16 Days Yunnan and Sichuan Trekking Tour from Lugu Lake to Daocheng with Chengdu Panda Experience (West Route)
Tour Overview
Trekking from Lugu Lake to Yading combines fantastic views with an ancient mystique in a wilderness. Starting from the warm cultivated landscape around Lugu Lake to altitude of 4,800...
Code of Tour: YET0000004942
Length of Travel: 16 Day
Destinations of Tour: Lijiang-Lugu Lake-Grassland-Tongtian River-Kawa village-Lusi Grassland-Kasi village-Chonggu Monastery-Daocheng-Litang-Kangding-Chengdu
Departure City: Lijiang
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: Nature Panda Hiking Minorities Mountains ethnic villages
Trekking from Lugu Lake to Yading combines fantastic views with an ancient mystique in a wilderness. Starting from the warm cultivated landscape around Lugu Lake to altitude of 4,800 meters, the trails takes in views of the three sacred peaks – Chenrezi (6032), Jampayang (5958) and Chenadorje (5958). You will walk among the huge mountains, go through virgin forests, walk along valley floors, and stroll around sacred lakes.
Highlights:
- Feel the true charm of Lijiang Ancient Town and seek for Naxi Dongba culture on your own feet;
- Trek from Lugu lake to Daocheng, challenge yourself and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lugu Lake, mountains and valleys on route.
- Have a wonderful stay in Chengdu and lose yourself in cute pandas, our national treasure.
- Experience the ethnic culture of Tibetan, Pumi, Yi, Naxi and Mongol minorities.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
- Day 2: Lijiang
- Day 3: Lijiang-Lugu lake
- Day 4: Lugu Lake-unknown Grassland
- Day 5: Unknown Grassland-Tongtian River
- Day 6: Tongtian River-Kawa Village
- Day 7: KawaVillage-Lusi Grassland
- Day 8: Lusi grassland-Kasi Village
- Day 9: Kasi Village-Kasi Yak Farm
- Day 10: Kasi Yak Farm-Chonggu Monastery
- Day 11: Chonggu Monastery-Daocheng
- Day 12: Daocheng-Litang
- Day 13: Litang-Kangding
- Day 14: Kangding-Chengdu
- Day 15: Chengdu
- Day 16: Chengdu Departure
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Lijiang Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities: Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Lunch
Upon arrival in Lijiang, our local guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the hotel in the old town. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Lijiang old town and buy something necessary for the trip. In the evening, our tour leader will meet you all in the hotel to give you the briefing of itinerary.
Day 2 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui(White Water) River, Yak Meadow, Baisha Old Town, Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum, Naxi Orchestral and Show
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
You’ll visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui(White Water) River; then take the chairlift to visit the Yak Meadow(3700 meters) in the Yulong Snow Mountain.
In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town; you’ll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture.
After dinner, you will attend the Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace.
Day 3 Lijiang-Lugu lake
Sightseeing and Activities: Yangtze Canyon Walking, Yi ethnic people’s villages, Liwubi Island and Snake Islet
Accommodation: Lugu Lake
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
In the morning, drive 6 hours on the mountain road to visit the mysterious Lugu Lake. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers. You will start your walking from Jin’anqiao Bridge to Shudi along the road at the bank of Yangtze River. You will see the beautiful canyon and Yi ethnic people’s villages in the steep mountains. After 1 hour walking in the canyon, We will continue the driving and you can stop in many Yi villages.
In the late afternoon, you will take the canoes to visit Liwubi Island and Snake Islet in Lugu Lake.
(Optional)In the evening, take part in the night party and performance which is named the Soul of Mosuo. There are a lot of Mosuo young people dancing and singing around the fire in the outdoors theatre.
Day 4 Lugu Lake-Yak Farm-unknown Grassland
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Early in the morning we will drive directly to Yak Farm, our trekking start point, and meet our horse-men team, have our luggage packed on the horses there. It takes us 4 hours or so to trek up to the Yeji Mountain Pass(3,600 meters), passing by the Yi People’s village on the way.
The colorful prayer cloth on the trees reminds us of arriving at the mountain pass, from there we may have a nice view of the Lion Mountain near Lugu Lake. And we will trek down among the virgin forests for 3 hours directly to our camping site, an unknown grassland near the river.
Day 5 Unknown Grassland-Tongtian River
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today’s walking is easy for us, though it is long, for the reason of no strong rise and fall on the way. After breakfast we go outside the forest, walking along the tractor road, where a river accompanies us all the way. Before arriving our camping site, we will pass by some Tibetan villages, Yiji and Jiaqu villages. From Jiaqu village we will trek down to Tongtian river, where we will camp nearby.
Day 6 Tongtian River-Kawa Village
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
In the morning, we will trek up along the half-way up mountain trail until arriving at the top, where we can see Tongtian River and Dongyi River. When trekking up, we will have a fantastic view on the way, what impress us are the high mountains, huge valleys, and villages scatter in the opposite deep mountains.
Before arriving at our camping site near Kawa Village, where Mongolians live, we will pass by Hadi Naxi People’s village. This section of trail makes us walk on the top of high mountains, as if walking in the clouds.
Day 7 KawaVillage-Lusi Grassland
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
From Kawa village down to Keku Village(2,700 meters), on the way, we may see many huge cactus growing on the cliffs, and what surprises us most is a house build on the cliff close to Dongyi River. Keku Village is a place where Tibetan people live, from there we will trek up again until arriving at our camping site, leaving the river far behind.
