9 Days Minya Konka (Mount Gongga) Trekking Tour

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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.
5 days’ trekking from Laoyulin, Shangriwuqie, Moxi Valley and Zimei mountain to Shangmuju Village.
2 nights camping in the tents and 1 night Monastery stay.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu – Laoyulin Village
Day 2: Laoyulin Village – Xiariwuqie
Day 3: Xiariwuqie – Mt. Leduomanyin
Day 4: Mt. Leduomanyin – Konka Temple
Day 5: Konka Temple
Day 6: Konka Temple – Shangmuju Village
Day 7: Shangmuju Village – Xinduqiao
Day 8: Xinduqiao – Kangding
Day 9: Kangding – Chengdu

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu – Laoyulin Village(2960m)

Sightseeing and Activities: No
Accommodation: Hostel stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning, drive to Kangding and stay at Lao Yulin village(elevation: 3060m) for overnight.

Day 2: Laoyulin Village(2960m) – Xiariwuqie(3800m)

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking from Dacaoba(3500m) to Xiariwuqie(3800m)
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leave Lao Yulin to Dacaoba(3500m), then start to trek and acclimate to the climate and the altitude; Climb up along Riwuqie Valley, we can see the jungles, grassland and Single-plank Bridge. We can also meet the herdsman between times. After a 6-7 hours trekking, we arrive Xiariwuqie(3800m) and camp on a 90 square meters open ground.

Day 3: XiaRiwuqie(3800m) – Mt. Leduomanyin(3900m)

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking from Shangriwuqie(4330m) to Yakou(4913m)
Accommodation: Tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today will be a tough day. We need to go through the pass of Riwuqie(4090m). It is about 3 hours trekking from Shangriwuqie(4330m) to Yakou(4913m). There is only a 5 square meters open ground at the pass and there are Mani Grounds and streamers at Yakou. We will camp at the foot of Mt. Leduomanyin, also called LEDUOMANYIN BC(3900m); the whole day’s trekking time is 8 hours.

Day 4: Mt. Leduomanyin(3900m) – Konka Temple(3740m)

Sightseeing and Activities: trekking from Mt. Leduomanyin(3900m) to Konka Temple(3740m)
Accommodation: Monastery Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A whole day trekking in Moxi Valley. We may meet some nomad in the valley. There are alluvial lakes, creeks, grasslands, bushes and primeval forests. The total trekking hour is 6-7 hour. It is a downhill way, trekking from Moxi Valley to Konka Temple(3740m) passing woods and grasslands. Today’s trekking is continuous uphill and downhill among a lot of knolls.

Day 5: Konka Temple(3740m)

Sightseeing and Activities: exploring the surrounding area of Konka Temple
Accommodation: Monastery Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We rest for one day around Konka Temple. Accompanied by our local guide, we can also explore the surrounding area, with spectacular views of the peak from every angle.

Day 6: Konka Temple(3740m) – Shangmuju Village(3700m)

Sightseeing and Activities: treking from Konka Temple(3740m) to Shangmuju Village(3700m)
Accommodation: Hostel Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

First 2 hours’ trekking to ShangZimei Village(3480m), then 3 hours’ trekking from Shangzimei Village to the pass of Zimei mountain(4500m)(4800m). We can see the whole view of Moxi Valley and the snow peaks near the pass. After crossing over pass of Zimei mountain, we will go downhill along the river and then arrive at Shangmuju Village. 7-8 hours’s trekking. The trekking part ends here.

Day 7: Shangmuju Village(3700m) – Xinduqiao (3400m)

Sightseeing and Activities: Xinduqiao, Konka Mountain peak, the Millennium Temple
Accommodation: Hostel Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5 hours’ driving about 200 km from Shangmuju Village, we will arrive Xinduqiao, which is a picturesque fairyland hailed as a “Light and Shadow World” and a “photographer’s paradise”. It is a land of magical light, boundless grasslands, winding streams, golden cypress, rolling hills dotted with castles, and cattle and sheep that graze peacefully. This is the ideal location for picture-taking. In Xinduqiao, one can also see the Konka Mountain peak, the Millennium Temple and other frequented palaces. What is more, the mysterious wood cliffs to the sky burial site are only four kilometers away.

Day 8: Xinduqiao (3400m) – Kangding

Sightseeing and Activities: Tagong Grassland
Accommodation: Hostel Stay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Just half and one hours’ driving, we arriving Tagong Grassland, which is a vast expanse of meadow lying beneath the sacred Yallah Mountain, and is landmarked by the famous Tagong Lamasery and the golden tower built to commemorate the living buddha, Panchan. The green meadow surrounded by snow-capped peaks and dotted with Tibetan herdsmen and tents. Afternoon head to Kangding, passing through Zheduo pass.