Testimonials

In addition to their general knowledge of the area, high tolerance for adversity & uncertainty, and ability to lead & navigate in the backcountry, Dave & Szu-ting really listened to our individual needs/limitations throughout the trip. - Annie Wilson

Trekking in the Majesty of the Tibetan Plateau, A Qigong and Wilderness Adventure

  • Dates: 09/16/2013 ~ 09/30/2013 (we welcome inquiry from small groups for customized outings)
  • Duration: 15 days
  • Price: $2850.00
  • Activity: trekking, cultural activities, sight-seeing

Overview:

This 15-day wilderness trekking adventure will start on September 16, 2013 in Chengdu China, the capital of Sichuan province. Sichuan is the home of the giant pandas, delicious spicy foods, and the famous Sichuan opera – all of which we will take in before traveling across the Tibetan Plateau to Kangding. Kangding is a beautiful Tibetan village famous due to a well-known folk song. The elevation is about 8,400 feet, and we will stay there to do some day hikes while adjusting to the high altitude.

From Kangding, we head on to another more remote Tibetan village that will be the launching place for our trekking adventure. This village, Litang is close to the Genyen Massif, a stunningly majestic mountain range that is the home of the glaciated Mt. Genyen (20,354 ft), considered sacred to the Tibetans.

From there, we will put on our packs and trek into the grand Himalaya, setting up a small base camp in front of the magnificent Lenggu Monastery. This is one of the very few Tibetan monasteries which was not destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution because of its remoteness. There we will enjoy several days of exploring the valley, and hiking amongst the meditation caves that look out on the breathtaking granite spires nearby.

We then will travel  south to the city of Daocheng. Daocheng is a cute Tibetan city with a different flavor from Litang. We will explore the city and dance with the locals along with the wild Tibetan dance music. From there we can take an option day tour to Yading which is famous of the three astonishing snowy peaks which were believed to be three Guanyin’s (i.e. goddess).

After soaking in the majesty of the Tibetan Plateau, we will fly back to Chengdu from Daocheng/Yading airport. (This airport is scheduled to operate in May 2013 but if it is delayed, we will bus back to Chengdu).

We are so excited to share this trip as it encompasses such spectacular scenery, energy and amazing cultural diversity.

 

Inclusions & Exclusions:

Price includes the following: food during the trek, meals in town, all lodging (camping & shared hotel rooms), ground transportation, packhorses and horse packers, admission to parks, permits, bilingual guide, and Mandarin conversational lessons. The price does not include airfare, checked baggage fees, dinners in town, visa fee, travel insurance, personal gear, immunization, personal snacks, drinks, and gratuity.

Physical Requirement:

The trek is supported by pack horses and porters.  Participants will carry a day pack during the trek.  A day pack should have water, snack, extra layers, rain gear, personal medicine and other personal items. Any avid day hikers will be able to finish the trip.

Tentative Itinerary:1

Day 1: Our trip kicks off in Chengdu, Sichuan. We will use this day to explore the city, visit pandas, watch Sichuan Opera, and taste spicy Sichuanese cuisine. Chengdu is the capital of this province. It has a unique historical and cultural background and it is known for its relaxing atmosphere and slow urban pace. Parents are warned not to send their kids here for school in case kids “play” more than they study.

Day 2-3: We start our journey towards the Eastern Tibetan plateau and will explore Kangding. Kangding is a neat Tibetan town and is well known because of a timeless folk song called “Romancing Kangding.” It is an important trading hub from the ancient Tea-Horse trade route. Currently, it is much like a melting pot, displaying both Chinese and Tibetan cultures. We will visit some historical sites and stroll through the city on day 2 and take a day hike in near-by grassland on day 3.

Day 4-5: On day 4, we arrive in Litang, which is close to the Genyen Massif. The average elevation of Litang is 13,000 feet. Due to the high elevation we’ll spend time in this lovely town to acclimatize to the thinner air. We will also explore Litang’s Tibetan-style architecture, drink some yak butter tea, visit the biggest Tibetan monastery in Eastern Tibetan plateau to learn about Tibetan Buddhism, and interact with the friendly Tibetan locals.

Day 6-10: On day 6 we will trek into the amazing Genyen Massif and set up a base camp near the Lenggu Monastery, which was spared from the demolishment of religious architectures during the Cultural Revolution because of its remoteness. From the base camp, we have the view of the awe-inspiring sacred snow peak, Genyen. For the next several days we will have the opportunity to meditate in caves, take day hikes, and simply enjoy the beauty of this natural terrain.

Day 11-14: In the morning, we will have time to wind down from our trek, take a stroll in Litang and shop for souvenirs. In the afternoon, we’ll travel south and arrive at the city of Daocheng which is also a Tibetan town but has a distinct flavor from Litang. In Daocheng we will explore the city and dance in circles with locals with Tibetan dance music. We then will explore the near-by scenic area, Yading, which is famous for the three snowy peaks believed to be the three sacred goddesses.

Day 15: fly back to Chengdu and conclude our lovely expedition.

 

Payment Info:

The price is based on a minimum group size of 4 trekkers.

Deposit: A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. 50% of your payment is due 75 days before your trip
(July 4, 2013). Full payment is due 45 days before your trip (August 2, 2013).

Cancellation Policy: If you must cancel a trip, we will refund your payments less the following fees:
  • If you cancel 60 days or more in advance of your trip: $200;
  • If you cancel 30-59 days in advance: $50% of trip tuition.
  • If you cancel within 30 days or less: 100% of trip tuition.

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  1. LittlePo Adventures reserves the right to change the itinerary depending on the physical conditions of the participants, weather, how well the group acclimatize etc. Safety is the first priority. ↩