Nine-day Trekking From Meili Snow Mountain To Cizhong
Tour Code: HT-S-003
Duration: 9days
Hiking Distance: about 90km
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours a day for 5 days
Good time to visit: from Mar to Oct
Departure date: Mar 25, Apr 19, May 20, Jun 17, Jul 22, Aug 20, Sep 14, Sep 27, Oct 20, Dec 08, 2009
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The best season for visiting Mt.Kawagebo(6,740m/22,107ft) is in the fall time and it must be clear day. The snow-capped Mountains, whose every peak is the subject of an enchanting tale. The glacier at the foot of the peak extends 11,000 feet downward to a surprisingly low level, seeming to plunge into the Lancang (Mekong ) River. Tucked away at the foot of Mt. Kawagebo, one of Tibet's most sacred mountains, is the stunningly beautiful and isolated village of Yubeng. With the exception of the occasional mountain climbing expedition and Buddhists on a pilgrimage to the mountain and sacred waterfall a half-day's walk away, Yubeng is rarely visited by outsiders. The villagers' timeless way of life - herding yak, plowing the fields and fetching water from the nearby glacier stream - has changed little over the centuries. This trip will start from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, and take us to the northwestern part of the province on the Tibetan Plateau. We will follow the same trail that pilgrims take on their way to Mt. Kawagebo.
Several attempts have been made to conquer Meli Mountain since 1990, but all failed. This pilgrim trekking has more than 600 years history, the scenery on the way is breathtakingly beautiful, the ecology system is well preserved, even the animals you meet are not afraid people because nobody want to hurt them, all the villagers are very friendly and hospitable. You will not believe it until you come to take this trekking by yourself. We think this is the most classic trekking route in China. It's guaranteed unforgettable.
Day-by-day Itinerary:
Day1 Kunming/Zhongdian(Shangri-la)(3,300m/10,824ft)
Arrive in Kunming(1,890m/6,199ft), and change the flight to Zhongdian(Shangrela), where we can see the largest Prayer wheel. Time permitting, we also have a chance to visit Songzhanling Monastery, 5KM not far away from the city.
Hostel/Flight
Day2 Zhongdian(Shangri-la)/ Temple Flown From Afar (200km/7h drive 3,400m/11,464ft,BLD)
Early in the morning we will drive 7hs directly to Feilaisi Temple. On the way we will have many stops for the pictures, we will not only pass by some Tibetan Villages, but the Horse-hoof Shaped Bend and Baima Snow Mountain( 4,200 m /13,776 ft), it is one of the most important bio-diversity sites for the Great Rivers Project sponsored by the Nature Conservancy. And stay in the hostel nearby Feilaisi Temple, where we can see the whole 13 Peaks of Meili Snow Mountain if lucky enough.
Hostel/Van
Day3 Temple Flown From Afar /Xidang Hot Spring(15km/7h trekking 2,650m/8,692ft,BLD)
Early in the morning, we will trek down directly to the edge of Meikong River(2,050m/6,724ft) along the trail nearby the White Summits. Walk up directly to Xidang Village(2,200m/7,216ft) for lunch, and go on walking about 2.5 hours or so to Hot Spring Hostel. Overnight There.
Hostel
Day4 Xidang Village/Yubeng Village(14km/6h trekking 3,050m/10,004ft,BLD)
Today's trekking will be strenuous – For the first trekking section takes us 4 hours or so to climb up to the Mountain pass ( 3,700 m /12,136 ft) in the virgin forests. After a picnic at the summit (where there may still be snow in early spring), we will descend to the isolated village of Yubeng. We will spend the night in a small lodge.
Hostel
Day5 Yubeng Village/Base Camp/Yubeng(18km/7h trekking be and back,BLD)
In the morning, Walk from our hostel to the Base Camp(3,700m/12,136ft). We will trek up about 3hs to the Mountain pass(3,500m/11,480ft) in the virgin forests. On the way we may see many remains of the dead woods. And one hour trekking down along the horse-road from the mountain pass, we reach the base camp, where the view becomes very open.
Hostel
Day6 Yubeng Village/Sacred Waterfall/Yubeng(14km/4h trekking be and back,BLD)
Weather permitting, we'll wake up to a clear view of the Mt. Kawagebo glacier. After breakfast we will hike to the waterfall(3,400m/11,152ft), from which Yubeng's name originated. Buddhists on a pilgrimage to the area circumambulate the waterfall 13 times with the belief that this act will erase all sins from this life. In the early afternoon we'll head back to the village lodge, visiting sacred sites along the way.
