Haba Snow Mountain or Haba Xueshan 哈巴雪山is located in southeast Shangri-La 香格里拉county, Yunnan province. Mountain raises 5396m above the sea level, and is one of the tallest peaks in Yunnan province. It is covered by snow year-round, and is relatively easy to ascend. Haba Snow mountain is a popular destination for amateur climbers. 

How difficult is to climb Haba Snow Mountain?

This is an amazing trek not only for hiking enthusiasts, but also those who just simply love nature and mountains. You have to be in a good physical shape though. If you are used to easy relaxing walks, this certainly won’t be it. As Haba Snow Mountain is not difficult to climb (technically), it is considered a perfect mountain for beginners who plan to climb the highest snow mountains in the world. 

I climbed it without any climbing experience, and first time in my life used crampons and ice axe. Besides, I didn’t prepare for that before, just used them right away when I reached the snow line. If you also plan to climb Haba Snow Mountain without any previous experience, it is doable, but hire a mountain guide, at least for the first time. That’s what we did as well.

How to get there?

First, we visited Tiger Leaping Gorge虎跳峡(see my blog post about it here) and had a two day hike. Then, instead of going back to Lijiang 丽江, we got on a minivan at the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge中虎跳峡, and left to the Haba village 哈巴村. It was quite an unprepared trip. We didn’t even know where we will stay and if climbing will be possible at this time (it was in December).

Surely, there are buses from Lijiang 丽江and Shangri-La too. I would suggest going to Tiger Leaping Gorge first if you have time. Do a two day hike there. It is worth visiting, and also serves as a good warm up before climbing Haba Snow Mountain, you will also get used to high altitude.

Where to stay?

Our hostel at Haba village

There are a couple of guesthouses in Haba village. If you stay in Tiger Leaping Gorge first, you can always ask for some recommendations from staff in your guesthouse there and probably also for help to book one, if it is not on website. We were droped by bus driver at Haba Snow Mountain International Youth Hostel 哈巴雪山客栈. Without a previous booking, we just got a room on the spot. Because it was a late afternoon already, we decided to stay there and not to search for other options. It seemed like hostel was empty and there were plenty of free rooms (most likely it was due to low season). Those were quite cold, but there was an electric blanket, and we stayed in our beds all evening.  Lady who owns the hostel was very friendly and helpful; moreover she even cooked delicious meals for her guests. 

Sleeping at the base camp

There are huts at the base camp.  During summer time you can camp and sleep in a tent, but we were there in one of the coldest times- December, therefore staying in the hut was the best option. It was good enough to spend the night, with simple beds and served as a good shelter from wind. 

What equipment I need to climb Haba Snow Mountain?

Base camp hut is a good shelter from wind and cold. There were even blankets. However, sleeping bag is very useful , without it still might be cold even with all blanket.

If you don’t have your own climbing equipment, you can rent it there. I didn’t have crampons or ice axe, or climbing snow cover. But we asked to the hostel owner, and she prepared everything necessary. You have to have suitable waterproof shoes and clothes, warm gloves, hat, couple a pair of socks, sunscreen, lip balm; take also mobile power bank, hiking stick. Sleeping bag is very useful, especially if you visit during winter. It was cold at night, so we were happy that we had sleeping bags with us. Take a lamp too; you will need it, as the climb to the mountain top from base camp starts very early in the morning. I had a simple hand lamp, but it was very inconvenient to hold it in my hands while climbing mountain. My advice is to bring head lamp, or rent one.

Is there a necessity for climbing guide?

If you are not experienced climber, you should rather hire a mountain guide. He will bring you safe up and down the mountain. You should definitely listen to him if he says that weather is not suitable to climb, otherwise it can be dangerous. We rented two horses too; lady from hostel was very insisting that our bags should be carried by horse, as it is a tiring and long walk. While it was not the easiest hike, it was not that bad actually, and we could have carried bags ourselves. Horses are not must, only if you feel tired, or want to save energy for ascending the mountain top, you can consider renting one. 

How long does it take to climb Haba Snow Mountain?

We arrived at Haba village 哈巴村 in the late afternoon; therefore we had to stay one night in hostel first. We talked to the owner about ascending mountain top, and she recommended starting the trip next day in the morning. Then we had dinner and went to bed early.

Next morning lady woke us up, calling to come eat. Climbing guide was ready and had prepared horses and all necessary equipment. We started our hike up the mountain soon after breakfast. It took around 5 to 6 hours from Haba village to the base camp (4100m above sea level).

