Qinghai Lake Summer pasture hike

Qinghai Lake Summer pasture hike

Welcome to experience nomadic Tibet in summer, when the grassland is carpeted with wild flowers, unleashing pleasant scent. Be prepared to be mesmerized by the natural beauty of the plateau.

We will set up tent camps on the private pastures running along the shore of Qinghai Lake, and you will be able to walk to the lake side. Seeing the blue lake water seemingly touching the sky in the far distance, you will be simply amazed. From your tent you can watch the sunrise and sunset, or stargaze under a chandelier of stars. Our local Tibetan friends will walk with you to the summer pasture in the higher mountains. You can fill your canteen with butter tea from the freshest, most flavorful milk you will ever taste, or with salty black tea. We will prepare feasts with parched barley and succulent mutton in a yak-hair nomad tent. You will take on a hike to a mountain, 4,200-meter-high, to see a panoramic view of the blue lake and the majestic surrounding mountains.

Itinerary

Day 1: To Qinghai Lake (Kokonor)

Stop At: Sand Island of Qinghai Lake, Northeast of Qinghai Lake, Haiyan County 810200 China
Kokonor is an emerald blue lake that lies at a refreshing height of 3200 meters. It is the largest inland lake in China and one of the holiest lakes on the Tibetan plateau. First, we will take you to the more natural eastern shore of the lake and take a short hike among the sand dunes. We will continue our way to the western shore and camp on the lakeside grassland.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Daotang River, Northeast of the County, Gonghe County 812100 China
we will pass by Daotanghe river, the river meanderings on the grassland and finally goes into Qinghai Lake. It parallel to our road and we will see it along the way.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Camping.

Day 2: day hike to summer pasture

Stop At: Qinghai Lake, Gonghe, Hainan, Qinghai, China
day trek, Distance 7.5km Elev Gain/Loss 494m -85m

We will take a warm-up walk to Bum Lung Valley. Along the way we will pass villages and follow the trail into the wide-open valley where some nomads camp in spring and autumn. The naked carp is an endangered cyprinid fish in the lake. It migrates upstream to spawn in the fresh river water. Through wild flowers on riverside meadows with the blue lake in view, we will pass by a hermitage of local meditators. From here we climb up to the grassy ridge, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding landscape. Taking a 3 to 4 hour walk on the summer pasture, following yak trails while listening to the murmurs of the summer grassland, we will come to a campsite at the altitude of 3,680 meters. Our crew will have already set up tents in a beautiful meadow for you, and we will enjoy the warm meal prepared by our crew. In the evening, one can take the amazing opportunity to stargaze and get cozy by a yak-dung fire.

Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Heima River, Heimahe Country, Gonghe County 813000 China
There is beautiful sunrise in the morning, one can watch it from campsite or by the shoreline will be more spectacular
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: camping tent

Day 3: hike to mountain top

Stop At: Qinghai Lake, Gonghe, Hainan, Qinghai, China
day trek, distance 18.5km, Elev Gain/Loss 768m -762m

Following the route that old Tibetan nomads take to herd their animals, we will walk up to a slope at an altitude of 4290 meters to enjoy an incredible panoramic view and look at the highland fauna and flora. Then we descend to the campsite and spend the evening by take a leisure walk to see nomads bring back their yaks and sheep.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: camping tent

Day 4: Day 06. half day hike and drive to Xining(Tibetan: Ziling)

Pass By: Chaka Salt Lake, Haixi, Chaka Town, Ulan County 817101 China
We take a different route to walk back to Tanakma, where we start our trip back to Xining. En-route, we will go to see Chaka, a natural crystalized salt lake. We will walk to the lakeside and visitors allowed to walk on the lake. When a thin film of water gathered on a vast plain of salt deposits, and it creates a large natural mirror reflecting the azure plateau sky. Let’s play around and capture spellbound snaps in the nature wonder. From here it takes about 4 hours to get back to Xining, and then we will take you to the airport and see you off.

Stop At: Chaka Salt Lake, Haixi, Chaka Town, Ulan County 817101 China
we will walk to the salt lake and it reflect the sky an surrounding into the lake, great opportunities to take snap of selfies.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.