The legendary Tea Horse Road

This legendary route will introduce us, guided by a Spanish-speaking guide with expert knowledge of Tibet, the regions of Yunnan and Sichuan. Two regions of China home to almost half of the country’s ethnic groups, and which for thousands of years enabled the trade of tea carried by the legendary Tibetan horses.

This route presents no particular difficulties, apart from any discomfort caused by the altitude.

Volcanic areas, lakes, thermal waters, waterfalls and limestone caves will bring us closer to the legendary The forgotten Tea Horse Road. A legendary route along which Yunnan and Sichuan tea was carried by Tibetan horses for thousands of years.

 

Highlights of Tibet’s Tea Horse Road

Yunnan and Sichuan
In these regions, located west of China, we will find half of the ethnic minorities living throughout the country.

Shangri-La
At the foot of the Himalayas and surrounded by mountains we find the lost paradise of Shangri-La.

History of the route
A historic Asian route for trading tea for Tibetan horses.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

The Yangtze River, on its way from the Himalayas to the Mekong Delta, runs for 16 kilometres between two mountains nearly 6,000 m high, making it the world’s deepest river gorge and one of the main attractions of the visit to the Yunnan region. The gorge is only 30 m wide at its narrowest point.
According to legend, Tiger Leaping Gorge, takes its unusual name from a legend in which a tiger escaped a hunter by leaping across the gorge at its narrowest point.

Yading National Park

The Yading Nature Reserve is located in the Tibetan area of Kham, in the region of Sichuan. Three peaks sacred to Buddhists rise above 6,000 metres, offering us a spectacular landscape of lush valleys, trees, plants and flowers at over 4,000 m that can survive beneath a glacier during winter.

Yading National Park receives few Western tourists.

Altitude acclimatisation

The route is designed to allow gradual acclimatisation to the altitude. Even so, during the first few days, altitude sickness can cause discomfort above 3,000 m, including headaches and dizziness.

Its effects can be eased with local remedies or standard medication. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid large meals.

Visa for travel to China

For processing it is necessary:

• Original passport and 2 identical passport-sized colour photographs, resembling the passport photo as closely as possible.
• Photocopy of the national identity card for people registered as residents in Catalonia and Andorra.
• The procedures must be carried out with a minimum of 15 working days prior to the date of departure of the trip.
• A supplement applies to visas processed at shorter notice.
• Minors: in addition to the requirements above, a photocopy of the family record book and authorisation signed by both parents are required. If either parent cannot sign, the reason must be given.

Important: For a Chinese visa, passport photographs must have a white background. Wear coloured clothing and face forward without smiling. Your head and ears must be uncovered, with no glasses or earrings.

Travellers are responsible for checking this information against that provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their website.
Citizens with a passport of another nationality (not Spanish): Contact the respective Consulates and/or Embassies to learn about the entry formalities required by the countries visited on the trip.

Travel itinerary to China

Tibet Extension

Price of the China trip