Tibet · Sapu Sacred Mountain 5 Days 4 Nights Ultimate Guide

Why Sapu Sacred Mountain?
1. Pyramid-shaped Sacred Mountain: Rare equilateral triangular mountain shape, glacier plunging into an ice lake, rated as one of the "Most Beautiful Snow Mountains" by China National Geography
2. Close-up Glacier Experience: Walk to the glacier tongue end and touch the millennia-old blue ice (no professional gear needed)
3. Ultimate Light and Shadow: Snow mountain turns golden at sunrise, midnight Milky Way reflected on the lake surface
4. Remote and Untouched: Less than 50 visitors per day on average, exclusive access to the northern Tibet wilderness

Itinerary (Nagqu In / Lhasa Out)
Day 1: Lhasa → Biru County (Altitude 4000m)

7:00 Rent an off-road vehicle in Lhasa (Toyota Prado recommended, bring snow chains)
12:00 Stop at Yangbajain hot springs (relieve altitude sickness)
18:00 Check in at Biru County hotel (Four Seasons Oxygen Hotel recommended)
Note: Buy enough oxygen bottles and self-heating rice meals, no resupply later

Day 2: Biru County → Outer Lake of Sapu (5-hour drive)

8:00 Pass through Skull Wall Scenic Area (Tibet’s only human skull wall, brave visitors can explore)
12:00 Lunch at Yangxiu Township (Tibetan noodles + sweet tea)
15:00 Arrive at Outer Lake parking lot, transfer to villagers’ motorcycles (200 RMB/person) or hike 3 km
18:00 Stay in container hotel (bed 150 RMB, electric blanket + starry sky window)
Night photography: Tripod shots of the Milky Way arch + sacred mountain reflection

Day 3: Sapu Outer Lake → Inner Lake Glacier (Core Day)

6:00 Wait for the golden sunlight on the mountain (around 6:30 in summer)
9:00 Hike to Inner Lake (8 km round trip), rocky path requires anti-slip shoes
12:00 Glacier picnic (bring thermos with butter tea)
15:00 Explore ice caves/ice floes on the lake (drone flying prohibited! Strong winds can cause crashes)
19:00 Bonfire party and learn Tibetan pastoral songs with local guides

Day 4: Sapu → Biru County (Rest Day)

10:00 Photograph sacred lake morning mist (telephoto compressing prayer flags and snow mountain)
14:00 On the way back, spot Tibetan antelopes (200mm+ focal length recommended)
18:00 Eat stone pot chicken in Biru County (herbal stew to fight altitude sickness)

Day 5: Biru → Lhasa (National Highway G317)

9:00 Visit Nujiang First Bend viewing platform
15:00 Wash car before returning (Tibetan license plate car shops refuse muddy cars)

Top 5 Must-Shoot Legendary Spots

In front of Outer Lake container: Wide-angle lens framing snow mountain + container reflection
End of Inner Lake glacier tongue: People standing on ice look tiny, shutter speed 1/500 sec freezes ice cracking sound
Prayer flag slope: Capture wind horse flags and flying birds in morning mist with 70-200mm lens
Starry sky tent: Warm tent light contrasts with cool-toned Milky Way
Along G317: Telephoto shots of Tibetan wild donkeys running against snow mountain backdrop

Life-or-Death Gear List

Clothing: Gore-Tex shell jacket + fleece liner + wool hat (glacier wind cuts like a knife)
Medicine: Ibuprofen + glucose oral liquid + pulse oximeter
Photography: Spare batteries (drain fast at -20℃) + cleaning kit (dust protection)
Survival: Satellite phone (best with China Telecom signal), wolf spray (for wild dogs)

High Altitude Survival Rules

Vehicle must-check: Spare tire/jack/recovery board (car rescue fees start at 3000 RMB)
Glacier taboos:

Stay away from ice crevasses (surface snow may be hollow)
No littering of water bottles or trash (locals regard the sacred mountain as holy)

Folk customs warnings:

Circumambulate mani piles clockwise only
Do not photograph herders’ yaks without permission

Cost Reference (Per Person for 4 Sharing a Car)

Transport: Car rental + fuel ≈ 2500 RMB
Accommodation: Container + county hotels ≈ 800 RMB
Food: Self-heating meals + Tibetan food ≈ 400 RMB
Others: Motorcycle transfer / tickets ≈ 300 RMB
Total budget about 4000 RMB (half the cost of the Kailash pilgrimage)

Hidden Player Easter Eggs

Secret extensions:

Wild hot springs in Chaqu Township, Biru County (sulfur springs known only to locals)
8-hour hike behind Sapu to reach "Samu Lake" twin lakes

Time Management:

Avoid rainy season and caterpillar fungus harvesting season in September (road closure risk)
Sacred mountain often cloud-covered after 2 PM daily