Usually trekking trips to Kangding Mt. Yala to Tagong will involve camping. The trekking from Kangding to Tagong via Mt. Yala usually takes 3 to 5 days and will have the nights camping in the mountains where the beautiful views are. This trek is in total wilderness and doesn’t require any registration to any authority since it is not completely a park except the part by the north of Mt. Yala where now (since 2021) it is a tourist park. This trek overlaps for around 2-3km with the tourist park of Yala.
There are plenty places you can camp in the valleys of Yala Mountain. There are no restrictions on where to camp except inside the tourist park of Yala. The restricted area is between the lake of Yumtso and the tourist bus terminal. There is one designated camp by the park near the tourist bus terminal down by the river. This trek is overall not super popular so you won’t see groups of hikers except maybe during holiday time.
Xindianzi Camp
Xindianzi Camp is usually the first camp of a Mt. Yala - Tagong Trek. It is a small meadow in the valley north to Kangding. It is used by local herders as shelters. There are a couple of huts local people use but not very clean. There is a small stream running just next to the camp that is only around 50 meters. Places to use toilet can either be in the bushes down or up of the camp.
Yala Base Camp
This camp is located by the foot of Mt. Yala but sometimes the tourist Park of Mt. Yala won’t allow hikers to camp there. It is an open meadow with direct views of Mt. Yala northface and one can see the snow and glacier on the mountain. There is no hut nor other shelter by this camp. There are streams running beside the camp and have safe water to use. Using toilet one needs to go further north near the hills in the bushes. This camp has the best views of this whole trek.
Hot Spring Camp
The name of this camp is called Reshuitang, meaning hot spring, due to the three open hot springs by the campsites. There are some permanent huts built by the campsite and are used by local yak herders. Hot Spring Camp is located in the west valley of Mt. Yala, where most visitors and hikers don’t go to. This camp is a wild and quiet one. There is safe water to use either from the main stream or from the side streams. Former hikers often use the toilet behind the rocks up by the hills since there are no designated toilets around the camp.
While camping there, one can also enjoy the open hot springs. These hot springs are wild and have basically zero maintenance but the hot spring water is good to soak yourself in. It is an amazing experience to enjoy a wild hot spring in the middle of wilderness.
Tailai Camp
Tailai Camp is location on Tagong Grassland by the river valley down the hiking pass of Mt. Yala. The landscape is very different on Tagong Grassland than that of around the valleys near Yala where the mountains are bigger and steeper. Around Tailai Camp there are no trees but only some bushes. There is a running stream near the camp and water is safe to use.
Please note you can basically camp anywhere without any trouble as long as you can find running water except the 3km that overlaps with the tourist park of Yala Mountain.
Campsites in Mt. Yala and Tagong Trek that are often used by hikers are basically safe and with no risk of landslide, flood.
High Elevation
The elevation of campsites in Mt. Yala and Tagong Trek are in general very high. Xindianzi Camp is at 3600m, Yala Base Camp is at 4100m, Hot Spring Camp is at 4100m, Tailai is at 4000m. The designated camp by the tourist park of Yala is at around 3800m. We recommend you to have at least one night’s sleep around 3000m before going up to higher altitude for camping to reduce the risk of having mountain sickness.
Camping Inside the “Yala Mountai Park”
A classic plan will have second night camping by the base of Yala north. However, the tourist park people don’t allow camping there and sometimes they require hikers to go down to their designated campsite to camp for one night. The advantages of using their camp are: A, it is lower by altitude; B, it has access to modern things such as internet access and a basic shop; C, it has better evacuation access since it is by the road. The disadvantages of using their camp are: A, it makes the day longer since you will need to walk further for around total 3-4km; B, you still have the view of Mt. Yala itself but it won’t be very direct; C, It can be noisy by their camp and there may be tourists passing and watching since it is near the tourist horse station.
Animal-related Hazard
There are no dangerous wild animals to worry while camping. Yaks and horses are the most common animals you will see by the camp. Yaks may get curious and approach the camp when they smell food. You are recommended to cover your food when not in use. The bells on the horses can also be very annoying by night. By the camp of Tailai there are a lot of marmots if you are traveling there in summer time. Marmots like to steal food. Please remember to not to leave your food unattended.
There are a couple of gear shops in the town of Kangding that you can find basic gears including stoves, gas canisters, lighters, raincoat, warm and down jackets, hats, gloves etc. But tents and sleeping bags are limited or even unavailable. One gear shop is located by the Long Song Square in the center of the town. By the lower part of the town there are two more gear shops that sell mainly outdoor clothing. You can also rent gears from us in Chengdu, please read our Gear Rental details.
Route: Kangding - Gongga - Kangding
Route: Chengdu - Danba - Tagong - Kangding - Chengdu
Route: Chengdu - Siguniangshan - Danba - Tagong - Kangding - Hailuogou - Chengdu
