9-Day Kunming Lijiang Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Meili Snow Mountain seen from the viewing deck
Kunming Stone Forest
Lijiang Ancient Town
Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tour Outline: Kunming - Lijiang - Shangri-La - Feilaisi - Shangri-La

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
ENQUIRE NOW

Trip Overview

This tour is from Yunnan to Lijiang, Shangri-La and Meili Snow Mountain is very classic in Yunnan Province. The most magnificent scenery and ancient cultures of Yunnan are waiting for you to explore. In the tour, you will visit Kunming Stone Forest, Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery; and personally experience the cultures of the Yi, Naxi, Bai, Lisu, Mosuo and Tibetan minorities.

[Kunming] Visit “the city of Eternal Spring” and marvel at its natural stone peaks;
[Lijiang] Stroll leisurely at the Lijiang ancient town and have a cafe in the bar; visit to the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
[Shangri-La] See the famous “little Potala Palace” - Sonzanlin Lamasery and discover the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan;
[Meili Snow Mountain] With 13 peaks at over 6,000m, it is an UNESCO natural site located in Deqin county, dividing Yunnan from Tibet.

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

Expand All|Close All

Day 1: Kunming Arrival

Welcome to Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan province, is dubbed as "the city of Eternal Spring" due to its warm weather with an average of 20 degrees for the whole year. Our tour guide and chauffeur will escort you to your hotel in Kunming downtown.

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. If time is enough, ask your guide for some advices about Kunming city visiting and local featured food and restaurants.

Drive about 26km from airport to downtown
Altitude: Kunming (1895m)
Internet & Wifi
Kunming business hotel
Meals: NO

Day 2: Kunming - Stone Forest - Kunming (171.6km)

Kunming Stone Forest

Today after breakfast, we will head to visit the Stone Forest which is known as "the first wonder of the world". Marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the stone peaks, pillars and stalagmites rising abruptly from the ground and extending as far as the eye can see.

After the tour in the afternoon, return back to Kunming city. En route, we will stop by the Golden Temple Park, a large Taoist temple in Yunnan, located on the Mingfeng Mountains, 7KM to the east of Kunming city. There is a fine building made of bronze, commonly known as Jindian (the "Golden Temple"). After the tour, be accompanied to your hotel in Kunming.

Drive about 171.6km for approx. 4 hours
Altitude: Kunming (1895M), Stone Forest (700M)
Internet & Wifi
Kunming business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Kunmng flight to Lijiang, Visit Lijiang Ancient Town

The Panoramic View of Lijiang Ancient Town

Lijiang Ancient Town

After breakfast, our tour guide will escort you to the airport for the morning flight to Lijiang. Upon arrival in Lijiang, meet our tour guide and be transferred by private car and driver to your hotel. Check in and have a short rest before exploring the ancient town.

In the afternoon, overlook and get a panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town from Wangwu Tower, the landmark building of Lijiang. This pure wood building is built at 33 meters tall on the top of Lion Hill. Afterwards, explore the city at your leisure. In the recent years, Lijiang ancient town has been commercialized, very touristy, and things are expensive targeting on tourists. So make sure to ask some advices from our tour guide even for a cup of coffee.

Lijiang Ancient Town, also called Da Yan ancient town, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of China's four best preserved ancient cities with Sichuan Langzhong, Shanxi Pingyao and Anhui She County, known for its unique ethnic culture, water system and architectural style.

Kunming downtown - airport (26km), Lijiang downtown - airport (29km)
Altitude: Lijiang (2418m)
Internet & Wifi
Lijiang local featured hotel
Breakfast

Day 4: Lijiang - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - Baisha Village - Lijiang (45km)

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Baisha Village

Today, you will pay a visit to the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is the largest snow mountain in the southernmost of the Northern Hemisphere with a height of 5,596m. You can take the cable car to the top of this mountain and enjoy the happiness of the height.

Then head to Baisha Village to observe closely at the murals combining the cultures of Han, Tibetan and Naxi people. After that, head for Black Dragon Pool Park and Naxi Dongba Culture Museum where you can learn Naxi pictograph character and explore the rich Naxi minority culture.

Today drive about 45km
Altitude: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (4506m, sightseeing place)
Internet & Wifi
Lijiang local featured hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangri-La (174km)

The First Bend of Yangtze River

Tiger Leaping Gorge

After breakfast, we will drive to Shangri-La. On the way, you will visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River with the breathtaking sight of the gorge. Then head to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called Jiasha River in this area because you can find gold in the river if lucky enough.

After that, we head for Shangri-La, the former Zhongdian, which is well known as the paradise destination for every tourist, where you have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys.

Today drive about 174km
Altitude: Tiger Leaping Gorge (1800m), Shangri-La (3280m)
Internet & Wifi
Shangri-La local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Visit Sonzanlin Lamasery, Dukezong Ancient Town

Dukezong Ancient Town

Songzanlin Lamasery

After breakfast, you will head for Sonzanlin Lamasery, famous for its alias - "the little Potala Palace", and so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. After that, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family and have a nice chat with local people and get some understanding about local lifestyle.

In the afternoon, visit Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India.

Drive in Shangri-La
Altitude: Shangri-La (3280m), Songzanlin (3380m)
Internet & Wifi
Shangri-La local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Shangri-La - Deqin - Feilaisi (188m)

Baima Snow Mountain

The Big Turning of Jinsha River

Today after breakfast, drive 8 to 9 hours to Deqin County, which is 178km away from Shangri-La by way of Baima Snow Mountain ( also Baimang Xueshan ) Nature Reserve. You will be able to view Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear. After traversing 4292m mountain ranges, you will make a short stop and take some shots on the first blend of Jinsha River. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. Drive 10km to enter Feilaisi Scenic Area.

Drive 188km from Shangri-La to Feilaisi
Altitude: Deqin (3400m), Feilaisi (3400m)
Internet & Wifi
Feilaisi Local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Feilaisi - Mingyong Village - Meili Snow Mountain - Lancang River Grand Canyon - Feilaisi (194km)

Meili Snow Mountain

Mingyong Glaciers

Today try to get up early in the morning to enjoy the magic sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain. Meili Snow Mountain (Meili Xueshan ), also called Kawakarpo, is an UNESCO natural site located in Deqin county, dividing Yunnan from Tibet. It is a wonderful place to hike and explore both nature and Tibetan culture. Then drive to Mingyong Village, where you will walk on the trails for about 4km to Mingyong Glaciers of Meili Snow Mountain, and walk to Tibetan Taizi Monastery which is a good spot to view the magnificent Mingyong Glaciers.

Afterwards, we will do some easy trekking along the Lancang River Grand Canyon as well as Tibet villages. Then drive back to Feilaisi for overnight.

Today drive 194km
Altitude: Mingyong Village (2325m), Benzilan (2108m)
Internet & Wifi
Feilaisi Local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Feilaisi - Shangri-La, Shangri-La Departure

After breakfast, drive back to Shangri-La airport to take your flight for your next destination.

Today drive about 188km
Altitude: Feilaisi (3400m), Shangri-La (3280m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Hotel: No
Breakfast

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Lodging: two nights in Kunming business hotel, two nights in Lijiang local hotel, two nights in Shangri-La local hotel, two nights in Feilaisi local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary (8 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Kunming (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Kunming from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!