Yunnan Hiking Tour to Meili Snow Mountain & Yubeng Village

Day 1 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La (L, D)

Meet your guide at Tiger Leaping Gorge. Start your fantastic journey along the gorge by hiking. Indulge yourself in the amazing landscape of snow-capped mountain, deep valley and turbulent Jinsha River (Upper reach of Yangtze River). Then drive to Shangri-La and overnight in Dukezong Ancient Town.

Day 2 Shangri-La (3300m/10827ft) (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive for about 50 minutes to explore Potatso National Park. Enjoy yourself by walking through the tranquil mountains, playing with the little animals like squirrels and having a boat trip on the crystal-clear Bita Hai Lake. Then visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (Tibetan Songzanlin Monastery), known as the Lesser Potala Palace of Lhasa. Pay a visit to a Tibetan family, try the local specialty food. End the day with a leisure stroll of the old town of Dukezong.

Day 3 Shangri-La – Deqin (3400m/11155ft) (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive to Deqin. Have a distance view of Napa Grasslands en route. Then visit Nixi Pottery Village, Jinsha Grand Canyon, Benzilan, an enticing old town on ancient Tea Horse Road, and century-old Dong Zhu Lin Mnastery (East Forest Monastery). Go ahead and cross Yakou of the national nature preserve Baima Snow Mountain (Yakou is 4,296m/14094ft). Finally arrive in Deqin and enjoy the stunning sunset of Meili Snow Mountain (if weather permits).

Day 4 Deqin – Xidang Village – Yubeng Village (12km/6-7h trekking, 3360m/11024ft) (B, L, D)

Get up in the early morning for the sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain (if weather permits), and overlook the magnificent Mingyong Ice Glacier. Drive to Xidang Village, then start your hiking trip to Yubeng Village. We will hike through the primeval forest, pass Zongya Pass (3,750m/12303ft) and finally reach the idyllic land of Yubeng Village at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, which is known as the miniature version of the real Shangri-La.

Note: Today, we prepare you the packed lunch. There are rest stops en route where the drinkable water is available.

Overlooking Yubeng Village

Day 5 Yubeng Village – Xiaonong Base Camp (16km/7-8h trekking) (B, L, D)

A full day hiking trip of Xiaonong Base Camp – travel through the virgin forests, alpine vegetation and wild flowers, Wuguan Peak, Mianchumu Peak, 91 Base Camp, Mt. Kawagebo glaciers, ice lake, pasture…

Note: Today, we prepare you the packed lunch. The pasture supplies drinkable water.

Day 6 Yubeng Village – Sacred Waterfall – Ninong Village (14km/6-7h trekking, 2400m/7874ft) (B, L, D)

After breakfast, trek to Sacred Waterfall (3500m/11483ft). Local Tibetans bath in the waterfall to purify the mind. Proceed to Ninong Village, and visit Wushu Tonggen (five trees share the same root), Filial Piety Platform, Shizhuan Tianshu (sealed characters written on stones), Yubeng Lakang (Lotus Cave), the 13th karmapa’s footprint stone, and also experience the local Tibetan customs, e.g. the polyandry.

Note: Today, we prepare you the packed lunch.

Sacred Waterfall of Yubeng Villlage, Yunnan Province

Day 7 Ninong Village – Yunling Country – Cizhong Village (8km/4-5h trekking, 2360m/774ft) (B, L, D)

Trek along the Mekong River (named Lancang River in China) and get to Jiabi Village. Here we’ll have lunch in a local restaurant. Drive to Cizhong Village, then visit Meili Grand Canyon and Cizhong Church, one of the most beautiful cathedral churches in China.

Day 8 Cizhong Village – Tacheng (2700m/8858ft) (B, L, D)

Enjoy the exotic scenery of Mekong River, and visit Lisu ethnic village, go to the fun-filled, authentic Lisu market, and Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park. The golden monkey is endemic specie in Yunnan and regarded as elves by local Tibetan people.

Note: we’ll have lunch in Weixi Town center and have dinner in Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park.

Day 9 Cizhong Village – Tacheng – Lijiang (B, L)

Pay a visit of the Golden Monkey National Park in the morning. Drive back to Lijiang. Enjoy the beautiful landscape along the Jinsha River, and visit Shigu Town and Lijiang Old Town.