12 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Holy Meili Snow Mountain and Mosuo Matriarchal Society in Lugu Lake

Breakfast at hotel, then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest, a notable set of limestone formations and two parts of which have been UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the South China Karst. Besides, Stone Forest is also famous for the ethnic culture of the Sani People (a branch of the Yi ethnicminority).

After the visit, drive back to Kunming and visit the Flowers and Birds Market in the downtown. In the evening, take the night train to Dali.

Upon arrival, meet the tour guide and driver at the train station. Dali, the ancient political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan area. Start the tour with Erhai Cruise. Then pay a visit to Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery – a symbol of the Dali City. Later walk around Dali ancient town to appreciate the unique traditional Bai ethnic folk houses.

In the morning, drive about 3-4 hours to Lijiang. On the way, pay a visit to the Bai Minority Traditional Houses in Xizhou, which is the place where the best and most of Bai Minority Traditional Houses are preserved. Then move on to Zhoucheng nearby and visit the traditional hand-made Tie Dyeing.

Upon Lijiang arrival, head to visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum, then walk along the river to Lijiang Old Town. With a history of more than 800 years, Lijiang Old Town was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1997. Black Dragon Pool offers a spectacular view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and also is home to the Dongba Culture Museum.

In the morning, drive to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. About 15 kilometers from Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the southernmost snowcapped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. Upon arrival, visit the scenic spots of Ganhaizi Meadow, White Water River and the famous Yak Meadow.

After lunch, pay a visit to Yufeng Monastery, one of the Scarlet Sect lamaseries in Lijiang. Later stroll through an enchanting traditional Yunnan old town – Baisha Old Town and visit Baisha Mural – one part of Lijiang World Cultural Heritage.

In the morning, drive about 4 hrs to visit the mysterious Lugu Lake. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers. Walk from Jin’anqiao Bridge to Shudi along the road at the bank of Yangtze River. See the beautiful canon and Yi ethnic people’s villages in the steep mountains. After 1 hour walking in the canon, continue the driving and stop at many Yi villages for a visit.

In the late afternoon, take the canoes to visit Liwubi Island and Heiwawu Island in Lugu Lake. In the evening, take part in Mosuo Bonfire Party with ethnic dance and singing performance. Dance and sing with them!

In the morning, drive about 20Km to visit the Zhamei Lamaist Monastery, the biggest lamasery in Moso area, Yongning Town. Yongning Town is an important town of the Ancient Tea-Horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet, whose people keeps the original ethnic life that is still not damaged by tourists. Visit Mosuo Market in Yongning Town. Pay a visit to Mosuo family and have lunch here.

Walk along the Luguhu Lake on your own. Enjoy the sunset wonder of Luguhu Lake in Luoshui Village. Take a special Barbecue dinner with beef, mutton, pork, fish, etc.
In the early morning, pay a visit to Mosuo Culture Museum to learn the Mosuo ethnic custom. Drive back to Lijiang. On the way to Ninglang Town, stop to visit a Pumi Ethnic Village and Pumi Family, whose ancestors moved south from Gansu Province and Qinghai Province and gradually settled down in Ninglang, Lijiang, Weixi and Lanping counties.
Transfer back to Lijiang in the late afternoon.

Drive about 60 km to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery. Visit the Iron Chain Bridge and the Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument at the Shigu town.

Have an experience of the floating from the First Bend of the Yangtze River to Longpan Town, after one hour floating, meet the driver and transfer to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.

In the afternoon, drive to Shangri La, the former Zhongdian. Upon arrival, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.

After breakfast, visit Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), reputed as the “Little Potala Palace”. Established by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1679, the monastery belongs to Gelug sect of Buddhism, and it is also the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province with around 600 monks.

Then, drive to the first national park in China – Pudacuo National Park which is mainly comprised of Shudu Lake, Militang Grassland, Bita Lake. Shudu Lake is a famous pasture, herds of yak and goat grazing beside the lake. Militang Grassland is located between Shudu Lake and Bita Lake with lush grass in meadow. Bitahai Lake, regarded as a pearl of the Plateau, is an intact natural attraction with outstanding landscapes. Pay a visit to local Tibetan family.

Later, stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town, a famous stop on the antient Tea-horse Trade Caravand. Then walk up to the top of Guishan Hill and see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world – Grand Prayer Wheel, where we can also have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city and Dukezong Ancient Town.

In the morning, drive 6 to 7 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Shangri-La. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. From Shangri-La, after half an hour’s driving, we will have a panoramic view of Nixi Pottery Village, drive down to the river valley, continue the nice scenery along the Jinsha River to Benzilan Town where you will have lunch.

After lunch, drive uphill to the Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in Shusong Village. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period in Qing Dynasty. Visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend and Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. We can view Baimang Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km.

Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the “Prince’s 13 peaks”.

Get up early in the morning, enjoy the magic sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain. Then drive 1.5 hours to Mingyong village, where you will walk on the trails for about 4km to Mingyong Glaciers of Meili Snow Mountain, walk another one hour or so, you will get to Tibetan Taizi Monastery - another good spot to view the magnificent Mingyong Glaciers. (Optional: You can choose to hire a horse to go up to the glacier on your own expense in order to save your energy).

After that, do some trekking along the Lancang River Grand Canyon as well as some Tibetan villages. This will be your most impressive part of your trip to Yunnan. Try to trek back to Feilaisi from the Lancang-Mekong River with a nice view of Meili Snow Mountain and Baima Snow Mountain.

Visit Feilaisi Monastery and enjoy the sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain in the early morning, then drive back to Shangri-La. Have a nice view of Yangtze River Grand Canyon, Baima Snow Mountain again on the way back. Be free in Dukezong Ancient Town and explore the Tibetan life in the late afternoon.

Escorted to the airport for your departure flight.
Service ends.