic views of Minya Konka at Tsemed Pass. The drive takes around 1.5 hours total. The drive is on basic country road. Driver needs to drive carefully and use chains in icy seasons. After arrive in Shangmuju we switch car to drive for another 40 minutes to the base of Langgatso Lake. In the afternoon start to walk to Langgatso, a lake that is 3.5km away from the car park. Langgatso is one of the lakes here that is perfect for photo lovers. As we ascend we will see mountains of the west range of Minya Konka. Horse-riding is availale by Langgatso. You can consider to hire a horse to take you up to the lake if you don't feel like walking. Today you will also see other hikers doing this hiking because it is considered a popular adventure hike but still not many people comparing to other tourist parks. Starting of Langgatso Lake hike is at 4000m while end of the hiking by the lake is at 4500m. It is still a big ascent to cover in half day even though the distance is not so far. After a short stay by the lake walk back to the base and drive to tonight's overnight place in Shangmuju.

Total walking 7+7km between 3800m and 4500m, Medium to Challenging pace.

Overnight shared bunk by 3750m

Today is the most challenging day of hiking. Start in the morning from your guesthouse and walk all the way up to the lakes behind the village at 4550 meters. The lakes are not famous no one goes there but the two lakes are very beautiful turquoise lakes at the west range of Minya Konka. The walk is quite hard especially at the final ascent. It is very steep but the hard walking pays off when you see the views from the lake. From the lake one can also see the full range of Minya Konka Mountains. This is another chance of seeing the mountains if you are traveling in cloudy or misty seasons. After short stay by the lake, go back to your guesthouse in Shangmuju. Today's walking is very hard you can consider to skip this day's walking since the views are similar as it is the former day.

Total walking 16km between 3750m and 4550m, challenging pace.

Overnight shared bunk by 3750m

Today is a full day drive back to Chengdu. The drive will take about 8-9 hours. On half way we will stop for lunch. It is a full day driving and you will arrive at your hotel in Chengdu in the afternoon normally by around 5-6pm, tour ends.