Wild Sichuan Ultimate Adventure Tour– 12 Days

This is a gound 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 bring rainproof and warm clothes with you all the time.

A 4-hour drive from Chengdu to Rilong at the base of Mount Siguniang. We will start from Chengdu at your hotel in the morning by around 8.00 am and drive towards west into the mountains. The road is in the former earthquake-zone and you may still see the damages on the mountains from the quake in 2008. A new road was finished by end of 2016 and making the driving safer and quicker. We will climb from 500 meters above sea level to a 4000-meter tunnel over Balang Pass and then dive into the valley where Rilong is located. After arrive in Rilong, we will have lunch by a local restaurant and then go to visit Shuangqiao Valley.

We will have the full afternoon visit Shuangqiao Valley of Siguniang. First we will go into Shuangqiao Valley where we start our visit by a bus ride to the end of valley and start the tour. Around you there are many stunning peaks some are snow-capped and some are big walls including Mt. Jianshan, Mt. Yutu, Mt. Se'erdengpu, Mt. Potala, Mt. Abi and many more. We can either use bus to make stops along the valley as other visitors do or we can walk on the less-walked boardwalk along the river and enjoy some quiet time in nature. We will tour down the valley following the river and make 4-5 stops total. If by walking then we recommend to walk the first 3-4 stops total 8-12km where the main views of Shuangqiao are located. The walking will be on well-paved boardwalk on flat terrain with no steep part. Shuangqiaogou Valley is a zigzagged, deep and quiet and the longest valley stretching over 35km. We'll see yaks and forest. By halfway down there is a rafting that we can choose to do. It is also a lot of fun to raft down the calm river for around 20 minutes. Today’s visiti and walking is flexible for acclimating as it is the first day of this trip.

After the visit we will go out using bus and then drive to check in hotel. Rilong is a small town by the base of Mount Siguniang and usually a good stop place for visitors that go further and higher. Rilong is at 3100 meters. When you are traveling to higher altitude places, drink more water and keep warm. Your guide will brief you more on the tips of avoiding AMS.

Driving 4 hours, visiting 4-5 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3100m

The town of Rilong is also called Siguniang, the same name as of the official park of Siguniang. Today we will start by a 3-hour drive from the base of Mt. Siguniang and arrive in Danba on mountain road in the river gorge.

We will have the afternoon exploring the beautiful and genuine Tibetan Villages in Danba. The village here is built high up on the mountain and their houses are very famous. The local Tibetan Village was considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in China. The houses and watchtowers are their traditional constructions. The local hospitable people are very friendly and kind. We will first go to Jiaju Tibetan Village, a famous Tibetan Village once was listed as one of the most beautiful villages in China. Jiaju Tibetan Village is a cluster of Gyalrong Tibetan villages located 8 kilometers north from the center of Danba town. The Tibetan village covers an area of about 5 square kilometers. It has more than 140 households of the Gyalrong Tibetans. The villages start from the bottom of valley by Jinchuan River to the foot of Kapama Mountains. Our visit will start by the tourist center and then drive up to the three different view spots of the village to take photos of the houses and gorge below. The visit in Jiaju take around 2 hours toal. Afterwards we will continue to the next village Zhonglu, which will be our overnight place.

After a short drive down to the bottom of valley and then drive up we will arrive in Zhonglu in around 30 minutes. Zhonglu is one of the representatives of the Tibetan villages in Danba. Zhonglu is more authentic and less spoiled by mass tourism. People there work in the farm and orchards. Their houses are unique and beautiful. The villages are located on the sunny slope and composed of over dozens of families. The village bends into the shape of the mountain side: some lower and some higher. Green orchards and colorful houses made the villages here very attractive. We will tour the Zhonglu by walking from the center of village to Photo Spot No. 3, the best photo spot to take photos of Zhonglu. Depending on the time of the day we may choose to go to No. 2 photo spot if time allows. The visit in Zhonglu takes around 2-3 hours total.

After the visit in Zhonglu, we will go check in hotel and relax. Time of checking in and visiting will be adjusted accorind to the season and timing to better suit your interests.

