Naxi                     Mosuo                    Pumi              Yi

The ride from Lijiang to Lugu Lake goes through the mountainous area that’s called “the small cool mountains”. On the first day of the trekking we arrive at the sky blue Lugu Lake. Lugu Lake is located at the border of the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces on a level of 2690 meters high and with that, the highest lake of Yunnan. The average depth of the lake is 45 meters while the maximum depth is 93 meters.

 

You have the opportunity to be rowed in a big rowing-boat to the Buddhist temple on the island.

 

The biggest part of this trek leads you through the remote but impressive mountainous area northeast of Yunnan province. We hike in 5 days from Lugu Lake to Stone Town. We hike on small trails in the mountains and below us, we are seeing the Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River, the upper Yangtze). The villages where we stay are unspoiled and the local ethnic minorities like the Naxi, Mosuo en Pumi are very hospitable.

 

In this thin populated area, mainly Yi and Mosuo minorities live here. Besides the roads you can see many Yi women walking in traditional clothes. The women wear imposing black headgear and colourful striped dresses. With a little luck you can meet them in one of the markets on the way.

 

On trekking we have beautiful views on the high mountains, deep valleys, rice-, cornfields, and rivers. We twice crawl through hewed tunnels in the rocks, named Prince Pass.

 

After days the village Stone Town looms ahead. Here the trek is almost at the end.

Stone Town is built on an enormous rock in a deep valley. Traditionally the stones were used for making beds, benches and stoves in the houses. Nowadays the stones carved out of the rocks are used as stairs and passages from one house to another. The village is small but it looks big after walking for days in the mountains: we are "back in civilisation”.

 

Next morning we put our baggage on the horses for the last time. We are going to the mountain road 200 meters higher on which a truck takes us back to Lijiang, where we will arrive late afternoon.

 

 

 

 

The Trekking per day

day	route	description
	Lijiang	Sleep 1 night in ancient town in guesthouse (GH)
1	With (local) bus from Lijiang to Lugu Lake	260 km 6 hr, Sleep in GH or Mosuo house
2	With (local) bus from Lugu Lake to YongNing and walking from YongNing to Zhuang Zi	Sleep in farmershouse in Zhuang Zi or camping
3	Walking from Zhuang Zi via Ger Wua to Labo	Sleep in Mosuo village house
4	Walking from Labo via Lien He Wan to Liu Qing	By boat we traverse the Jinsha river Sleep in village house or camping
5	Walking Liu Qing via the Prince Pass to Stone Town	Sleep at Mu family GH
6	First with horses, then by truck from Stone Town to Lijiang	6 hr, Sleep 1 night in Lijiang ancient town in GH

 

 

Suitable time for the trekking

Best period for the trekking is April-May and September-November (the dry season).

In the rainy season (June till September) trekkings will also be organized, but take into account heavier circumstances.

In the winter (December-March) the trekking can also be organized, however there is big chance on snow. A better preparation and better own equipment is required.

 

 

Grading and duration

The trek is graded from moderate to strenuous (strenuous after or with rain or snow).

Most people are potentially capable of doing a trek at moderate level. You need to be in good health and reasonable fitness, and you will probably take regular exercise.

The trek have no direction marks and there are many side paths, a local guide is necessary.

Maximum altitude: 3650 meter. Daily walking time can be anything between 5 and 7 hours, including rests.

 

Basecamp Travel reserves the right to make the trekking in reversed direction.

The duration of the trekking is 6 days from Lijiang until Lijiang.

The trek can be extended with 4 days if you also want to walk the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The trek also can be extended with 5 days if we make the trek from Stone Town to Shangri-La.

 

Here you can find a diagram of the trekking and a map of the trek.

 

The person, who will dare this trekking and have a big dose of flexibility, will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.

 

 

Price                                                   

4500 rmb pp by 2 participants

3700 rmb pp by 3 to 5 participants            

3500 rmb pp by 6 to 9 participants                

3200 rmb pp by 10 to 16 participants             

 

Remarks

The trekking takes place from 2 persons, with a maximum of 16 persons on the same departure date.

The prices are without a guesthouse in Lijiang. If you want we organize a guesthouse in the ancient town of Lijiang for 160 rmb per night per double room. Single supplement per night is 80 rmb.

During the Chinese Public Holidays higher prices, if any, are calculated.

 

 

Departure date

Basecamp Travel has chosen not to stipulate fixed departure dates in advance, but to continue the trekking if the minimum number of participants has been reached around the same desired departure date.

We discuss mutually over the effective departure date, where we expect, however, some flexibility. Basecamp Travel eventually decides what the departure date is going to be and this date will communicated to the participants. If participants agree with the date then, after payment of the trekking, we can take off.

 

 

Accommodation

If you want we organize a guesthouse in the ancient town of Lijiang. In this guesthouse it is possible to have a single room (supplement).

During the trekking a single room is not possible most of the time. We sleep in simple accommodation (guest- or farmershouse) in rooms for 2 persons and sometimes with 3 persons.

During the dry season, sleeping in tents is possible. In that case sleeping bags are provided.

 

 

Inclusive

·     transportation (we prefer to use public bus) Lijiang - Lugu Lake - Yong Ning, Stone Town - Lijiang.

·     during the trekking: accommodation, meals (3 per day, including several picnic lunches).

·     during the trekking: local guides, cook, porters and/or horses.

·     we also take tents and kitchen material with us, just in case…

·     an English speaking tour-leader service (who also has a First Aid-kit).

·     entrance fee for Lugu Lake environment.

 

 

Exclusive

·     other food, drinks and other accommodation as mentioned before.

·     entry fee for curiosities.

·     personal expenses.

·     journey to (before the trekking) and from (after the trekking) Lijiang.

·     tips to guides, drivers, etc.

·     travel assurance (obliged).

Your equipment at least

While on trek we must restrict you to 8 to 10 kg of personal gear. Gear not needed on trek can normally be left in the guesthouse. Villages have little shops selling drinks and snacks.

·     day pack

·     good mountaineering boots with a good profile

·     apart from cold and wet weather protection, comfortable casual clothes are all that is needed

·     inner sheet

·     supply against mosquito’s (e.g. DEET)

·     supply against (too much) sun (e.g. sunglasses, sun cream with high factor, cap)

·     personal first-aid and medicine (e.g. against blisters)

·     flashlight (extra batteries)

·     plastic bags for clothes

·     towel

·     water bottles

·     etc.