Day 8 Lusi grassland-Kasi Village
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today is a long journey for us. Early in the morning, we will leave our camping site, trekking down outside the forest until arriving at the Seku village(2,600 meters). From there we will go across the river by the bridge, and walk further to Wangzi village, where we stop our trekking today, and then drive to Kasi village.
Day 9 Kasi Village-Kasi Gorge-Kasi Yak Farm
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
From today we will start the hardest trekking section, for the average height of the altitude is above 3,800 meters. Kasi village is the entrance to Kasi Gorge, and in the morning we will enter the Gorge, walking in the virgin forests. Two hours trek along the bottom of the gorge later, we will trek up until reaching Kasi Yak Farm, where we will camp tonight. And from here the altitude is above 4,000 meters.
Day 10 Kasi Yak Farm-Chonggu Monastery
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today’s trekking is the most strenuous. Before trekking down again we have to reach the highest mountain pass(4,800 meters) of these days, from where we have a nice view of the two snow mountains( Chenrezi (6032) and Chenadorje (5958), plateau lake(the Milk Lake(4,750). Have a short rest near the plateau lake below the mountain and then we continue trekking down into the virgin forests where we can find the height of the altitude descending sharply.
Before getting to the guesthouse near Chonggu Monastery, we will pass by Luorong Yak Farm (4,200 m), located among the center of the three snow mountains, Chenrezi (6032 m), Jampayang (5958 m) and Chenadorje (5958 m).
Day 11 Chonggu Monastery-Daocheng
Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Daocheng
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Today we needn’t get up very early, in the morning enjoy the leisure time on the grassland near the monastery, after lunch we will trek down about one hour outside the scenic spot, where we say good bye to our horse-men team, and take the bus to Daocheng. Stay in the local guesthouse.
Day 12 Daocheng-Litang
Sightseeing and Activities: Daocheng, Litang
Accommodation: Litang
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
In the morning, free time for you to explore the small Tibetan town, for Daocheng provides some creature comforts, a good place to relax and adjust yourself to the upcoming change in style and pace.
After lunch we will drive to Litang, one of the highest counties in the world.
Day 13 Litang-Kangding
Sightseeing and Activities: Go to Kangding
Accommodation: Kangding
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Today we will drive towards the east direction, covering part of the Sichuan to Tibet Highway before arriving in Chengdu. On the way we will pass by 4 high mountain passes, the average height of them are above 4,500 meters, and get into Kangding.
Kangding is the traditional trading and meeting point between the Tibetan plateau to the west and the Han river plains in the east, and the buildings, wares and mix of people reflect this. Now it’s time to say goodbye to the highlands.
Day 14 Kangding-Chengdu
Sightseeing and Activities: Go to Chengdu
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Hit the road for an early start to our last day’s drive, which follows what was the old tea route between China and Tibet and is now the main military road into the TAR. Stop for lunch at Luding, the site of heroic episodes of the Long March. We then proceed to cross the 3000 meters Erlang pass and 10-km Erlang tunnel, as well as 7756 meters Minyak Gangkar (Gonggashan) to the south. Finally, arrive in Chengdu.
Day 15 Chengdu-Panda Research Base–Chengdu
Sightseeing and Activities: Panda Research Base, Wenshu Temple, Wangjiang Tower
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
In the early morning, drive to visit Panda Research Base Back and Wenshu Temple. Visit Wangjianglou Tower in the afternoon.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base) is a non-profit organization engaged in wildlife research, captive breeding, conservation education, and educational tourism. It was founded in 1987, with six giant pandas rescued from the wild. In 2007, the captive population has increased to 62 individuals from that founding population of only six.
Day 16 Chengdu Departure
Sightseeing and Activities: Departure from Chengdu
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to Chengdu International Airport for departure flight. Service ends.
Recommended Hotels
| Destination | 5 Star | 4 Star | 3 Star | Hostels |
| Lugu Lake | Ocean Paradise Hotel | Shilili Angyue Hotel | Shilili Travel Hotel | / |
| Lijiang | InterContinental Hotel | E-outfitting Hotel | Liwang Hotel | / |
| Daocheng | Dengsang Zhuba Luyun Namei Chujian Camp | Holy Land Image Hotel | Tianjie impress hotel of daocheng | Kawa Meiduo Folk Inn |
| Litang | / | / | Tsangyang Gyatso Hotel | / |
| Kangding | Gonggazong Manor Hotel | Jiamuzu Resort Hotel | Xueyuan Hot Spring Hotel | kangsangshuangy |
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;
- Sharing English-speaking tour guide;
- Sharing vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.
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.
A best trip forever！！！Arrived at Lijiang, I felt the cozy atmosphere at once. I love he architecture style of Lijiang old town. The water in Lugu Lake is so clean that I could see the bottom of the lake. We met people from a minority group called mosuo and we danced and sang together.
During the trip, sometimes we spent time in the hotel and sometimes we just camp. All the accommodation is very good. When we camp, we could see stars in the sky and we sit around the fire chatting. It’s so relaxing！All the hotels have very good view, such as Ocean Paradise Hotel. Moreover, hotel staffs are very polite. We met some local people who recommend some good restaurant and sightseeing for us.
We visited Chengdu-panda research base where we saw cute guys rolling, sleeping on the tree and playing with their breeders. They are so funny !!!
Thanks to the travel agency! I would definitely come again!!!