Kangding Trekking – 8 days

Start from Chengdu and drive for around 3-4 hours to get to Kangding. We will use the new highway between Yaan and Kangding that was built in 2018. The total drive is around 280km. We will make stop along the way for toilet break and lunch stop. In the afternoon after arrival we will drive up to the road pass by Yajiageng and have acclimating walk up to the lake and try walk to over 4000 meters for better acclimating. This is oreintation walk so try not to stress yourself but rather slow down and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views while walking. You will gain amazing views of mountains and gorges while hiking by the lake near Yajiageng. We recommend to spend around at least 2-3 hours by around 4000m. Depending on the road and traffic conditions we may drive up the other pass at Yala Road Pass for acclimating.

After the walk drive back to Kangding and continue drive to the village of Zhonggu for overnight. Have good rest and prepare for the next day's activity. Depending on the season we may arrange the night in the town of Kangding instead. Tonight we will do separate packing for the next days trekking. We will need to pack the overnight stuff in waterproof bag and have your day pack with your items that are necessary for the hiking during the day. You will be briefed on how to make packing as we travel.

Total Walking 4km between 3900m and 4000m. Easy Pace.

Overnight in GH by 3000m.

Starting from Kangding and drive for around 1 hour to the hiking start for Yala Trek. The drive takes around 1 hours on very winding road and will take us from the bottom of the gorge by Kangding and goes up the valley. During busy travel season there is usually inevitable traffic with lots of cars on the road.

We will meet our porter team in the morning and give the heavy packs to the horses. We will from the village first use a short local ride for around 5 minutes to get to hiking starting point and start to walk alongside a creek.

The packs that will be given to the horses are sorted the former night. You only need to carry your own day pack. Remember in the day pack we only take with us necessary items for the hiking during day time, including packed lunch or snakcks, drinking water recommended 1L minimum, sunglasses, rainproof, warm-keeping clothes and hat, sun block and lip oil, important personal possessions etc. Note the warm-clothing and rainproof (for both yourself and your pack) may not be used while hiking but since weather changes quickly and hard to predict in the mountains, it's wise to bring these items with you all the time each day.

The hike starts on gradual horse trail by the riverside and then ascend up to the woods before we get open views of the valley. We will walk for around 12km from 3200m to 3500m and arrive at Xindianzi. Today is rather an easy day as it is the first day of hiking. Acclimate youself while walk with a comfortable pace and enjoy the nature around you. After arrive camp you have some extra time to relax yourself and have some time to get yourself oriented by first night camping. Our camp is called Xindianzi, an open land with some deserted stone huts used by local yak herders. There is running water from a creek from the mountain where we will get our water from. You will be briefed on where to use toilet and where to take water.

Total Walking 15km between 3100m and 3600m. Medium Pace.

Overnight campingl by 3600m.

Wake up in the quiet morning in the nature and have breakfast. In summer time it will usually by foggy in the morning and full of dew water on the grass so be careful while walking around the camp.

After breakfast start to pack your tent and have your day pack ready for today’s hiking. You can leave your big pack to us like you did yesterday. If tents are still wet then we can leave it for more time to dry and our staff will pack tents while you start walking and don’t waste the morning time in the mountains.

Start by continuing in the valley and on the horse trail with gradual ascent for the morning for around 7-8km before we start to have our first steep ascent to our first pass to around 4200m. The pass feels long and the final part is steep. As we go higher the views get better: we shall see the Lamoshe Mountains (peaks north of Minya Konka and with elevation of around 6000m) whle looking back to the valley we just walked. We shall also see the southface of Mt. Yala and its side peaks while walking up the pass. Trees will disappear while we walk higher and started to see shrubs and then rocks by the side of trail.>/p>

It is usually very windy by the pass of 4200m. We shall still see a deserted small fortress right by the top of the pass by the side of prayer flags that are hung by the Tibetan Buddhists. From the pass we will walk at over 4000m with small ups and downs but generally flat terrain and will pass two sister lakes between the mountains. Views are open but weather is very changable: we could have sunny weather and haily weather in a short period of time or even at the same time especailly in the afternoon from May to September. If you are traveling in these seasons you are strongly recommended to have your rainproof, windproof with you for today’s hiking.

After around 2 hours’ walking passing the sister lakes we will drop down to the foot of Mt. Yala North where it is now a tourist park that we may also see other visitors who drive in from the north. We may consider to have a detour to the lake of Yumtso by walking up the forest to the lake for around 1.5km. Yala Yumtso is the full name of this lake and it is a holy lake according to lake people. During certain seasons monks and Buddhists gather here to to praying and celebrations. We will see lots of prayer flags by the side of the lake. We will spend around 0.5 to 1 hour’s time by the side of the lake to just relax and take photos of the small waterfall, glaciers and mountain before we start to go back down.

We will drop from the lake by around 4100m to around 3800m in 2km to the newly-established tourist park of Mt. Yala where we will be walking on paved road for a few hundred meters before we cross the river and continue on walking on horse trails. The park of Mt. Yala runs tourist buses between road y the south to the base of mountain by the river-crossing point. It provides a quick exit alternative for those who need to evacuate. However it also makes the walking down from the lake to the river-crossing point busy sometimes especially during busy travel seasons.

