Lijiang-Yading 8 day extension tour

 

Day 1: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge

Get up early in the morning, after having your breakfast, we will drive 2 hours to our first stop-Qiaotou town, and start the hiking of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Walk from the high path (2 hours) to get to the Naxi family guesthouse, eat lunch out there. Walk from Naxi family guesthouse to Halfway guesthouse and stay overnight (about 3-5 hours). On the way to Halfway guesthouse, you will have to ascent over the most difficult part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge-28 Bends so called, enjoying the snow-capped mountains Jade Dragon and Haba. You can rent a mule or horse to carry your backpacks, or for you to ride.

Day 2: Tiger Leaping Gorge-Songzanlin lamasery-Zhongdian

Walk from Halfway guesthouse to Tina¡¯s (around 1-2 hours), stop for lunch then drive to Songzanlin, a monastery was first built here in 1679 and has been rebuilt many times. The architectural style of the building is a faithful imitation of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. After that, free time for you to stroll around Sifang square and to explore some Tibetan custom, overnight at Zhongdian.

Day 3: Zhongdian-Xiangcheng town

This day will be a long days¡¯ drive, be ready for that.

Xiangcheng, nestles in a beautiful valley of terrace fields, dotted with traditional Tibetan farm houses and splendid monasteries. The surrounding landscape is more flagrant and peaceful than that of in Derong. Stay overnight.

Day 4: Xiangcheng-Daocheng-Yading

After about 2 hours¡¯ driving, have lunch at Daocheng, then drive another 3 hours to get to Yading nature reserve. We will start our trekking from Yading parking lot, 1-2 hours to Chonggu monastery, take a short break then continue walking to Pearl Lake (around 1 hour) to get to this hidden beauty, return Chonggu monastery, catch the beautiful sunset. Stay overnight.

Ps: No lodges or hotels are allowed to be built in the reserve so as to protect the environment. These two awful lodges (the first one is located in Chonggu monastery, the other one is located in Luorong pasture, and I prefer to call it cowshed) run by Yading Reserve's administrator could test your nerves. A sleeping bag is recommended here.

Day 5: Chonggu monastery-Luorong Pasture

A paved trail (walking along the river bank is recommended in here) leads to Luorong Pasture, 12 km from the entrance, an easy three-hour trek. The difference in height is less than 300 meters. Luorong Pasture is situated in an enchanting valley between the east face of Chenresig and the west face of Chanadorje, Jampelyang. It is the first place in the reserve where three sacred peaks can be seen.

It takes three hours to hike from Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake. Five-color Lake is hidden behind a steep slope, 150m higher than Milk Lake beneath Chenresig's south face. The condition of the trail to these two lakes is quite steep and a little bit dangerous, be careful! Stay overnight at Luorong Pasture. (Do circuit around Chenresig (Xiannairi), please contact us for more detail...)

Day 6: Luorong Pasture-Yading parking lot-Daocheng

Walk back to parking lot from Luorong Pasture, then drive back to Daocheng, stay overnight.

Day 7: Daocheng-Zhongdian

Spend another night in Zhongdian after a long day drive!

Day 8: Shangri-la-Lijiang

Free time in Lijiang old town, stroll on the cobbled road, get yourself a drink in bar, eliminate all these days exhaustion.

We finish the great 8-day¡¯s trip at Lijiang where we started!

PS: the basic outdoor equipment is recommended on this hiking trip!

 

the itinerary we provide above is optional, please contact us for the exact tour cost based on your desired tour itinerary.

 

tour price

The following table shows the price per person for groups of varying sizes.

 

4-8 people

guesthouse or 2 star acommodation

2640RMB/person

Note: Prices will rise for tours held during national holiday periods such as National Day (October 1st-7th), May Day (May 1st-7th) and Spring Festival. For tours at these times, please contact us for the price.

Price includes

1. an english speaking tour guide

2. all transportation fees

3. meals as indicated on itinerary, meals will mostly be standard Chinese food

4. entrance tikects into the attractions

5. accommodation in guesthouses or 2 star accommodation

Price excludes

1. snacks and drinks

2. souvenir

3. horses to carry luggage in Tiger leaping gorge

 

for most of the details about this itineary, please contact us.