West Sichuan Wild Lake Trek - 7 Days

This is a wild camping trek by west of Sichuan near Minya Konka and Xinduqiao. There has been big rise of tourists and hikers in many popular and classic hiking places and spots in Kangding and Minya Konka and some have been spoiled by the crowds. We set up this trek to offer a choice for travelers going to quiet, non-spoiled, authentic yet still beautiful places by west Sichuan near Minya Konka. Please be aware of this before you sign up to this tour. This tour doesn’t go to the most famous places of West Sichuan but to offer travelers a chance to stay off-the-grid and go into non-touristy places for a multi-day trekking.

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. In the afternoon after arrival we will drive up to the road pass at over 4000m and have acclimating walk. This is orientation 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. We recommend to spend around at least 2-3 hours by around 4000m. After the walk drive down to Xinduqiao and follow Lichu River and continue drive for another 1 hour and camp by the riverside or stay in the lodges. Have good rest and prepare for the next day's activity.

We will need to do separate packing for the next days trekking with a small day pack for things necessary during trekking for the day and the things needed for overnight in another separate & waterproof duffel bag. You will be briefed on how to pack as you travel.

Total walking 4-8km between 3800m and 4000m. Easy Pace.

Overnight camping or lodge by 3400m.

Today we will do an acclimating hike up to explore 2 lakes at over 4500m.

We will first start by driving for around 30 minutes and arrive our hiking start by around 3900m. You are recommended to find your pace and not to stress yourself too much as today is also essential for your acclimating. Please pack accordingly for necessary items to bring including your lunch, drinking water, warm clothing, rainproof, day pack and other necessary gears. We will start by a nomads settlement and walk up the primitive forest using the nomads trail. This place is never a touristy place and we are the first ones who ever hike up the lakes/passes for fun, according to locals. The local nomads are seasonal nomadic people who only stay here for half of the year from April to September for the yak herding season and for collecting herbs and mushrooms in spring and summer. We may run into local Tibetans and we can interact with local people through our translator or guide to learn about their lives.

The hike up is steep for half of the way until we arrive the higher nomads camp. From there we will start to have open views but with even more steep walking up to the first lake. We shall have good views of mountains above 5000m that on top the snow stays all year round. We will make a long stop by the first lake and take photos before we walk to the second lake that is larger than the first one. By the second lake we will have chance to either just stay by near the lake to take photos or just chill or if energy is good and weather is good we can choose to walk up to the 4650m pass to gain more views of mountains at a much higher point. In different weather days the views are different. We may see foggy weather or clear weather but both will pose different kinds of views of the lake and mountains.

After long stay by the lakes we will then walk back down to the nomads settlement and then drive to our next camp in Juku Valley, a complete wild place without any tourists. We will switch to local smaller cars to arrive camp by around 3700m and set camp for the night. We will lose internet from tonight.

Total walking 12km between 3900m and 4500m+. Medium to Challenging Pace.

Overnight Camping by 3700m.

Wake up in the fresh air and usually with some fog or cloud by above the camp. Our camp is next to a small river and forests in the river valley. Feel free to walk around the camp before breakfast if weather is good. We will have breakfast in the natural environment and pack up and walk up the river valley following the track next to the river.

Today is an easy day as we go higher up the valley on gradual and easy terrain. We don’t have to rush today but rather just take our time to enjoy the nature of mountains, forests, river and possibly wildlife and birds. We will pass by a couple of nomads settlement and have chance to greet the yak-herding Muya Tibetans and maybe have a chat too. All day we will follow the river and valley up and set camp by above the last village at around 4000m. We will arrive camp by early afternoon and have time to rest and relax and orient ourselves to the higher altitude. Feel free to walk around the village to explore local Tibetan nomads life after we arrive our camp today.

Total walking 12km+ between 3700m and 4000m. Easy Pace.

Overnight Camping by 4000m.

