17Day Yunnan-Sichuan Grand Shangrila Area Overland Tour

Option A:

Sichuan-Yunnan Overland Tour from Chengdu

Day 01 Arrival Chengdu (D)

Flight Information:

Arrive in Chengdu International Airport. Meet the local guide and transfer to the hotel. 

-- Chengdu City is mountainous in the northwest area, with plains in the south-east area, and low hills in-between. It has a sub-tropical climate with an annual average temperature of 16.2 degree Celsius, and rainfall of 1.000 millimeters, and a frost-free period of about 300 days. Its mineral deposits include coal, iron, talcum, serpentine, dolomite etc. It abounds in agricultural resources.

Day 02 Chengdu - Panda Research Base – Chengdu (B)

Sightseeing: Wangjiang Tower,, the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Wuhou Temple, Dufu Thatched Cottage.

Special Experience: Enjoy the Sichuan Opera at night.

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel by your tour guide and start your tour. First you will visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in the morning, the best time to see the pandas. After that you will visit Wangjiang Tower, the memorial to a female poet of the Tang Dynasty, Xue Tao. This tower is a symbol of Chengdu city.

Then you will visit Wuhou Temple which was built in the sixth century to honor Zhuge Liang. Then you will visit the home of one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty, Dufu Thatched Cottage.

Day 03 Chengdu-Kangding (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Kangding, the hot spring at Erdaoqiao. 

Drive to Kangding, overnight and sightseeing in Kangding. It is 376Km and 6hrs on the expressway from Chengdu to Kangding While traversing the Western Sichuan Plain, you will arrive at Kangding, the capital city of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the afternoon. you can appreciate the idyllic scenery and visit the local people. After dinner, enjoy the hot spring at Erdaoqiao.

Day 04 Kangding-Litang (B+L+D) 

Sightseeing: Anjue monastery, Litang, Chang-Qing-Chun-Ke'erSi monastery

In the early morning, visit Anjue monastery-the very first Tibetan monastery on this trip, an rare chance to see their morning ceremony per day! 

Drive to Litang. Today's journey from Kangding to Litang will take us approximately 5 hours (306km). At an altitude of just over 4000m, Litang is one of the highest towns in the world (Lhasa is 3700m). Situated high on a grassy plateau, Litang has the feel of a rough and tumble 'Wild West' town.

Khampas - dressed in yak skin coats, bedecked in colorful necklaces and hair ornaments, long daggers hanging from their belts - from the surrounding areas amble into town to stock up on food and supplies, play pool on the streets and hang out in the local teahouses. This small town is great for people watching and just strolling around.

You will also visit the famous Chang-Qing-Chun-Ke'er-Si monastery and pay homage to the living Buddha with a personal interview. The monastery here is now home to 1400 Yellow Hat sect monks.

Day 05 Litang-Daocheng-Yading  (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Yading nature reserve, 

Today you will reach the highlight of this journey - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Vajrapani, 5958m). Tibetan Buddhists believe that making a kora (pilgrimage) around these mountains brings great merit, and that the three mountains represent compassion, wisdom and energy - attributes one must cultivate on the path to enlightenment. The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery. The drive from Litang to Daocheng will take approximately 4 hours (180km), and the trip from Daocheng to Yading (60km) will take approximately 3 hours as much of the road to the park is dirt track. You will spend the night in tent hotel.

Day 06 Yading (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Mt. Chanadorje, Tshonggo Gonpa Monastery, Mt Chenresig.

You will visit beautiful Yading by horseback riding or hiking. From the reserve entrance you will traverse a beautiful wooded pathway leading to a valley set at the foot of the spectacular Mt. Chanadorje. 

You'll pass piles of Mani stones by the side of the pathway and at the base of the Reserve's most stunning vistas. You'll also visit Tshonggo Gonpa Monastery (Chonggu Si in Chinese) - a small Tibetan temple, which Joseph Rock nicknamed 'Bandit Monastery.' You will continue your hike to the foot of Mt Chenresig, where you'll ascend a small but steep hill to view a beautiful mountaintop emerald green lake. Local lore has it that this magical lake can reveal your future if you spend a few moments in quiet contemplation by its side. You'll return to the meadow at the foot of Mt. Chanadorje and spend the night in a tent hotel.

Day 07 Yading-Daocheng (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Yading Nature Reserve

You will spend the morning doing a shorter hike or horse ride around the reserve. In the afternoon you'll drive back to Daocheng where you'll spend the night.

Day 08 Daocheng-Xiangcheng-Benzilan (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Daocheng, Xiangcheng, Shangri-La

Today you will take a long (5 hours, 290km) but scenic drive to Zhongdian (3,300m, 10,000 ft), a small town on the Tibetan Plateau.

