Trek to, and part way around, Mount Zhakra. This is a sacred peak, part of a family: the son of Amnye Machen to the north and brother of Genden Mountain in the west. Visit Zhakra’s medicinal hot springs, which are completely undeveloped, and Zhakra Yimtso, the sacred turquoise lake, said to house a glass city of the lu water spirits. Visit active meditation huts above the lake, and the cave of an ancient soldier-monk-hermit. Hear tales of Sleep with views of glaciers and alpenglow at sunset.
The trip takes 3-6 days, depending on your route and the completeness of your visit.
3-Day:
Meet in the morning at Gyergo Nunnery. Ride or hike up over Griffon Pass (4800 meters) and down to Zhakra Hot springs, and the base of the high peak. Stay the first night in tents there. Day 2, ride or hike down the valley to the forest. Set up camp there and take an afternoon trek up to see the sacred turquoise lake, Zhakra Yimtso. Day 3, ride or hike the low pass back to Gyergo Nunnery. (Horse riding 6-7 hours per day, hiking 8-9 hours per day. As a hike, this is very strenuous, for people in good shape. Horse riding is medium difficulty with some hiking required. Includes all meals, horses (either riding or pack-horses), guiding, tents, and car from Ecolodge or Tagong (one way). Sleeping bags and pads are not included, but can be rented for an extra charge.
See our Short Trek Catalog 2018 for further details and prices.
4-Day (with glacier hike):
Meet in the morning at Gyergo Nunnery. Ride or hike up over Griffon Pass (4800 meters) and down to Zhakra Hot springs, and the base of the high peak. Stay the first night in tents there. Day 2, leave the camp at the hot springs and hike up to the glacier of Zhakmu Peak (also ok to make this a rest day). Return in the evening for another hot springs soak. Day 3, ride or hike down the valley to the forest. Set up camp there and take an afternoon trek up to see the sacred turquoise lake, Zhakra Yimtso. Day 4, ride or hike the low pass back to Gyergo Nunnery. (Horse riding 6-7 hours per day, hiking 8-9 hours per day. As a hike, this is very strenuous, for people in good shape. Horse riding medium difficulty with some hiking required.
Includes food, food preparation, guide, horse or packhorse, and car one-way from Ecolodge or Tagong. Tents are also provided. Sleeping bags and mats can be rented.
See our Short Trek Catalog 2018 for further details and prices.
5-Day (with nomad stay):
Meet in the morning at Gyergo Nunnery. Ride or hike up over Griffon Pass (4800 meters) and down to Zhakra Hot springs, and the base of the high peak. Stay the first night in tents there. Day 2, ride of hike down the valley to the forest. Set up camp there and take an afternoon trek up to see the sacred turquoise lake, Zhakra Yimtso. Day 3, ride or hike the low pass back to Gyergo Nunnery. Day 4, ride across low grasslands to a nomadic family encampment. Day 5, after spending time with the family and trying out yak milking in the morning, return to Tagong. (Best in Summer. Horse riding 6-7 hours per day, hiking 8-9 hours per day. As a hike, this is very strenuous, for people in good shape. Horse riding is medium difficulty with some hiking required. Includes food, food preparation, guide, horse or packhorse, and car one-way from Ecolodge or Tagong. Tents are also provided. Sleeping bags and mats can be rented.
See our Short Trek Catalog 2018 for further details and prices.
5-Day (Danba start):
Meet at Maoniu Village the night before the start of the trek, and stay in a village guesthouse. Day 1: ride or hike up the Maoniu Valley to a midway camp. Day 2: Continue the hike or ride up the valley to the twin lakes in the Zhakra Basin. Day 3: Ride or hike down to the sacred Turquoise Lake, and do a kora of the lake. Then continue down and up to the hotsprings. Day 4: Do a day hike to the glacier above the hosprings, and camp a second night at the springs. Day 5: Hike or ride over high Griffon Pass (4800 meters) to Gyergo Nunnery. (Best in Summer. Horse riding 6-7 hours per day, hiking 8-9 hours per day. Includes night at Maoniu, food, food preparation, guide, horse and packhorse, and car to return to Ecolodge or Tagong. Tents are also provided. Sleeping bags and mats can be rented.)
See our Short Trek Catalog 2018 for further details and prices.
As part of a long full-service tour: each We offer 2-4 full-service rides and hikes that include Mount Zhakra each year. See the 2018 Full Service Trek Catalog for dates and schedules.
