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Yunnan - Beyond the Clouds

From Lijiang to Kawa Karpo
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Meeting Khampa horsemen on the trail

Where Tibet and China's Yunnan Province meet, the sacred snow-peak of Kawa Karpo (6740m / 22,115ft) represents the final, easternmost upthrust of the Himalayas. Our approach to this little-known mountain takes us from Kunming, by way of the delightful 800 year-old town of Lijiang with its wooden houses and charming Naxi people. We also get close to the impressive rapids of the 2000 metre-deep Tiger Leaping Gorge and have time to explore the beautiful Ganden Sumtseling Monastery at the town of Shangri La. Finally at the northern tip of Yunnan, in an area once part of the old Tibetan kingdom of Kham, we have 4 days of trekking on pilgrims' trails above the Mekong River. Seeking out the best viewpoints for Kawa Karpo, we will cross high passes, visit hot springs and overnight in authentic village guesthouses. This outstanding tour and trek provides a real taste of Yunnan.

Trip Guide

This far-reaching journey into the Chinese province of Yunnan, traverses some very remote country, usually on good roads. We will travel by coach and by smaller vehicles and also on an overnight sleeper train. Overland travel of this type can be tiring and in order to get the most out of this outstanding holiday, you need to be prepared to accept this fact. This trip also includes 4 days of trekking, averaging about 5 hours walking on each of those days, on generally good trails and at reasonably modest elevations. Additionally, the trekking comes after we have already spent more than a week in Yunnan and we will be well acclimatised to the 3000 metre plus (10,000 foot) altitude. There will also be several days when the group will be exploring some of the provincial towns of Yunnan and this can also involve a fair bit of walking.