Shangri La is described by James Hilton in his World famous novel “Lost Horizon”. If more and more tourists travel to Shangri La (also call Zhongdian, its former name), this area still preserves a unique and remote atmosphere, also due to the Tibetan minority that keep the place different from the rest of Yunnan. Shangri La is in the center of a famous scenic area where three mighty rivers converge: the Nu River, the Yangtze River and the Mekong River.

Day 09 Benzilan / Deqin, 97Km, 4hours

Walk to see the famous Jinsha River bend, then start driving to Deqin by pass White horse mountains.  Feilaisi is several km away from Deqin, it is the best place to see holy Mt.Meili. Mt. Meili is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Kang Karpo Peak' means the God of Snow Mountain in Tibetan, and is a holy land for worshiping. Pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan,and Gansu travel to the mountain at the beginning of each winter to worship. Thousands of devout pilgrims worship together and encircle the holy mountain, adding even more mystery and loftiness to the mountain. Overnight at Feilaisi or Deqin.

Day 10  Deqin / Zhongdian, 184km, 6hours

Early morning get up to see the sunrise at Mt.Meili, then start driving to Zhongdian by passing White horse mountains and Benzilan again. Afternoon visit the Grand Songzhanlin Monastery, which is belong to Yellow school of Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded the little Potala Palace. Overnight at Zhongdian.

Day 11 Shangri La (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, the Old Town of Shangri La and the Guishan Park.

Special Experience: Taste the butter oil and Tibetan food, Tibetan home-made.

In the morning, you'll visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. And afterwards you'll go and visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake. After having finished touring the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, you'll visit the Old Town of Shangri La and the Guishan Park.

Tibetan home made at night and have dinner in Tibetan family with butter oil tea and Tibetan food.

Day 12 Shangri La-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang (B+L+D)

Sightseeing:  the First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge,.

From Shangri-La, you'll drive about 100KM to 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. 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. 

After lunch continue the driving 50KM more to visit the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum 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. 

Drive 60KM more to Lijiang. Explore Lijiang Old Town at night.

Day 13 Lijiang-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain-Lijiang (B)

Sightseeing: Yulong Snow Mountain, Yak Meadow, White Water River Terrace, Baisha Village.

Special Experience: Enjoy Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace at night.

You'll visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui River; visit the Yak Meadow in the Yulong Snow Mountain by chairlift. Access to the top of the mountain is provided by a cableway from the foot of the mountain to the Yak Meadow.

In the afternoon, you'll stroll through Baisha Village, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan village; you’ll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture. After dinner, you will attend the Naxi Orchestral and Show in Dongba Palace.

Day 14 Lijiang-Dali by private van (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Shaping Bai Ethnic market, the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Monastery, Dali Old Town

After breakfast, travel (200 km - 4 hrs) south on the old road to the ancient city of Dali, Dali, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. If this day happens to fall on a Monday you will call in at Shaping for a visit to the colorful Bai market.

In Dali you will visit the Three-pagoda in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China. At last, you will walk around the Old Dali Town, which is located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.

Day 15 Dali-Kunming (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: the Erhai Lake Cruise, Xizhou Town, Zhoucheng Village and Bai Tie-Dyed Cloth Work Shop.

Special Experience: Taste the Bai Three Course Tea and enjoy Bai Tea Art with ethnic dance and music.

In the morning, You'll travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture.

At last, you will visit Zhoucheng Town, and Bai people's Tie-Dyed Cloth Work Shop. At night take the flight to Kunming.

Day 16 Kunming-Stone Forest-Kunming (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: the Stone Forest, Kunming City Tour, the Green Lake, the Golden Horse and Phoenix Archway.

Special Experience (Optional): Taste the typical Yunnan food which is named Bridge crossing Noodles.

You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. There is a local saying: 'It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming', which vividly expresses the deep love of the local people toward this world wonder. The quintessential karst landscape makes every tourist lost in wonder.

After lunch drive back Kunming, you will take a leisurely stroll along the Green Lake, a charming area of teahouses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. Late afternoon you will visit the Flowerr and Bird Market.

Day 17 Kunming-Departure (B)

Transfer to Kunming International Airport for returning.

Service ends.

Option B:

Yunnan-Sichuan Overland Tour from Lijiang:

Day 01 Arrive in Lijiang.

Arrive in Lijiang, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

Explore Lijiang Old Town after arriving in Lijiang.Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.

--Lijiang Ancient Town is a largely Naxi settlement first built 800years agao, located at the foot of the Lion Hill and completely surrounded by the new city of Lijiang.In December 1986, the State Council designated it a famous ancient historical and cultural city of national caliber. In 1997, UNESCO made Lijiang a World Cultural Heritage Site. Most of the dwellings, scattered at the foot of a mountain or by the river, are brick-and-tile structures with carved doors and painted windows. Traffic across the river is facilitated by a large number of tiny stone bridges. The town is similar to the Zhouzhuang Water Town in the south of the Yangtze River.

