HOME

Through the grasslands to mountains - 3 or 5 day hiking trek

This is a trek from the grasslands to mountains and forests;
On the way, you will see the broad grasslands reaching to the end of the earth;
You will see how the ground and plants change from grassland to mountains;
You will see the differences in culture between nomads and Tibetan farmers;
You can watch the wild spotted deers walking near you.

First Day, from Langmusi to Rerdaba

Leave Langmusi at 10:00a.m, walk in the grassland hills for around 4 hours, we will reach a hill saddle. On the other side of the hill, the quite broad, flat grassland - "Rerdaba" - will be in front of you. Walk for around another 1 hour, we will arrive at the Tibetan village where we will spend the night. It's a homestay with a nomads family tonight. But as the young nomads people always live in the far away grasslands with animals, so only old people live in the house. For the nomads, the house is not very important for them, because they spend most time in the tent, so their house is not very clean. And it's without bathroom.
Today is an easy day. There is not too much climbing up or down. Walking time is around 5 hours at around 3300m altitude.

Second Day, leaving the grassland and trekking through mountains

Leave the family who we spend the night with, and head to the mountains . Around 3 hours later, we will arrive at the border of the Rerdaba and Amitang autumn grasslands. Here we have reached the foot of mountains. Turn in the direction to follow the mountains, crossing a stream as we walk. Walk upstream for around 2 hours, after which we will cross a mountain pass, with pine forests in front of you. Walk through the pines for around another 2 hours, and as the space opens up, Amitang Village is there waiting for us.
We will stay with one family in this village tonight. The people in this village are both herders and farmers. As they are farmers, so they have much nicer houses and much more clean, but still without bathroom.
Today's walking time is a little longer - around 7 hours. Altitude drops from 3300m to 2900m.

Third Day, from Amitang Village to Xiangduo Village. Today is different for the 3days' trek and the 5days' one.

For 3days' trek:
Morning time is for relaxing, maybe taking a walk around Amitang village. There is a flat grassy area next to the pine forest in front of Amitang Villlage. In the afternoon around 3:00p.m, we drive to Xiangduo Village, 22km away, watching the wild spotted deer here around sun setting time.
The forest around Xiangduo Village is the homeland for the wild spotted deer. The local people never hurt the wild animals, so the spotted deer here are not afraid of humans. You can be as close as 50m.The early morning and sunset are the best times for deer watching.
We will have supper in Xiangduo village. Then drive back to Langmusi. From Xiangduo village to Langmusi, the driving will take you around 1.5hours.

For 5days' trek:

We will stay in Xiangduo village tonight. The people in this village live totally from farming. Each family only has 2 or 3 yaks to milk. Today the altitude drops from 2900m to 2400m. It'is a relax day today, no long time hiking.

Fourth Day,Go to Benba Village and hike to Chasage

Today is a hard day. Depart Xiangduo Village at 8:00a.m, drive for 7km to arrive at Benba village. Start today's hike here. After walking into Benba valley, we have get in the "Chasage" area, which is a mountain range thought to be where the gods live. After 2 hours walking, we will arrive at Nixian temple. Today's purpose is to walk around the hill behind the temple, named "Meigo ". We will trek from colorful forests to alpine meadows. Different mountain scenery and huge rocky outcrops make this part of the trek very interesting.
Today, total hiking time will be around 10 to 11 hours, about 6 hours climbing and 4 or 5 hours descending. The altitude rises from 2400m to 3400m, and then drops to 2400m again.
When we arrive back at Benba village, a car will drive us back to Xiangduo village. Stay with the same family tonight.
If you don't like a so long hiking, you also can choose walking around Xiangduo Village today.

Fifth Day, back to Langmusi

Notes:

* It's a long hiking trip with different kinds of landforms and you can meet any kind of weather conditions on the way. So you must have waterproof hiking shoes and a pair of spare shoes. You should also bring a waterproof jacket and trousers.We can provide raincoats if needed.
* Except for the third day's lunch, for the other days you will take some bread, cooked potatoes, and fruit with you when you depart in the morning. All the breakfasts and suppers are cooked in the houses where we stay.The food is local food; usually hot rice, vegetables and meat.
* We will organize a car to bring the food and sleeping bags to the families where you spend the nights. So you only need a small bag (around 35L) to carry lunch, water and clothes with you.
* In order to watch the spotted deer clearly, it is recommended that you bring binoculars.
* Although we stay in local people's house, but there are no facilities to take a shower. You just can wash face, teeth and feet. Considering the environment, we suggest you to use towel instead of wet wipes.
* All  of you and the guide will stay in one big room together. There will be no private room.
* There is no hospital or pharmacy on the way; so please bring any medications you may need.

Preparing Clothes:

April - Early May: a down coat, a jacket, 1 long underwear trouseres, gloves;
Mid May - Mid June: 2 fleece and a jacket, gloves.
Late June - Mid August: a fleece and a jacket, Mosquito Repellant
Late August - Mid September: 2 fleece and a jacket, gloves.
Late September - Mid November: a down coat, a jacket, 1 long underwear trouseres, gloves.
You also need three or four pairs of socks, sun glasses and broadbrim

Price: (You need to book this trip at least a week before.   )

The fee includes:

* Guides, food, everynight homestay
* A car which will bring all the food and sleeping bags to every family where you will stay
* Cars drive you from Amitang Village to Xiangduo Village and drive you back Langmusi
* We provide sleeping bags. But if it's possible, you'd better bring your owns. We suggest the sleeping bag's comfatable temperature is 0°C
* There is no entrance fee on the way.