Songpan

Songpan is best known for its horse trekking opportunities although reading reviews you find there are very mixed views about the experience. What can’t be denied is that the scenery in this area is stunning. Songpan is a bustling market town that lies just below the Tibetan Plateau and historically has been an important trading post and governmental centre for the area. There are still genuine old town gates and bridges, but most of the town wall is a modern rebuild. The surrounding country is a mix of valley bottom, arable agricultural, hillside pasture and alpine forest that rises, sometimes to spectacular mountain peaks, to form the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Any form of journey into this area will offer incredible views, but using a horse and guide enables you to really get off the beaten track and away from the tourist throng. However, before taking on a trek it’s best to consider a few factors that may affect your enjoyment. Riding a horse for two or three days can be a painful, muscle straining experience and there will also be a lot of walking, since horses rapidly tire when going uphill.  The tent accommodation can be basic, and food is simple noodles cooked over a campfire type fare. Sensible preparations could include decent walking footwear, stocking up with chocolate bars and other energy giving snacks and ensuring you have the right clothes for surviving cold nights and a spell of inclement weather. The quality of the experience will also depend on the quality of your guide and, if you’re in a group, how you fit in with the others. Much of the criticism found on the web stems from trekkers being unsatisfied with the guide service – but if you’re forewarned and prepared, as long as the weather holds, and you’re physically up to task of a multi-day horse ride, then the experience is certainly worth it.