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Hiking and Mountaineering

 

Dimaluo - Deqin : Long Route

Trip summary:

5 day hike from Dimaluo to Deqin prefecture, home to Zhongdian, the Shangri-La mentioned in James Hilton's The Last Horizon.  On the way stay at a French Catholic cathedral built in 1848.

Trip Itinerary:

Day 1:   

Set off from Dimaluo early.  Hike up through local villages and pass a cathedral built in the late 1880's.  Camp at 3,200 m.

Day 2:

Hike to 3,800 m.  Watch as the plants begin to change, the treeline gets nearer, and the surroundings get more and more magnificent.  Come back down to 3,200 and set up camp.

Day 3:

Continue on around the tallest mountain on our journey.  Today you will pass through farming villages carved into the side of the mountain; green oases on mountain sides with no trees or plants above or below.  You will hike as high as 4,200 m today before coming back down to set up camp.

Day 4: 

Set out and begin to descend from the mountain.  Tonight you will camp next to Sizhong Catholic church, an absolutely awe-inspiring church built in 1848 and made almost entirely of stone.  Imagine the missionaries doing this 150+ years ago!

Day 5:

Enter Deqin prefecture, see scenic village, take car into Deqin city or stay the night in the village.  Say good bye to the guides and hello to another side of Yunnan.

 

Trip #2:  3 day trip from Dimaluo to Deqin through one of China's old growth forests.

Trip Summary

Day 1:

Set out from Dimaluo.  Hike up past a church built in the late 1800's and through the village that has grown around it.  Reach the forest and camp there for the night.  Take advantage of your guide's extensive knowledge on local flora and fauna!

Day 2:

Wake up and enjoy your surroundings.  You will hike up to 3,600 m and back down again: enjoy the changing scenery, from the bamboo to flowers to villages.  Notice the villages that dot the mountainsides and the churches that are invariably close at hand.

Day 3:

Enter Deqin prefecture, see scenic village, take car into Deqin city or stay the night in the village.  Say good bye to the guides and hello to another side of Yunnan.

 

Cultural Experiences and Learning:

 

Tibetan and Nu minority dancing and ceremony:

Said to have as many types as trees in the forest and as many meanings as there are hairs on a yak, these rich styles of dancing can be performed by local villagers in our spacious lounge. Come see for yourself! 

Home Stays in traditional Nu, Tibetan, or Lisu minority homes:

Stay in Tibetan, Nu, or Lisu minority families dwelling on the side of one of the mountains surrounding Dimaluo.  Your guide will serve as your translator as you come to understand how life is lived as a catholic farmer in rather harsh surroundings.

Attend Catholic Mass given in Chinese with local Nu, Tibetan, Lisu, and Dulong minorities:

Attend Sunday services or the nightly 8 PM mass with villagers.  Listen to the haunting chants, admire the paintings and fixtures in the church and marvel at the influence a few French missionaries had on this community.

 

Pricing:

We used to have prices posted on this site, but as the site is maintained (infrequently!) by me, Alex, a volunteer, and prices changed with inflation more than I changed the website, Aluo and I decided it best to not post prices here. Please email or call to get up to date quotes.

 

 

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