Driving 3 hours, visiting 5-6 hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by 2300m

Wake up in the morning mist and breath the fresh countryside air. After breakfast we start from Danba and drive for around 2 hours before arrive at our first stop by Huiyuan Temple. Before arriving Huiyuan we will pass by Mt. Yala Photo Stop where we will make a short stop to take photos of the beautiful Mt. Yala, a 5820-m mountain covered in snow on top all year round. Before arrive to Huiyuan Temple there is a road pass we will drive by where we also make a stop to take more photos of the beautiful valley and mountains around.

Huiyuan Temple bears historical significance in traditional Tibet. It held shelter for the 7th Dalai Lama, Kasang Gyatso when Gelugpa was almost overthrown by other parties in Tibet. By then the temple was refurnished and expanded backed by Qing Dynasty. Another significant event is that the 11th Dalai Lama was born here. The temple has been rebuilt three times, and the newly built temple is a palace-style gold tile roof, with golden treasure jars, Falun beasts, painted emperors and warlords of all ages. The temple now houses many valuable cultural relics. Out visit will go to the original temple refurnished by manchurian time. The visit takes around 1 hour total.

After the visit we will continue drive for around 0.5h to get to Tagong, "a place favoured by Buddha". Landscape is different in Tagong as in Danba. Here in Tagong we will see more nomads on rolling grassland with many yaks and tents. After arrive in Tagong Grassland we will start to its best things. Lead accross the seemingly unending grassland dotted with Yaks, horses and local Tibetans we start by visit the village of Anigongma. We will see Snow-capped high mountains add a beautiful back drop to the meadows far below. We will visit working monasteries and nunnery and experience their way of life through talking to the monks with your guide as interpreter. Afterwards we will drive to the town of Tagong and wander through the main street and visit a special Buddhist temple Tagong Monastery. Tagong Monastery is a 1200-year old monastery in Kham, one of the oldest monasteries around here. Learn the history and culture about the monastery through your guide.

Afterwards we will drive to Balang Village, a high point on Tagong Grassland to view the high mountain around Tagong before sunset. We will have chance to try some local snacks if the it's available. Afterwards drive back to hotel and check in.

Driving 3.5 hours, visiting 5-6 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3800m

In the morning if you like you can wake up early to see the Buddhists walking around the Tagong Monastery or maybe a little walking in the small town of Tagong before drive north words to Ganzi. Today the drive is longer than former days. We will make stops along the way at places of interest. Our first stop is Bamei Moshi Park, or Bamei Stone Forest, a park of land formation that is located 15km north to Tagong. Moshi Park is a cluster of karst landforms and a well-maintained tourist park. We will spend around 1-2 hours in the park before we continue again.

Second stop is Longdeng Grassland by Dawu. Longdeng Grassland is located just by the drive way on both sides. The Longdeng grassland was part of the lengendary King Gesar Epic. At that time, the famous King Gesar once camped here, so the Longdeng grassland was called "Gesartong" by the locals. Tong means grassland. Longdeng Grassland is home to nomadic tibetan people and one of the significant places of Dawu. We will spend around 1 hour here taking photos and short walk to the prayer flags by the side of the mountain.

We will make a stop by the town of Dawu to have lunch before more driving in the afternoon.

In the afternoon before we arrive Ganzi Town we will drive over a pass called Geda where we will have panoramic views of Gangga Mountain Range, a massif of mountains that are over 5000 meters lie by the south of Ganzi Town. After arrival, if time allows, we will go visit Ganzi Monastery in town. Ganzi Monastery is the biggest monastery in this area. After worth, go back to hotel and rest.

Driving 5-6 hours, visiting 3-4 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3400m

Today we will use Ganzi as base and drive out to see the beautiful places around Ganzi including Xinluhai (Yihun Latso Lake) and Dzogchen Monastery. After breakfast we drive for around 2 hours on the super beautiful highway of G317 towards Manigango. South of the road is the less-known Gangga Mountain Range visible all the way. The mountains are not super high but very beautiful. For most of the drive we will have picturesque view of mountains on one side and a relatively flat part of villges and roads on the other side.

After arrive at Xinluhai, we will walk to visit this place. Xinluhai is not exactly a tourist place. It is a big lake by the foot of a 6168-m mountain. We will need to walk in or hire a horse from local people for around 5km to the south end of the lake to see the big part of the 6168-m Mountain and its glaciers. This 6168-m mountain is called Mt. Chola, which is the highest peak of the mountain range that is also named Chola. Chola Range neighbors Gangga Range. By defination they are two different mountain massifs. After a break by the steppe by end of the lake we will walk back the same way to the entrance and start to drive back.

