Meili North Slope · Glacier Trek

Meili North Slope Glacier, Yunnan · 7 days / 6 nights · Strenuous (5/5) · glacier camping · max ~4,200 m · $152/day · $1,065 total per person

Venture deep into the glacier wilderness of Meili Snow Mountain — where few footprints reach and the ice never sleeps.

DAY 1 — Lijiang (Shangri-La) — Assembly Fly into Lijiang and make your own way to the assembly hotel. Meet your fellow trekkers, attend the guide briefing, and prepare all gear. The club departs promptly at 7:00–7:30 AM the following morning — please be ready on time. DAY 2 — Lijiang — Shangri-La — Piru Mountain — Feilai Temple campsite After breakfast, board the club charter bus. Drive approximately 5 hours via Shangri-La to Feilai Temple, stopping en route at a scenic viewpoint to admire the Meili Snow Mountain panorama. Arrive at Feilai Temple in the late afternoon and set up camp. On a clear day the golden alpenglow on Kawagarbo is a… DAY 3 — Piru Mountain — Yagong — Zhubi campsite — Bamboo Forest campsite After a camp breakfast, descend by vehicle to Yagong village — a small community nestled in a valley at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain. From here the trek begins in earnest. Follow the valley upward through dense forest and bamboo groves, passing Zhubi campsite before climbing to the spectacular Bamboo Forest… DAY 4 — Bamboo Forest campsite — glacier base campsite Depart camp and ascend a small stream gully, crossing a series of moraine ridges. After about 2 hours the North Slope glacier comes dramatically into view — a river of ancient ice tumbling from the peaks. Traverse below the glacier snout to reach camp at 4100m, with the full face of the Meili North Slope ice walls… DAY 5 — Glacier base campsite — Ciyagong Pass — Deqin campsite The crux of the trek. Wake early and climb steadily to Ciyagong Pass at 4770m — the highest point on the route. The ascent is steep; crampons and poles are essential. From the crest, panoramic views extend over Kawagarbo, Lairigongka, and a cascade of glaciers stretching to the horizon. Descend carefully through… DAY 6 — Deqin — Dajueba — Mangong — Yagong — Feilai Temple — fly back to Lijiang Final trekking day. Descend from camp through glacial meltwater streams and moraine fields to the road at Lairigongka, where transport awaits. Drive out via Dajueba and Mangong villages to the main road, stopping for a last panoramic view of the full Meili massif from Feilai Temple — Kawagarbo, Mianzimu, and their… DAY 7 — Feilai Temple — Lijiang (trip concludes) One final chance to witness the sunrise alpenglow on Meili Snow Mountain from Feilai Temple. Drive back to Lijiang. The activity officially concludes; depart independently as needed. Price: $140 /day /person ($976 in total).

Where in China

📍 Yunnan Province · Deqin, Meili north slope, southwest China

Highlights

• Kawagarbo Peak — At 6740m, the highest peak of Meili Snow Mountain and the sacred guardian of the Tibetan people. Never successfully summited, Kawagarbo watches over the entire trek from every angle.
• Lairigongka Peak — At 6379m, the second-highest summit of Meili Snow Mountain and the most prominent landmark on the North Slope approach. Its proud, solitary silhouette has earned it the nickname 'the lion peak'.
• Cogar Lapka (Jieluoka) Peak — At 6509m, the second-highest peak of the Meili massif, nicknamed 'Meili Second Peak'. A guardian of the mountain's north side, it offers a completely new visual perspective on the range.
• Meili North Slope Glacier Belt — The North Slope harbours some of the most accessible glaciers in China. Because the north face receives minimal direct sunlight, glacier preservation here is exceptional. Enormous azure-blue ice rivers cascade down from over 6000m — a primal encounter with deep, ancient ice.
• Minguo Glacier — Located west of Cogar Lapka, this hanging glacier is approximately 1km wide. Ice cliffs rise directly above the valley floor and show vivid banding — a striking contrast to the better-known Mingyong Glacier on the south slope. Climate data shows it is retreating, making each viewing increasingly precious.
• Yagong Valley — A high-altitude river valley at the foot of the peaks — the gateway to the North Slope trek. Clear streams wind through open meadows; in autumn the valley blazes with multi-coloured high-alpine grasses and the views up to the snow peaks are theatrical.
• Ciyagong Pass — At 4770m, one of the highest trekking passes in the Meili circuit. Standing on the crest you can see Kawagarbo, Meili Snow Mountain, and a succession of glaciers and ice lakes spread below.
• Lairigongka Pass (Mangliang Pass) — The highest point on the Meili North Slope route at approximately 5000m. Surrounded by glacial boulders and open sky, with views to the summit icecap. Snow can persist here year-round — every successful crossing feels like an achievement.
• Glacier Viewpoint — A natural promontory overlooking the full expanse of the Meili North Slope ice field. Best at sunrise when the ice turns gold, or at dusk when it glows deep amber. One of the most photogenic spots in all of Yunnan.
• Starfield and Night Sky — Meili North Slope sees almost no light pollution. Campsites above 4000m offer Milky Way views directly overhead on clear nights. Because this region is rarely visited, the darkness here is extraordinary.
• Kawagarbo Sunrise (Ri Zhao Jin Shan) — Each morning — and sometimes in the pre-dawn hours from camp — the sunrise paints Kawagarbo gold. It is a deeply moving sight that keeps guests returning year after year. Not merely beautiful, but for many a life-changing encounter with scale and silence.

Day by day

What's included

• All ground transport throughout the itinerary (charter minibus)
• All camp meals as per itinerary (camp breakfast, trail snacks, camp dinner on trekking days)
• Professional activity leader and licensed mountain guide
• Dedicated camp doctor or first-aid officer
• All camping equipment: mountain tents, sleeping pads, camp kitchen and cooking equipment
• Crampons (one pair per participant)
• Waterproof gaiters
• Trekking poles

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