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Highlights
Discover the vast and bountiful nature of West Sichuan on this 11-day guided trek
Visit lost Tibetan and Sichuan villages, meet and cook with locals, and indulge in hearty traditional cuisine.
Trek among 5000-metre peaks, observing the power and might of these snow-capped mountains.
Relax and recharge your muscles in Sichuan’s stunning open-air hot springs.
Camp next to alpine lakes and glaciers, and wake up to the sunrise creating unique reflections on the water.
The West Sichuan region is an undiscovered dream destination for hikers. On this 11-day tour, astounding alpine landscapes, hidden villages, and hot springs will fill your days. At night, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels, modest mountain hostels, and you’ll also spend three nights camping under the stars. For an enriching experience in this wild part of China, check out the details of this tour.
Landing in Chengdu, your journey begins with a few cultural attractions before you venture into the mountains. Once you start trekking, your days will include long hikes through beautiful exposed nature, snow-capped peaks, alpine forests, glaciers, and lakes. Have the glorious experience to camp under the stars for three nights of this tour. When you’re not camping, you’ll visit small mountain villages that blend Tibetan and Chinese cultures. Meet the locals and learn about their unique traditions. End the tour with a visit to the UNESCO-protected Wolong Nature Reserve and get a glimpse of the iconic panda!
For trekkers looking to explore somewhere off-the-beaten-path, this adventure tour in West Sichuan is worth considering! Walk among the 5000-metre peaks that comprise the Tibetan Plateau in this wild region.
The West Sichuan region is an undiscovered dream destination for hikers. On this 11-day tour, astounding alpine landscapes, hidden villages, and hot springs will fill your days. At night, you’ll stay in comfortable hotels, modest mountain hostels, and you’ll also spend three nights camping under the stars. For an enriching experience in this wild part of China, check out the details of this tour.
Landing in Chengdu, your journey begins with a few cultural attractions before you venture into the mountains. Once you start trekking, your days will include long hikes through beautiful exposed nature, snow-capped peaks, alpine forests, glaciers, and lakes. Have the glorious experience to camp under the stars for three nights of this tour. When you’re not camping, you’ll visit small mountain villages that blend Tibetan and Chinese cultures. Meet the locals and learn about their unique traditions. End the tour with a visit to the UNESCO-protected Wolong Nature Reserve and get a glimpse of the iconic panda!
For trekkers looking to explore somewhere off-the-beaten-path, this adventure tour in West Sichuan is worth considering! Walk among the 5000-metre peaks that comprise the Tibetan Plateau in this wild region.
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Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Chengdu
Welcome to Sichuan Province, China! Your tour begins with a pick-up from the airport and be transferred to a historic Manchurian site comprising lanes of traditional houses. You’ll get a sense of the palpable culture right off the bat! Walk around the area and see the People’s Park, where you’ll witness constant local activity, most commonly seniors partaking in dancing and singing classes, drinking tea, and playing Mahjong. Head to the hotel in the city to recover from your arrival journey.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chengdu
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Luding Bridge + Transfer to Kangding
Have breakfast in Chengdu, then hop in your transfer to the historical site of Luding Bridge on the Dadu River, built during the Qing Dynasty to connect Tibetan and Chinese cultures. A controversial battle happened on this bridge in May 1935, making this bridge a monument to the Communist Party of China. Ask your guide to regale you with the story. After the bridge visit, continue along stunning mountain roads until reaching Kangding, a wonderful town built within an enormous valley known as the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kangding (2,560 m / 8,398’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Lhagang Monastery
After breakfast, get ready for an attraction-filled day as you wind your way along the Sichuan–Tibet Highway by private transport. The first portion of the drive takes you through several mountains, and you’ll stop at Xingduqiao on the way, an excellent location high in the mountains to snap a few photos. With any luck, you’ll have clear skies and be able to see some surrounding peaks like Gongga Mountain at 7556 m / 24,790 ft. Your next stops will be at the spiritual Lhagang Monastery and Gyergo Nunnery, from where you’ll be awarded panoramic views of Yala Mountain in the distance, your trekking destination over the next days. Continue to Zhonggu Village to enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural hot springs before settling into the guesthouse to sleep.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Zhonggu Village (3,213 m / 10,541’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Trek Yala Valley to Xindianzi
Time to start trekking! After breakfast in the guesthouse, have a little stretch, then begin the hike through the Yala Valley. The journey will take about 6 hours with a slow increase in altitude, but take your time if you start to feel lightheaded. The scenery will astound you with open meadows, pockets of green forests, and the majestic views of snow-capped peaks around you. You’ll arrive at camp in the afternoon and spend the evening revelling in the tranquility you earned by hiking there.
Overnight Location: Camping at Xindianzi (3,500 m / 11,485’)
Distance: 6 hours, 13 km
Meals: 6 hours, 13 kmBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Hike Yala Pass, Sister Lake & Yala Youcuo Lake
Rise early and pack up camp to prepare for a long day of trekking. First, you will climb over Yala Pass at 4200 m / 13,780 ft, with views that will take your breath away. The path continues past Sister Lake, where you’ll see gorgeous reflections of the abundant peaks within its water. In the afternoon, trek towards your camp at the base of Yala Mountain. You’ll be camping next to another lake, which enhances the already beautiful landscape with its vivid blue water in front of the giant, snowy peaks. Rest up in this pristine camp spot under a brilliant starry sky.