When we go back it is the same driving we did this morning when we came. We will have another chance to see the beautiful views from the road. After arrive Ganzi we will then go to visit Ganzi Monastery. Ganzi Monastery is the biggest monastery in Ganzi and a main Gelugpa Monastery that is located north of the town of Ganzi. It was built in the 1800s and home to over 300 monks. If time allows we will continue to Kongba Monastery by the back of the town to have a panoramic view of Gangga Mountains. Afterwards we will go back to our hotel.

Driving 4 hours, visiting 4-5 hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by 3400m

Gangga Mountains

Yihun Latso Lake

Mt. Chola

Mt. Kawalori

Today also has a long drive for around 5 hours total. After breakfast we set out to drive to Litang via Yalong River Gorge. On halfway we will make a detour to visit Tsoka Lake. After around 2.5 hour's drive we will get to the base of Tsoka Lake. We will switch to a local car to drive up the lake for around 40 minutes. Tsoka Lake is not very big, but it has a variety of landscapes: blue sky, white clouds, green trees, green mountains, and red temples. This lake is often very quiet. When it is sunny, the lake water presents different levels of green, reflecting the Tsokha Temple, green pine forest and colorful Tibetan houses by the lake, which is extremely peaceful. The visit takes around 1 hour before we start to drive back to the base.

We will continue drive for around 2.5 hours to get to Litang, the highland town of China with an elevation of nearly 4000 meters above sea level. We will first go to visit Litang Monastery, or Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling, or simply Choekhorling Monastery. Litang Monastery is an over 400 years old Gelugpa Monastery in Tibetan Kham. It is located at the northern suburb of Litang on a mountain side. Its massive complex of construction and delicate architectural technology make itself famous in northern Kham. As most of the other monasteries, it is also a collection of art works including pagodas, statues and many Tibetan books. Its sublime architechture and time-honoured sacredness are known by the Kham Tibetans. There are three temples inside Litang Monastery. It is free of charge and available for visiting for most of the day time. Visit to the monastery takes around 1 hour before we drive to our hotel and check in. Litang itself is an interesting "cowboy" like place in western Sichuan.

Driving 6 hours, visiting 2 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3950m

Tsoka Lake

Litang

Today we will use Litang as a base to go to visit one of the most beautfiful places and yet an underestimated one in western Sichuan, called Tsopu Lake. After breakfast we drive westwards for around 2 hours before arrive the base of Tsopu at its tourist center. Today's driving on the road is also very amazing. Most of the time the road is on flat terrain where we can see far over Maoya Grassland, one of the biggest flat parts in Litang and home to many yak herders and reason for the name of "nomadic Litang". We will make stops at where it is worth to take photos. One main stop before we arrive Tsopu is the sister lake of Haizishan, two turquious lake by side of the road and on top of that a snow-capped mountain.

After around 2 hours' driving we will get to Tsopu Lake touris center where we enter and use park bus to go inside the valley of Tsopu to the lake. Tsopu Park is also called Tsopugou (Tsopu Valley), or Zhopu Valley, Zhopu Lake. Before 2020 it was a wild valley with monasteries and beautiful lakes and mountains. From 2020 it has been built into a tourist park that an entrance fee is requried to visit and has a more organized visiting. The park bus will take us to end of the lake and we will start to tour around from there. Niete Gangri and Zhajin Jiabo are the names of the mountains visible from the south. The lakes include Tsola Lake, Yamo Tsogen Lake and Tsopu Lake. Tsopu is a holy place worshiped by local Tibetan people.

After the visit we will come out the same way using park bus and drive back the same way to Litang. We have another chance to see the views.

Driving 4 hours, visiting 4-5 hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by 3950m

Mayao Grassland

Sister Lake

Tsopu Park

Tsopu Valley

Today we will keep driving south over high mountain passes towards Yading. We will make short stops along the way. First stop is by Haizishan where we will take a short walk to the lake by the side of the road. The landscape here is different than the other days. Haizishan means mountain of lakes. There are total over 1000 lakes located on this highland of Haizishan. Our second stop is to have a visit to Bangpu Monastery, a small monastery located by the foot of a rocky mountain. Our third stop is by Daocheng where we will have lunch. We will make stops by other two high mountain passes, Tu'er and Bowa. Depending on the season we will also make stop by Banyan Tree Forest, Red Grass Pond, Flower Base.

