The Footsteps of Joseph Rock...  Regarded by many locals as one of the most beautiful treks in China, The Footsteps of Joseph Rock trek takes you across snow mountains, primeval forests, highland pastures and magnificent valleys. You will pass through many charming villages and meet villagers of various ethnic groups with distinct costumes, language and culture.  

 

Starting at  the Matriarchal Mosuo’s  society, you will encounter a matriarchal tribe known for their culture of ‘walking marriages’. From here,  this  adventurous  trip  gives  opportunity  to meet  some  of  the Tibeto-Burmese  groups  such  as  Mosuo,  Yi  and  Tibetan.  From  deep valley  to  high  pastures,  crossing  the  old Muli  Kingdom  describe  by Joseph Rock as  the  ‘bandit monks’ area  long  time ago, you will  then enter upon the holy peaks of the Yading Nature reserve.  

 

The trek ends in Yading, Sichuan, a Tibetan region home to 3 sacred mountains  of  Tibetan  Buddhism.  Here,  you  will  also  visit  3 high-altitude lakes, one of them at 4700m. From Yading, our vehicle will send you back to Shangri-la in Yunnan for your flight back to Kunming.

 

The average altitude of this trek is 3000m and you will be crossing high passes of over 4500m. Therefore this trek is not for the faint hearted! You  MUST  have  prior  experience  of  long  treks,  preferably  in high-altitudes.  This  is  a  camping  trek,  without  a  lot  of  basic amenities throughout the trip.

Arrival in Lijiang

 

Day 1 

 

Arrive in Lijiang, visit the Old Town.  

Free time: Tour by yourself.

Overnight at Lijiang Sanhe Hotel (3*) 

 

Lijiang - Lugu Lake

 

Day 2 

 

We drive for 6.5 hours over to the Lugu Lake. Explore Lugu Lake area and  traditional Mosuo peoples’ Matriarchal Society area. Free  time to explore around Lugu Lake. Possibility  to go by boat  to  the Kargyupa Monastery or climb hills to experience some of the splendid views over Lugu Lake.

Overnight at LuGuHu Hotel (1*)

 

Transfer and Trek to Cigu

 

Day 3   

 

In the morning, we drive to YongNing (2645m), and 4/5 hours to Cigu, via Wujiao Mosuo minority village. Meet our horsemen, then climb for around 2 hours in the azalea, oak and pine trees forests, to reach our camp  in a primulas  field. Last view of the Lion Mountain overtopping Lugu Lake.  

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Four Lakes Camp

 

Day 4 

 

Today we trek for 4.5 hours. The Tibetan world slowly begins to appears in  front  of  us!  Yaks,  choertens, Mani walls,  prier  flags will  become common sites. Keep climbing to Yakou (4000m), trekking in mountain area, cross Queer mountain  (4100m)  to an alpine pasture with  four lakes.  

 

Overnight camp

Trek to Queer Grassland (3900m)

 

Day 5 

 

Today we  trek  for  4.5  hours  to  a  big  grassland  (3950m)  which  is located between two mountains. Several river crossings.  

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Mengziga Holy Mountain (4020m)

 

Day 6 

 

Today we trek for 6 hours. The trail follows the Qe’Er Cha river then we cross through a beautiful rhododendron forest. At the first pass (4170m) you  can  see  the  holy  Chana Dorje  peak  (5958m).  After  a  few  long winding  lanes,  you will  see  viewpoints  offering  the  3  sacred  peaks (Chana Dorje, Jampeyang, Chenrezig). Getting down to 3900m, there are several smal l passes which lead into a new valley. Finally, we arrive at the Menziga sacred mountain.  

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Baiyangpin Pasture(3650m)

 

Day 7 

 

Today we  trek  for  5  hours,  crossing  through  some  beautiful  alpine forest, to finally reach Baiyangpin Grassland. 

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Xinzhai village via Luodu village (2840m)

 

Day 8 

 

Easy day, about 4 hours trek down the mountains, passing by several Tibetan  villages with  typical  Kham  architecture.  Pass  the main  road which heads to Muli, built to carry the precious woods of many years ago. Between forests and pastures, we will stay in Xinzhai village.  

 

Overnight camp

Trek to BaiShui river(2400m)

 

Day 9 

 

Today we trek for 7 hours along the Shuiluo river . This valley is currently a new  focus  for  local people  looking  for gold! We cross  the  river and follow  the valley passing by several Tibetan villages: Lama  (2130m), Dongla (2150m), Turu (2370m) with white roofs where local cereal  is dried, and Jinkuang village, as well as some old watching towers. Walk for a  further hour before  reaching  the confluence between  the White river and Shuiluo river.  

 

Overnight camp 

 

Trek to Galuo Tibet Village (2805m)

 

Day 10 

 

Today we trek 3-4 hours only. Climbing to Galuo village, the views are picturesque. Free time to visit the local Gompa and enjoy the scenery!

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Caoqui (4260m)

 

Day 11 

 

Today we trek for 8 hours. The trail will climb to reach high pastures throughout the forest. 3 small passes with great views to finally discover several tents where mixed Pilgrims, Caterpilar Funghus, hunters (selling pricy  herbal  Chinese  medicine),  and  local  nomadic  people  can  be found….

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to Red Grass Camp, West Face of Risa Pass (4350m)

 

Day 12 

 

Today we trek for 7 hours. Passing first by a plateau (4500m), we reach a pass at 4720m.Good views of Mt Chenrezig (6034m).  

 

Overnight camp

Trek to Colorful Lake

 

Day 13 

 

Today we  trek  for  7  hours,  leaving  the main  trail  to  reach  Luorong pasture,  entering  on  the  YaDing  Natural  Reserve.  Very  popular  for Chinese tourists, many overstaying there and leaving the following day. We  will  continue  to  Colorful  Lake,  where  the  new  high  mountain environment will bring us some unforgettable views and feelings!   

 

Overnight camp

 

Trek to YaDing, drive to DaoCheng

 

Day 14 

 

Today we trek for 5 hours. We will end our trek today after the last pass at Chenrezing-La (4520m). Along the way you will see the Dromla Lake where Mt Chenrezig is shining, then visit Changu Monastery and finally head back to the entrance of the park. Transfer to Daocheng.  

 

Overnight at Daocheng Hotel (2*)

 

Bus Back to XiangCheng

 

Day 15 

 

Today we drive 4.5 Hours  to Xiangcheng and visit Sandui Monastery.

 

Overnight at Xiangcheng Hotel (2*)

 

Bus to Shangri-la (ZhongDian)

 

Day 16 

 

Today we drive 7.5 hours to Zhongdian (3300m). On the way we can visit the great gorges of Shangri-la. Visit Sumtseling monastery (XVIIth

century),  and  some  Tibetan  villages,  as  well  as  the  old  town  of Zhongdian.  

 

Overnight at Zhongdian Xinhua Hotel (3*)  

 

Flight Shangri-la to KunMing

 

Day 17

 

Take the morning 50-minute flight to Kunming.