Lijiang
Arrive in Lijiang • Enjoy a Naxi ethnic minority orchestra performance as part of your welcome party • If time allows, wander through the woven streets of Lijiang's Old Town.
Trip Length
5
Days
from USD
$1,885 /person
Private Tour
春
spring
夏
summer
秋
fall
冬
winter
Cultural Immersion
,
Nature & Wildlife
,
Expeditions
What we love
- Hiking the lower trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge to Walnut Grove
- Passing through Naxi, Yi and Hui (Muslim) ethnic minority villages in the Haba Mountains
- Gazing in awe at White Water Terrace, a mythical landform at the end of the gorge trail
About This Trip
Fed by Tibetan glaciers, the Jinsha River cuts its way through the gorge, carving a twisting path of shifting, scenic vistas revealed to hikers as they leap logs and climb through waterfalls. Start by following the river, the sound of it roaring off the rock walls as you head to Walnut Grove. A new day sees you turn uphill, falling in single-file behind the farmer and packhorse carrying produce destined for Naxi villages along the road. Hike through those same villages, savoring a pause and a cup of Pu'er in each. Finally, descend into fabled Shangri-La to explore golden-roofed temples and Tibetan market fare.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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Tibetan Buddhist Culture -
Tibetan Buddhist Culture
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Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge
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White Water Terraces
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DETAILED ITINERARY
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Day 1
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Day 2
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge, via the legendary first bend on the Yangtze • Hike the lower trail to Walnut Grove, a small village that lies between the upper and middle section of the trail • Spend the evening with a local family
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Day 3 | 4
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Drive to Haba Village • Hike in the nearby mountains, passing through Naxi, Yi and Hui (Muslim) ethnic minority villages • Spend the night in Haba Village • Continue exploring Tiger Leaping Gorge and visit White Water Terrace, a mythical landform created by a continual deposition of calcium carbonate
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Day 5 | 6
Shangri-La
Drive to fabled Shangri-La • Wander through the gilded pillars and incense-filled rooms of Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan lamasery in Yunnan • Spend the evening tasting local Tibetan delicacies in Shangri-La Old Town • Enjoy a leisurely Tibetan-style breakfast as your journey draws to a close.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What's Included:
- All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
- All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
- All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
- All services of WildChina English-speaking guide(s)
- All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax
- Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
What's Not Included:
- International & domestic flights and relevant taxes
- Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
- Travel, health and trip cancellation insurance
- Meals apart from those included in the itinerary and alcohol
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
- Discretionary gratuities for guides and chauffeurs
Tour Reviews
Rallanah, Jul 2019My wife and I are vegan and were pretty worried about our ability to find decent food, but our guides were very helpful at identifying appropriate restaurants and checking with restaurant staff to make sure the dishes we ordered were vegan. Shelly in particular was the perfect combination of knowledgable, fun, flexible, kind, interesting, and accommodating. We were truly sad to say goodbye to her at the airport, and I suspect my wife is already thinking about making another trip to Yunnan province to visit her again!
Read More on TripAdvisor
D.C. , Jul 2019Shelly Zhang is/was the family friend we never knew we had. A powerhouse personality. Super energetic, friendly and funny. We loved her. She went WAY out of her way to create some truly memorable, super cool, authentic cultural experiences - from cooking food we bought at a local market, to teaching us mahjong, to connecting us with local Bai, Naxi and Yi families in Dali (a truly amazing, non-touristy place), to taking us to some of the best farm-to-table restaurants we've ever been too. Can't thank her - and you, of course! - for providing such a memorable experience for our family.
A. S., Jul 2017WildChina is a high quality and trustworthy travel company. Jenny is honest, reliable, listens well and as this as our second trip with her, she hasn't steered us wrong yet! This was also our second trip with Sonam, one of our guides. He masterfully uses his trekking skills, local knowledge, and pays attention to detail and his clients to ensure a memorable experience, while managing the schedule and pace of activities to fit the limitation of his clients. Our purpose for travel is to have an adventure, and experience the people, culture and sights of Asia. WildChina does an outstanding job of immersing us in those elements safely and comfortably in parts of China that are still unspoiled and reflect the country's great diversity of people and geography.
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