Choose between riding and hiking. Packhorses carry your stuff either way. This hike has a difficult hike day on with rock scrambling on day 2. Semi-technical hikes require English and Chinese-speaking guide and instructor.*
Day 1: Meet in the morning at Gyergo Nunnery. Ride or hike up over Griffon Pass (4700 meters) and down to Zhakra hot springs, and the base of the high peak. Stay the first night in tents there. 12 kms, 800 meters elevation gain, 600 meters drop.
Day 2: Leave the horses, and take a day hike up toward the high glacier. Many wild animals and their tracks in this area. Depending on how far you can walk and rock-scramble, you may reach a high other-worldly glacial tarn. Return to the hot spring for another lovely evening in the hot water. 10-16 kms hard hike to 4500 meters.
Day 3: Easy ride or hike down the valley to the forest. Set up camp in a comfortable meadow with glacier views, and take an afternoon trek up to see the sacred turquoise lake, Zhakra Yimtso. With an English-speaking guide, you’ll hear many local stories and legends, and learn about the meditation retreat area above the lake. You have a good chance of meeting monks on retreat here. (This lake has become part of a new park, with a paved road part of the way. It requires entry ticket of Y100, and is subject to park opening and rules).
Day 4: Ride or hike back over a gentle pass to Gyergo Nunnery. If you still have energy, do an afternoon visit to the nunnery sky burial, meditation cave, and temples.
Best in Summer. Horse riding 6-7 hours per day, hiking 8-9 hours per day. As a hike, this is very strenuous, for the very fit. Horse riding is medium difficulty with hiking required on the downhills, and for the hike (optional) on day 2.
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.
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*All pricing include all trek meals, tents, and guides and horses/yaks as listed. Groups of 6 or more get an automatic 10% discount. Sleeping bags can be rented.
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