Yala Kamiyama Accommodation

Traveling to Yala Snow Mountain is one thing. There are several ways to get there, and each has its own merits. However, once you are there, you need to find somewhere to stay. While some will allow you to book over the internet, there are many that do not have sites to do so, and you will need to hunt around for the best places to stay, at the most reasonable cost.

Yala Kamiyama

Yala Kamiyama is one of the most popular trekking routes in Sichuan Province, and during the peak months the area can get quite busy, with a lot of people touring the region and hiking the trail around the mountain. While the best place to stay for hiking is obviously going to be Zhonggu Village, there are a few hostels in the village, and during peak months, they will likely be already full.

The area around Yala is not densely populated, and there are only a few towns. However, these towns do have some excellent places to stay, and many have all the modern facilities such as free internet, air-conditioning, phones, 24-hour hot water, etc.

Where to Stay When Visiting Yala Snow Mountain

Aside from Zhonggu, which may be fully booked when you get there, there are several towns around Yala that have excellent accommodations for your stay, and are only a short distance from the entrances to the scenic area.

Before / after You Arrive in Yala Snow Mountain

Once you get to the area around Yala Mountain Scenic Area, you need to find a place to stay for the night. The best option is Zhonggu Village, and the few hostels there are clean and cheap, and ideal for getting into the scenic area when you go off to trek.

Zhonggu Village

If those are full, then there are other options for staying in the towns and villages around the area, such as Kangding, Danba, Xinduqiao, Tagong, Bamei, and Yalaxiang. Hotels, inns, and hostels in the surrounding towns range in both price and facilities, and you can find a large number of places to stay, from cheap dormitory hostel beds to 3-star hotel rooms with all the comforts of home.

Where to Camp during the Yala Trek

The trek from Zhonggu Village around Mount Yala is one that takes three days, and involves a lot of walking. However, since there are no hotels, inns, or even tent guest houses in the scenic area, it is down to the basics of camping overnight. This does mean that you need to include a good tent and warm sleeping bag in your packing list, but the camp sites are actually well used, and have some of the most stunning views.

The first campsite you come across on the trek is known as the East Hillside Camp Base, and is situated on the Xindianzi Grassland, to the southeast of the mountain. A beautiful area in a wide expanse of open grassland in the Yala River valley, the site has excellent views of Mount Yala, and the sunrise hitting the side of the mountain is spectacular.

East Hillside Camp Base

Camping on the second night of your trek is normally at the side of the Yalayoucuo Lake. At an altitude of 3,980 meters above sea level, the beautiful jade-green waters of the lake make an excellent spot to pitch tents for the last night of camping. After the walk through the Yala Pass, and a stop at the Sisters Lakes, the sight of the lakeside camping ground is welcoming at the end of the day. And for those who love to take photos, this is the perfect spot to get a shot of the lake, with the mountain peak in the background, as the sun drops behind the mountains to the west.

4 Days Sichuan Mount Yala Trekking and Camping Tour

Best-value Hotels and Hostels in Yala Area

Since Yala Scenic Area has no hotels and hostels inside, the only option is to stay outside the area, in one of the towns. Some of the best hotels and hostels in Yala Scenic Area have great facilities, and lovely settings, and there are also many places nearby where you can stay for a lot less than the cost of a 3-star hotel room.

Kangding Accommodation

Lam-ze Lin-ka Hotel
Not far from the bus station in Kangding is the Lam-ze Lin-ka Hotel. On Google maps, this is listed as the Ram Linka Hotel, but it is the same place. Just a few minutes from Kangding bus station, and just over an hour from Kangding airport, this delightful hotel has all the home comforts, including hair dryer, coffee machine, complimentary slippers, private bathroom, and air-con. However, there is no internet available. Prices range from around US$58 for a twin room.

