7 Days Shangrila Students Education Course

Tour Overview

This is truly an off-the-beaten-track expedition with spectacular trekking and camping in the stunning mountains of northwest Yunnan. Students follow in the footsteps of caravan travelers and undertake a...

Code of Tour: YET0000012445

Length of Travel: 7 Day

Destinations of Tour: Shangri-la

Departure City: Shangri-La

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour:

Features of Tour: Hiking Minorities Education Mountains

More Map & Picture

This is truly an off-the-beaten-track expedition with spectacular trekking and camping in the stunning mountains of northwest Yunnan. Students follow in the footsteps of caravan travelers and undertake a project in which they learn about the ancient Tea Horse trade route, discussing both its anthropological, political and economic influences.

Highlights:

• Learn about the ancient Tea Horse trade route and Tibetan culture.
• Trek through highland pasture and visit different kinds of birds and Tibetan horses.
• Learn to make pottery and do some farm work.

Brief Itinerary:

• Day 1 Arrive in Shangri-La
• Day 2 Shangrila-Ringa and Abuji Trek
• Day 3 Highland Pasture Trekking
• Day 4 Abujee Scared Lake Trekking
• Day 5 Highland Pasture-Nixi Pottery Village
• Day 6 Shangrila
• Day 7 Shangrila Departure

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill or tortoise Hill, Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Lunch

Upon arrival in Shangri La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of Shangrila county and Dukezong Ancient Town. 

Day 2 Shangrila-Ringa and Abuji Trek (Trek with camping) O/N Tent

Sightseeing and Activities: Dabao Temple, trekking
Accommodation: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 Abujee Scared Lake Trekking

Sightseeing and Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Campimg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will cross the pass that is over 4200 above sea level. There is a legend, the peak of snow mountain is standing in front of you as soon as crossing the pass. Finally, you will get to the places called Abujee that surrounded by snow mountain, the lake looks like jade. Tibetan residents are durning the pine branch and milk to narate theirs bream in mind. You will have picnic lunch at lake side of Abujee, then downhill back to the pasture which you started the trekking on the first day. 

Stay overnight at campsite.

Day 5 Highland Pasture-Shangri-la-Nixi Pottery Village

Sightseeing and Activities: Nixi Potter Village, learn about the pottery making
Accommodation: Nixi Pottery Village
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After the final breakfast ourside, you will trek back to Dabao Temple. Our drive will wait for you there, then you will be dropped to Nixi Potter Village. Divide students into few groups at different families to learn about the pottery making.

Nixi village is 30 km away from Shangri-la city. It’s famous for black pottery made by its local villagers. There are 148 families here totaling about 800 people. Over 50% of the village families are black pottery makers. The history of making pottery in this village dates back over 3000 years. The traditional way of making pottery is handed down from generation to generation. In ancient times, villagers use pottery to trade for rice, salt, tea, oil and everything they need for their livelihood. They use clay to make hot pot, tea pot, and fire pot, vase, incense burner and butter lamp. In this village tourists not only can learn how to make pottery, but can also enjoy the beautiful scenery and learn about Tibetan daily life.

Day 6 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities: Farm work, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, we will arrange the farm work in plateau area for students as well. Such as students could help local Tibetan families to do farm work in the fields on Summber. Go to get pine needles at surrounding mountain area on Winter.

Drive back to Shangri-la downtown in the afternoon. Visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.

Recommended Hotels

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;
• Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

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.

Travel Tips:

• Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
• The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
• Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
• Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest. 
• Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.