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Holidays

Minya Konka Test Trip - Emily COPY

Available Departures: Apr, May

15 days from

US$3,940

without flights
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
CHALLENGING CHALLENGING

Trekking in wild and remote China, bordering Eastern Tibet TEST TEST

Trip Code: MKTX
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

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4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

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7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

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10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

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Minya Konka Test Trip - Emily COPY

Highlights
  • TEST Trek beneath Minya Konka (7556m), the third highest peak beyond the Himalaya/Karakorum range

  • TEST Meet the distinctive Khampa and Minyak communities of the Kham region

  • TEST Discover the Great Mani Pile of the Tagong Plateau and overnight at Konka Monastery

  • TEST See Pandas and Red Pandas at the Breeding and Research Centre at Chengdu


At a Glance
  • Group Size 6 to 8
  • Self-Guided
  • 5 days cycling and sightseeing
  • Bike hire included
  • GPS Travel App
  • Daily departures available
  • Join In Chengdudu

Accommodation & Meals
  • 14 Breakfasts
  • 13 Lunches
  • 14 Dinners
  • 6 nights Hotel
  • 5 nights Camping
  • 1 nights Monastery
  • 1 nights Homestay
  • 1 nights Lodge
Overview

This superb adventure in remote China combines the experience of real Tibetan culture with a spectacular trek through the beautiful valleys of Riwoche and Moxi to the Monastery below the ice-fluted shark's fin of Minya Konka (7556m), the world's third highest peak outside the Himalaya. Situated on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, Minya Konka is also one of the most sacred mountains to Tibetan Buddhists, equal in status to Mount Kailas in Western Tibet. Impressive mountain panoramas and austere glaciers, babbling brooks and river torrents, azure blue lakes, enchanting mixed woodland, grazing yaks and their nomadic herders, chortens, mani walls, prayer flags and elaborately decorated Gompas can all be found here.


Our week long trek begins just south of Kangding. the 'Gateway to Tibet'.  We make a steady ascent of the Riwoche valley with its soaring cliffs and fast river torrents. At the head of this valley we enter a high grazing area where we will encounter the temporary settlements of the nomadic yak herders. Climbing to cross the 4900 metre Bhuchu La, we then descend the beautiful Moxi valley eventually entering forests of rhododendron, juniper, birch and oak which in October become a riot of Autumnal colours. We stay overnight in the Konka monastery and the climax of our trek is the climb to the ridge above for unrivalled views of Minya Konka and the Daxue range of 6000-metre snowy peaks. Although Minya Konka is the undoubted centre-piece of this great trekking holiday to a little visited mountain region of Sichuan, there is much more to the holiday than this, admittedly, superbly photogenic mountain.

If you want to see real Tibetan culture, this is where you should come. This holiday will give you an insight into the rural life of the Kham region and also of the Minyak people who are an ethnic group distinct again from their Khampa neighbours. Combined with a fascinating journey through Sichuan province, with its many spectacular monasteries, gigantic 'hill paintings' and the great Mani Pile of Tagong, and sightseeing in the city of Chengdu, including the Pandas at the world famous breeding centre. This is a world class trekking holiday and also a real adventure and travel experience in an area visited by very few Westerners.

Is this holiday for you?

This holiday combines a week long trek with a cultural experience staying and touring in Western Sichuan - an area steeping in Tibeten culture. The trek to Minya Konka is not long or sustained but it travels through rugged country, generally at a high altitude and across a high pass of 4900 metres. The average walking day is around 5 - 6 hours with one longer day across the Bhuchu La of 8 or po …

This holiday combines a week long trek with a cultural experience staying and touring in Western Sichuan - an area steeping in Tibeten culture. The trek to Minya Konka is not long or sustained but it travels through rugged country, generally at a high altitude and across a high pass of 4900 metres. The average walking day is around 5 - 6 hours with one longer day across the Bhuchu La of 8 or possibly 9 hours. In general the underfoot conditions are good and we follow a well established trails used by the semi nomadic Yak herders who travel through these valleys.

Though altitude will of course be a factor, this short trek is suitable for experienced hill walkers with a good level of fitness. Please note that this is a real adventure in an area rarely visited by other groups. Organised trekking is still in its infancy in this part of the world and therefore services will be more basic than you may have experienced trekking in the Himalaya. This holiday is perfect for those who are seeking to trek in remote areas and who are happy to accept the pioneering nature of the trip.

Why KE?

Travel with KE, as the only UK based operator offering this off-the-beaten-track trek in the wildest regions of China. The chance to exeperience real Tibetan culture visiting the remote communities of Khampa and Minyak in the shadow of the majestic Minya Konka - the third highest peak outside the Himalaya.

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