Today is one of the hardest days of the trek as we will go up much higher but the distance is short.

In the morning we will have breakfast by our camp and before breakfast you are free to walk around our camp and take photos in the morning light when the cooking smoke coming out of the village houses and the soft light hits the forest and river.

We will do the normal separate packing each morning and after breakfast we will follow the mountain trail to go up the mountain on relatively steep but safe terrain. As we ascend we will gain more views of the valley including the mountains on the southeast and east of where we trek. We will make multiple stops and breaks for photos and for resting and snack time. We will arrive by the intermediate camp at 4400m by early mid-day where we are going to have a long break before we arrive our camp at 4600m by early afternoon. Our camp today at 4600m is a bit high so you are recommended to take your time and slow down while walking up and can have more breaks as the time is sufficient.

Feel free to walk around our camp higher to explore the two lakes and take photos. There are total 2 lakes near our camp one is called Caidao Lake (meaning chopping knife lake) the other is called Caiban Lake (chopping board lake) due to their resemblance of chopping knife and board. We shall have sufficient time to recover from the stress of trekking today and if weather is good we will have very good views of sunset after dinner.

Total walking 10km between 4000m and 4600m. Medium Pace.

Overnight Camping by 4000m.

Wake up in the morning light with beautiful views of mountains. You are free to walk up to the lake and find great spots for more photos in the morning light. Today’s walking is relatively short but the views are stunning. We will be walking at above 4600m all day and walk over 2 passes that are at around 4800m.

After breakfast we will set out and walk over the first pass at around 4750m with easy ascending. As we go up we will see mountains of Wukuchu and Rezong and from the pass we shall see the range of Minya Konka mountains if the weather is clear. We will have multiple breaks while walking as today’s elevation is high.

We will drop down and then keep walking towards the second pass at around 4850m. The ascending to the second pass is steep but short. We will pass by another beautiful lake before the pass. The lake sometimes have very green-blue color and good reflection of sky, making good photos. After arrive the pass we shall see the stunning 7 lakes. You are recommended to walk even higher towards the west ridge to gain higher and more panoramic views of the lakes and the mountains of Minya Konka will also show themselves from high above. If the weather is good we can stay by the pass longer time to enjoy the splendid views and take photos before we drop down for another 2 hours to our camp near the Mou-Ou Lake, one of the 7 lakes and the deepest lake.

As our workers prepare your camp and food for you, you are free to walk around, higher, further to explore other lakes, good high points for photos of Minya Konka mountains. You will come back to camp at an agreed time for dinner while plan your extra time to enjoy the beautiful views around the camp. Our camp today is not even a usual nomads camp and very wild and untouched. If weather allows you will have very good chance of seeing the sunset glows on Minya Konka mountains.

Total walking 8km between 4600m and 4850m. Medium Pace.

Overnight Camping by 4600m.

Today we have chance to go watch the sunrise from behind the peak of Minya Konka, a 7500-m mountain, the highest peak of Hengduan Mountain Range. Sunrise time is usually between 6:30am and 7:30am depending on the seasons.

After breakfast we will pack up and walk down the valley of Juku with stunning views in front of us. We will drop down the valley following the trail used by local nomads people and down to the forest and river again on steep terrain. We will arrive our trekking route end after around 3-4 hours hiking and say goodbye to our local workers and then be picked up and drive to our hotel in Xinduqiao in about 3 hours. We shall arrive our hotel by around 4-5pm. Take a shower and relax. Repack and decompress.

Total walking 10km between 4600m and 3700m. Medium Pace.

Overnight Hotel by 3400m

Today is a big half day drive back to Chengdu. We will start by the morning after 8am and make a stop by Kangding to have a visit of this historical trading frontier town of both traditional Chinese and traditional Tibetan. Arrive Chengdu by early afternoon 2-3pm and be dropped by your hotel. Tour ends.

Total driving 7h. Easy Pace.