Genyen massif, Litang, Sichuan · 9 days / 8 nights · Challenging (4/5) · $184/day · $1,655 total per person
Duration9 days / 8 nights
DifficultyChallenging (4/5)
Max altitude~4,980 m
Best seasonSummer (July–August) for the alpine flower bloom; clear early-autumn weather also rewards.
Group sizeSmall group (2–12)
LanguageEnglish-speaking guide on request · or local guide + Inglite app for English support
Circle Sichuan's sacred lotus mountain through untamed wilderness.
Highlights
Mount Genyen (格聂, Géniè, 6,204 m) — the sacred, perpetually snow-capped 'lotus' summit of the Shaluli range, ringed by more than twenty 5,000 m peaks and golden at sunrise
The Eye of Genyen (格聂之眼, Géniè zhī Yǎn) — a mysterious circular lake often called the 'Eye of the Earth', framed by snow peaks and a foreground sea of flowers
Sea of flowers — summer valleys ablaze with golden pagoda-shaped crown flowers, gentians, primulas and wild blooms across the high meadows
Cuoniangka Lake — a mirror of stars at night, and the colour-shifting Zarixia Lake that changes hue like a chameleon
New Lenggu Monastery (新冷古寺, Xīn Lěnggǔ Sì) — a remote sanctuary holding the 'Heart of Genyen' along with sacred deer-antler and conch-shell treasures
The 4,980 m pass above Lapu Valley — the trek's high point and a final, sweeping farewell view of Genyen before it disappears from sight
Wild hot springs near Ranrika village and on the Anjiu river crossing — soak tired legs amid staggering snow-mountain scenery
Maoya Grassland (毛垭大草原) — vast nomadic high-plain where Tibetan herders graze yaks, crossed on the journey's final leg
Where in China
📍 Sichuan Province · Litang (Genyen massif), western China
What you'll do
Mount Genyen (格聂, Géniè) rises to 6,204 metres as the highest summit of the Shaluli range and one of Tibetan Buddhism's twenty-four holy mountains. Locals call it the "lotus": a crown of more than twenty snow peaks above 5,000 metres, their low, rounded summits sheltering a landscape of vivid contrasts — bare bedrock to the north, glaciers to the south, glacial lakes to the east, and wildlife-rich valleys to the west. Vast meadows, meandering rivers and alpine wetlands make this a quiet paradise of biodiversity, where Tibetan herders still graze yaks among the flowers.\n\nThis nine-day expedition is the full C Route — roughly 87 kilometres of walking with a high point of 4,980 metres, rated five stars for scenery and four for difficulty. From Chengdu you climb west across the Tibetan plateau to Litang, then trek a grand arc beneath the massif: past the Eye of Genyen, the New Lenggu Monastery, hidden hot springs, glacier-fed lakes and pass after pass where Genyen, Xiaozha and neighbouring sacred peaks stand stacked along the horizon. In summer (July–August) the valleys ignite with the legendary "sea of flowers" — golden pagoda-shaped crown flowers that bloom once in a lifetime at 4,000 metres, alongside gentians, primulas and countless unnamed blossoms.\n\nUnlike the grandeur of Yading or the majesty of Gongga, Genyen's beauty lies in its serene immensity. Trekkers cross scree slopes, marshes, meadows and a 4,980-metre col overlooking fields of golden flowers, threading sacred glaciers and emerald lakes into a single timeless journey. For the traveller chasing the quintessential landscapes of western Sichuan — glacial canyons, flowering tundra and holy summits — Genyen delivers an unmatched symphony of natural extremes.\n\nThe trek is bookended by long but spectacular drives over the high Kangba passes, and supported throughout by a professional high-altitude guide, local Tibetan assistants and a full camp crew, with pack motorcycles carrying the gear so you can walk light.
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive and assemble in Chengdu (成都, Chéngdū)
Gather in Chengdu, the launch point for the expedition, and prepare for the days on the plateau ahead.
Day 2
Chengdu – Kangding (康定) – Litang (理塘, 4,000 m)
A long but scenic drive of about 550 km (~10 hrs): the expressway to Ya'an, the 'Rain City', then through the Erlang Shan tunnel to Kangding, over the Zheduo Pass (4,298 m), past Xinduqiao and Yajiang, and across the Gaoersi, Jianziwan and Kazila mountains to reach Litang by evening.
Day 3
Litang – Blacksmith Pass (铁匠山垭口, 4,770 m) – Lama Pass (喇嘛垭) – Ranrika village (然日卡村, 3,750 m)
Free morning in Litang (Renkang Old Street, the Changqingchunke'er Monastery, the Thousand-Household Tibetan Village). Drive ~1.5 hrs, then hike 7 km / ~4 hrs with 900 m of ascent over Blacksmith Pass and Lazi Pass, where Genyen, Xiaozha and Cameron peaks line the horizon, descending to Ranrika village and its wild hot springs.
