Know Before You Go
• This tour starts in Shangri-La, ends in Kunming
• Shangri-La is 3,200 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level, be aware of High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
• Please be prepared with warm clothing (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can be very cold due to high elevation).
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is 4,506 m (14,783 ft) above sea level, be aware of High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
• There is no tour guide for arrival & departure transfers.
• Keep your passport on you constantly. It might be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Meals (lunch & dinner) are not included. Please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Add us on WeChat (+86-18309280878) or WhatsApp (+86-18309280878) to reach GGC service staff at anytime.
• Before getting to Shangri-La you will receive driver's contact information by WhatsApp, Wechat or email.
• You will be greeted by driver holding GGC welcome sign with your name at the airport or train station arrival hall.
Day 1 Arrival in Shangri-La, Shangri-La Airport Pickup
Meet your driver at Shangri-La airport and transfer to your hotel in a comfortable private vehicle. After getting settled at the hotel, you may explore Shangri-La on your own. Shangri-la, formerly known as Zhongdian in Chinese and Gyalthang meaning Royal Plains in Tibetan, is where you really start to breathe in the Tibetan world. Like its counterpart in James Hilton’s novel The Lost Horizon, Shangri-La is an isolated paradise awash with snow-capped mountains, colourful flowers, sparkling lakes, and lush pine forests. Shangri-La rests on the border where Yunnan, Tibet and Sichuan meet. It is the last stop of the ancient Tea Horse before reaching Tibet Autonomous Region.
Meals Included: No meals
Hotel: 4-star Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La or similar
Day 2 Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Old Town
Morning visit to Songzanlin Monastery, a golden, multi-storied complex where Tibetan Buddhist monks make clockwise circles outside, and juniper smoke and Tibetan prayer flags burst against the blue sky. This monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and one of the famous monasteries in the region of Kham. Construction of the monastery began in 1679 and was completed two years later. Songzanlin Monastery is nicknamed 'the little Potala Palace ', so named because of its similar appearance and layout to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Next, duck into the foliage of Pudacuo National Park for a chance to escape the crowds as you wander deep into the heart of Shangri-la's wilderness. The must-see scenery in this park includes Lake Bita and Lake Shudu. Lake Bita is surrounded by mountains covered with ancient pines, oaks, and rhododendrons, and appears like an emerald in the heart of the mountains. Lake Shudu is surrounded by a forest of fir, spruce, and silver birch, and is home to lots of wild animals, such as squirrels, golden cats, and pheasants. Afterwards, explore the winding lanes of Dukezong Old Town, filled with multicolored Tibetan prayer flags, outdoor markets and prayer halls.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La or similar
Day 3 Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Stone Drum Town, Drive to Lijiang
Drive out of Shangri-La to Tiger Leaping Gorge (about 115km). Tiger Leaping Gorge is considered one of the deepest gorges in the world. It’s part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Legend has it that a tiger had leaped across the river to the other side, hence the name. Continue along the ancient Tea Horse Road to the Tibetan town of Shangri-La (about 110km). Next, visit Stone Drum Town for a stunning view of the First Bend of the Yangtze River. It is named so because the Yangtze River takes a sudden turn for over 180 degree, and runs to northeast, forming a huge V-shaped bay. Stone Drum Town is one of the famous ancient town at the river bank of the upper reaches of Yangtze River. As there is a drum-shaped stone tablet carved with white marble, hence the name of the town. Continue along the Ancient Tea Horse Road to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lijiang (about 56km).
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Wangfu Hotel Lijiang or similar
Day 4 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Village, Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang Old Town
Morning visit to the gorgeous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The ever snow-caped mountain is regarded as a holy place of Naxi people. A fascinating trekking starts from Ganhaizi Meadow to White Water River, then take a cable car reaching the Spruce Plateau at elevation of over 3,000 meters to capture the most stunning image of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at a distance. Next, visit Baisha Village, the earliest residential area for Nanxi people. It is famed for delicate Baisha Murals painted over 1,000 years ago, the murals combine the cultures of the Han, Tibetan, and Naxi people, and display stories of Tibetan Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Step into Naxi people's life by visiting a local Naxi family. Continue with a visit to Black Dragon Pool for the best view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, over its white marble bridge. Afterwards, explore the small paths and canals that weave through Lijiang Old Town and visit time-honored residential compounds, soak in the romantic culture in the famous bar street, and also hunt for local snacks at Sifang Street.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Wangfu Hotel Lijiang or similar
Day 5 Drive to Dali, Cruise Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Dali Old Town
Drive out of Lijiang to Dali (180km). Dali has long been a regional centre of commerce, being located at a crossroads of trade routes between Tibet, China, Burma, and Southeast Asia. Cruise the Erhai Lake to the Jinsuo Island, home to 200 Bai ethnic families and experience the culture and lifestyle of ethnic Bai people. Erhai Lake is an alpine fault lake and the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake in Kunming. Next, visit Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. Chongsheng Temple was once the royal temple of the Kingdom of Dali, originally built in the 9th century. Regarded as the symbol of Dali, the Three Pagodas enjoy a far-reaching history that could be dated back to 1,800 years ago in Nanzhao Kingdom. Afterwards, stroll along Dali Ancient Town, explore some historic sites in the town, such as the ancient city wall, Foreigners Street, Gate Towers and some old churches.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Landscape Hotel Dali or similar
Day 6 Dali, Cangshan Mountain, Bullet Train to Kunming
Take round trip Ximatan cable car to just 100m below the summit (4000m) of Cangshan Mountain. Hike kilometres of boardwalks to some beautiful scenic spots including the historic Ximatan (horse washing pool), where Kublai Khan rested his horses before conquering Dali in 1254. Take bullet train to Kunming (approximately 2 hours). As the most important city along the ancient Tea Horse Caravan Road winding through the mountains of Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet in Southwest China, Kunming is situated in a fertile lake basin on the northern shore of Dianchi Lake and surrounded by mountains to the north, west, and east. Kunming is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" due to its perpetual spring-like weather which provides the ideal climate for plants and flowers.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Jinjiang Hotel Kunming or similar
Day 7 Kunming, Stone Forest, Western Hills & Dianchi Lake
Drive out of Kunming to visit the Stone Forest (2 hours). The Stone Forest covers an area of 2,670 square kilometers and was formed 270 million years ago. The Forest contains peaks, pillars, stalagmites, depressions, underground rivers and caves. The Stone Forest is considered superlative natural phenomena and a world reference and listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Visit Western Hills & Dianchi Lake with Cable Car in the afternoon. Located west of the Dianchi Lake, Western Hills extend for more than 40 kilometers at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. The top of Western Hills is the Dragon Gate which is a group of grottoes, sculptures, corridors and pavilions that were hacked from the cliff between 1781 and 1835 by a Taoist monk. Take a 20 minute cable car up to the Dragon Gate, then hike for 20 minutes to Kuixing Pavilion which is the highest point of Western Hills. Here you can enjoy an amazing bird's eye view of Dianchi Lake and Kunming City.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Jinjiang Hotel Kunming or similar
Day 8 Departure from Kunming, Transfer to Kunming Airport or Train Stations
Private transfer (without guide) to Kunming airport or train stations for your departure flight/train. Wish you a pleasant journey and thank you for traveling with GoGrandChina.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel