9 Days Best Yunnan Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

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For this 9 Days Best Yunnan Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking, you will visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. This is also a minority discovery tour, because you will find minority diversity during your trip, the minorities such as Yis, Bais, Naxis and Tibetan. Moreover, the Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking will be the most impressive part of your trip, you could be shocked by the ruggedness and magnificence of Tiger Leaping Gorge and the mountains around when you are there. This part can never be missed. 

Highlights:

  • Visit the top destinations of Yunnan: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
  • Step into ethnic villages and ancient towns to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
  • Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge to feel the grotesque and raging rapids of the magnificent gorge.
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Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Kunming Arrival
  • Day 2: Kunming
  • Day 3: Kunming-Dali
  • Day 4: Dali-Lijiang
  • Day 5: Lijiang
  • Day 6: Lijiang-Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge
  • Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La
  • Day 8: Shangri-La
  • Day 9: Shangri-La Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Arrival
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: None

You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming. Upon arrival at the Kunming International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. 

Day 2 Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Stone Forest, Green Lake Park
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The Stone Forest in Kunming

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 Green Lake Park, strolling around the lake, watching locals do dancing and making music.

Day 3 Kunming – Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: Erhai Cruise, Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery, Dali Ancient Town
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

dali erhai lake

Today, take the morning high speed train to Dali, the ancient political, economic and cultural center of Yunnan area. Meet the tour guide and driver at the train station and start the tour with Erhai Lake 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.

Day 4 Dali – Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Culture Museum, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Black Dragon Pool in Lijiang

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

Day 5 Lijiang

Sightseeing and Activities: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng Monastery, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang

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 Murals – one part of Lijiang World Cultural Heritage.

Day 6 Lijiang – Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
Accommodation: Halfway Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to Qiaotou Town. Your hiking trip starts from the Qiaotou Primary School, trek two hours to Naxi Family and have lunch there.

The 28 Zigzagging Turns will be a real test. From the top of “28 turns” on the high path further uphill to a place of altitude above 3000m, have a view of the panorama of the entire Gorge. The go pass Tea Horse Guest House (5 hours) and arrive at Halfway Guesthouse (2500m) to finish today’s trekking. The total trekking route is 26 km, and it takes about 6-8 hours.

Day 7 Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge – Baishuitai – Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking, Baishuitai
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, hiking about 2 hours to Tina’s Guesthouse. Continue the trekking down the steep cliff to the bank of Jinsha River to the Middle Gorge (Middle Hutiao or Middle Rapids). Then climb up the gorge to Walnut Grove (Woody’s Guesthouse) throughing either the Tianti or Yixiantian route(about 2-3 hours). The total for the day from Halfway Guesthouse to Walnut Grove will be about 5 to 6 hours.

Drive to Baishuitai to see the beautiful terrace, then continue the drive to Shangri-La.

Day 8 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Songzanlin Temple, Local Tibet Village, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Grand Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ganden Songzanlin Monastery in Shangrila

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,pay a visit to a local Tibet Village near the monastery.

After lunch, 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. 

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.

Day 9 Shangri-La Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Depart from Shangri-La
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Escorted to the airport for your departure flight. 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;
  • High speed train tickets from Kunming to Dali(2nd class seat).

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.
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