8 Days Lijiang and Shangrila Adventure with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour
Lijiang is famous for its UNESCO Heritage Site, the Old Town of Lijiang, which is a beautifully preserved ancient Chinese town. The famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, is 60 kilometres north of Lijiang City that is one of the finest treks through some of the most naturally beautiful and diverse landscapes. This tour also includes the highlights of Shangri La, such as Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town, Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, etc.
Highlights:
- Visit Lijiang’ highlights like Lijiang Ancient Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
- Explore the upper,middle,the lower sections of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
- Visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province – Songzanlin monastery.
- Enjoy the fresh air in the first national park in China – Pudacuo National Park.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
- Day 2: Lijiang
- Day 3: Lijiang- Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Day 4: Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Day 5: Tiger Leaping Gorge – Haba Village
- Day 6: Haba Village-Baishuitai-Shangri La
- Day 7: Shangri La
- Day 8: Shangri La Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Lijiang Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities: Lijiang Ancient Town, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Museum
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals:
Upon your arrival, picked up by tour guide and transfer to your hotel for a short rest. Then visit Ancient town of Lijiang and stroll on Square Street. Move on walking upstream along the Yuhe River to Black Dragon Pool to enjoy the reflection view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After that, head to Dongba Ethnic Museum to explore the culture of Naxi ethnic people. At night, join in the singing competition party at the town.
Day 2 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Yulong Snow Mountain, Baisha Village and Murals, Impression Lijang Ethnic Show
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town. Then drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). Take the sightseeig bus for a short visit through the Baishuihe River, and take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. Hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spruce Meadow(3200M).
After lunch, enjoy the Impression Lijang Ethnic Show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). Later stroll through an enchanting traditional Yunnan village – Baisha Village and visit Baisha Mural – one part of Lijiang World Cultural Heritage.
Day 3 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Halfway Guesthouse
Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of Yangtze River, upper Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking, Changsheng Hope Primary School, Zhong Nuoyu Village
Accommodation: Half-Way Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Mornign drive about 100KM to Tiger Leaping gorge Town(Qiaotou Town) along the Naxi ethnic villages and the upper Yangtze River. Have a panoramic view of the First Bend of Yangtze River on the way. Then start trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge – one of the world’s four great gorges, which is honored as one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges with 3900 meters in depth.
During the trekking tour, stop at Changsheng Hope Primary School for a visit. Have lunch in a Naxi Family Guesthouse in Zhong Nuoyu village. Afterwards, trek the most difficult part to the 28 Zigzag Bends trail and to the top peak(2670m).
Finish the trekking at Half-Way Guest House and stay overnight here.
Day 4 Halfway Guesthouse – Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge
Sightseeing and Activities: Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Rapids, Walnut Grove Gargen Village
Accommodation: Tina’s Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today trek further down to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge and back, which will take about three hours, from Tina’s Guest house to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse to the Middle Rapids. On the way we will pass a waterfall.
From the Middle Rapids, two ways back to the roads. One is vertical and dangerous through the Tianti or “Sky Ladder” to the Sky Ladder Guesthouse; another is lower along the Yangtze River to the Hetaoyuan. The last one are more favored by tourists. Then take the minibus back to Tina’s Guesthouse for overnight.
Day 5 Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Xincun Village – Haba Village
Sightseeing and Activities: lower section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Xincun Village, Haba Village, Haba Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Haba village
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, head to the lower section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, and walk along the road to Xincun Village. Then move on to Haba village along a small trail. Afterwards continue to walk along the Haba Snow Mountain. Stay overnight at Haba village.
Day 6 Haba Village-Baishuitai-Shangri La
Sightseeing and Activities: White Water Terrace, Dukezong Ancient Town, Tortoise Hill
Accommodation: Shangri La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy the sunrise of Haba Snow Mountain from Haba village. Drive to White Water Terrace, where the Naxi culture originated from. Drive about another 3-4 hours west to Shangri-la, 3300 meters above the sea level.
Walk around Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town in Shangri-la, an important town of the Tea-horse Trade Road. Climb up to the top of Tortoise Hill to see the largest Prayer Wheel in the world. In the evening, enjoy the dance around Sifang Square in Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 7 Shangri La
Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, local family visit
Accommodation: Shangri La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning, visit the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan – Songzanlin Monastery. Afterwards visit Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, which is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world.
Finally, visit a Tibetan’s family to experience their local life. Try some Tibetan home-made yak and cheese.
Day 8 Shangri La Departure
Sightseeing and Activities:
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast
Escorted to the airport and take the flight for your next destination. Service ends.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide;
- Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
