Summit of Silence 9 Day Meili North Face Pass Trek

Your high-altitude journey begins in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lijiang. Upon arrival at Lijiang Airport or the Railway Station, our team will provide a private transfer to your boutique hotel. The afternoon is yours to wander the cobblestone alleys of Lijiang Old Town and acclimate to the elevation. In the evening, we will gather for a welcome dinner and a pre-trek briefing to prepare for the wild days ahead.

Leaving the valley behind, we drive north along the legendary Yunnan-Tibet Highway. We stop at the Moon Bend Grand Canyon to witness the Yangtze River’s dramatic 180-degree loop before ascending to the Baima Snow Mountain Pass at 4,292 meters. Our day ends at Feilai Temple, where your hotel window frames the 13 sacred peaks of the Meili Snow Mountain range. Watch the sunset paint the glaciers in hues of pink and gold.

After witnessing the "Golden Sunrise" over the 6,740m Kawagarbo peak, we drive to Yagong Village to begin our trek. Today’s 5-hour hike leads us through lush bamboo groves and broadleaf forests along a winding river valley. We establish our first wilderness camp at Bamboo Forest Camp, where the sound of rustling leaves and the crisp mountain air provide a perfect introduction to the backcountry.

Today we enter the "Amphitheater of Giants." We trek through pristine forests into the upper Mekong River Valley, where the massive glacial tongues of Meili’s North Face—Nairi Dingka and Mangkuang Laka—come into full view. Our camp at Pojun is situated directly facing the glacier-clad north wall. This is a true off-grid experience with no signal, surrounded only by grazing yaks and towering icefalls.

We spend a full day at the heart of the North Face to deepen our connection with the landscape. You will trek to the edge of the blue glacial crevasses, close enough to hear the ancient ice crack and shift. The afternoon is reserved for photography, sketching, or simply soaking in the silence of this UNESCO-listed wilderness. Spend another night under the star-studded sky at Pojun Camp.

Today is the most demanding and rewarding stretch of the expedition. We ascend steep scree slopes to reach the Ciding Pass at 5,200 meters, the highest point of the trek. From this vantage point, you are rewarded with 360-degree views of Meili’s hidden glaciers and jagged granite spires. After celebrating our achievement, we descend past the iridescent Twin Lakes before returning to our camp at Pojun.

We begin our descent through old-growth forests and past seasonal herders’ huts, crossing turquoise streams over traditional wooden bridges. Upon reaching Yagong Village, a private vehicle transfers us back to the comfort of Feilai Temple. After days in the wilderness, celebrate your journey with a hot shower and a celebratory toast overlooking the mountains you just conquered.

We start our return journey, stopping in the mythical city of Shangri-La for a local lunch amid fluttering prayer flags. The drive back to Lijiang offers a final chance to admire the dramatic transition from the high Tibetan plateau to the lush valleys of Yunnan. We arrive in Lijiang by early evening for a farewell dinner in the lantern-lit Old Town, sharing stories of our 5,200m adventure.

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning at leisure in Lijiang. Whether you choose to visit the local morning markets or simply relax by a canal, our team will ensure a smooth private transfer to Lijiang Airport or the Railway Station for your onward flight, carrying the silence and majesty of Meili with you.