What about living with a Tibetan yak herders whose life is nearly untouched by a modern era? Or being able to witness unbelievable tricks of Tibetan horse-riders during the horse festival and camp at the top of the Tibetan Plateau? Do you crave to bath in a volcanic spring underneath a temple standing at a glacier?
This tour will be guided in English
The program always has to be adapted to current conditions, therefore the change of program is reserved.
Lijiang and the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the most beautiful canyon in China, those will be just small teasers before the trip to the Roof of the World. Already in Yunnan, the mythic town of Shangri-la, we enter Tibet. Our destination is the town of Litang at the altitude of 4 300 meters above the sea level. We will aim there slowly and carefully so the altitude will not complicate our vacation. During the trip, we will stop at Xiangcheng, the precious Tibetan town, which will be a stepping stone to clouds.
In Litang, we will be at the time of the biggest horse festival in Tibet. Hundreds of Tibetan riders show incredible aerobatic tricks at this show. We spend two days together with the riders on the plains. We will have our own dining tent with snacks and water. Of course, once in Litang, we will not miss the tremendous Lamaic temple and the homeland of the Dalai Lama. Litang is the only city in the history of Tibet that has spawned two Dalai Lamas.
After the festival, we will accompany the horse-riders towards their yaks. We will spend the day with the herdsmen. They will show us how to milk yaks and teach us nomadic games on one of the largest grassy plains in the whole area. Whoever interested, can take a nomadic lunch in the traditional black tent made from a yak leather. The rest of the group will be provided with a diet of fresh vegetables and meat that will be bought together on the Lithuanian market (also vegetarian version might be provided). The same will apply during the following days in the middle of snowy peaks.
From a small Tibetan village, we will do a ten-kilometre-long route to the holy Tibetan lake, which spreads under high mountain peaks. We will spend two days at this beautiful campsite. On the second day, we will do a day tour around the area. Each person according to their abilities. Anyone wishing to rest can take the course of Tibetan language and writing with our interpreter.
We will visit Naganduo, the native village of our interpreter, where the Tibetan women wear orange hats. Tibetans from this village have perhaps the most beautiful costumes in the wide area. We will make a trip to their holy mountain and stay overnight in the traditional house of an uncle of our interpreter.
We return to the mountains, a four-hour hike will take us to the breathtaking temple under the glacier, which we visit the next morning during the morning prayers. Beautiful nature will amaze us all day long in the valley under the glacier, where we will be searching for hidden volcanic springs. Of course, we know where they are, there is no danger that we would not find them. However, there is no danger of meeting someone else, nor a tourist. Here we would be able to try out the life of collectors of the well-known healing mushroom, called Cordyceps, who live in this area.
You can buy the authentic cordyceps at the market in Litang where we will return. At the highest-build civilian airport in the world, we will take the plane back to Chengdu. After two weeks in the mountains, we will enjoy a relaxing day in a modern city. Chengdu is not only the largest city in inland China but also the city with the best food in China. It will be a reward after a week in mythical and harsh Tibet, a cherry on top of our trip.
During the trip, we will try to secure maximum comfort with our colleagues, but keep in mind that it is a trip through high mountains, often far from civilization, and therefore our options are limited. We will sleep in three-star hotels, then alternately one night in tents, one at a local home in a sleeping bags on mattresses, two nights in tents, one night at a local home in beds and three days in tents. During our camping, we will secure a meal three times a day plus a warm dinner. The food throughout the whole trip is included in the price.
Also, complete outdoor equipment of the best quality will be secured: thermal sleeping mats, sleeping tents tailored for harsh conditions, dining tent, gas cookers for food and tea (there is no wood in Tibetan areas) and trekking sticks. For a fee, we offer rental of a sleeping bag up to -20° C with hygienic textile lining, which is washed regularly. The number of sleeping bags is limited. All the equipment for camping will be carried by pre-secured horses.
During the festival, there will be a tent for hiding from the sun with refreshments, as well as a clean toilet tent, which will not be accessible to anyone other than us. The price includes complete transport, including flight tickets and car transport, accommodation in hotels and at local homes.
According to the size of the group, there will be one or two guides (me – Slovak-speaking and one English-speaking guide). The group will then be able to divide into day trips by physical strength. There will also be an alpine leader who will be in charge of campsites, material transfers, meals, and an eventual medical help. During the day with herdsmen and for the next few days we will be accompanied by a Tibetan, who speaks perfect English and Chinese. He will help us to make contact with the nomads (we will be camping beside his uncle’s herd).
The major part of the trip is at the altitude of 4 000-5 300 m, so it is advisable to consult your health condition before travelling with a doctor. The trip is in an ethnic Tibet in the province of Yunnan and mainly in the province of Sichuan. We do not need any special permissions.
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