The base of Yading is called Shangrila Town, which is also the entrance of the park of Yading. We will go into the park today via the entrance. The latest time the park stays open is by 4pm so we need to make sure we get to the ticket office and check in before 4pm. After we check we will use a park bus to ride for around 1 hour to get to the famous Yading Village for overnight. Yading Village is located within the Park of Yading. The Yading Nature Reserve is named after the village. It is known as the “last Shangri-La”. The small village is hidden between the snow-capped mountains. From the village we can see one of the holy mountains Mt. Chenrezig.

Since our car can not get into the park but rather only park buses are available inside the park, we will need to take care of our luggage by ourselves. Therefore we need to try to pack light for today and the next day and try only to take what's necessary. We will have total two nights by the same hotel in Yading Village. Although lighter packing helps, the arrangement of touring we set has enough time even if you have heavy luggage with you but we recommend you to pack light if possible to avoiding dragging the luggage for the necessary walking before getting on the bus and after getting off the bus. Please note the part where you need to drag your luggage after the bus is short for around 200 meters but the part where you need to drag your luggage before getting on the bus is far for around 500m and this part is going up on stairs.

Driving 4+1 hours, visiting 2+ hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by 3950m

Today we start from our hotel and use the public bus for around 5 minutes to get to Longtongba and start for our first day's visit to 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 Wuse Lake, a bigger lake that is 100 meters higher than Milk Lake. And if you are a fit walker and if time allows, you can even walk 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. 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 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.

Please note this day is the most challenging day of visiting due to its long walking and big ascent on high altitude. We recommend you to prepare properly for today's visit including one warm jacket be it either windbreaker, down or other clothes and carry it with you even when it is not cold or windy that you don't need at the beginning. We also recommend you to carry a rainproof be it either umbrella or raincoat. We also recommend you to bring warm hat, sunglasses, pants and other clothes that can withstand temperature drop to below 10C(Summer) and 0C (Autumn and Spring). Note this is crucial for your safety according to our experience.

Driving 1 hour total, visiting 7+ hours; Strenuous pace

Overnight hotel by 3950m

Today is our second day of visit to Yading. We start after breakfast from our hotel and use the public bus again to Longtongba and walk to Chonggu. 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 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.

After the visit we start to go back to Shangrila Town by using park bus. The latest time we should leave the park is by 2.30 to 3.00pm. We can make a stop by Yading Village to collect our luggage if needed. The park bus will drop us off to Yading Tourist Center and from there we will be picked up by our car and drive for around 1.5h to get to our next destination in Daocheng. Before arrive to Daocheng we may make stops by the forest if it is the right season to see the golden color of the trees. After check hotel, have dinner and feel free to walk around Daocheng Town. It is a bigger place than Shangrila Town.

Driving 3 hours total, visiting 5+ hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3800m

Today is a long day of driving. Daocheng is a small city with an elevation of 3800 meters. Daocheng is a nice city with colorful forest around it in fall. Today we will start to drive back to Chengdu. This is when you realize how far Yading is and how big western part of Sichuan is. But only the most beautiful view hides far and remote. We will make multiple stops along the way by the famous stops on the popular 318 highway including Kazila Pass, Jianziwan Pass. We will arrive in Xinduqiao where we are going to spend the night. A tourist town at 3400m. In the right season Xinduqiao is a beautiful place due to its golden-color trees.

Driving 8 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by 3400m

In the morning we will start from Xinduqiao and drive back to Chengdu. We will make a stop at Zheduoshan pass and walk up to shoot more photos of mountains including Minya konka and Lamoshe and the valleys and maybe even the cloud below our feet. Zheduoshan Road Pass the the original road pass that historically the spliting point of traditional Tibet and Chinese Areas. It is usually a very busy place because it is a famous place on national highway 318. It is the first pass from Chengdu to Lhasa. After the pass we will continue drive all the way back to Chengdu. We will arrive at your hotel in Chengdu in afternoon normally by around 4-5pm, your western Sichuan adventure tour ends. Say goodbye to your guide and driver and go home with good memories.

Driving 6 hours; Medium pace