8 Days Meili Kawa Karpo Snow Mountain Hiking Tour to Meili Beipo

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrival Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals:None

Arrival in Kunming

• Begin your journey by arriving in Kunming, the vibrant capital of Yunnan Province, nestled at an elevation of 1,890 meters (6,199 feet) above sea level.
• From here, you'll take a flight to Shangri-La (formerly known as Zhongdian), a charming town situated at an elevation of 3,400 meters (11,155 feet).

Transfer to Your Hotel

• Upon arrival in Shangri-La, a local tour guide will be waiting to escort you to your hotel.
• Take a moment to settle in and acclimate to your new surroundings before exploring the town and its many wonders. With the aid of your guide, navigate the cobblestone streets and discover the unique blend of Tibetan and Chinese culture that defines this enchanting town.

Sightseeing and Activities:Nixi Pottery Village, Dongzhulin Monastery, the First Bend of Jinsha River, Baima Snow Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Feilaisi
Meals: Breakfast

Embark on a Scenic Drive to Deqing County

• Start your day with a 4-5 hour drive to Deqing County, nestled at an altitude of 3,400 meters.
• The journey is filled with breathtaking vistas, as you pass through valleys, forests, and Tibetan villages.
• Along the way, marvel at the diverse flora, sparkling streams, and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.
• Take a short detour to Naxi Pottery Village, where you'll enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape after a 30-minute drive from Shangri-La.

 Explore the Wonders of Benzilan Town

Continue driving down to the Jinsha River valley, passing through rolling hills and picturesque scenery.

• Stop for lunch in Benzilan Town, where you can savor local delicacies and refreshments.
• After lunch, head to Dongzhulin Monastery, located in Shusong Village, Deqin County.
• This ancient temple was built in 1667 and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Take a moment to appreciate the unique architecture and tranquil atmosphere.

Discover the Natural Beauty of Yunnan-Tibet Road

• Next, visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which marks the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.
• Unlike the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City, this bend is a grand spectacle between towering mountains.
• As you continue along the Yunnan-Tibet Road, you'll have the opportunity to view Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, where you may catch a glimpse of Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear.

Affordable Accommodation and Sunset View

• Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon and check-in to your accommodation.
• Take some time to relax and enjoy the sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform.
• You'll be treated to a stunning panorama of the 13 white pagodas, symbolizing the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain, which exceed 6,000 meters above sea level and are known as the "Prince's 13 peaks".

Sightseeing and Activities: Yagong Village 3000m, Zhangjia Camp 3450m, Bamboo Forest 3550m
Accommodation: Double tents at the campsite
Meals: Hotel breakfast, bring your own lunch for roadside dining, dinner will be provided at the campsite

Embark on an Epic Hiking Adventure

• Today marks the beginning of our thrilling hiking journey.
• You'll start by departing from Feilaisi in the morning and making your way to Yagong Village, nestled at an elevation of 3,000 meters. After a 1.5-hour drive, you'll gear up and begin our ascent into the mountains, immersing ourselves in the lush bamboo forests and broad-leaved forests.

A Scenic Hike Through the Mountains

• As you make your way up the valley, you'll encounter rocky sections and enjoy the picturesque views along the way.
• You'll take a break around noon to refuel with a simple roadside lunch by the bridge, savoring the tranquility of our surroundings. After about 4 hours of hiking, we'll reach Zhangjia Camp, where we'll catch our first glimpse of the snow-capped mountains.

Camping at Bamboo Forest Camp

• Continuing on for another hour, you'll arrive at our camping site for the night, Bamboo Forest Camp.
• After a short rest, your team leader will guide you in setting up our tents and preparing dinner.
• As the sun sets, You'll gather around the campfire for a warm cup of tea and lively conversation. Under the starry sky, You'll retire to our tents around 9 o'clock, surrounded by the sounds of nature.

 A Night Without Distractions

• Please note that there will be no cell phone signal for the remainder of today's journey, allowing you to fully disconnect and immerse yourselves in the natural beauty surrounding you.
• As you settle in for the night, you'll recharge for another day of adventure ahead.

Sightseeing and Activities: Bamboo Forest Camp 3550m, Pojun Camp 4120m
Accommodation: Double tents at the campsite
Meals: Breakfast and dinner provided at the campsite, along with fruit drinks. Bring your own lunch for roadside dining.

A New Day of Adventure Begins

• You rise and shine at 7:30 am, packing up our gear and tents before fueling up with a hearty breakfast at 8:00.
• With the energy levels replenished, you set off towards Pojun Camp, eager to explore the breathtaking scenery ahead.

Unspoiled Wilderness Awaits

• As you venture deeper into the valley, we traverse approximately 3 kilometers of pristine forest, the majestic main peaks of the north slope of Meili Snow Mountain gradually coming into view.
• Then you pass through an abandoned cattle farm and cross a wooden bridge, before climbing up the hillside to behold the stunning Nairi Dingka Glacier and its associated glaciers.

 Pojun Camp: A Paradise Found

• As you continue towards the snow-capped mountains, you soon arrive at Pojun Camp, situated at the foot of the north slope of Meili Snow Mountain.
• The campsite offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Nairi Dingka Glacier, Nairi Dingka, Mangku La Ka, and other main peaks.
• With the snow-capped mountains towering above you, a brilliant blue sky stretching out before us, and a serene river flowing gently through the valley, you're surrounded by nature's splendor.
• The leisurely yaks grazing in the distance add to the serene ambiance. After setting up your tents, you can explore and take photos near the Nairi Gongka Glacier to our heart's content.

