Price: upon inquiry
Destinations Visited:Xinduqiao (1 night), Yading (6 night)
Departure: Private Tour / Flexible Date
This is a lodge-based photo and hiking tour to Daocheng Yading from Chengdu. It goes along the famous G318 road and visits the famous Milk Lake, 5-color Lake and Pearl Lake as well as the hidden lakes of Boyul, Zhage and Frog Lake, covering the best parts of Yading Park with flexibility of hiking distance and difficult level. This tour involves hiking but it’s well-paced.
Book NowThis is a ground tour. Some days involve long hours of driving and sitting in the car. Please make preparation in accordance including power bank for your phone, neck pillow, etc. Please remember to have a day pack with you to take necessary items for each day's visit, sometimes including packed lunch or snacks for yourself, drinking water recommended 1L minimum, sunglasses, rainproof, warm-keeping clothes and hat, sun block and lip oil, etc. It is also wise to keep rainproof and warm clothes with you all the time due to changing weather in West Sichuan.
Daocheng Yading is at high altitude above 4000m and some locations even at above 4500m so it’s safer to drive in as you will have sufficient time to acclimate yourself to the high altitude, making sure you are all ready for the hikes in Yading by high altitude.
Start from Chengdu and drive for around 3-4 hours to get to Kangding for lunch. We will use the new highway between Yaan and Kangding that was built in 2018. The total drive is around 360km. We will make stop along the way for toilet break and lunch stop. We will first go to Yala Pass after Kangding to take photos of the vast highland view near Kangding Airport. Yala Mountain Pass is between Kangding and Xinduqiao. It is a less popular but more equally beautiful road pass as Zheduoshan. Remember to move slow and try not to stress yourself physically as the elevation today is very high at over 4000m. Make sure you are warm and hydrated all the time.
Arrive in Xinduqiao in the afternoon no late than 4-5pm and go directly to Julisi Photo Spot.18:00-20:00 make sure to arrive Julisi by 19:00 and prepare to take photos of sunset of Minya Konka Mountains(In Summer the sunset is as late as 20:00). There are sometimes traffic jam going up Jlisi so it is safe to get there before sunset and make preparations ahead. The sunset lasts for around 15-20 minutes.After shooting the sunset by Julisi, drive for around 30 minutes to your hotel in Xinduqiao and have a late dinner. This is your first night of the trip please make sure you have enough time to sleep.
Total driving 6-7h. Easy Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3400m.
Today we will keep driving on G318 road towards west via Yajiang and Litang and then turn south to Daocheng Yading. In the morning before driving out, if weather is good and if you are traveling in the right season there is an option to drive around Xinduqiao for around 10 minutes to see the colored trees along the roads.
The driving today will be at altitude around 4000m and above, passing by several high mountain passes at around 4500m. There are places we will stop for toilets and take photos by Kazila, Jianziwan Road Passes. After Litang, we will drive over the splendid Haizi Shan and have highland views if lakes. While making stops by the high altitude locations you are recommended to walk slow and not stress yourself to avoid AMS. Keep yourself hydrated all the time and keep yourself dry and warm to better acclimate to the high altitude. It’s normal if you have some slight symptoms of high altitude sickness and usually the symptoms will go away as you travel in day 01 and day 02 after you enter into highland. Good rest, mild dietary, hydration are very helpful for quick and smooth acclimation.
After the Haizishan we will continue drive down to Daocheng and check in hotel and spend overnight here. Daocheng is a place with shops where we can do a supply of snack food for the next days lunch and snacks. Because inside Yading village there are basically no big shops where you can buy snacks or very limited options on snack food, fruit, etc. Or you may either do the snack food in Chengdu where the options are even more than the town of Daocheng.
Total driving 7-9h. Medium Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3700m
We start after breakfast from our hotel and drive for around 1.5h to Yading park entrance by Riwa, now known as Shangri-La town. From there we will use the tourist bus to Longtongba and walk to Chonggu. Before arrive to bus terminal we will first drop off our heavy luggage to our hotel in the village of Yading and then do the hiking only with our day pack.
Today we will go visit Pearl Lake above Chonggu Temple by the foot of Mt. Chenrezig. The Pearl Lake is by the foot of Mt. Chenrezig. It is a stunning lake with beautiful reflection of mountains around it. Pearl Lake is also called Zhuoma Lacuo and it is the smallest lake and a green lake. Mt. Chenrezig is considered by local people a Buddha with significance of religious sacredness. The walk up to the lake is around 1-1.5 hour. We will spend some time around the lake to take photos and then come back the same way to Chonggu. For fit people and if time allows we can also use the golf car again to Luorong and walk the 7km down the Chonggu Steppe. It is a pleasant walk down on boardwalk for around 2 hours.
Please note this is our first day of hiking and it is planned to do the most mild walking at the elevation of around 3900m and 4100m. You are recommended to start slow and find your own comfortable pace and try not to stress yourself too much.
After the hiking around the lake of Pearl and by the foot of Chenrezig we will then walk back to bus terminal and then use bus for around 10 min to our hotel in Yading village.
Total driving 2-3h, hiking 5+km. Easy Pace
Overnight hotel by 3900m
In the morning you are free to explore around your village and find the good locations for morning sunrise shooting if you are a photo lover.
Today we will start from our hotel and use tourist bus to go down to Zhaguanbeng and from there we will start to walk to Luorong from Chonggu. The walking is on gradual boardwalk in the valley with great views of mountains and forests, river. We will arrive Luorong and have splendid views of the mountains. After arrive at Luorong you may either choose to walk back the same way or use the golf car to go back. Please note to take your time while walking.
Please note today’s plan and the next days’ plan are inter-changable to save the best possible weather for the best locations of Yading.
