Trekking · 2 days / 1 nights
2-Day Haba Black Lake Trek
A night on an alpine meadow at 3,800 m, then a glacial lake under Haba Snow Mountain that almost nobody outside Yunnan knows about.
Short, high and genuinely wild. You gain 600 m on the first afternoon, sleep in a tent or a wooden cabin with the snow peak in front of you, and reach Black Lake the next morning.
Day by dayExactly what happens, in order — nothing added for the brochure.
Lijiang to Orchid Flat Camp
8:30 AM – Depart Lijiang
Board your private vehicle and leave the ancient town behind, heading northwest through dramatic gorges and terraced valleys. The 140-km journey (approx. 3 hours) takes you past the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the roaring Jinsha River carves through sheer cliffs – a preview of the wild beauty awaiting you.
11:30 AM – Arrival at Haba Village (2,700m)
This tranquil Naxi and Yi mountain village is your gateway to the high country. Enjoy a free lunch at one of the local eateries – fuel up with hearty noodles or yak-butter tea before the real adventure begins.
After lunch – Drive to Dela Pasture (3,200m), the trailhead
A short off-road transfer (approx. 30 min) brings you to the starting point. Here, the asphalt ends and the wild begins.
Hike. Dela Pasture → Yangfang Pasture → Misty Forest → Orchid Flat Camp
(6 km, ~600m elevation gain, max altitude 3,800m – approx. 3–4 hours)
Misty Forest – Your first enchanted section. towering pines draped in hanging moss, with wisps of cloud drifting through the canopy. The trail winds upward through a primeval world that feels straight out of a fantasy novel.
Yangfang Pasture – Emerge from the forest onto rolling green meadows dotted with yaks and free-roaming sheep. Pause here to catch your breath and take in the first unobstructed view of Haba's snowy crown.
Orchid Flat Camp (3,800m) – Your home for the night, a pristine alpine meadow with Haba Snow Mountain rising directly in front of you. The crisp air, the gentle rustle of the wind, and the absolute silence of the high plateau create a sense of peace you won't find anywhere else.
Evening – Hotpot dinner at the camp lodge
Gather around the warmth of a bubbling Yunnan-style hotpot, sharing stories with fellow trekkers as the sun paints the glacier gold. After dinner, step outside – the night sky explodes with a billion stars, and the Milky Way arcs right over the snow peak. It's the kind of moment that makes you forget every worry.
Black Lake, and back down
Early morning – Alpine sunrise at Orchid Flat (3,800m)
Wake up to the first rays of sunlight painting Haba Snow Mountain in shades of pink and gold. Step out of your tent and breathe in the crisp, pure air – the snow peak seems close enough to touch, and the silence is broken only by the occasional cry of a distant bird.
Breakfast at camp – Enjoy a simple but hearty meal (porridge, eggs, and Tibetan bread) to fuel your day.
8:30 AM – Depart Orchid Flat Camp
Set off on the trail that leads deeper into the high country. The path winds through:
Ancient fir forests – Towering Himalayan firs, some over a hundred years old, stand like silent guardians. The forest floor is carpeted with moss and wild mushrooms, and the air is thick with the scent of pine.
Rhododendron Valley – In spring and early summer, this valley explodes with vibrant blooms – pink, red, and white rhododendrons create a natural garden against the snow-capped backdrop. Even in other seasons, the twisted, ancient shrubs have a beauty of their own.
Snowy Mountain Wetland – A fragile alpine ecosystem where crystal-clear streams meander through patches of snow and hardy grasses. Look out for wildflowers and maybe even a glimpse of the rare black-necked crane.
Arrival at Black Lake (approx. 4,100m) – The Secret Lake
After about 3–4 hours of trekking (roughly 5 km from Orchid Flat), you reach the crown jewel of this adventure. Black Lake is a glacial tarn of astonishing clarity – a perfect mirror reflecting Haba's majestic summit. The water changes colour with the sky: deep sapphire, turquoise, or even silvery grey. This is the moment you've been hiking for – stand on the shore, feel the wind on your face, and take in the sheer grandeur of the Himalayas.
Photo time & the legendary autumn tree
By the lakeside stands a solitary mountain ash (Sorbus). In October, its leaves turn a brilliant fiery red, contrasting dramatically with the deep blue lake and the white peak – a scene that has become an icon of this trek. Spend time capturing the beauty, or simply sit in silent awe.
Return journey – Back to Orchid Flat, then down to the trailhead
Retrace your steps through the rhododendron valley and fir forests (another 3–4 hours). Arrive back at Orchid Flat for a short rest and pack-up, then continue the descent to Dela Pasture, where your vehicle awaits.
Drive to Lijiang (approx. 3 hours)
Relax as you leave the mountains behind, passing through Haba Village and the roaring Tiger Leaping Gorge once more. By evening, you'll be back in Lijiang – tired, but with memories that will last a lifetime.
What is in the priceAnd what is not. We would rather you knew now.
✓Included
- 1 night at Orchid Flat Camp (tent or wooden cabin)
- 2 days of private vehicle transfers, one seat per person
- Admission to all sights listed in the itinerary
- Local guide throughout — for groups under 8 your driver-guide walks the whole route with you
- Dinner at camp (Yunnan hotpot)
- Travel accident insurance, ¥500,000 cover
- Complimentary: multifunction headband, rain poncho, trekking poles
−Not included
- Flights or trains to and from Lijiang
- All meals other than the camp dinner (shared, guide recommends)
- Personal expenses and optional activities
- Single supplement, if you ask for a private room
Prices depend on dates, party size and the hotels you choose, so we quote per trip rather than publish a number that would be wrong. Send us your dates and we will come back with one figure — in writing, with the hotels named.
PracticalThe things people ask before booking.
Tell us the dates. We will send this route back priced, with the hotels named.
Everything here is a starting point — we cut days, add nights, swap hotels and change the order of cities all the time. Rebecca answers in English, usually within a few hours.
