SCYTS-006: MINYA KONGKA, KHAM AND BEYOND(20 DAYS)

"There's no more beautiful spot on earth than Minya Kongka, one night spend on the mountain is equivalent to sitting ten years in meditation." Tibetan
inscription translated by Joseph Rock.

Mingya Konka means "Ever White Ice" in Tibetan. It's elevation is 7556m.Even the elevation of which is not as high as Himalayan Mountain, but the mountain itself from foot to top is much higher than Himalaya Mountain: It's foot is only about 1000 meters above sea level, while the foot of Himalaya is more than 3000 meters above sea level.

This program entails two circuits covering a significant portion of the old Tibetan Province of Kham. Our trekking route follows in the steps of the 1929 Journey made by American Explore Joseph Rock to Minya Gongka. Our second route takes high onto the plateau by vehicle, then down into the forested valleys of the upper Yangtse watershed. Offering intense challenge and close contact with diverse cultural groups, this trek ensure an overall experience rarely found on other  programs.

Once thought to be the highest peak on earth, the mysterious Minya Gongka hasfascinated mountaineers for over a century. Our six day trek around this
mountain begins by following the old tea trade route west of Dartsedo, the
historic gateway into Tibet, crossing the Thsedo La Pass (4296m) to reach the trailhead at Liu Ba Villlage. All gear begin transported by packhorse, the Yulong Xi River is followed before crossing the Thsumi La (4700m) to the Gongka days hiking we continue back down the Yulong Xi and over Jhatse La to finish our circuit at Lao Yu Lin south of Dartsedo.

Our second greater circuit leads high onto the Tibetan Plateau to Litang (4700m)and then crossing four high passes into Yunnan Province. We make a stop at the remote Tibetan area of Zhongdian before descending into the Naxi cultural center of Lijiang. To finish this circuit we reach Kunming via the enhancing town of Dali, the ancestral home of the Bai people, situated by the blue water of Er Hai Lake.

Day 1: Arrive Chengdu: Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. It area is 12,000 square km, with a
population of 9 million. Visit the open markets and it's traditional tea houses. Visit the Sichuan Embroidery Factory and admiring how the workers there working in the traditional way.          Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 2:Chengdu: Dufu's Thatched Cottage, the Bamboo Park and Temple of Manjury.                                     Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 3:Chengdu/Dartsedo(359km):through fertile farmlands, cross Erlang Mountain(2987m) to Dartsedo, the old caravansary town on the Gyarong Ngulchu River.                         Overnight at Dartsedo Hotel
                                           
Day 4:Datsedo to Liuba Village(169km):Leaving the historic gateway into Tibet,we cross the Thsedo La Pass as we ascend the windswept plateau. Highland pastures, nomads life, massive square Tibetan watchtowers.  
Overnight at questhouse or camping
Day 5:Liuba Vallage to Thsumi La by vehicle, then begin to trek, follow Yulong Shi Valley upstream, take side valley eastward to Thsumi La.
                                      Overnight at questhouse or camping
Day 6:Thsumi La to Gongka Gompa: Cross the Thsumi La(4700m),we reach the
peaceful village of Thsumi and go on to cross Bhuda Chu River Valley to Gongka Gompa.                       Overnight at the monastery
Day 7:Gongka Gompa: explore Mingya Gongka glacier and are above monastery,
Rock's ridge, etc. Exceptional view of Mingya Kongka. 
Overnight at the monastery.
Day 8:Gongka Gompa to Yu Long Xi River: Day spent descending to the beautiful Yu Long Xi Valley.        Overnight at questhouse or camping
Day 9:To Jatse La: Turning north, cross expansive grasslands dotted with black yak hair tents of local nomads. Arrive Jatse La fort.     
                              Overnight at questhouse or camping
Day10:To Lao Yu Lin, then to Datsedo: Cross the Jatse La pass(4000m),trek down stream to reach Lao Yu Lin. Meet vehicle and drive to Datsedo Hotel.
                                            Overnight at Datsedo Hotel
Day11: Dartsedo to Litang(285km):Magnificent drive along Sichuan-Tibet highway to Litang(4700m). Litang is the second highest county town all over the world.                    Overnight at Litang Hotel
Day12:Litang: Explore Litang Monastery and its fascinating bazaar frequented by traders and nomads from the surrounding grassland.
                                              Overnight at Litang Hotel
Day13: Litang to Dao Cheng(149km):Cross Mountain Dachen Shan(4679m) and goes on to Dao Cheng in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a town that reflects the diverse characteristics of the different Tibetan groups in the vicinity.     Overnight at Dao Cheng Hotel
Day14:Dao Cheng to Xiang Cheng(106km):Cross Mountain Wumingshan (Mountain
Without Name) pass (5008m) to Xiang Cheng.
                                         Overnight at Xiang Cheng Hotel
Day15: Xiang Cheng to Lijiang(374km)Pass through the remote Tibetan regions of Zhongdian, and drive through stunning mountainous country to arrive in Lijiang where the Naxi people lives: Naxi is so far the only ethnic group with living pictographic characters. And that the local people here still plays the music of Tang Dynasty of more than one thousand years ago. Overnight at Lijiang Hotel
Day16:Lijiang:Explore old city, Joseph Rock's cottage, Naxi vallage of Baisha Xiang, Jade Peak Monastery. Superb views of Jade Dragon Mountain.
                                            Overnight at Lijiang Hotel
Day17:Lijiang to Dali(202km)drive through spectacular mountains and rice
growing valley to Dali, ancestral home of Bai People.
                                                Overnight at Dali Hotel
Day18:Dali: Explore the old market and ancient city, visit the Three Pagoda
Monastery and boat ride on Erhai Lake. Overnight at Dali Hotel
Day15:Dali to Kunming(420km): Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province and a "Ever Spring" City.                Overnigt at Kunming Hotel
Day19: Kunming-Sightseeing the Stone Forest located in Lunan County.
                                              Overnigt at Kunming Hotel