South-west China, The Tea Road

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The Deqin region, at the border with Tibet, is dominated by the Meily sacred Mountains, culminating at Kawa Karpo at 6740 m elevation. The area is inhabited mainly by Tibetans, as well as Naxi and Lisu people. The Kawa Karpo area is a pilgrimage for the Tibetan Buddhists, especially in autumn.

• day 1: flight Switzerland - Kunming China
• day 2: arrival in Kunming and visit of the town
• day 3: flight Kunming - Lijiang
Visit of the old town and of Black Dragon pool park. Night in Lijiang.
• day 4: transfer to Zhongdian
Visit the Tiger leaping Gorge, on the upper Yangzi River. Night at Zhongdian.
• day 5: visit of the Tibetan monastery of Songzhanling in Zhongdian and continuation to Deqin
Night in the village of Feilai Si.

• day 6: down hill to the Mekong Valley and first day’s march of the pilgrim route around Kawa Karpo
6 hours walk through a pass at 3680 m elevation until the village of Xidang, night at Xidang.
• day 7: continuation until the Yubeng village
Night at Yubeng
• day 8: excursion to the sacred water fall, at the goal of the traditional Tibetan pilgrimage
Return to Yubeng.
• day 9: walk up to the village of Xidang then to the village of Mingyong, in the Mékong Valley.
• day 10: excursion to the Mingyong glacier with the panorama of Kawa Karpo
Return and night at the village of Mingyong.
• day 11: return to Lijiang by the Mekong River Valley
Night north of Weixi.
• day 12: visit of the Weixi region
Night at Weixi.
• day 13: return to Lijiang and flight Lijiang - Kunming
• day 14: flight Kunming - Switzerland
• day 15 : arrival in Switzerland

• 26th September to 10th October 2009
• 25th September to 9th October 2010

Price : 4300.- CHF (2850 Euro)
Status : open (confirmed at 4 personnes)

The price includes:

• International flight on regular line Geneva - Kunming and domestic flights (Kunming - Lijiang) in economy class
• International airport taxes
• Transportation by bus or car as described in the program
• The guide during 2 weeks (Guy Della Valle)
• A Chinese translator during the whole trip
• A local guide during the treks
• Accommodation in hotel and guest house and meals, economic standard
• Fees for Museum entrance as planned in the program

The price does not include :

• All insurance and assistance
• Individual equipment
• The drinks and any personal expenses
• Any additional expenses resulting from change in program due to meteorological conditions or in case of force majeure

Additional information

The registration will remain open until two months before departure.
The three excursions will be guided by Guy Della Valle, with a Chinese translator during the whole trip and a local guide during the treks.
For participants possibly coming from other countries than Switzerland, the meeting will be at Kunming, on the second day.

For any further question, please contact me at:
Email: guy@geomontagne.com
Phone: +41 (0)24 4544540