14 Days Yunnan-Sichuan Trekking Tour from Lugu Lake to Daocheng Yading and Shangri-La (West Route)
Tour Overview
Located in southwest corner of Sichuan province, Daocheng is well-known for the 3 holy peaks named by the 5th Dalai Lama, Shiannairi Peak(6032 m high), Xianuoduoji Peak(5898 m high),...
Code of Tour: YET0000016404
Length of Travel: 14 Day
Destinations of Tour: Lijiang-Lugu Lake-Kawa Village-Lusi Grassland-Kasi Village-Chonggu Monastery-Daocheng-Shangrila
Departure City: Lijiang
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: Nature Minorities Landscape Rivers
Located in southwest corner of Sichuan province, Daocheng is well-known for the 3 holy peaks named by the 5th Dalai Lama, Shiannairi Peak(6032 m high), Xianuoduoji Peak(5898 m high), Yangmaiyong Peak(5898 m high). Every year, there are many people trek around the 3 holy peaks for increasing their merits and virtues. Lugu Lake is located in northwest part of Yunnan province, it covers 58 square kms, the water is very clear. The unique matriarchal Mosuo people live by the lake, which earned this area another name: the Mysterious Queendom. Trekking from Daocheng to Lugu Lake is surely one of the best trekking route in China.
Highlights
- With the most wonderful arrival and departure destinations – Lijiang and Shangrila.
- Visit charming Lijiang Old Town, Yangtze Canon, Yi villages, Snake Islet of Lugu Lake.
- Trekking the river, village, farm, Monastery and grassland.
Breif Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive in Lijiang
- Day 2 Lijiang
- Day 3 Lijiang – Lugu lake
- Day 4 Lugu Lake – Yak Farm-Grassland
- Day 5 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-Shangri-La
- Day 13 Shangri-La
- Day 14 Departure from Shangri-La
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities:Arrive in Lijiang
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Lunch
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 the old town and buy something necessary for the trip. In the evening, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel to give you the briefing of itinerary.
–Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years, which was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.
Day 2 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang Old Town, Mu Palace, Black Dragon Pool, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, visit Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Afterwards, visit Mufu Palace, situated in the southwest of the Old Town of Lijiang. It is the Tusi Mu’s Yamen of the Naxi Ethnic Group in Yunnan. Tusi Mu was the ruler of Naxi during the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911).
Then transfer to visit Black Dragon Pool. Black Dragon Pool (also Heilongtan), or Jade Spring(Yuquan) Park is the main headwater of the Yushui River which goes through the Old Town. In the late afternoon, pay a visit to Baisha Old Town. It was the cradle-land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan. It was also the earliest settlement of the Naxi people. Then visit Baisha Murals. It is about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.
Day 3 Lijiang – Lugu lake
Sightseeing and Activities:Yangtze Canon, Yi villages, Liwubi Island, Snake Islet of Lugu Lake
Accommodation: Lugu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, dive about 4 hrs on the mountain road to visit the mysterious Lugu Lake. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers. You plan to start your walking from Jin’anqiao Bridge to Shudi along the road at the bank of Yangtze River. See the beautiful canon and Yi ethnic people’s villages in the steep mountains. After 1 hour walking in the canon, continue the driving and you can stop in many Yi villages.
In the late afternoon, 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(45km/1.5hs drive) – unknown Grassland(17km/7hs trekking)
Sightseeing and Activities:Yak Farm, Yeji Mountain Pass, Lion Mountain, trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early in the morning we will drive directly to Yak Farm, which is our trekking start point and meet our horse-men team. Have our luggage packed on the horses. It takes 4 hours or so to walk up to the Yeji Mountain Pass(3,600m), passing by the Yi People 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(22km/6-7hs trekking, 2,700m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 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(16km/6-7hs trekking 3,000m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 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 meeting 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 village(3,300m). This section of trail makes us walk on the top of high mountains, as if walking in the clouds.
Day 7 KawaVillage-Lusi Grassland(15km/6-7hs trekking 3,200m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Kawa village down to Keku Village(2,700m) 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(17km/6-7hs trekking,2,600m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 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(2,600m). From there we will go across the river by the bridge, and walk further to Wangzi village, where we stop our trekking today, and change the van to Kasi village.
Day 9 Kasi Village-Kasi Gorge-Kasi Yak Farm(16km/6-7hs trekking 4,000m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From today we will start the hardest trekking section, for the average height of the altitude is above 3,800m. Kasi village is the entrance to Kasi Gorge, and in the morning we will enter the Gorge, walking in the virgin forests.
Two hours trekking 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 4,000m.
Day 10 Kasi Yak Farm-Chonggu Monastery(16km/7-8hs trekking 3,800m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s trekking is the most strenuous. Before trekking down again we have to reach the highest mountain pass(4,800m) of these days, from where we have a nice view of the two snow mountains(Chenrezi (6032) and Chenadorje (5958)), and Milk Lake(4,750m). 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 firstly will pass by Luorong Yak Farm (4,200m), located among the center of the three snow mountains, Chenrezi (6032m), Jampayang (5958m) and Chenadorje (5958m).
Day 11 Chonggu Monastery-Daocheng(110km/3hs by bus 3,700m)
Sightseeing and Activities:trekking
Accommodation: Daocheng
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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-by to our horse-men team, and take the bus waiting to Daocheng. Stay in the local guesthouse.
Day 12 Daocheng-Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities:Daocheng-Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we will leave for Shangri-La.
Day 13 Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities:Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore the Shangri-La city at leisure.
Day 14 Departure from Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangri-La
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Today your wonderful tour will end. Be escorted to the airport for your flight and service ends.
Recommended Hotels
| Destination | 5 Star | 4 Star | 3 Star | Hostels |
| Lijiang | Lijiang Hilton Garden Inn | Wangfu Hotel | Baisha Holiday Resort | Local Hostel |
| Lugu Lake | Silver Lake Island Hotel | Shilili Hotel | Nverguo Hotel | Local Hostel |
| Daocheng | / | / | / | Local Hostel |
| Shangri-La | Shangri-La Hotel | Zhaxidele Hotel | Shenqu Hotel | Local Hostel |
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.
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.