Day 4
Ranrika – Eye of Genyen (格聂之眼) – Sanghoma platform (煨桑台) – Lengda Campsite (冷达营地, 3,800 m)
Hike 17 km / ~7 hrs. A short climb reaches the mystical 'Eye of the Earth' for close views of Genyen and Xiaozha above a sea of flowers; cross open grassland to the southeast viewpoint of Genyen, then descend about 2 hrs to Lengda camp.
Day 5
Lengda – New Lenggu Monastery (新冷古寺) – Hangda Campsite (夯达营地, 3,800 m)
Hike 13 km / ~6 hrs. Rise early for sunrise on Genyen, visit the monastery's three treasures, then climb through primeval forest to flower-filled alpine meadows and traverse Genyen's scenic southern slope to Hangda camp, close beneath the snow peaks and glaciers.
Day 6
Hangda – Daodao Valley (岛岛河谷) – Reti Campsite (热梯营地, 4,180 m)
Hike 18 km / ~9 hrs — a physical day climbing a ridge and traversing flower-strewn slopes with constant views of Genyen, then over the Daodao Valley ridge and down to a river to reach Reti camp, the last spot from which Genyen is still visible.
Day 7
Reti – Yele Valley (耶勒沟) – Pass (4,980 m) – Gemu village (角木村, 3,820 m)
The trek's hardest day: 22 km / ~10 hrs with 800 m of ascent and 1,160 m of descent. Climb roughly 5 hrs to the 4,980 m col for a last look at Genyen, then descend the Lapu and Bangduo valleys to Gemu village.
Day 8
Gemu – Hagala Pass (哈嘎拉垭口, 4,790 m) – Anjiu village (安村, 4,200 m) – Litang
Hike 18 km / ~6 hrs over the journey's final pass, ford a broad icy river to a natural hot spring, and follow the Hari Valley to Anjiu, a nomad settlement on the Maoya Grassland; then drive ~80 km / ~2 hrs back to Litang.
Day 9
Litang – Kangding – Chengdu
The long return drive of about 550 km (~10 hrs) back across the Kangba passes to Chengdu.
Why this trek
Sacred lotus of peaks
Trek beneath Mount Genyen (6,204 m), one of Tibetan Buddhism's 24 holy mountains and a crown of 20-plus snow summits over 5,000 m.
Summer's sea of flowers
Time it for July–August and walk through valleys ablaze with golden crown flowers, gentians and primulas at 4,000 m.
Wild, untamed solitude
Far from the crowds of Yading or Gongga — serene, biodiverse high wilderness where Tibetan nomads still herd yaks among the blooms.
Fully supported camping
Professional high-altitude guide, Tibetan crew and pack-motorcycle gear transport let you walk light across 87 km of remote terrain.
Included
Professional high-altitude guide, local Tibetan assistants, driver and logistics/operations support
Accommodation per the itinerary (no refund if unused)
Full private vehicle transport throughout, including the local transfer from Lama to Lenggu Monastery and from Gemu village to Hagala Pass
Meals: 8 breakfasts and 9 lunches/dinners — camp dinners of two meat and two vegetable dishes, soup and hot water; camp breakfasts of porridge and pickles
Pack-motorcycle gear transport (personal gear limit 15 kg, including shared/communal supplies)
Camping equipment: 3-person tents (2 per tent) and foam sleeping mats, plus camp facilities — tables, chairs, sun and rest tents, dining tent and eco-toilet
Shared gear: kitchen tent, fuel, stoves/cookware, some utensils and communication tools
FAQ
How many days is the Genyen C Route trek?
Genyen C Route runs 9 days / 8 nights.
How hard is the Genyen C Route trek?
It's rated Challenging (4/5), topping out around ~4,980 m. Reasonable hiking fitness and time to acclimatize to altitude are recommended.
What is the maximum altitude on the Genyen C Route trek?
The high point is around ~4,980 m. Acclimatize gradually and take altitude-sickness precautions — consult your doctor before any high-altitude trek.
What is the best time to do the Genyen C Route trek?
The best seasons are Summer (July–August) for the alpine flower bloom; clear early-autumn weather also rewards..
Do I need a guide for the Genyen C Route trek, and is there English support?
English-speaking guide on request · or local guide + Inglite app for English support It's run by an independent, licensed local mountain operator, with Inglite supporting you in English the whole way.
How much does the Genyen C Route trek cost?
Approximately $1655 per person ($184/day · $1,655 total). You arrange payment directly with the licensed local operator — Inglite never collects payment.
Who runs this
Curated and operated by an experienced, licensed local mountain outfitter with a professional high-altitude guide, local Tibetan assistants and a full support crew. English-language support is provided throughout via the Inglite app and your guide.
Run by an independent, licensed local operator. You arrange payment with the operator directly — Inglite connects you and never collects payment. Outdoor travel carries inherent risks; we recommend travel/outdoor insurance. Terms
