11 Days Minya Konka Pilgrimage Trekking Tour

Rising to a height of 7,556 meters (24,784 feet), Mt. Gongga towers above all the other mountains of Sichuan Province, thus earning it the moniker “King of Sichuan Mountains”. It is also one of the most sacred mountains to Tibetan Buddhists in Sichuan. This adventure trekking tour combines the experience of real Tibetan culture with the breathtaking views. You may also visit during the rainy season in July, when you can see wildflowers spreading over grasslands everywhere, but clouds may obscure your views of the high mountains, and you should be prepared to be wet.

Highlights:

  • Visit Minya Konka(Mount Gongga) to view the most sacred mountains to Tibetan Buddhists in Sichuan.
  • 6 days’ trekking from Gyazela, Upper Riuchi, Moxi Valley, Winter Pasture to Gongga Gompa.
  • 6 nights camping in the tents.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Chengdu Arrival
  • Day 2: Chengdu – Kangding
  • Day 3: Kangding – Laoyulin – Gyazela
  • Day 4: Gyazela – Shangriwuqie
  • Day 5: Shangriwuqie – Reddomaine Camp
  • Day 6: Reddomaine Camp – Winter Pasture
  • Day 7: Winter Pasture – Gongga Gompa
  • Day 8: Gongga Gompa – Shangmuju Village
  • Day 9: Shangmuju Village – Kangding
  • Day 10: Kangding – Chengdu
  • Day 11: Chengdu Departure

Day 1: Chengdu Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Airport pick-up
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: No meals

Chengdu airport pick up and transfer to your hotel. Have a good rest on the first day.

Day 2: Chengdu – Kangding

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Kangding
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Around 07:00 AM, our guide and driver will meet you at your place. Then drive through Mt. Erlangshan, and Kangding city, known as the hometown of love song. Kangding is the first jump stone to plateau for tourists who are travelling to Ganzi tibetan region or planning travel to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.

Day 3: Kangding – Laoyulin – Gyazela

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Laoyulin to meet our porter team. Then start trekking in the Gyazela Valley. Witness the incredible alpine landscape along the way. After that, we will reach our campsite by the foot of rough rocky mountains at Gyazela.

Day 4: Gyazela – Shangriwuqie

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will hike about 5 hours to pass more pastures from 3900m to 4100m. Big mountains on your left and rock faces on your right. Trail underfoot becomes less comfortable while you have more open views. Campsite is close to a glacier by the foot of Leiduomanyin. This is a windy campsite and the highest of all.

Day 5: Shangriwuchi – Reddomaine Camp

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will hike about 7 hours for 10km. First we will trek up to the 4900m pass. It maybe more physically demanding. More peaks become visible as we reach the top. Then we will have a panoramic view by the top of the Riwuqie pass where you can see great views of Mt. Minya Konka. Later walk down to REddomaine camp. It is about 1000m descending. There are snow peaks and green mountains along the way.

Day 6: Reddomaine Camp – Winter Pasture

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will hike about 6 hours for 15km. One full day walking in the lush Moxi valley. We will cross two rivers and then arrive today’s campsite by Winter Ranch at around 3600m.

Day 7: Winter Pasture – Gongga Gompa

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: Gongga Gompa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will walk about 5 hours for 12km. Continue walk to the south and make a U turn to the Gongga Gompa. We will see hundreds of prayer flags before entering Gongga Gompa. It has long been a campsite for Minya Konka expedition teams and offers excellent views of Mount Minya Konka. Read the bilingual “Notice” at the prayer-flag doorway.

Day 8: Gongga Gompa – Shangmuju Village

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking
Accommodation: Shangmuju
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will walk about 2 hours for 5km. See the sunrise by the Gompa. Then strat walking to the local Tibetan Tsemed village to catch our car to Shangmuju village for overnight. Stop by Tsemed Pass to have a final view of Gonggashan.

Day 9: Shangmuju Village – Kangding

Sightseeing and Activities: Shangmuju Village, Xinduqiao, Zheduo Pass
Accommodation: Kangding
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Before driving from Shangmuju to Kangding, walk around the village to experience the Tibetan culture. Then we will visit Xinduqiao and Zheduo Pass on the way to Kangding. Overnight in Kangding.

Day 10: Kangding – Chengdu

Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

One full day drive back to Chengdu. Enjoy the appalling landscapes changing from plain to mountains along the way. Then transfer to your hotel for a good rest.

Day 11: Chengdu Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Free activity
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Free activity in Chengdu before being transferred to the airport. Then service ends.

Service included

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary
  • Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver
  • Private English-speaking tour guide
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Travel Insurance

Service excluded

  • Single room supplement
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff
  • Tips to the guide & driver
  • All optional programs