Kawa Karpo Pilgrimage
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kunming. There will be a single group transfer from Kunming Airport to the group hotel in the evening. KE Land Only package services start with overnight at this hotel.
Day 2: We take the short (1 hour) internal flight to Zhongdian close to the border with Tibet. After checking in at our hotel, we visit the Gandan Sumsteling Monastery which stands Potala-like on a hill just outside the city.
Day 3: We drive across the Tibetan Plateau with spectacular views into the gorge of the Yangtse, to the recently restored monastery town of Tongtoling. After a visit to the gompa, we continue across 3 high passes (with views of Kawa Karpo) to our overnight stop at Deqing. 7 to 8 hours driving on rough roads.
Day 4: We have a short transfer to the village of Yangtsa on the Yangtze River (also known as the Mekong) which is the starting point of our trek. We cross a bridge and then ascend through a narrow gorge, eventually reaching the village of Yongju at 2514 metres, where we camp. 4 hours walking.
Day 5: We hike up through forest of pine and rhododendron, with views of Padma Shan. We pass lots of prayer flags en route to our camp on the high pasture of Lungnak (3430m). If the weather is clear, there are great mountain views from this camp. 8 hours walking.
Day 6: The day starts with a long climb to reach the Dokar La (4480m), for a wonderful panorama of the Kawa Karpo chain of mountains. We then descend almost 1000 metres to our camp in the meadows at Dorche. 8 hours walking.
Day 7: A day of mostly downhill trekking, following the valleys of Zishutong and Nongtong to Shunatong Bridge (2474m). We make our camp in a clearing near the bridge. 6 hours walking.
Day 8: Trek through oak forest and via subsidiary passes to the Namtong La (3692m). From here we make a long descent through a pine forest to the village of Aben (2259m) surrounded by cultivated terraces. We camp here in the school yard. 7 hours walking.
Day 9: Descending to the Salween River on a high trail that short-cuts the new dirt road, we meet our transport and transfer to some hot springs for lunch, then drive on to our camping place at Zhonker (1990m). 3 hours walking.
Day 10: We are now in Tsawarong District. We trek to the village of Zinac, then climb to the Tongdu La (3363m) before descending to the village of Gebu (2342m). We stay tonight in a village house. 9 hours walking.
Day 11: We start out with an 1800 metre ascent to the Tagu La (4152m), for our first unobstructed view of Kawa Karpo. We then make a long descent to the Wei Shu River. We camp beyond the river, close to Ladzachoka Chorten (2537m). 11 hours walking.
Day 12: A welcome easy day, as we hike above the river for just a couple of hours to a large village. We have time to look around the village, to meet the welcoming inhabitants and to admire the views of the Wei Chu. We set up our camp on terraces above the village at a place called Ladza (3131m). 2 hours of walking.
Day 13: A long and steep climb leads eventually to the high point of our trek at the Shu La (4822m). Tremendous views of the Kawa Karpo Massif. The descent is through rhododendron forest to a camp at Nogo (3557m). 9 hours walking.
Day 14: Trekking down to the Mekong and the town of Meili (2160m), we say goodbye to our trek crew and board our transport for the 3-hour transfer to Deqing, where we check into a simple hotel. 4 hours walking.
Day 15: We begin the journey out of this remote spot with a long day of driving to Zhongdian, where we check in at our hotel. 7 to 8 hours of driving on rough roads.
Day 16: We complete the drive to Lijiang, the capital of the Naxi minority which is situated at the foot of Jade Dragon Mountain. On arrival, we check in at a hotel and have the afternoon free to explore the city. 4 hours driving on good roads.
Day 17: We have a full day to discover Lijiang, with an afternoon's guided tour of the old part of town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its maze of waterways, bridges and streets of wooden houses, the city is bustling with life.
Day 18: We take the 45 minute flight from Lijiang to Kunming and check into the group hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Day 19: After breakfast, there is a single group transfer to Kunming Airport, where KE Land Only package services end.
