12 days Minya Konka Trekking Tour in Western Sichuan

This tour offers an opportunity to trek through one of the most diverse and scenic regions in Sichuan province. Discover its unique cultures and enchanting natural beauty. As you arrive in Chengdu, the first destination of this memorable trip, be greeted and assisted to your hotel. Your local guide will give you a talk about the trip after you get settled into the hotel. The rest of the day is for you to retire or walk around this city, which is renowned for its spicy food and leisurely lifestyle.

Start the tour today by driving to Kangding this morning. Enjoy the scenic drive, and see the landscapes change when the elevation rises from 500 m. (1,640 ft.) above the sea level to 2,000 m. (6,562 ft.) along the way. Stop at Luding to have a short break and lunch and visit the Iron Bridge. 

After 5-6 hours' drive, you will arrive at Kangding-the capital city of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Spend the rest of the day for the acclimatization, or visit a famous temple Namo or Anjue.

Today you will make your day excursion to Mugecuo, the most famous highland lake in Kham area. You will spend 3-4 hours trekking here for the preparation for Mt. Minya Konka trekking.

Drive about a half-hour to Laoyulin to meet the horse team, then drive another half hour to the trekking start point, then spend about 6-7 hours trekking via a beautiful valley with rushing glacier rivers. Camping.

Trek about 5 hours, view the snow mountains in front and behind you. Camping.

Trek about 6-7 hours, difficult day starts by walking up to the 4900m pass. A panoramic view by the top of the Riwoche pass where you can see great views of the mountains in Gonggashan. Camping.

Full-day walking in the lush Moxi valley. River-crossing involved. Camping.

Continue to walk to the south and make a U-turn to the Gongga Gompa, about 5-6 hours. There is only one monk living here. Stay overnight at guesthouses near the Gompa. 

Say goodbye to Minya Konka this morning. Trek the last 2 hours to Zimei village to meet your driver at some point. Then drive to Tagong, a beautiful place which is famous for the grassland.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Tagong Monastery, which is called the 'Small Jokhang Temple'. This monastery is one of the best places to learn about the Tibetan Buddha in Sichuan. It preserves Sakyamuni Buddha figure that has been housed here since the late 7th century. According to legend, the Tang Princess Wengcheng left the figure hereafter it fell out of the baggage train and whispered that it would like to stay in Tagong. Walk around at the foot of Yala Sacred Mountain and Snow Mountain to appreciate the natural beauty. 

After breakfast, say farewell to Tagong, and drive to Danba to visit the Tibetan village Jiaju. Stop at Bamei to visit the 11th Dalai Lama's birthplace - Huiyuan Gompa. Jiaju is regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in China, the name Jiaju means one hundred families in the Tibetan language. This peaceful village is located at the foot of Yaxiao Mountain, which is known as the sacred mountain by the locals. Climb up to the mountainside, you will see many elegant white Tibetan houses scattered in the forest, resembling many stars in the sky.

Morning you will visit the beautiful Zhonglu village, Zhonglu literally means "the place mankind and God both look forward to" in Tibetan. The elegant white Tibetan houses embellish in the forest on the hill which scattered all over like stars in the sky. 

Afterward, you will leave the beautiful Western Sichuan for Chengdu. Upon your arrival in Chengdu in the late afternoon, get settled into the hotel to retire. 

Head to the Chengdu Panda Base, where you will see the adorable pandas in this morning. Spend time and get up close with the panda, one of the rarest animals in China. Now the giant panda only lives in Sichuan Province mountain ranges in central China and cultivation centers like the Chengdu Panda Base. See the morning feeding the pandas and learn about their lifestyle during your visit. 

After lunch, your driver and local guide will drive you to the airport for departure. If you wish to continue your travels, we are experts in tailor made trips and ready to assist you in extending your stay in China.