Gongga is more or less impossible to climb (more people have died trying than have succeeded!), the area itself makes a good trekking destination and there are plenty of surrounding peaks for the more adventurous.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Kangding

There’s now a good road from Chengdu to Kangding which in good weather can be travelled in just six hours. A far cry from just a few years ago when trips routinely took over a day. We break in Luding for a quick typical Sichuan lunch. Kangding itself is a fair sized town and, although traditionally a trading post on the border of Tibet and Han cultures is now pretty sinicized compared with later days on our trip. The town is in the base of a steep sided valley on the Zheduo river with an altitude of around 2700m. Surrounded by hills it features the world’s second highest commercial airport a short drive away from the town proper at 4280m.

2700m ASL, hostles, breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 2: Tagong

After breakfast we Leaving Kangding and over the Zheduoshan Road Pass to Tagong; the site of a number of Buddhist temples. Ambling around the town and temples helps with acclimatisation to the altitude.

3700m ASL, hostle, breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Tagong – Yulongxi. Short walk above Yulongxi

Yulongxi village at around 4000m is about as far as it’s possible to get by road and is generally considered pretty remote. Our hosts have limited power and no telephone line or mobile coverage. We’ll stay in a local Tibetan home with time for an hour or two’s walk before dark.

4000m ASL, home stay, breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Yulongxi – Moxigou

The morning brings a start to our trekking proper with a slow ascent to the Yulongxi pass at 4602m. After crossing this pass we descend the valley and spend the night at a yak ranch in Moxigou at an altitude of a little under 4000m.

4000m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Moxi Gorge – Gongga Monastery

Gongga monastery at 3700m is traditionally the base of climbing expeditions in the area, although a camp a few hours walk up the valley actually makes a lot more sense for those wishing to extend the trip with climbing. The monastery usually has some basic accommodation available outside of times of religious festival, otherwise we are able to camp outside.

3700m ASL, camping/monastery, breakfast, dinner

Day6:Gongga monastery ----Gongga base camp

                                             4300m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner

Day7 Gongga base camp ----back to Gongga monastery

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                                                 3700m ASL, camping/monasteryl, breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Gongga Monastery – Bawang Lake

From the Gongga monastery we’ll head back down via Zimei village then East to Bawang Lake where we camp for the night.

3200m ASL, camping, breakfast, dinner

Day 9: Bawang Lake – Caoke (hot springs, civilisation)

From Bawang lake and then to the road-head at Caoke. A reasonable hotel with hot springs lets us relax in the evening.

1800m ASL, twin share hotel, hot spring, breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Caoke – Chengdu

An late start returns us to Chengdu by mostly good roads breaking for lunch in an ancient restaurant in Tianquan then a final group meal in Chengdu.

500m ASL, , breakfast lunch

Equipment                             

Waterproofs Jacket and Trousers                            

Waterproofs boots                             

warm clothes                             

rucksack                              

Sunglasses, gloves, sun cream                             

hat

walk stick 

tent, ground mats ,sleeping bags ( If you want  you can also rent tent, mats ,and sleeping bags from us)