7 Days, Yunnan: Trekking around Kawagebo Peak,Meli Snow Mountain

7 Days, Yunnan: Trekking around Kawagebo Peak

The best season for visiting Kawagebo Peak(6,740m) is in the fall time and it must be clear day. The snow-capped Mountains, whose every peak is the subject of an enchanting tale. The glacier at the foot of the peak extends 11,000 feet downward to a surprisingly low level, seeming to plunge into the Lancang (Mekong ) River. Tucked away at the foot of Kawagebo Peak, one of Tibet's most sacred mountains, is the stunningly beautiful and isolated village of Yubeng. With the exception of the occasional mountain climbing expedition and Buddhists on a pilgrimage to the mountain and sacred waterfall a half-day's walk away, Yubeng is rarely visited by outsiders. The villagers' timeless way of life - herding yak, plowing the fields and fetching water from the nearby glacier stream - has changed little over the centuries. This trip will start from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, and take us to the northwestern part of the province on the Tibetan Plateau. We will follow the same trail that pilgrims take on their way to Kawagebo Peak.

Several attempts have been made to conquer Meli Snow Mountain since 1990, but all failed.This pilgrim trekking has more than 600 years history, the scenery on the way is breathtakingly beautiful, the ecology system is well preserved, even the animals you meet are not afraid people because nobody want to hurt them, all the villagers are very friendly and hospitable. You will not believe it until you come to take this trekking by yourself. We think this is the most classic trekking route in China. It's guaranteed unforgettable.

Kunming
You will be met at the Kunming airport. At 1,890m (5,670 ft) above sea level, Kunming is known as the city of "Eternal Spring" as it enjoys cool, spring-like temperatures at even the height of summer. Despite being the capital and business center of Yunnan province, Kunming has a laid-back atmosphere and is a good place to explore on foot. Nearby your hotel is Green Lake, a charming area surrounded by little teahouses and cafes, and small boutiques. You'll sample local Yunnan specialties for dinner, and there will be a short presentation by the Nature Conservancy giving background information on the area you are about to explore.

Zhongdian/Deqin
We will take an early flight to Zhongdian, a small town on the Tibetan Plateau. At 3,300 m (10,000 ft) above sea level, Zhongdian is much cooler than Kunming. We will start driving northwest towards Kawagebo Peak. On the way, we will stop at Songzanlin Monastery, the largest monastery in Yunnan. We will also take a short half-hour hike to visit a Tibetan nunnery. Although severely damaged during the Culture Revolution, the nunnery has since been restored in the original style. On the way to Kawagebo Peak we will pass over Baima Snow Mountain. At 4,200 m (12,600 ft), it is one of the most important bio-diversity sites for the Great Rivers Project sponsored by the Nature Conservancy. We will arrive at the town of Deqin (3,500 m/10,500 ft) late in the evening.

Deqin/Yubeng
Early in the morning we will take a two-hour drive alongside the Mekong River to the trailhead. Today's hike will be strenuous - we will climb from 2,500 m (7,500 ft) to over 3,500 m (10,500 ft) at the pass - but will bring you through beautiful, pristine alpine forest. After a picnic at the summit (where there may still be snow in early spring), we will descend to the isolated village of Yubeng. We will spend the night in a small lodge.

Kawagebo Peak
Weather permitting, we'll wake up to a clear view of the Mingyong Glacier. After breakfast we will hike to the waterfall, from which Yubeng's name originated. Buddhists on a pilgrimage to the area circumambulate the waterfall 13 times with the belief that this act will erase all sins from this life. In the early afternoon we'll head back to the village lodge, visiting sacred sites along the way.

Yubeng/Deqin
Today we retrace our way back to the trailhead. Today's hike will include some tough, steep passes. Our car will meet us at the foot of the mountain, and drive us back to Deqin.

Deqin/Zhongdian
We will spend the morning visiting a local Tibetan school. Started and run by an illiterate Tibetan entrepreneur, Ah Niu, the school's aim is to preserve Tibetan culture and to pass its traditions on to the next generation. We will take the rest of the day to drive back to Zhongdian.

Zhongdian/Kunming
We will board an early flight back to Kunming. End of trip.