Lam-ze Lin-ka Hotel

Shuxin Hostel
The Shuxin Hostel is one of the cheapest places to stay in Kangding, and lies at the southern end of the town, just off the G318between Gongga Road and Yulin Road. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hostel, as well as a decent on-site restaurant. Rooms all have flat-screen TV, private bathrooms, and free toiletries, slippers and a hairdryer. There is also a tourist desk in the hostel, and some of the staff speak fairly good English. Prices start from around US$21 per person.

Kangding Dengba Hostel
Situated just down from the bus station, the Kangding Dengba Hostel is English speaking, and has free Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms, with hairdryers. All rooms have TV, and there is a phone in the room. The front desk is manned 24 hours, and prices start at around US$23 per night.

Kangding Konka International Youth Hostel
Almost right next door to the Dengba Hostel is the Konka International Youth Hostel. You do not have to be a “youth” to stay there, and the hostel has some excellent features for its low, US$23 per night price. There is no private bathroom, but many of the rooms have great views of the Snow Mountain, and they do have free Wi-Fi in all areas of the hostel. There are also dormitory rooms for just US$6 per night. There is a shared lounge where you can relax with a book or watch TV, and the hostel also has a bicycle hire on the premises.

Kangding Konka International Youth Hostel

Danba Accommodation

When it comes to accommodation, Danba has a great selection, from cheap, shared dormitories to excellent 3-star hotels, and just about everything you can imagine in between.

Dengba Hostel Danba
A mate to the Kangding Dengba hostel, this one in Danba is a dormitory-share hostel, which is exceedingly good value. Centrally located, and looking out over the Dadu River, the hostel has clean, shared dorms, free wi-fi, and a comfortable TV lounge. The front desk is 24-hour, and the hostel also has car rental to take you to Yala and pick you up again. Amazingly, a shared dorm bed here is only US$5 per night.

Dengba Hostel Danba

Man Tuo Luo Homestay
While this is technically not a homestay in reality, the hostel has the feel of being at a local family home, and the rooms and features are very Tibetan. There is free Wi-Fi throughout, as well as toiletries and hairdryer in all rooms. There is a bar on the site, and the dining room features huge tables for guests to mingle while they eat. Certain rooms also have a balcony, with some incredible views. It is a little way out of town, but the experience is worth the extra few minutes, and the cost of just US$35 per night is reasonable.

Xinduqiao Accommodation

Just outside Kangding is the small town of Xinduqiao, which has two lovely hostels for visitors to Yala. The location is good for entering Yala Scenic Area from either the northern entrance or the southern, and the town itself is quite charming.

Zhuji Inn
Set just outside Xinduqiao, on the road to Kangding, the Zhuji Inn is a delightful place to stay for only US$23 per person. All rooms include TV, free Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms, and there is an on-site restaurant and private parking. The Inn has free use of bicycles for all guests, and amazingly is a pet-friendly place. The external features of the Inn are striking as well, with a very Tibetan look to the architecture.

Xinduqiao Xinda Business Hotel
Set close to the G318, and next to a local Tibetan school, the Xinda Business Hotel is a sumptuous hotel with excellent facilities. There is an on-site restaurant with a selection of Chinese and Tibetan food, Wi-Fi across the hotel, and rooms have a flat-screen TV and private bathroom. The hotel also features a comfortable shared lounge, and there is a sun terrace for those who like to relax outside. And at only US$23 per night, it is a good deal.

Xinduqiao Xinda Business Hotel

Xinduqiao Yak International Youth Hostel
Another international youth hostel that does not require you to be a youth is the Xinduqiao Yak, set on the G318 between Xinduqiao and Yingguan. The hostel has the cheapest dormitory rooms in the area, at only US$4 per night; this rustic-looking hostel is often fully booked throughout the peak seasons. Accommodation is pet friendly, and has an on-site restaurant and bar. There is a small mini-market on the site as well, and the hostel has a well-maintained garden and terrace area where you can relax. Individual rooms have TV, electric blanket, electric kettle, and private bathroom for US$23 per night, and there is free Wi-Fi throughout.