04-22 August / Trekking in Eastern Tibet on the Footpath of Alexandra David Néel

Located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, the Kham region is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet (with Ü-Tsang and Amdo). Today Kham is divided between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province, with smaller parts in Yunnan and Qinghai provinces.

About as large as Sweden, the Kham region is made up of high mountain ranges and deep valleys. Its highest point is Mt. Minya Gangkar at 7'556m above sea level. The region is also crossed by two major rivers, the Mekong and the Yangtze . A land of warriors, robbers and Lamas, the Kham has long remained mysterious and rebellious, its inhabitants (Khampa) were reputed to be ferocious soldiers, and excellent horsemen. In the early 20th century, the famous French explorer and travel writer, Alexandra David Néel, crossed the Kham region disguised as a beggar during her 2000km long trip to reach the then forbidden city of Lhasa, and all the way to India. Even today Kham remains wild and remote, with its vast, high altitude plateaus and high mountains populated by 2 million inhabitants, many of them still nomads.

From Chengdu, the route crosses the Kham from east to west, to reach the monastery of Dzokchen, then Derge, capital of one of the most powerful ancient Tibetan kingdoms. After 6 days of travel and acclimatization to high altitude, we will depart from Pelpung for a trek of ten days, through mountains, passes, valleys, pastures and forests ... to finally reach Lake Yilhun Lha-tso, one of most beautiful sacred lakes of Tibet.