Kangding Minya Konka Panorama Hiking - 5 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 300km. 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. After the walk drive back to Kangding and check in hotel. Feel free to explore the town of Kangding at leisure. Kangding is a mixed Tibetan and Chinese town with modern things available. You can choose to walk around the river that runs through the town, or watch the dancing people by the central square or do some shopping by the shops for next days supplies. Have good rest and prepare for the next day's activity.

Total Walking 4-8km between 3900m and 4200m. Easy Pace.

Overnight in hotel by 2600m.

Today we will start from our hotel in Kangding and drive directly to Xinduqiao over Zheduoshan Pass then drop down to our hiking starting point over the ridges near Xinduqiao and then start to walk. We will have excellent views of the whole Minya Konka range in front of us during the whole hiking. The walking is at above 4000m with open views of mountains, valleys, villages. The walking is sometimes steep but overall medium difficult. We shall start with more leisure pace and try catch breath in the low oxygen air. Our hiking is also flexible between 8km and 18km according to the weather condition. After the hiking check in to the same hotel. You may consider to stay late for sunset if weather is good.

Driving 2h, walking 8-18km, medium pace

Overnight in hotel by 3400m.

In the morning, we will drive out for around 1 hour on to the grassland in the nomadic Tagong and start to walk from Tagong by a visit to the Buddhist school for around 30 minutes before hiking starts. The walk is difficult for the first bit when the terrain is steep up. After the first bit it gets easier with more gradual ascents and descents on the ridgeline. Views from the ridge are worth the hard walking. You will have the panoramic view of Tagong and Tagong Grassland, big mountains including Minya Konka Range, Lamoshe Mountains, and Yala Mountains. Total walking around 15km for around 7-8 hours. It's in general a hard walk in Tagong. By the end of the hiking you will drop down to a village and be picked up and send to your hotel in Tagong. Please note you may also choose to do it the other way round which is normally less challenging by driving out first to higher place and then walk on the ridgeline descending for most of the time instead of walking up.

Driving 1h, walking 158km, medium pace

Overnight in hotel by 3700m.

Today's visit and hiking is mainly in the park of Mt. Yala. Mt. Yala is a recently built up park that is with good road leads to the base of the mountain. After we get tickets from the tourist center we will first use a small park bus to go to the base of the mountain. The bus ride is around 40 minutes. After we arrive the base we can walk up to the lakes by the foot of Mt. Yala where we can see the stunning glacier and the beautiful lake Yala Yumtso. From the base we can also hire a horse to ride up to the lake since the walking up 3km is very steep. We will walk or use a horse from the base by 3750m to Yala Yumtso Lake by 4050m. Yala Yumtso is just located by the base of Mt. Yala, a holy mountain worshiped by local people that is 5820m above sea level. We can see some thick glaciers by its north face. If time allowes we can walk up further to explore two more lakes above Yala Yumtso Lake at 4200m for extra 2.5km by a pass. We gain more open views by the two lakes.After the visit come back the same way and use park bus to the car park and continue drive to Tagong for another 1h. En route visit Huiyuan Temple if time allows. After arrive in Tagong check in to hotel and have dinner.

Hiking 12km; Challenging pace

Overnight in hotel by 3700m.

Today we will have a visit to the Tagong Monastery in the morning. Tagong monastery was built in 600s AD when princess Wencheng start her journey to Lhasa, earlier than many monasteries in Tibet. It is a widely-worshiped Sakya sect monastery across Kham. It has a taste of ancient Chinese style, located at the end of Tagong Xiang(Town).Then we will drive back to Chengdu via Zheduoshan Road pass. Arrive Chengdu in late afternoon, tour ends.

Driving 2h, walking 8-18km, medium pace

Overnight in hotel by 3400m.