Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour

Welcome to Sichuan Province, China! Your tour begins with a pick-up from the airport and be transferred to a historic Manchurian site comprising lanes of traditional houses. You’ll get a sense of the palpable culture right off the bat! Walk around the area and see the People’s Park, where you’ll witness constant local activity, most commonly seniors partaking in dancing and singing classes, drinking tea, and playing Mahjong. Head to the hotel in the city to recover from your arrival journey.

Have breakfast in Chengdu, then hop in your transfer to the historical site of Luding Bridge on the Dadu River, built during the Qing Dynasty to connect Tibetan and Chinese cultures. A controversial battle happened on this bridge in May 1935, making this bridge a monument to the Communist Party of China. Ask your guide to regale you with the story. After the bridge visit, continue along stunning mountain roads until reaching Kangding, a wonderful town built within an enormous valley known as the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau.

After breakfast, get ready for an attraction-filled day as you wind your way along the Sichuan–Tibet Highway by private transport. The first portion of the drive takes you through several mountains, and you’ll stop at Xingduqiao on the way, an excellent location high in the mountains to snap a few photos. With any luck, you’ll have clear skies and be able to see some surrounding peaks like Gongga Mountain at 7556 m / 24,790 ft. Your next stops will be at the spiritual Lhagang Monastery and Gyergo Nunnery, from where you’ll be awarded panoramic views of Yala Mountain in the distance, your trekking destination over the next days. Continue to Zhonggu Village to enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural hot springs before settling into the guesthouse to sleep.

Time to start trekking! After breakfast in the guesthouse, have a little stretch, then begin the hike through the Yala Valley. The journey will take about 6 hours with a slow increase in altitude, but take your time if you start to feel lightheaded. The scenery will astound you with open meadows, pockets of green forests, and the majestic views of snow-capped peaks around you. You’ll arrive at camp in the afternoon and spend the evening revelling in the tranquility you earned by hiking there.

Rise early and pack up camp to prepare for a long day of trekking. First, you will climb over Yala Pass at 4200 m / 13,780 ft, with views that will take your breath away. The path continues past Sister Lake, where you’ll see gorgeous reflections of the abundant peaks within its water. In the afternoon, trek towards your camp at the base of Yala Mountain. You’ll be camping next to another lake, which enhances the already beautiful landscape with its vivid blue water in front of the giant, snowy peaks. Rest up in this pristine camp spot under a brilliant starry sky.

Wake up to a glorious sunrise next to Yala Youcou Lake, have breakfast, and pack up to trek towards civilization. Start by descending through the Ganlongke Valley made up of lush, fragrant forests, until reaching Zhongbanchang for a final view of the Yala Valley and sacred Yala Mountain behind you. You’ll take local transportation through the Tibetan Plateau to Danba Zhonglu Tibetan Village for the night. Note the ornate temples and ancient architecture around and perhaps take a stroll through the mystical streets before settling into the hostel for the night.

Assess your muscles as you eat breakfast this morning, and decide whether you want to rest or go for a short jaunt around Zhonglu Village. In the afternoon, take local transportation to reach Dangling Village, a stunning mountain town surrounded by idyllic scenery of lakes, lush forests, snowy peaks, streams, and hot springs. Enjoy a relaxing evening in this natural mountain escape.

After breakfast, leave straight from the hostel in Dangling Village to explore the idyllic scenery around. Hike through old-growth forests that open to astonishing scenery, including a panoramic look at Hulu Lake. Viewpoints on today’s route look towards incredible glaciers, lakes, peaks, and forests. Set up camp near Hulu Lake after exploring the area.

Rise with the sun and open your tent to look out at the glassy Hulu Lake this morning. Take a leisurely stroll around the lake, then pack up and descend to a relaxing break at Dangling Hot Springs. After this natural spa treatment, continue hiking to Dangling Village and meet your driver to reach Siguniangshan Town to spend the night. When you arrive, take a walk around the mountain town to admire the 5000-metre peaks surrounding you, four of which are thought to represent four sisters. Ask your guide about the local legend of the sisters.

If you have the energy, get up early, catch the sunrise over the town, and watch it illuminate the surrounding peaks in beautiful pink and orange shades. You’ll head towards Chengdu after breakfast, making a couple of stops along the way. First, you will stop at the Wolong Nature Reserve, a UNESCO site and one of China’s oldest reserves. See several species of flora and fauna, including about 50 pandas. Next, visit an ancient irrigation system built in 250 BCE that still functions today using a very simple but efficient technique that you’ll learn about here. Continue to Chengdu to enjoy the last evening with your crew.

Enjoy a final breakfast with your trekking group and bid everyone farewell. Receive a transfer to the airport or train station, depending on your next destination.