Overnight Location: Camping at Yala Youcou Lake (3,500 m / 11,485’)
Distance: 7 hours, 16 km
Meals: 6 hours, 13 kmBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hike Ganlongke Valley
Wake up to a glorious sunrise next to Yala Youcou Lake, have breakfast, and pack up to trek towards civilization. Start by descending through the Ganlongke Valley made up of lush, fragrant forests, until reaching Zhongbanchang for a final view of the Yala Valley and sacred Yala Mountain behind you. You’ll take local transportation through the Tibetan Plateau to Danba Zhonglu Tibetan Village for the night. Note the ornate temples and ancient architecture around and perhaps take a stroll through the mystical streets before settling into the hostel for the night.
Overnight Location: Hostel in Zhonglu (626 m / 2,054’)
Distance: 7 hours, 16 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Rest Day + Transfer to Dangling Village
Assess your muscles as you eat breakfast this morning, and decide whether you want to rest or go for a short jaunt around Zhonglu Village. In the afternoon, take local transportation to reach Dangling Village, a stunning mountain town surrounded by idyllic scenery of lakes, lush forests, snowy peaks, streams, and hot springs. Enjoy a relaxing evening in this natural mountain escape.
Overnight Location: Hostel in Dangling Village (3,000 m / 9,842’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Hike to Hulu Lake
After breakfast, leave straight from the hostel in Dangling Village to explore the idyllic scenery around. Hike through old-growth forests that open to astonishing scenery, including a panoramic look at Hulu Lake. Viewpoints on today’s route look towards incredible glaciers, lakes, peaks, and forests. Set up camp near Hulu Lake after exploring the area.
Overnight Location: Camping at Hulu Lake (4,110m / 13,485’)
Distance: 5 hours, 15 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Sunrise at Hulu Lake + Dangling Hot Springs
Rise with the sun and open your tent to look out at the glassy Hulu Lake this morning. Take a leisurely stroll around the lake, then pack up and descend to a relaxing break at Dangling Hot Springs. After this natural spa treatment, continue hiking to Dangling Village and meet your driver to reach Siguniangshan Town to spend the night. When you arrive, take a walk around the mountain town to admire the 5000-metre peaks surrounding you, four of which are thought to represent four sisters. Ask your guide about the local legend of the sisters.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Siguniangshan Town (3,160 m / 10,367’)
Distance: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Wolong Nature Reserve
If you have the energy, get up early, catch the sunrise over the town, and watch it illuminate the surrounding peaks in beautiful pink and orange shades. You’ll head towards Chengdu after breakfast, making a couple of stops along the way. First, you will stop at the Wolong Nature Reserve, a UNESCO site and one of China’s oldest reserves. See several species of flora and fauna, including about 50 pandas. Next, visit an ancient irrigation system built in 250 BCE that still functions today using a very simple but efficient technique that you’ll learn about here. Continue to Chengdu to enjoy the last evening with your crew.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chengdu
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast with your trekking group and bid everyone farewell. Receive a transfer to the airport or train station, depending on your next destination.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Daocheng Yading Trekking Adventure Tour Price and Dates
This guided trekking tour to Tibet is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the prices depend on the number of people in your group as well as the time of the year. Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room.- Guided Groups of 2: USD4395 per person*
Accommodation on Trekking Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour
This tour is based in 4-star hotels, simple mountain guesthouses, and high-quality camping tents. The hotels have modern amenities for a comfortable stay, and the guesthouses have basic amenities for guests. You will spend three nights camping in the mountains. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with your group. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
What’s included in the Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour?
Meals
10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 10 nights is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for your luggage is included throughout the tour. Airport or railway station transfers are also included.
Also Included
- Entrance and sightseeing fees
- Local English-speaking guides
- Two-person tent for camping nights
- Camping mattress, cook, cooking equipment
- Pack horses during trekking days
Not included
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in itinerary
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visa for China
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
- Tips + personal expenses
Optional Extras
- Extra nights in Chengdu
- How hard is the Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to China?
- Are meals included on the Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Chengdu to start this tour?
- Is the Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour in English?
- Where does the Trekking the Tibetan Plateau in West Sichuan Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to China?
- Are there any travel restrictions for China?
- When is the best time to travel to Tibet for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. You should be comfortable trekking for up to 7 hours on moderate terrain. Some of this tour is at high elevation, which makes it more challenging, even if the distances aren’t extreme.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Chengdu by plane from several major airports in China. You can also take a train to Chengdu from many cities in China. You will be picked up at the airport or train station.
Yes, the local guides are English-speaking.
The tour ends in Chengdu with a drop-off at the airport or railway station.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to West Sichuan for trekking is from April to June and September to early-November. The hottest and rainiest months are July and August.
Customer Ratings
Based in Chengdu (Sichuan province, China), with an affiliated agency in Lhasa (the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region), Greatway Tour organizes China tours since 1994. They specialize in adventure and trekking tours in Western China, covering Tibet and the eastern Tibetan area Kham – Amdo in provinces Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu. Since 1995, Greatway Tour began to organize self-driving tours across China for individuals and agencies abroad, whether they drive their own vehicles/motorcycles/bikes brought from their own country, or if they need help with renting the kind of vehicles they wish to start their China self-driving journey.
