Outline:

Tour Length:  7 Days & 6 Nights

Best Time to Visit:  July-October

Physical Demands:  Easy - suitable for all level of fitness

Temperature: Temperature differences between day and night are large

Trip Preparation:

Equipment:

Sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, mats, hats, trekking poles, metal lunch boxes which can cook food, sunscreen, sunglasses, pharmaceuticals, headlights, Emergency underwear, raincoats, socks, daily necessities (toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, paper towels, etc.), food , garbage bags, stove, gas tank.

Food and Drug: vegetables, meat, convenience foods, high-calorie foods, nutritional supplements and snacks

Drugs: Hongjingtian (5-10 days in advance), Inosine Tablets (2-3 days in advance), Danshen tablets (2-3 days in advance), Ban Langen, multivitamin formula, vitamin tablets, aspirin, Band-Aid, Yunnan Baiyao, cold medicine, Huoxiangzhengqi water, antibiotics, ginseng tablets

Trip Overview

Qizanggou (Qizang Valley), is an untouched fairyland on earth near to Huanglong National Park and Jiuzhaigou National Park. Because of these two popular tourist attractions, its reputation was submerged, but the landscapes are no less magical and more itself.

This Sichuan trekking is considered as a relatively easy trek in the Qizang Valley. Average altitude of the hike is around 3500m, so be sure to acclimatize before you set off. There are two high passes over 4000m, but as long as you take your time, they are quite manageable. We can arrange local guide and trained horses for carrying goods or horse riding, private tour guide and licensed driver, 4 seasons’ tents suitable for camping in highland region, etc.

Highlight

[Qizanggou] also named Qizang Valley, is an untouched fairyland on earth near to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou. It is considered as a good place for trekking lovers.

[Trekking & Camping] 4 days trekking tour in Qizang Valley to enjoy the joy of outdoor trekking and camping.

[Diexi Lake] It is a landslide dam-created lake formed in the 1933 Diexi earth quake.

[Chuanzhusi Temple] It was built in 270. A number of Bodhisattva statues of clay sculpture and copper casting is enshrined and worshiped there.

[Pingtou Qiang Village] It is the largest cultural center of Qiang ethnic minority.

[2008 earthquake memorial site] You will feel horrified by the destruction and devastation, and stand in silence and say a little prayer for those who perished.

Day 1: Chengdu Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Chengdu Shuangliu international airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu downtown. The rest of the day is yours to relax and have a good rest.

Day 2: Chengdu - Chuanzhusi - Kakagoukou (B)

Today after breakfast, we will drive about 6 hours from Chengdu to Songpan. On the way, you will enjoy the views and landscapes changing from plain to mountains and witness the Minority ethnic cultures changing from Qiang to Tibetan. Also we will have a short stop by the Diexi Lake, which is a landslide dam-created lake formed in the 1933 Diexi earth quake. Then continue to drive through Chuanzhusi Town and arrive at Kakagoukou campsite to meet our porter team. Have a good night rest for the next several days trekking tour.

Drive 360km, about 8 hours Altitude: Chengdu (540m), Kakagoukou (3100m)

Day 3: Kakagoukou - Long Lake

Today you will start your trekking tour on the mountainous path in Qizang Valley from Kakagoukou to Long Lake. The total trekking distance is 16km and you will arrive at the campsite near to Long Lake about 5pm.Have lunch around 12:30-13:30

The condition of path is relatively good, and the uphill slope is gentle. As the elevation increases gradually, blue sky and white cloud will bring you a very easy mood, with small wooden cottage, stunted boskage and grassland.

You will arrive at Long Lake around 5 pm

Trek 16km, about 8 hours Altitude: Long Lake (3400m)

Day 4: Long Lake - Grass Lake

Get up in the morning and take photos of natural landscapes around Long Lake. Then start the today’s 10km trekking tour from Long Lake to Grass Lake. After half an hour trekking, we will climb the Qizanggou Ya Kou. About at 12 o’clock, you will have the simple lunch and have a short break. It takes you about two hours to climb over the Ya Kou. Then walk about 3.5 hours to the Grass Lake campsite for camping this night.

Note: Due to two hours to cross a pass at an altitude of 4200m, a large amount of energy will be used up, and you can prepare Yangshen Tablet and Glucose in advance in Chengdu.

Trek 10km, about 6 hours Altitude: Pass (4200), Grass Lake (3300m)

Day 5: Grass Lake - Hongxing Rock - Hongxing Lake - Fish Lake

Get up in the morning and take photos of beautiful landscapes around Grass Lake. You will walk about 2 hours and arrive at Hongxing Rock Pass, where you will have your simple lunch and have a short break. Then trek about 1 hour to the Hongxing Lake where the landscapes are the most beautiful. For Chinese trekking lovers, “He has never been to Qizanggou if he doesn’t trek to Hongxing Lake.” In the afternoon, you will return back on the same path to Grass Lake and then trek to Fish Lake campsite.

Note: 1. Due to two hours to climb the Ya Kou at an altitude of 4000m, a large amount of energy will be used up, and you can prepare Yangshen Tablet and Glucose in advance in Chengdu.

2. There is enough water source at the Grass Land, please be careful to prevent sink into the sludge. A pair of waterproof shoes is necessary for today’s trekking in Grass Lake.

3. Trekking from Hongxing Rock to Hongxing Lake, it takes no long time but the slope is abrupt.

4. Please respect the local custom. Hongxing Lake is considered as a holy lake. Don’t burst out and touch the lake water.

Trek 15km, about 8 hoursAltitude: Pass (4000), Hongxing Lake (3200m)

Day 6: Fish Lake - Awenggou Goukou - Songpan

After simple breakfast at Fish Lake campsite, continue to trek from Fish Lake to Aengoou Goukou. On the way, you will visit the Colorful Beach and Colorful Forest. Our private car will wait for you at Awenggou Goukou, and then transfer you to Chuanzhusi Temple, which was built in 270. In the temple, a number of Bodhisattva statues of clay sculpture and copper casting is enshrined and worshiped there. You will have a good chance to enjoy the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Then be transferred to your hotel in Songpan.

Trek 13km about 6 hours; drive 1 hour Altitude: Fish Lake (3500m)

Day 7: Songpan - Chengdu （B）

Today after breakfast, we will drive back to Chengdu from Songpan about 6 hours.

Drive 310km, about 5 hours Altitude: Songpan (2200m)

Day 8: Chengdu Departure (B)

Today is the free time for you to explore Chengdu city, until be transferred to the airport to take your flight to your next destination.

Drive 18km to airport Altitude: Chengdu (540m)

Third Pole Tour (http://www.3rdpoletour.com/) offers this itinerary; they also offer the widest variety of destinations, covering the regions of: Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang and Silk Road.

Their passionate trip designers are true insiders and always give their best efforts to show travelers the real culture, people, religion and views of the Tibetan Plateau.