Start of the hike. Natalia and our local climbing guide

We stopped couple of times, while taking photos; our guide smoking a cigarette. In the middle of the hike, there was a wooden hut in mountains, where we met a group of Chinese hikers. That was a point where we could have lunch and at the same time get warm next to the fire. After all, horses had to rest as well. We spent there about an hour. We reached base camp in the afternoon. Even though we could have gone around and explore the surroundings, we decided to rest well and be prepared for the climb staying in the base camp.

Climbing Haba Snow Mountain

We woke up at night, it was before 3am, and had early breakfast, which was prepared by our guide. Me and my guide were first that left. My friend was tired and due to hurting leg, so she couldn’t go up. The Chinese group that we met in the middle of the way to the base camp started their ascent about one hour later. Luckily for me, we started early, because later on wind got so strong, that the following group had to go back to the base camp without reaching mountain top. That must have been quite a disappointment.

At the beginning of the climb it is still dark outside, and you can’t see much. That’s where you will find  need for a head lamp. Climbing stick made it easier too, especially when climb gets very steep in some places. The higher you get, the more often you want to stop and have a rest.

View from the top of Haba Snow Mountain

Reaching the top of Haba Snow Mountain

We reached the top before 9am; and probably stood there maybe 10-15min. Couldn’t make it longer due to strong wind and cold.  I took some photos with my phone, and then it switched off. Phone batteries drain incredibly fast. Luckily, I had a camera too. Wind was very strong and freezing up there. It was quite exhausting, and that was only half way.  Had to get down too and probably that was even bit harder because of that wind. We had to stop very often and stand there just not to be blown away. Finally, after couple of hours struggling with wind, we were back to the base camp. It took around 8 hours to climb up to the top and down back to the base camp. The same afternoon, we left Haba Xueshan and hiked back to Haba village. 

Good morning at Haba Snow Mountain. 

Getting back to Lijiang 

We stayed one more night at the hostel, and next morning took a bus back to Lijiang. There wasn’t a bus stop, or certain schedule. Last evening lady asked where we are heading to and told us that next morning there will be bus passing by the hostel. In the morning she woke us up, we had quick breakfast and soon after went back to Lijiang.

Additional information on our trip to Haba Xueshan.

• We were neither prepared very well for this trip, neither had certain plan. It was quite spontaneous, but turned out perfect. Local people are very friendly and they will help if anything.
• You have to be ready that your plans ascending mountain top can be canceled. If you have time, stay more days at the base camp, and climb when the weather is good. I got extremely lucky, because it was a sunny day with no clouds, and because we started early enough to make it to the top. As mentioned before, other hikers had to go back because of strong wind.
• During our hike back to the Haba village, we met two European hikers. One of them was doing this hike for the second time already, first time was not successful for him. I don’t know if they made it, but weather seemed bad when we left, and there were a lot of clouds encircling mountain top. So I realized again how lucky I was with waether conditions. 
• I had warm clothes with me, but didn’t bring my winter gloves. My hands were freezing during night climb. It is very important to have suitable clothes, shoes etc. During winter temperature can drop till -30 C.
• Best time to climb Haba Snow Mountain is between mid of March till end of June and mid of September till mid of December. Other time it is whether rainy or wind is too strong (January, February)

How much money do I need?

Overall, I spent approximately 1500RMB for this trip. That includes tickets from Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge to Haba village and back to Lijiang, hiring mountain guide, renting equipment, horse, hostel, sleeping at base camp hut, and food. If you start your trip from Lijiang bus station 丽江客运站, ticket to Haba village costs around 40yuan. Also, you have to pay 65yuan entrance fee for Tiger Leaping Gorge, even if you don’t specifically visit it, but only pass by. So, I recommend not only visit it, but do the two day hike, which is worth it!

Costs 

There is 200 RMB conservation fee in Haba Snow Mountain.

Guest house/hostel cost me around 100RMB per day. 

If you choose to stay in the hut (in winter it seems like a better option, yet during summer time tent sounds good); it was 150RMB per night.

Services of local mountain guide cost 100RMB per day. Renting horse was 150RMB per day. Renting the equipment costs 150–200RMB.

Conclusion

Climbing Haba Snow Mountain was for sure a great experience and unforgettable adventure. If I decide to climb it again, unlike the first time, I would probably make some more preparation before the trip, and try to do it during spring when the scenery is the most beautiful. For those dreaming to ascend a snow mountain this is a great start, as Haba Xueshan is not technically difficult or needs special skills to climb. Even if you are not ready for climbing the top of Haba Snow Mountain, there are some great spots to see around the base camp. It can turn out to be a nice hiking trip also without getting to the peak.

Good luck, and please leave the comment below or email me for any question. Also, I would love to hear your experience climbing Haba Snow Mountain!