Three Parallel Rivers Caravan Expedition

Duration: 17 Days

Average group size: 5-10

Dates 2010: October 16-November 2

China's remote southwest is home to one of the world's most remarkable natural phenomena. For more than 300 kilometers, three of the world's greatest rivers run virtually parallel in neighbouring valleys: at their closest, it is only 66 kilometers as the crow flies from the Yangtze to the Mekong, and then just 19 kilometers further to the Salween, respectively the third-, eleventh- and twenty-fourth longest rivers on Earth.

This journey follows the intrepid traders whose caravans traversed this region for hundreds of years, taking salt, tea and sugar from Yunnan towards Tibet and Burma, and bringing jade, silver jewelry, textiles and other finished goods back. This was one of the ancient world's great highways for the exchange of goods and cultures. As late as the 1950s, caravans trekked this way, passing through a richly varied landscape of different peoples, languages and religions, from Tibetan Buddhists to Lisu Christians.

The adventure begins high on the Tibetan Plateau in the historic town of Shangri-la, then climbs past the spectacular Bigu Heaven Lake to more than 4,000 meters above sea level before plunging into the Yangtze River valley. Leaving a land of Tibetan yak herders, you will enter the world of the Lisu people, traditional masters of the forests whose culture mingled with the Christianity brought by European missionaries more than a century ago. Accompanied by a full caravan of mules and muleteers, you will trek west for 10 days along paths now known only to hunters and highland herders. After crossing the magnificent Baima mountain range, you will descend to the upper Mekong River, passing Lisu villages barely touched by the modern world. From here, only the steep slopes of Mt Biluo separate the Mekong from the Salween. Your journey's most challenging climb ends deep inside the most remote of China's great river valleys, by the bank of the free-flowing Salween River among the picturesque villages of the Nu people.

HIGHLIGHTS

A challenging 11-day caravan trek along the ancient trading route to Tibet and Burma
Spectacular valleys of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween
Traditional villages of the Tibetan, Naxi, Lisu and Nu peoples
Learn the skills of a muleteer and the culture of the Lisu hunters
Camp by pristine Bigu Heaven Lake

For enquiries and a full trip dossier, please write to ed@redrocktrek.com

DETAILS IN BRIEF

Day 1: Join tour in Shangri-la

Hotel, evening meal

Day 2: Acclimatize & enjoy Shangri-la

Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3: Shangri-la - Bigu Heaven Lake

Approx 12kms, 5hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 4: Bigu Heaven Lake - Mt Yaha west camp

Approx 16kms, 6hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 5: Camp - Qizong Bridge/Tacheng

Approx 10kms, 4hrs walking

Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 6: Rest, visit Golden Monkey Project

Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 7: Tacheng - Mt Baima east camp

Approx 10kms, 4hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 8: Camp - Renala camp

Approx 12kms, 5hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 9: Camp - Baima west camp

Approx 14kms, 6hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 10: Camp - Lisu village

Approx 10kms, 4hrs walking

Camp/Homestay (B, L, D)

Day 11: Lisu village - Kangpu

Approx 15kms, 5hrs walking

Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 12: Kangpu - Madi

Approx 10kms, 4hrs walking

Camp/Homestay (B, L, D)

Day 13: Madi - Biluo ridge camp

Approx 13kms, 5hrs walking

Camp (B, L, D)

Day 14: Camp - Laza/Fugong

Approx 10kms, 5hrs walking

Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 15: Fugong - Liuku

Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 16: Liuku - Dali

Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 17: Tour ends