Mountain Trekking

Mountain Trekking

Mountain Trekking is one of the fastest growing adventure sports, and Xinjiang has some of the last, best, undisturbed, non-tourist, mountain trekking locations in the world.  Whether you are a beginner looking for a day trek, or a seasoned veteran looking for an extended challenge, our custom expeditions are designed to meet your needs.   

Locations

Muztagh Ata, Shipton’s Arch, Konggor Peak, The Three Immortals Cave, Oytagh Natural Glacier, Karakul Lake

Recommended Tour

Day 1

We will begin our tour with a drive along the Sino-Pakistan Friendship Highway. This is the world famous Karakorum Highway to Pakistan in the Pamir Mountains. After driving 45km, we will arrive at Upal village—mentioned in the Lonely Planet guidebook for its interesting Monday market. We will stop there for a late breakfast and buy some melons for trekking. You will enjoy the amazing scenery all the way to Karakul. This is a world famous high altitude lake 3600m above sea level. The scenery is amazing as the lake is surrounded by snow caped mountains. The Muztag ata 7546m (Father of glaciers) and Konggor peak 7719m attract many mountain climbers from all over the world.

We will arrive at Karakul Lake in time to enjoy lunch with a local Kyrgyz family in a Yurt beside lake. After lunch, you will have free time to walk and acclimatize yourself for trekking the next day. We will stay in a local Yurt for the night and your guide will teach you some very useful words about trekking.

Day 02

After having an early Kyrgyz breakfast, we will walk up to the Koshkaqi Grassland, which is 12km from camp and sits at 3900m above sea level. Normally, it takes about 4 hours. There are a lot of yak, sheep and goats on the grassland as it is a place for the shepherds to feed their animals in summer time. There are 5 stony houses for the local shepherds. We will have a good shepherd lunch with them sampling local specialties such as yak milk tea, yoghurt (ayrin) and cheese (korut).  After lunch, you will go up the Muztag Ata glacier, which is a 5 km trek. It is 4300m above sea level. You will have plenty of time to explore and take pictures before returning to our camp at Koshkaqi for the evening. We will stay in stony house with the shepherds. Staying in the shepherd homes, eating their food, hearing their stories, and trekking their paths is the best way to experience the true nomadic life.

Day 03

After having a late breakfast, we will say goodbye to our shepherd friends and walk down to Tokkuz bulak (nine springs 3700m).  Today, we will cross a small river using the local wool bridge. It is a hanging bridge only used for people. It is about a 9km trek. We will have our own lunch on the river. That evening we will stay in one of the shepherd's stony houses. We will have a good Kyrgyz dinner (meat soup) with them beside the fire. Today, one of the shepherds will tell you about his adventurous life in the mountain.

Day 04

After eating a good Kyrgyz breakfast, we will walk up to another village, which is 15km away at an altitude of 4100m. There are 3 houses of shepherds who are close relatives. They feed their animals around the grassland there. You will see different glaciers, which are more interesting and much bigger. If the weather is good for safe walking, we can walk a little further inside the glacier.  We are always overwhelmed with the beauty and peacefulness of life on the mountain.

Day 05

After eating a good breakfast, we will walk back to Karakul Lake where our driver will be waiting for us. It is about 3 hours walking. We will plan on eating lunch at the Karakul Lake in a Kyrgyz Yurt and returning to Kashgar around 2:00pm local time.