11 DAYS, YUNNAN ADVENTURE WITH TIGER LEAPING GORGE TREK

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 01FRI : ARRIVE KUNMING
Upon arrival, met & transfer to Jin Quan Hotel (3*) or similar. You have the afternoon at leisure. Kunming is a relaxing city with year-round mild temperatures, and you can enjoy a good walk around the Green Lake, a scenic city park area lined with small shops and teahouses. For tonight’s dinner, we recommend you to try Yunnan’s traditional "Cross Bridge Rice Noodle".

DAY 02SAT : KUNMING - LIJIANG
Early morning, transfer to airport for flight to Lijiang.
Upon arrival we will be brought to Jiannanchun Hotel (3*) in the old town for 2 nights. Surrounded by imposing mountains up to 5500m, and being home to a number of ethnic minority groups, Lijiang in particular is populated by the matriarchal Naxi people, an ethnic minority group that are descendents of Tibetan nomads.
Today, we visit the Black Dragon Spring which houses the Dongba Research Center and the Dongba Museum of Naxi Culture. This is followed by a visit to the local Naxi village of Longquan in the countryside. Lunch at the Longquan village.
After lunch, we explore the surrounding villages. The rest of the day is free for relaxation and self exploration.
(Breakfast, Lunch included)

DAY 03SUN : LIJIAN
Day free for self exploration.
Lijiang makes a great base for self-exploration on foot or short drives as all sights are within short distances. On your own discretion, you may walk within the old Town of Lijiang, a World Heritage Site protected by UNESCO; ascend to the top of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (4680m) via cable car; view the rare Baisha Murals at Baisha Village; visit the "Ten Thousand Camellia Tree" (seasonal) at Yufeng Temple; climb up to Lion's Hill for a paranomic view of the town below you at sunset; and listen to Tang Dynasty music played at Xuan Ke's Naxi Orchestra in the evening. The late evening hours are best spent drinking 'lao ren cha' (Old Man's Tea) at a canal-side teahouse.
(Breakfast included)

DAY 04MON : LIJIANG - TIGER LEAPING GORGE (3 DAYS TREK)
We start our hiking adventure today. Leaving Lijiang it takes 3-4 hours of driving to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Stop by at the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge Viewpoint where you descend right to the river’s edge to feel the power of the mighty Yangtze River and marvel at the area’s dramatic landscapes. Legend has it that the gorge is so narrow in places that a tiger escaped capture by leaping across - thus the name. Lunch would be served at Tina Guesthouse after another 30 mins drive deeper into the gorge. From here, we ascend for about 2-3 hours to Halfway Guesthouse (common bathroom), surrounded by plantations. At an altitude of 2500m, you get a magnificent view over the Yangtze River below and the Yulong Mountain right in front of you. For the keen photographer this trek provides a great opportunity to capture nature’s best moments on film.
Whilst no previous experience is required to make the trek through the gorge, it is important that travellers are fit before starting. You should be prepared for more than just an afternoon stroll. We recommend that you bring light hiking boots with ankle support. Please note there is a risk of landslides, and bad weather may occasionally mean that it is not possible to hike the gorge. Please also note that your main luggage would left behind in your vehicle and all you bring with you is a day pack to take all essential items for the trek.
Whilst no previous experience is required to make the trek through the gorge, it is important that travellers are fit before starting. You should be prepared for more than just an afternoon stroll. We recommend that you bring light hiking boots with ankle support. Please note there is a risk of landslides, and bad weather may occasionally mean that it is not possible to hike the gorge. Please also note that your main luggage would left behind in your vehicle and all you bring with you is a day pack to take all essential items for the trek.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

DAY 05TUE : TIGER LEAPING GORGE TREK
Our second day of the trek takes us a further 6-8 hours (about 20km) trekking through the most spectacular scenery of the gorge, where the path twists and turns with some steep descents, until you emerge from the gorge and arrive at the friendly Naxi Guesthouse. Spend the night here and recuperate.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

DAY 06WED : TREK - QIAOTOU - ZHONGDIAN
After a couple of hours walking the character of the trekking changes abruptly, the Yangtze River widens up and splits into two. We come to the river town of Qiaotou and meet our driver for lunch. From here, we drive 4 hours to Zhongdian (Gyalthang in Khampu Tibetan) seat of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous County, just recently opened to the outside world. Late afternoon, arrive at the Xinhua Hotel (3*). Tonight, try out the spicy Tibetan hotspot in town.
(Breakfast, Lunch included)

DAY 07THU : ZHONGDIAN - DEQIN
This morning starts with a visit to the Sumsanling Monastery, the largest Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Yunnan province, dates back to the 15th century and once housed over 4,000 monks; since the Cultural Revolution it has rebuilt and is flourishing with some 700 monks in residence.
In the afternoon, we follow the road over the most scenic stretch of this journey (7-8 hours) to the last town before Tibet, Deqin. Enroute, have lunch at Benzilan (own expense). Overnight at Rainbow Hotel (3*) or similar for 2 nights.
(Breakfast included)

DAY 08FRI : DEQIN
At a height of 3480m, Deqin lies nestled in the cleft of one of the deep steep valleys that carve up the area. Its position between the Mekong (Lancang) and Yangtze rivers and as the last major settlement on the road to Lhasa before the passes into central Tibet have made it a trading post and market town of considerable influence in this largely uninhabited area. The majority of Tibetans, Pumi, Naxi and Lisu minorities are represented amongst its small population of 4-5000. While many have tried to climb sacred Meilixueshan (6740m), no one has ever made it to the summit - lending strength to the local notion that it is the will of the mountain not to be conquered. This morning, we head for the foot of Meilixueshan and trek/horse-ride(own expense) up to see the Minyang Glacier. We return in the afternoon to visit the small Tibetan temple of Feilai Si.
(Breakfast included)

DAY 09SAT : DEQIN - ZHONGDIAN
We make an early start this morning, following the Mekong south as it flows into Zhongdian. Check into Xinhua Hotel (3*) for 1 night. This hotel is built in Tibetan dzong architectural style, a fusion of elegance and medieval fortress-like majesty. You have some time in the late afternnon to visit the central market, Tibetan craft stores and the Zhongdian Museum (own arrangement).
(Breakfast included)

DAY 10SUN : ZHONGDIAN
Today is free at your leisure for shopping or you may opt for an optional tour to Shudu Lake. At about 3500m, this pristine alpine lake is an ideal setting for nature walks. Unlike the barren rocky mountains of western Tibet, the surrounding mountains are covered with forests and abound in birds. The area around Shudu is rich with plants and is an important grazing area for Gyalthang's yaks and cattle. After picnic lunch on the grass meadow, we will go to Ringha, the sacred hill of 5 wisdom Buddha and important pilgrimages place for all Tibetan to pray for good health and for wish fulfilling and for curing of illnesses. Animals slated for slaughter are freed here to accrue good Karma. We will visit a traditional village house, chat with the families and taste their butter tea and Tibetan cheese. If time permits we will stopover at Tianshen Qiao Hot Spring.
(Breakfast included)

DAY 11MON : DEPART ZHONGDIAN - KUNMING
The journey ends with your departure transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.
(Breakfast included)