Tour name - Phonganrazi ice capped mountain expedition

Duration - 17 Days
Availability - October to May
Grade - Rigorous, Mid-hill trekking

Phongan Razi Mountain is situated in Putao Township, northernmost part of Myanmar. Phongan Razi Mountain is easiest one among ice and snow capped mountains in Myanmar. Except in August and September the mountain is capped with ice and snow all year round. Fongunrazi Mountain is 11500 feet (3505 meter) high and located between N latitude 27 5' and E longitude 97. Today Ministry of Forestry designated the region around Phongan Razi Mountain as Phongan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Day 1 Putao - Upper Shan Kaung by car
Depart for Upper Shan Kaung by car about 4 hours drive. Upper Shan Kaung is a big village and it has over 200 houses. Overnight at village houses.

Day 2 Upper Shan Kaung -WarSar Dam - 14 miles
Early departure for WarSar Dam. About 10 hours hiking today. On the way, passing by Mt SinLite Martin mountain (6206 feet high) the path crossing over 5000 feet high of its ranges. The path is getting a bit steep near the top of Mountain Range. The journey will be slow as the ridges are wet. The forest became thicker and there were evergreen hard wood forests. Soon after, get the summit of Partip Mountain. WarSar Dam village has only 10 houses. If your group less than 10 people that will be possible to stay at village houses.

Day 3 WarSar Dam - Awa Dam - Lona Dam - ZiYar Dam - 13 miles
Hiking through flat and plain region for 13 miles today. On the way, there is a ZiYar river near Awa Dam (Lisu) village. Pass over a 400 feet long rattan suspension bridge and then observed a pleasant forest and later will arrive at Lona Dam village. The rattan suspension bridge is useful in raining season and when water level is high. If there is no raining and water level is low, there is a bamboo bridge built on river stones.

Left Lona Dam village and continue journey to ZiYar Dam village about 7 miles. ZiYar Dam village is in the north-western most part of Myanmar, which is nearest to the Phongan Razi mountain, 3,300 feet above the sea. There are 18 houses in the village. Most of the villagers are Rawan, Lisu and Lisu- Rawan national races. Their livelihood is cultivation and hunting. Overnight at ZiYar Dam village.

Day 4 ZiYar Dam - Chaung Sone camp (River confluence)
Trekking about 7 miles Up and down hill slopes and crossing several streams along the way. You will cross small Phongan River before confluence of Phongan and NamLan rivers. Normally it is possible to walk through to the other side, if water level is high that we need to cut trees and make a bridge. It is better to make pre arrangement if river need to build a bridge. Soon or later, we will get to confluence and camping for overnight.

Day 5 Chaung Sone Camp - ThitPin Gyi Camp
Leaving Chaung Sone camp in the morning. Crossing over Phongan River again. Today we are going to climb onto over 6000 thousand feet high. Along the way, the orchids growing on trees and branches where the forest became dense and the slope became deep and trekking is slow. When we get higher the forest is changing with pines and rhododendron trees. In the evening arrive our camp.

Day 6 ThitPin Gyi Camp - Yekhe Ahsat or Ice Camp
Today will be hard trekking about over 6 miles. First depart for KhanTaunMit (or) KyantLu Ai camp at 8260 feet above sea. And continue journey to Ice camp. Depend on weather condition, ice and snow line of demarcation is changing. When it is more snow, you are going to trek on ice after KyantLu Ai camp of 8260 feet. Due to severe cold, all of the trees have shed their leaves and there were only dry branches on the trees. The ground was covered with ice and no more orchids could be seen growing on the trees. Finally you will get to ice line where to stop overnight. Find a place to pitch camps.

Day 7 Ice camp - The summit
From the camp to Summit will take 3 to 6 hours depend on location of your ice camp. If it is good weather, you will have time about an hour or more and if it is bad weather not more than 30 minutes. Return to Ice camp.

Day 8 Ice camp - Chaung Sone camp
The whole day trekking down to camp. If there is full of water in Phongan River that we need to stop for overnight near the river and cross the river next day. Overnight at camp.

Day 9 Chaung Sone camp - ZiYar Dam village
Return along same route. It is a great opportunity to celebrate a party for your memorable and successful trip at village.

Day 10 ZiYar Dam - WarSar Dam village
Day 11 WarSar Dam - Upper Shan Kaung
Day 12 Upper Shan Kaung - Putao

There will be about 5 travel days from and return to Yangon.
So this unique trip may take17 to 20 days for entire trip from Yangon.