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Trip:
Trekking in the secret valleys of Mt. Genyen
Trip
Summary:
The heart of
this trip is a trek around Mt. Genyen, a pilgrimage site of immense local
importance on the Lithang-Bathang border in southern Kham. You are afforded
facets of nomad culture, popular religion, contemporary urban life and cultural
monuments.
Detailed
Itinerary:
Day 1 Flight
to Kunming, sightseeing
Arrive Kunming,
sightseeing and tranfer to Hotel
Day 2
Flight, Sumtsenling, and Short Acclimatisation hike
Early morning
flight to Gyalthang (Zhongdian) 3300 m and transfer to hotel for some rest and
acclimatization. We will take a short trip to visit Sumtsenling monastery
overlooking the town .
Day 3 Drive
to Derong, thru Gonjo and the Yangtze gorges 7 hours
Drive to Derong
160 km, passing the Yangtze River gorge. We will make a stop to visit Gonjo an
artisan town where villagers make beautiful wooden bowls and alters with
exquisite carving and then continue thru the deep gorges near Wakha where the
ancient Caravan traders ferried their goods to Kungzera on the other side of the
Yangtze. overnight at Hotel.
Day
4 Drive to trailhead and begin trek
Early morning
drive to trail head 6-7 hours - Dongjung village 170 km, on the way passing thru
many beautiful local villages amid the watershed tributaries of the Yangtze.
Day 5
Trekking
Trekking for
5-6 hrs to Shinag. The path is filled pristine forests and flowers in bloom.
Shinag is famous for it is medicinal herbs, especially the caterpillar fungus
Day 6
Trekking
Trekking for
6-7hrs to Sha Tsonak Lake, surrounded by mountains and 40 different small lakes,
camping at lakeside.
Day 7
Trekking
Trekking for
6-7 hours to Trasong Shik a site where many nomads camp during the difficult
grazing season in winter.
Day 8
Trekking
Trekking 4-5
hrs to Neygong Monastery in the Shambala Valley. The caretaker there will
describe many precious objects housed in the monastery and saved from the
Cultural Revolution, including a conch shell.
Day 9
Trekking
Trekking for
6-7 hrs to Karpuma. On the way we visit the hermitage cave of 1st Karmapa known
as Dhusum Khenpa (1110-93) located near the sacred Jampa Lhatso Lake.
Day 10
Trekking
Trekking for
7-8 hrs to Shupta, we will see Demchok Lake named after the main Kalachakra
deity and one of the largest alpine lakes in this region. Tibetans from Genyen
often come to this lake to pray, believing that it offers visions of their
future lives.
Day 11
Trekking
Trekking 3-4
hrs to Shupta hot springs, where you can enjoy a hot bath. Camping near the hot
spring.
Day 12
Trekking
Trekking 4 hrs
up and down 3 hrs to Shapta Lake, where you will enjoy great views of the
mountains, forest, rivers and especially wildflowers such as rhododendrons and
azaleas.
Day 13
Trekking
Trekking 5- 6
hrs to Tsethang grassland, passing Likadop village along the way. From Tsethang
you can have a breaktaking view of the mountains and pasture land. Camping
there.
Day 14
Trekking, Vehicle pickup
Trekking for
3-4 hrs to Dramla village, where our vehicle will be waiting for you. Then drive
4 hrs to Lithang, on the way stopping at a hot spring to relax and have a much
needed bath. We check in at Lithang hotel.
Day 15
Cultural tour
Sightseeing in
Lithang.We will visit Lithang monastery which is one of the ?¡ãGreat Thirteen?¡À
monasteries in the Kham region. Afternoon, we will stroll in the local market
and streets which has a taste of the ?¡ãWild West.?¡À Hotel
Day 16 Drive
to Chatreng
Drive from
Lithang to Chatreng, 204 km, 7 hrs. On the way visit Phanpur Monastery and see
changing terrain. Hotel
Day
17 Drive to Gyalthang
After visiting
the impressive Samphelling Monastery, we continue driving south to Gyalthang (Zhongdian)
(220 km, ~7hrs). We will have a farewell hotpot dinner at Khampa Caravan?¡¥s
home - Trinyi where the local villagers will host us at the Community Centre for
a night dance and relaxation.
Day
18, Gyalthang sightseeing
Day
19, Gyalthang-Lijiang drive
This morning we
board the plane to Lijiang, home of the Naxi people. We spend the day strolling
through the ancient city with its old narrow cobbled streets and the traditional
market. In the evening we attend the famous Naxi Music Performance. 4.5 hrs,
hotel
Day
20, Lijiang Sightseeing
Day
21, Lijiang / Kunming / Fly home
Fly to Kunming next morning (45 minutes) where we can do some last minute souvenir shopping, visit the Kunming Provincial Museum or stroll around Green Lake. Connect to international flights