Hostel
Day7 Yubeng Village/ Yanmen Town(25km/8h trekking, 25km/1h drive 2,000m/6,560ft,BLD)
Today We will spend the whole morning walking down in Yubeng Valley. Yubeng River flows all the way into Meikong River. Parts of the trail we will cover is actually a canal dig along the half-way mountain by local villagers. And the altitude drops also to 1,900m(6,232ft), causing quite different views on the way. Have lunch in Ninong village(1,900m/6,232ft), cross Meikong River and 2 hours more trek to Jiabi Village , change the van to Yanmen Town. Overnight there
Hostel
Day8 Yanmen Town/Shigu Town(240km/7h drive, 1850m/6068ft,BLD)
In the morning it takes us one hour to drive to Cizhong village, visiting Cizhong Christian Church build by French missionaries last century. In the afternoon take the bus down along Meikong River directly to Shigu town, where the First bend of Yangzhi River passes by. On the way we also have chances for visiting Naxi, Lisu villages .Overnight in Shigu Town
Hostel
Day9 Shigu Town/Lijiang(67km/2h drive,B)
Drive back to Lijiang, the end of tour.
Tour Cost: Currency Converter
| | 2-3 person | 4-5 person | 6-9 person | Over 10 person | Single Supplement |
| Tour Cost | CNY13500/P
$2015/P | CNY11100/P
$1657/P | CNY10200/P
$1522/P | CNY9900/P
$1478/P | CNY1100/P
$164/P |
($1=6.7CNY)
(The cost for the child of 2-12 year old is free of any charges.Any baby less than 2 year old is free of any charges. If it turns out there is cost involved, we reserved to collect the cost.) |
- Please reserve at least ONE MONTH before the departure time.
- We are ready to extend your tour in Beijing if you want. Please click Tours in Beijing for reference or contact our expert!
- As the exchange rate of CNY to USD is floating, we reserve the right to adjust the quote in USD according to the exchange rate on the date you pay the tour.
The tour cost includes:
- Local transportation: A private vehicle (land cruiser in the desert or other off-road area as listed in the itinerary, bus or mini-van elsewhere in the area with good road) will accompany us for the entire tour. While we are trekking, our vehicle will transfer our food and luggage to the appointed site or hostel and wait or meet us at the end of the trekking tour.
- Equipment as required: tents and mats for sleeping bags when camping, rope (if necessary), water (4 liters per person per day), 2-way radios, compass , first aid kit, GPS
- Leader: Experienced English-speaking tour leader and one or more service persons along the trip as needed.
- Entrance fees: All first-entrance tickets to the tourist spots mentioned in the itinerary.
- Accommodation: 4-star hotels in the big cities, twin and tri-share clean hostel in the small counties or villages, occasionally private home if indicated, and tents in the desert and at certain unique camping spots mentioned in the itinerary.
- Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary, with some simple picnic lunches while trekking.
- Common carrier tickets: All domestic airfares and train tickets (soft sleeper) as listed in the itinerary, if applicable
- Extra supplier truck or staff (only needed when the area we will trek to is non-residential and not accessible for any :vehicles): truck for carrying food and all supporting equipments, and cook to prepare fresh food for the group when necessary（usually for a group more than 8 persons only）, yak/camel/horse and porter for carrying luggage while trekking/camping.
- Travel agency liability insurance.
The tour cost does not include:
- Personal gear required: if camping, a sleeping bag sufficiently warm to protect against minus 20°C (-4°F) in Jan-March, against -10°C or -5°C (14°F- 23°F) in April and May, against 0-5°C (32°-41°F) in June. Also: hiking boots; It may different from the area, we will provide you the exact information when you confirm a tour. Raincoat; cap; camera; sun-cream; sun-glasses; pocket knife; day-pack, etc.
- Expenses of a personal nature: favorite snacks, soft drinks, laundry , local or long-distance calls, etc.
- Tips to tour guide and driver.
- Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
- Any service persons to carry personal belonging while trekking (although this can be arranged, it should be unnecessary - participants should find that trekking with a single day-pack for personal items should suffice.)
- Single supplement costs (for those who want accommodation on a single basis)
- Visa to China
- Domestic and international flights and related airport taxes not listed in the itinerary
- Supplementary trips, entrance fees and services not mentioned, and extra costs due to unforeseen circumstances
What makes our hikes different from the others ?
- Your English-speaking guide stays with you the entire trip (including the hiking).
- Our guides carry 2-way radios (and a cell phone) in case of emergencies.
- We use safe, reliable, government-licensed vehicles (e.g. mini-vans), not a dubiously-maintained family car or taxi.
- We use professional drivers, not a “friend” making some extra money.
- We save time by taking the direct routes, even if there are charges (rather than navigating back roads trying to avoid tolls).
- With us, there are NO “forced shopping” stops !
- There are NO hidden costs ! (e.g. fuel surcharge)
- We are proud of our special designed hiking tours. We want YOU to become an ambassador of China hiking tours too!
- We not only want our customers to return – we want them to tell their friends!