2008
April 04 - April 18

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• Raft the Upper Mekong River—Outside magazine’s 2006 Asia trip of the
  year!
• Enjoy the thrills of breathtaking Moon Gorge, a narrow 30-foot-wide
  chasm with Class III/IV rapids
• Hike to a remote Tibetan village on the slopes of a sacred mountain (home
  stays included!)
• Travel through the Baima Nature Preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage
  Site

This trip begins with a rendezvous at the airport in Kunming, China, on Day 1.

DAY 1 ~ Kunming
Arrive in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, by the early afternoon (if you are traveling via Bangkok, you will need to overnight in Bangkok en route, both coming and going). Your trip leader or a representative will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. He or she will answer questions, brief you on the immediate arrangements, and escort you to your hotel. Kunming is known throughout China as the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its fine weather. After checking into our hotel, we will explore the bird and flower market, which is in one of the older sections of the city, and visit charming Green Lake Park, which hums from dawn to dusk with tai ji quan, street theater, and young families at play. This evening we’ll enjoy tasting Yunnan’s traditional cuisine and local teas. D…Harbor Plaza Hotel (or similar)

DAY 2 ~ Gyalthang
Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Gyalthang, the capital of the Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The 45-minute flight gives us spectacular views of the Jade Dragon Mountains of Lijiang, other surrounding peaks, and the First Bend of the Yangtze. Gyalthang, known to Tibetans as the “bejeweled land,” is a frontier town above 10,000 feet on the southeastern edge of the Himalaya. For centuries it was a major point on the trade route between Tibet, South China, Burma, and India. After checking into the Gyalthang Hotel, a building with dzong-style architecture, we will rest a bit and then begin with a cultural tour of the Potala-like structure of Sumtsenling Monastery, founded in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Here we’ll witness a prayer at the Main Assembly Hall and get an overall picture of monastic life and culture by visiting the various chapels and monks’ quarters. We will also take a walk in the nearby village of Kena, whose villagers helped support the monastery in the old days with farming, carpentry, and construction work. B,L,D…Paradise Hotel (or similar)

DAY 3 ~ Dechen
Drive 120 miles to Jol (Dechen) on an old caravan route to Tibet through the Yangtze Gorges, stopping at Dhondrupling Gompa en route. After lunch at Kungzera (6,500'), we begin our climb through the Baima Nature Preserve, one of the most important biodiversity spheres of the Three Parallel Rivers region (now celebrated as a UNESCO Heritage Site). After crossing the famous and frequently snow-covered Jol Gongsum pass (14,091'), we gradually descend, and after about 15 miles, the spectacular Khawa Karpo range comes into view. We arrive at Dechen (11,500') and overnight at the Rainbow Hotel. The town of Dechen is highly influenced by Tibetan culture, with many shops offering prayer flags and all sorts of Tibetan trinkets for sale (you may even want to go the Tibetan Cowboy Bar!). B,L,D…Zhangxian Hotel (or similar)

DAY 4 ~ Xidan
Drive 1½ hours to Xidan, passing through a sacred redwood and cedar forest along the river in which there is another small monastery. This place is considered sacred to the Tibetans; it is the only grove of trees like its kind we will see. Here we cross the Mekong, and Xidan is only a couple miles downstream from here. We stop at a small village and hike to the Ming Yong glacier that is part of the Mieli Xie snow mountain range (an optional 2- to 3- hour roundtrip hike), as we will be hiking a long way the next day. We continue to Xidan and camp or stay in a guest house. B,L,D…Local hotel or camp

DAY 5 ~ Hike to Yubeng
We hike up nearly 4,000-5,000 feet on a very strenuous trail to the Tibetan village of Yubeng (~12,000') in the shadow of the Five Hats of Buddha mountain. The trail climbs through transitional ecosystems to the sub-alpine region. From the pass (12,000') the peaks of the Meili rise dramatically in an impressive panorama. We’ll overnight in Yubeng with a home stay in single beds in authentic local guesthouses (6-  hours hiking, ~10 miles, 4,000-5,000' elevation gain.) B,L,D…Home stay, guesthouse

DAY 6 ~ Yubeng
We’ll get an intimate glimpse into the everyday life of these resilient people as we explore the valley, including a hike through a beautiful forest of rhododendron and azalea—which may be in full spectacular bloom!—and past Guru Rimpoche’s meditation cave. We may also see monkeys at 12,000 feet! You can also just hang out in the  village, which is based in a valley looking directly at the Khawa Karpo mountains (sacred to the Tibetans and part of a pilgrimage route), and check out everyday life in the village. There are piles of mani stones and prayer flags everywhere. This village is at the crossroads of many Tibetan pilgrimage routes and the eastern slope of the Himalaya. B,L,D…Home stay, guesthouse

DAY 7 ~ Hike back to put-in
Hike back to the river and the boats, which takes roughly 4-5 hours downhill the entire way. We will spend tonight in Xidan before heading downstream in the rafts the next morning. B,L,D…Local hotel or camp

DAY 8 ~ Begin rafting
Our put-in is right beside a large monastery with lots of prayer flags and small structures where Tibetan monks and nuns visit. Today we raft 8-10 miles of Class III/IV rapids down to our camp below the village of Ninong.
B,L,D…Camp

DAYS 9-10 ~ On the river
Raft Class III/IV rapids through extremely beautiful Moon gorge, surrounded by snowcapped peaks and passing prickly pear cactus at river level. Here the Mekong narrows at one point to just 30 feet in width, making for a wild ride through the canyon! B,L,D…Camp

DAYS 11-12 ~ On the river
We continue downstream on the Mekong, departing the arid canyons of the Moon Gorge for the more vegetated lower canyons. Time and weather permitting, we will visit a selection of villages, monasteries, and vineyards known for their music and wine. The lower canyon also plays host to some of the largest rapids we will run. B,L,D…Camp

DAY 13 ~ Take out – drive to Dechen
We take out and drive 7-8 hours by road to Dechen. We’ll have a richly deserved celebration to cap this epic adventure! B,L,D…Zhangxian Hotel (or similar)

DAY 14 ~ Drive to Gyalthang
We drive 120 miles by road to Gyalthang and enjoy a festive farewell dinner. B,L,D… Shiner Hotel (or similar)

DAY 15 ~ Kunming – fly home
Transfer to the airport and fly to Kunming. Connect with homeward-bound flights.