On the eastern edge of Tibet, Meili Beipo circles behind the sacred Kawa Karpo massif, the highest peak in Yunnan (6,740m) and a mountain still unclimbed out of respect for Tibetan belief. Camping the whole way, the trek climbs in stages to a 5,200m pass on the Yunnan-Tibet border, with glaciers pouring off the north face the entire time.
Trip Highlights
A mountain nobody has climbed
Kawa Karpo is sacred to Tibetan Buddhists and has never been summited — you circle its rarely-seen north face instead of a crowded viewpoint.
Camping the whole way in
Six nights under canvas at Zhulin, Pojun, Pojiang (twice) and Feilaisi, gaining altitude gradually with two half-day acclimatisation stages before the big pass.
The 5,200m Yunnan-Tibet pass
The high point of the week: several 6,000m+ summits in view on both the Tibet and Meili sides, with snow common even in the warmer months.
Two river crossings by road
The route crosses the Mekong twice by car, bookending the trek and putting Feilaisi's panoramic viewpoint over the whole Meili range within easy reach.
Remote, quiet trails
No villages between Yagong and Feilaisi — seven days largely alone with yak-herder camps, glacial valleys and high passes.
Sunrise over the Meili range
On a clear morning, the panorama from Feilaisi at the end of the trek is one of the best mountain sunrises in Yunnan.
Route Overview
Lijiang / Shangri-La → Foshan
Drive across the Baima mountains to the Mekong shore.Foshan → Zhulin camp
Half-day acclimatisation hike into the bamboo forest, 3,500m.Zhulin → Pojun camp
Half-day climb to 4,250m, first glacier views.Pojun → Pojiang camp
Cross Ciding Pass (4,770m) into the next valley.Pojiang (out and back)
Summit day: the 5,200m Yunnan-Tibet border pass.Pojiang → Feilaisi
Long descent via Dala Pass (4,350m), Mekong crossing.Feilaisi → Lijiang / Shangri-La
Sunrise over Meili, drive back.Full Itinerary
Lijiang or Shangri-La → Foshan
Drive from Lijiang (or Shangri-La) to Foshan town via the Baima Mountains. You will cross the Yangtze and reach the Mekong shore at the end of the day.
Foshan → Zhulin camp
Short drive to Yagong, the beginning of the trek, at 3,050m elevation. Today is just a half-day acclimatisation trek to your first camp, Zhulin Camp (bamboo forest).
Zhulin camp → Pojun camp
Another half-day acclimatisation trek up to Pojun camp (4,250m). You will start to see glaciers pouring into the valley.
Pojun camp → Pojiang camp
Today you cross a first high pass, Ciding Pass (4,770m), with splendid views over the Meili north range, before hiking down to Pojiang camp (4,200m) in the next valley just north.
Pojiang camp (Yunnan-Tibet pass)
Hard day today, with the summit of the week: the high pass on the Yunnan-Tibet border. You reach 5,200m elevation, and snow is frequent at this altitude. The views are great on both the Tibet and Meili sides, with several 6,000m+ summits in view. Then hike back to the same camp.
Pojiang camp → Feilaisi
A long way down to Yagong village, passing a new pass, Dala Pass at 4,350m. At the end of this long descent, cross the Mekong again by car to reach Feilaisi, where a panoramic view of the whole Meili range awaits you.
Feilaisi → Lijiang or Shangri-La
After a wonderful sunrise over the mountains (more likely in winter, weather permitting), drive back to Shangri-La (4h) or Lijiang (6h), crossing back over the Baima Mountains — the range you first crossed on Day 1, its pass sitting around 4,300m between the Mekong and Yangtze watersheds, with one last look back at the Meili range from the road before it drops toward Shangri-La.
What's Included
Booking Terms
- Cancellation terms depend on how close to departure you cancel, and are confirmed in writing when your trip is booked.
- If a visa application is refused, we ask for the official refusal letter from the consulate and refund what we can once any costs already committed on your behalf are deducted.
- A confirmed place can usually be transferred to another eligible traveller.
- If safety conditions or government restrictions force a change, we'll adapt or refund the unused portion of the trip.
Get in Touch
We don't take bookings online — this site is here to show you the treks. Reach out and let's talk through dates, group size and what you're looking for.