A Day Without Distractions

• Please note that there will be no cell phone signal for the entire duration of today's journey, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in this unspoiled wilderness and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Sightseeing and Activities: Pojun Camp 4120m, Ciding Pass 4770m, Pojiang Campsite 4450m
Accommodation: Double tents at the campsite
Meals: Breakfast and dinner provided at the campsite, along with fruit. Bring your own lunch for roadside dining.

Sunrise Over the Golden Summit

• As morning breaks, we're treated to a breathtaking spectacle – if the weather cooperates, you'll capture the stunning sunrise over the northern slope of Meili Snow Mountain, affectionately known as the "Golden Summit".
• After fueling up with breakfast, we set off from camp, ready to tackle the day's adventure.

Ascent to the Mountain Pass

• Your journey begins by departing from the campsite and making our way up towards the mountain pass after passing through a picturesque small pasture.
• The initial ascent is steep and rocky, but the breathtaking views are well worth the effort.
• As you continue our climb, you'll follow the mountainside, taking in the panoramic vistas of the Nairi Dingka Glacier and snapping photos from unique angles.

Ciding Pass: A Highlight of the Day

•  At 4500 meters, we reach the glacial valley remnants and bypass lateral moraines before pushing on towards the challenging Ciding Pass at 4770 meters – one of today's crowning achievements.
• Along the way, you'll be treated to awe-inspiring views of the Nairi Dingka Glacier and have ample opportunities to capture its beauty from different vantage points.

 Descending to Pojiang Campsite

• After crossing the pass, we begin our descent in a zigzag pattern, dropping over 300 meters to reach the valley bottom where Pojiang Campsite awaits us at an altitude of 4450 meters.
• As you gaze back up at our journey so far, you'll see the 5200-meter-high Yunnan-Tibet Pass looming in the distance – a spot where both China Telecom and China Mobile offer 4G signals, marking a rare moment of connectivity in this otherwise remote wilderness.

Sightseeing and Activities: Pojiang Campsite 4450m, Yunnan-Tibet Pass 5200m
Accommodation: Double tents at the campsite
Meals: Breakfast and dinner provided at the campsite, along with fruit. Bring your own lunch for roadside dining.

Into the Unknown: The Yunnan-Tibet Pass

•  Following breakfast, we embark on the most daunting leg of our journey, bound for Tibet and the 5200-meter-high Yunnan-Tibet Pass.
• This grueling ascent demands extra caution, as the road conditions are treacherous and the altitude is daunting.
• The lack of a clear trail on either side of the pass only adds to the challenge.

 A Brief Respite at 4700 Meters

• As you climb steadily, you eventually reach a plateau at an altitude of 4700 meters, where you take a moment to catch our breath and recharge before pressing on.
• The breathtaking views of the Kawagebo II Peak and Nairi Dingka Glacier offer a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come.

A Panoramic View from the Yunnan-Tibet Border

• From the Yunnan-Tibet border pass, you're treated to a stunning panorama of the Meili Snow Mountain's northern slope, with Kawagebo II Peak standing tall and proud.
• On the other side of the pass lies Tibet, where you catch a glimpse of the majestic Mucang Snow Mountain.

 Descending to Twins Lake

Following the ridge, you make our way down along a rocky path to reach the serene Twins Lake.

After this challenging section, we retrace our steps back to the Pojiang Campsite

A Choice for All

Today marks the most demanding day of our journey, and those with lower physical fitness levels may choose to stay at the Pojiang Campsite to rest and take in the breathtaking views.

For those with better physical fitness, joining the team leader to admire the stunning scenery from the Yunnan-Tibet border pass is an option not to be missed.

Sightseeing and Activities:  Dala Campsite below 4200m, Yagong Village 3000m

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast at the campsite, lunch is self-provided, dinner at your own expense

Descend and Revisit

• Today, you start the return journey, retracing our steps and exploring the beauty of the Meili Snow Mountain once more.
• you begin early in the morning from the campsite, with a gentle 100-meter uphill climb to get us started.

A Descent to Dala Campsite

•  Following this brief ascent, you continue downhill for a continuous stretch, descending all the way to the picturesque Dala Campsite.
• The scenery here is nothing short of breathtaking, rivaling that of Everest Base Camp in its grandeur.

A Secluded Valley Oasis

•  As you make your way through an abandoned cowshed and weave through the forest, we find ourselves descending into a secluded valley at around 2800 meters.
• The tranquil atmosphere is palpable, and the sound of gurgling springs accompanies us as we continue our journey.

 A Glimpse of Meili Snow Mountain

•  With Yagong beckoning in the distance, we follow the direction towards it, taking in the majestic view of Meili Snow Mountain's northern slope as it recedes into the distance.
• As you descend, the vegetation becomes increasingly lush, with diverse broad-leaved forests, tall trees, and wild bamboo forests providing a verdant backdrop.

Arrival in Yagong Village

• Crossing several wooden bridges, we finally descend from the mountains and arrive at the entrance of Yagong Village, marking the end of the main section of our Meili Snow Mountain trek.
• After taking in the sights and sounds of this charming village, you take a 2-hour drive back to Feilaisi and check into our hotel.

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangri-La
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Free at leisure before be picked up from hotel and transferred to Shangri-La airport for the departure flight. Service ends.