After the river we will continue walking in the forest alongside another vally up to the Hot Spring Camp. This is rather a less-walked trail in this region with its more primitive forest and beautiful views of mountains. After around 3-4 hours we shall arrive today’s camp. It is overall a grandual walking up from 3800m to 4100m. View is very open by today’s camp.

A big deal for today is the open and natural/wild hot spring that we can use after arrival. There are three open and wild hot spring pools used by local people that everyone else is free to use. So please remember to pack your swimsuit for this trek! There is also chance to see wild animals including Himalayan Blue Sheep. After dinner take a good rest and prepare for the next day’s hiking.

Total Walking 18km between 4200m and 3800m. Challenging Pace.

Overnight camping by 4100m.

Today is one of the most strenuous days of walking. We will start earlier than usual.

After one hour’s walking up to the same valley and traverse up to the pass. You will ascent three big terrains before reach the pass at about 4800 meters. The walking up is a little difficult but the views will make the effort worth. Found your own comfortable pace while walking up on the steep trail. As we gain elevation we also gain views of the mountains and valley around. We will have the full view of Mt. Yala westface as we go higher. We will make multiple short breaks while walking up and make sure we don’t water too much time by each break.

In a hiking group we try to stay together as a team especailly after snow when trails are not so easy to be recognized. After usually around 5-6 hours we shall reach the pass by round 4800m. At the pass we will have the full views of Mount Yala at a really close range. On the other side to the pass by its west, we will have the views of the vast rolling land of Tagong. Make sure we are warm and safe by the pass while taking photos and celebrating the moment since it is usually very windy by the pass.

After the pass it is all the way going down and it is the real challenge for some. The first part of the descending is very steep and can be slippery due to the small rocks. Try to walk slow and steady by using your walking poles and follow the instructions from your guide on how to walk on this steep terrain. After the first part of around 200 meters the trail becomes more solid but still very steep. We will continue descending for the next 30 minutes before we walk on grass again.

In a clear day the walking down Tagong Grassland from the pass is a treat to the eyes. After around 2 hours total descending we arrive today’s camp by Zhara Valley by a small river. Today’s camp is different than the former nights’ camp as it is on grassland with more open views and possibly windy conditions.

Total Walking 12km between 4100m and 4800m. Challenging Pace.

Overnight camping by 4000m.

Today is a relatively easy day after days of long and hard trekking. We will start late on the open grassland and enjoy breakfast in the morning glows. After breakfast we will pack and then hike on the rolling grassland for the rest of the day with ups and downs at over 4200m all day. The grassland we walk on today is part of the Tagong Grassland and the non-touristy part of Tagong where no one goes to because of no access by cars. In recent years we have seen huge rise of tourists in Tagong for the beautiful views and amazing landscape and some places have been spoiled and become not suited for adventure trekking. This is one of the reasons we now offer this trek to avoid the tourists and have the quiet and beautiful nature by trekking.

After around 12km trekking we will arrive our camp by the foot to Mt. Yamu where we will set camp by one of the beautiful highland lakes. Depending on the season we will camp by different lake due to use of water. We will have sufficient time by our camp to enjoy the open views of Tagong Grassland as well as the high mountains of Minya Konka Range including the 7500m Mt. Gongga over the lakes. Feel free to explore around the camp while we prepare dinner for you. You will have the option to walk up the ridge above the prayer flags to gain panoramic views of the lakes by the camp if the weather is good.

Total Walking 12km between 4300m and 4500m. Medium Pace.

Overnight camping by 4500m.

Today is also a long day of trekking. We will wake up in the morning light and chance of flowing fog view below our camp if the weather is good. We will see sunrise from our camp thanks to the open views. After breakfast we will set out to walk pass by several highland lakes with ups and downs of trekking. After the first cluster of lakes we will drop down to the nomads valley with river and nomads settlement. We will see more typical West Sichuan highland views today with mountains around.

Today’s walking is not super long but the ups and downs of trekking will be very strenuous. We will arrive the second cluster of lakes and set camp there by one of the lakes.

Total Walking 16km between 4300m and 4600m. Challenging Pace.

Overnight camping by 4400m.

Today is our last day of trekking.

Feel free to explore around our camp for sunset. Our camp faces open and rolling grassland stretching out far to the south and west. After breakfast we will walk over our last pass by 4600m and drop down on steep terrain to Yele Nomba Valley for the rest of our day. The walking up is short and easy but the walking down is long and challenging. We will also have chance to see more lakes along the way.

We will make multiple stops before dropping down to the bottom of valley at around 3900m and then continue walk for around 4km to road end and be picked up and send to hotel in Kangding. Check in to hotel and re-pack and take shower. Feel free to explore the town of Kangding by evening after dinner.

Alternatively we may end the trek today in the morning by driving to visit the sites in Tagong to explore the temples, monasteries, Buddhist schools and good photo spots for big half day before drive back to Kangding. This way of travel is good to cover all the significant sites of Kangding & Tagong in general. Our trek is customizable and this change can be made according to your request.

Total Walking 12km between 4400m and 4600m and 3800m. Challenging Pace.

Overnight hotel by 2700m.

Today is a big half day’s time driving back to Chengdu. You will be dropped off by your hotel in Chengdu. Tour ends.