Total hiking 7+km. Medium-Challenging Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3900m
Today we start from our hotel and use the public bus for around 5 minutes to get to Longtongba and start for our longest day in Yading. We will need to stand by one of the bus stops by side of the road and wait for the bus. The buses run as public buses and do not follow on schedule. After Longtongba, the end terminal of bus ride we will need to walk for around 500m up to the golf car station at Chonggu to use the golf car for the second part of drive. The golf car will take us from Chonggu to Luorong Yak Ranch for around 20 minutes. Chonggu is at 4000m and Luorong Yak Ranch is at 4100m.
From Luorong we start to have splendid views of the two of the sacred mountains of Yading: Mt. Chenardorje and Mt. Jampayang. These mountains are about 6000 meters’ tall and this place is well protected to remain its original looking. From Luorong Yak Ranch the hiking starts. It is total around 5km necessary walking from Luorong to Milk Lake and 5-color Lake. The first half of the 5km can be replaced by a horse-ride. Please note the horses are not always available during busy season. If we want to use horse we may need to go there as early as possible during busy seasons. Although the most challenging walk of the 5km is the second half where the horse can't go. The first half is mainly flat and easy to walk. The second half of the 5km is the challenging part because it is going up including some steep sections. A lot of visitors turn around by the steep part due to the high altitude and difficulty of walking. Normally from Luorong walk to Milk Lake takes around 3-4 hours.
Milk Lake and 5-color Lake are the highlights of Yading. We recommend you to try to start early and have yourself well-acclimated before your Yading visit to try to avoid giving up halfway. After Milk Lake you can keep walking to 5-color Lake, a bigger lake that is 100 meters higher than Milk Lake. Active hikers may even consider walking to the Songduo Pass, which is by the end of the valley and the highest place of the park at around 4600 meters where you can overlook Milk Lake and the mountains. If time allows you may even go over to Snake lake, the biggest lake of Yading.
We recommend you to go to Milk Lake first then switch back to 5-color Lake since this way is less steep while walking up. Walking back will be the same way that usually takes less time but during steep part and ice season one should also be careful on the hiking trail.
After we walk back to Luorong we use golf car to get back to Chonggu and then use park bus to go back to Yading Village by your hotel.
Total hiking 12+km. Medium-Challenging Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3900m
Today is the hardest day of the hiking. We will start from our hotel and use tourist bus to Chonggu and then start to walk from there on steep trail in forest to Boyul Lake.
The walking up is very steep all the way to the lake from 4000m to 4700m in the distance of around 8km total single way. From around 4400m by half way we should be above the tree line and the views open up and we shall see the splendid view of the valley of Chonggu and Mt. Jampayang. Today’s walking is flexible and views are overall similar from around 4400m all the way to 4700m if one can not reach the lake. We will have a long stop by the lake after arrival and walk back the same way. We may need to start early in the morning for committed photographer. For more active hikers we may even go higher to the 4900m Chenardorje Pass for another 4km if time and weather allows. This is the most difficult day of hiking. And you are recommended to start early today and try to catch the first bus down to the start.
Please note in busy seasons this hiking may not be possible due to restrictions from the park. If it happens then the hiking will be changed into a similarly hard trek up to Zhage Lake (or for active hikers may consider start early and go over the pass of Songduo to do a “Small Kora Trek” around the mountain of Chenrezig in 22km ).
Total hiking 8-16km. Challenging Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3900m
Today we will hike around 4-5km to Frog Lake from our hotel in the morning and spend time there before walk back the same way. Today’s hiking is also on wild trail that most visitors don’t do. You will also have the option to ride a horse since the terrain is not very steep.
After returning back to hotel, pack and then use tourist bus before 3pm to go out of the Yading park and continue drive for around 1.5h to Daocheng for overnight. Arrive Daocheng by late afternoon and feel free to explore the town of Daocheng by evening.
Please note today’s plan is also flexible and can be changed for other activities especially for photo lovers.
Total driving 2-3h, hiking 10km. Medium Pace.
Overnight hotel by 3700m
In the morning we will drive to the airport of Yading in 1 hour and then catch flight back to Chengdu. Tour ends by sending you off to the Yading airport. You go home with good photos and memories.
Total driving 1h, Easy Pace.
1. This tour is customizable to add more days.
2. This trip is available all year round. The best seasons are from June to November. Winter is too cold but still doable. Please note places beyond Milk Lake, and Boyul Lake are actually not allowed for visiting/hiking but because the checking is loose in the park and people still go up. You will still have the chance of not being able to visit these places even though we haven't been stopped in our former trips to these place. Please be aware of this before you sign up.
3. This adventure involves walking at parks and horse trails. In this hiking. Elevation at most of these sights are quite high as much to 4600 meters. Precautions for mountain sickness are necessary as well. Rain proof and Sun block are also necessary when you are traveling at these places for weather changes quickly at high altitude.
4. This is an adventure tour. It goes to places where the tourist facilities may not meet with standards. Western Sichuan is not a fully-developed place and unexpected incidents may happen due to bad weather, landslide in certain seasons and possible heavy traffic jams.
5. Traveling to the listed places will expect lower standard services at hotels and restaurants even if they maybe the best choices. The service level is not as up to what you have in places like Chengdu. The hotel people don't speak English nor do the people from restaurants. These places are quite far, wild but beautiful. As authenticity comes often with less comfortability. Public Toilet can be really bad. You are always recommended to use your toilet in your hotel while you don't want to use the public toilet or do it in the open wild. You are recommended to have toilet paper with you. Food are with limited options at most of the places. Basically you can find Chinese Food with Sichuan style. On a guided trip you can have them customized into vegetarian or non/less spicy.
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