8 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Tours with Yubeng Village Trekking

Day 1 Lijiang Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: 
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals:None

Arrive in Lijiang, you will be welcomed by your local tour guide at the airport and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangrila

Sightseeing and Activities: the First Bend of Yangtze River, Iron Chain Bridge, Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge
Accommodation: Shangri-La 
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

From Lijiang, you’ll drive about 60KM to the First Bend of the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge ,the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu Old Town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks. 

Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

Afternoon, you’ll head for Shangri-La, the former Zhongdian which is well-known as the paradise destination for every tourist.  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. Check in your hotel.

Day 3 Shangri-La – Benzilan – Deqin -Feilaisi

Sightseeing and Activities:Nixi Pottery Village, Dongzhulin Monastery, the First Bend of Jinsha River, Baima Snow Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Feilaisi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, drive 4 to 5 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Shangri-La. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. From Shangri-La, after half an hour driving, you will have a panoramic view of Naxi Pottery Village; drive down to the river valley, continue the nice scenery along the Jinsha River to Benzilan Town where you will have lunch.

After lunch, drive uphill to the Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in Shusong Village, Benzilan District, Deqin County, and 105km from the seat of Zhongdian County. The Yunnan-Tibet Road passes behind the temple and cars can get straight to the temple. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period in Qing Dynasty. Visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which is the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan. This is different from the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City. The bend in Shigu Town changes the flow direction of the Yangtze River but in Benzilan, the Moon Bend is just a grand bend between the mountains with an impressive scenery. Visit Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, you will be able to view Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km. 

Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, you will have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the “Prince’s 13 peaks”.

Day 4 Feilaisi- Xidang – Upper Yubeng Village

Sightseeing and Activities:the sunrise view of Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng Village
Accommodation: Yubeng Village
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning , we could enjoy the golden mountain, on top of which the sunrise touches its snow capped peak if weather permitting. After breakfast, we drive to Xidang where to start the hiking, we hike up to and over a mountain pass to Yubeng, with picnic lunch (5-7 hours, with several steep sections); we arrive in Yubeng village; dinner in a traditional Tibetan living room, followed by lively singing and dancing with local villagers; overnight in Yubeng.

Day 5 Upper Yubeng Village- Cuoka Sacred Ice Lake-Upper Yubeng Village​

Sightseeing and Activities:the sunrise and sunset of the Mt. Kawagebo Glacier, Binghu Ice Lake 
Accommodation: Yubeng Village
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy the sunrise of the Mt. Kawagebo Glacier from the guesthouse, then walk up to Binghu Ice Lake of the Meili Snow Mountain.Walk through the original forest from Yubeng Village, you will see some horses and yaks, as well as some wild animals if you are lucky enough. A beautiful river originate from the Glacier Park, walk along the river with some wooden bridges and spruce trees, you will have a wonderful view of Mt. Kawagebo Glacier. At last, arrive at the Ice Lake which is located at the foot of the glacier. Trek down back to Yubeng village in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset of Kawagebo Peak .

The return trek takes 3 to 4 hours. This one-day excursion is only reserved for strong hikers. Before June, the upper plateau is often covered by snow. Bring enough food and ask Aqinbu to find a good guide for you. It may be more reasonable to do this trek in two days and overnight camp at Cuoka Pasture.

Day 6 Yubeng-Ninong-Feilaisi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Ninong Grand Canyon ,Yubeng Village,Mekong River Grand Canyon
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 Yubeng-Ninong-Feilaisi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Ninong Grand Canyon ,Yubeng Village,Mekong River Grand Canyon
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Set off very early for the long, but amazing walk along the least traveled path of Yubeng, from Lower Yubeng Village back to Xidang, via Ninong Canyon. Drive back to Shangri-La in the afternoon.

Day 7 Departure from Shangri-La

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

Free at leisure before be picked up from hotel and transferred to Shangri-La airport for the departure flight. Service ends.

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