China Travel Forum

[Franks]

Trekking into Metok?
OK, some problems with handling the not-so-friendly interface of the new Thorn Tree... Anyway I am about to visit Tibet in the upcoming months, and I would really like to try and make the trek into Metok (Pemako).

I am fit enough to complete such a trek, and also speak good enough Chinese to get by. Money is also not an issue, though I would like to make the trek by myself - perhaps with looking for an independant guide or porter in the area of Pe (Pai), but certainly without booking a tour with a travel agency in Lhasa.

My main concern is the permit situation. I don't know wether the region of Pe is open to foreigners or not. If it isn't, do you think it's possible to sneak by past the roadblocks along the way and into the region? Also, I was wondering what is the best approach to region - I assume it would be a bus from Lhasa to Bayi, then another bus or truck to Pe, but if you have other suggestions, I would be happy to know.

The other concern is the weather. I guess the summer months, which is the rainy season, would be a bad time to visit the region. So I am planning on going to Tibet somewhere between February and June (I have a six months visa, so I am very flexible with my time). what do you think is the best month to go?

If anyone has done the trek, or visited the Pe region, I would be happy for your advice.
Thank you

[Guest]

Unfortunately there is not much good news on the trip you are proposing. You simply cannot get permits to enter this area as a foreigner. Even getting permission as a Chinese citizen is difficult. The Tibet Tourism Bureau opened up the trekking route down the Po Tsangpo (from Pelung) this October but only to selected travel agencies and only for Chinese citizens.

The only way for you to trek into Metok is illegally. It is very unlikely you will get a guide who is happy to go with. In fact asking a Tibetan guide is pretty irresponsible as they will be in a nasty position if you get busted. You will simply get thrown out of Tibet but the Tibetan guide could end up in jail.

You could poach this route but you will have to be pretty savvy and will likely get into some kind of trouble!!

You can trek legally in the Pe area but not very far down the gorge. (definately not to Metok) There are a number of agencies that will arrange the permits etc. You simply cannot go into this area legally without going through an agency.