Kawa Karpo Kora – final details

Here are the final details of the upcoming 2009 Kawa Karpo Kora trek, now starting on Thursday 24th September.

The Kawa Karpo Kora is a 164 kilometers trek that climbs and descends more than Everest, from sea level, and crosses six, remote passes.

Starting and finishing at the Mekong, the kora will take you along the Salween and through contrasting terrain such as lush pine forest inhabited by one of the planet’s rarest primates (the snub-nosed monkey, which we saw on our recent preparatory trek) and barren landscapes littered with colorful prayer flags.

Due to the time of year, as a participant on the kora you will walk alongside Buddhist pilgrims and pass religious carvings, paintings and temples. Buddhists believe that Mt. Kawa Karpo is so holy that walking around it will purify negative karma for a lifetime.
sneak peak of the mighty Kawa Karpo mountain range in the distance

The timetable for the trek is as follows:

September 2009

Thursday 24th – FIRST START Fly to Lijiang – Naxi-night in Lijiang.
Friday 25th – Morning in Lijiang, then drive to Shangri-la.
Saturday 26th – Day in Shangri-la – visit Chicken monastery & Thangkha Painting Academy – SECOND START ARRIVES – both starts meet in Arro Khamper for big Yak Steaks
Sunday 27th – Drive to Deqin. Stay @ Tashi’s Lodge
Monday 28th – Day @ Tashi’s. Preparation for Trek
Tuesday 29th – Kora Day 1 – drive to Yongzhi > Trek to Yong Yue (house)
Wednesday 30th – Kora Day 2 – Yong Yue to Yong Xi Tong (camp)

October 2009

Thursday 1st – Kora Day 3 – Yong Xi Tong to Duoka La (camp)
Friday 2nd – Kora Day 4 – Duoka La to Qunatong (camp)
Saturday 3rd – Kora Day 5 – Qunatong to Ah Bin (house)
Sunday 4th – Kora Day 6 – Ah Bin to Quzhu (camp)
Monday 5th – Kora Day 7 – Quzhu through Zhana to Zena stupa (camp)
Tuesday 6th – Kora Day 8 – Zena stupa to Gebu (house)
Wednesday 7th – Kora Day 9 – Gebu to Drukha stupa (camp)
Thursday 8th – Kora Day 10 – Drukha stupa to Donthon (camp)
Friday 9th – Kora Day 11 – Donthon to Meilixi and down to the Mekong > drive back through Deqin > night in Shangri-la
Saturday 10th – Extra Day; night in Lijiang
Sunday 11th – Fly back to HK from Lijiang

With one month to go before the trek it is at this stage that we require commitment through payment of initial deposits or full fees. We hope that the information provided in this message will make the final decision and process of payment and additional preparation smoother for you.

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Fees:

Full Kawa Karpo Kora 2009 fees are US$1,725 per person. Included in this fee are the following items:

- Return coach from HK to Shenzhen airport
- Return flights from Shenzhen to Lijiang
- All internal transport before and after the kora
- All accommodation before, during and after the kora
- All meals during the kora
- Kora, guides and porters

Please note that the fee does NOT include the following:

- Meals and drinks at restaurants and/ or bars before and after the kora
- Additional food and drink purchased during the kora – this is at your own discretion
- Transportation during the kora – we will be hiking J
- Your own China visa – please see “Visa’s and Permits” below
- Tibetan Permits – please see “Visa and Permits” below
- Personal travel insurance – you are required to provide evidence of travel insurance

Payment Instructions:

Deposits:

To secure your place on the kora a deposit of US$500 must be paid by Friday 28th August 2009.

Full fees:

Remaining fees must be paid in full no later than Friday 11th September 2009.

Visa’s and Permits:

China Visa:

In order to participate on the kora it is your own responsibility to acquire a Chinese Tourist Visa.

It is recommendation that you request a minimum of 30 days per visit and 2 entries permitted. Should you have any questions regarding the application please do let us know.

Additionally, it is precautionary when applying for a China visa to refrain from mentioning Tibet and Yunnan.

Tibetan Permit:

As the kora will take us “technically” into Tibet it is now a recent requirement for all participants to hold a valid permit to travel in Tibet.

Upon receipt of a scan of your passport details page and China visa, Tibet Kora will apply for Tibetan Permits on your behalf, through the relevant local authorities. In addition to these items, please provide evidence of valid travel insurance.

We require receipt of the above no later than Friday 4th September 2009.

Note: Depending on the sensitivity of travel within Tibet or bordering regions, permits are NOT guaranteed. Permit fees will be confirmed upon approval. It is not possible to confirm prior to this. Payment of deposit and full kora fees indicates agreement to this.