10 Days Trekking Tour to Yading of Daocheng
Undoubtedly one of China's most awe-inspiring nature reserves, the scenery at Yading Nature Reserve easily rivals that found in North America's most famous national parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone. Regarded as a sacred area by Tibetans - every stunning vista here (of which there are many) is celebrated with a small gompa, prayer flags or Mani stones. On this adventure trip you will take in relatively remote areas of Tibetan culture - small towns reminiscent of the wild west, rolling landscapes characterized by wheat and barley fields and Tibetan countryside homes, and the spectacular natural beauty of Yading nature reserve's snowcapped mountain peaks. We will also pay our respects to two of the area's most renowned monasteries: Chang-Qing-Chun-Ke'er-Si in Litang, home to 1400 Yellow Hat sect monks, and Ganden Sumsanlin Monastery in Shangri-la, the largest one in Yunnan.
| Day | Program | Stay in | Meals |
| D1 | Meet you at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, transfer you to hotel. Have a relaxed city tour. | Chengdu | D |
| D2 | Drive to Rilong Town(310km, 6hours, 3200m height). Pass by Dujiangyan - where is famous for its ancient Irrigation System, Wolong - Pandas Nature Reserve, across Balang Mountain (4600m height), along Wori River, you will arrive Rilong Town, at where a beautiful mountain - Four Girls Mt. located. | Rilong | B+L+D |
| D3 | Rilong to
Xinduqiao (260km, 6hours, 3200m height). Continue drive along Wori River, pass Xiaojin county, Tagong grassland, Tagong Monastery, arrive at Xinduqiao town, it is a heaven land for photographers. |
Xinduqiao | B+L+D |
| D4 | Xinduqiao
to Litang (180km, 4hours, 4000m height). We'll have an early start today so we can have more time to explore this picturesque remote Tibetan town. At an altitude of just over 4000m, this is one of the highest towns in the world (Lhasa is 3700m). Situated high on a grassy plateau, Litang has the feel of a rough and tumble 'Wild West' town. Khampas - dressed in yak skin coats, bedecked in colorful necklaces and hair ornaments, long daggers hanging from their belts - from the surrounding areas amble into town to stock up on food and supplies, play pool on the streets and hang out in the local teahouses. This small town is great for people watching and just strolling around. We will also visit the famous Chang-Qing-Chun-Ke'er-Si monastery and pay homage to the living Buddha with a personal interview. Here is now home to 1400 Yellow Hat sect monks. Once a hotbed of Tibetan dissent, this monastery was destroyed in the 1950s but has since been completely rebuilt. |
Litang | B+L+D |
| D5 |
Litang to Daocheng, will take 4 hours (180km). Daocheng to Yading, will take 3 hours as much of the road to the park is dirt track. Today we will reach the highlight of this journey - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Vajrapani, 5958m). Tibetan Buddhists believe that making a kora (pilgrimage) around these mountains brings great merit, and that the three mountains represent compassion, wisdom and energy - attributes one must cultivate on the path to enlightenment. The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery. |
Yading | B+L+D |
| D6 | 4 Hiking
or horse-riding in Yading. From the reserve entrance we will traverse a beautiful wooded pathway leading to a valley set at the foot of the spectacular Mt. Chanadorje. We'll pass piles of mani stones by the side of the pathway and at the base of the Reserve's most stunning vistas. We'll also visit Tshonggo Gonpa (Chonggu Si in Chinese) - a small Tibetan temple, which Joseph Rock nicknamed 'Bandit Monastery'. (Joseph Rock, a botanist and explorer, conducted extensive explorations of northwest China and Tibet for Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology and National Geographic in 1924.) We will continue our hike to the foot of Mt Chenresig, where we'll ascend a small but steep hill to view a beautiful mountaintop emerald green lake. Local lore has it that this magical lake can reveal your future if you spend a few moments in quiet contemplation by its side. We'll return to the meadow at the foot of Mt. Chanadorje and spend the night in a tent hotel. |
Yading | B+L+D |
| D7 | Yading to
Daocheng. We will spend the morning doing a shorter hike or horse-riding around the reserve. In the afternoon we'll drive back to Daocheng where we'll spend the night. |
Daocheng | B+L+D |
| D8 | Daocheng
- Zhongdian (5 hours, 290km, 3300m). Today we will take a long but scenic drive to Shangri-la (Zhongdian), a small town on the Tibetan Plateau. We will visit Ganden Sumsanlin monastery, the largest monastery in Yunnan, built in the 17th century. This impressive monastery was established under the instruction of the 5th Dalai Lama, and is home to over 700 monks. |
Zhongdian | B+L+D |
| D9 | Zhongdian
to Lijiang (5 hours, 200km, 2400m) Morning drive to Lijiang. On the way, Visit Tiger-Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest canyons of world, and First Bend of Yangtze River, when the river reaches Shigu Township of Lijiang County, it makes an abrupt turn and flows northward, forming a great V-shaped bend reputed as First Great Bend of Yangtze River. Then have free and relaxed time at Lijiang Ancient Town. |
Lijiang | B+L+D |
| D10 | After breakfast in your hotel, transfer to the airport and see you off. | B |
|
more than 10 persons: US$/person 6-9 persons: US$/person 2-5 persons: US$/person 1 person: US$ Single Room Supplement: US$/person |
|
|
1. Stay in 4 star hotels. 2. Using minibus when travel and all transfer to hotels. 3. Three standard meals each day (daily buffet breakfast in the hotel). 4. Domestic air fare and airport tax
within Yunnan. 5. The ticket of the main gate for all the scenic spots. 6. English speaking guide (local tour guide). 7. The tour insurance USD36,000 per person. |
|
|
1. International air fare and airport tax. Transportation fee for you to arrive or leave Kunming. 2. All air insurance. 3. Tips to guides and drivers. 4. Single Room Supplement. 5. Personal expenses. |
|
|
1. For child younger than 11 who share one room with parents, the quotation is only 50% of the above price. 2. The price is not available for three
Chinese Public Holidays: |
|
