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Difficulty level : moderate to challenging
Duration : approximately 9 hours
Private tour price : US$200 per person (1 person); US$ 300 (2 persons); US$ 70 (per extra person)
In the hot summer months, the nomad families of Ringha move their yaks, horses and livestock from the meadows of the valley to the cooler highlands, where the grass is greener and the air is crisp. Follow the route of the nomads into the mountains to a plateau nearly 3,700m above sea level. The stunning alpine grassland at the top mirrors the expanse of the blue sky above – making you wonder if you have reached a mystical realm somewhere between heaven and earth.
The journey along the Nomad Alpine Trek reveals Shangri-La in all its botanical beauty. Azalea bushes blossom in the brightest of colors, wild highland flowers line the mountain streams, and countless species of rhododendrons transform the evergreen pine forest into a splash of pink, red and white in spring and summer. Herbs, mushrooms and medicinal plants are found along the forest path, from roots that are used to stop diarrhea to golden berries that help to treat ulcers and bleeding gums.
The peaceful life of the nomads who truly live in harmony with nature strikes you once you reach the Nigu grassland, where calves and colts frolic in play and little piglets find their foreign guests strangely curious. Soaking in the serenity of the nomads’ lifestyle, you suddenly realize what a precious place this is. And while the guide prepares a hot lunch, the nomad women demonstrate how to make yak cheese and yogurt without the help of modern technology.
On the way back, the trek continues through the quiet pine forest with its carpet of soft needles and evocative smells. Snow-capped mountain ranges appear in the distance and provide a spectacular site. As the wind sweeps through the trees, its secret whispers dance in front of you and tease you with the hypnotic play of Mother Nature. The trek comes with a Nomadic picnic lunch.
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