Day 02 Lijiang City Tour

Sightseeing:Mu Palace, Lion Hill and Wangu Tower, Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Culture Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town

Day 03 Lijiang-100KM-Tiger Leaping Gorge-100KM-Shangri La (B+L)

Sightseeing: Shigu Ancient Town, the Iron Chain Bridge, Stone Drum,Tiger Leaping Gorge

Optional Special Experience:the floating tour at First Bend of the Yangtze River from Shigu Town to Longpan Town

From Lijiang, you'll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge,the Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu 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. You will have an experience of the floating from the First Bend of the Yangtze River to Longpan Town, after one hour floating, meet the driver and trasfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

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 welknown 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. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India.

-- Tiger Leaping Gorge is on the Jinsha River of the upper reaches of the Yangtze, located 105 kilometers south of Shangrila County. The gorge is 17 kilometers long with a drop of 213 meters. Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into three sections: Upper, Middle and Lower Hutiao. At the narrowest spot the river is only 30 meters wide. The mouth of the gorge is 1,800 meters above sea level. The river is flanked by Yulong and Haba snow mountains, with a height difference of 3,900 meters. It is one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Day 04 Shangri La - Deqin (B+L)

Sightseeing: Bengzilan Town, the Moon Bend of Jinsha River, Jinsha River Grand Canyon, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima Snow Mountain, the sunset of Meili Snow Mountain and the 13 white pagodas

In the morning, drive 6 to 7 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away

from Zhongdian through Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, you will be able to view Baimang Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km. 

After traversing mountain ranges, you will make a short stop and have lunch at Benzilan town, take some shots on the first bend of Jinsha(Yangtze) River, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima (white horse) Snow Mountain. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages.

Stay at Feilaisi

----Meili Snow Mountain (Meili Xueshan), also called Kawakarpo, is a UNESCO nature site located in Deqin County dividing Yunnan from Tibet, a wonderful place to hike and explore both nature and Tibetan culture.Rising between the Salween River and the Mekong River  in the extreme edge of Northwest Yunnan, the Meili Snow Mt. region is part of Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas.Legend says that the Meili Snow Mountain is a god guarding Tibetan Buddhism. With 13 peaks over 6000m in the range, the main peak Kawakarpo ("Kawagebo" in Chinese) is a sharp snow mountain with an altitude of 6740m,which has never been conquered yet.

Day 05 Deqin -Benzilan (B+L)

Sightseeing: the sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain, Feilaisi Monastery,Tibetan Village

Visit Feilaisi Monastery and enjoy the sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain in the early morning, then drive back to Shangri-La, have a nice experience of Yangtze River Grand Canyon, Baima Snow Mountain again on the way back. You will be free in Dukezong Ancient Town and explore the Tibetan life in the late afternoon.

--Feilai Temple means Guibading Temple in Tibetan. Legend has it that the temple was built by Sakyamuni Buddha who flew to the temple location from Tibet. This is the place for Tibetans to pay homage to the sacred mountains and it is said that circumambulators must get the key in Qidengge.

Circumambulators who are in inside circumambulation must get the key for the Yongzongbajiu Temple on the bank of the Lancang River as well as the the key in Qidengge. In recent years,various Buddhist activities have been held at the Wulongding Culture Square and Feilai Temple. There are two location in the Deqen county seat for tourists to view the sacred mountains.

Day 06: Benzilan- Xiangcheng (L, D)

Spend a full day driving from Zhongdian to Xiangcheng, stopping for a hike in Birang Gorge on the way. Overnight in Xiangcheng.

Day 07: Xiangcheng-Riwa (190 km) (B, L, D)

Spend a full day driving from Xiangcheng to Riwa. Along the way, you will enjoy wonderful panoramas of barley fields, rushing rivers, expansive grasslands and snow-covered peaks. Overnight in Riwa.

Day 08: Full day at Yading National Park (B, L, D)

Today we take the green bus to Longlongba, then hike for 2.5 hours to Pearl Lake enjoying grand views of snow-covered mountains,glaciers and rivers. Pearl Lake is nestled in the beautiful upper valley of Chenresig’s north face and lies at about 4000m above sea level. Return to Longtongba for overnight.

Day 09: Yading National Park-Riwa (B, L, D)

Hike 2 hours (4km) from Longtongba to Chonggu Temple, then take a 30 minute ride in an electric buggy to arrive at Luorong Pasture (4180m). From here you will hike or horseride up to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake for breathtaking views of the three sacred peaks: Mt. Jampelyang (5958m), Mt. Chanadorje (5958m) and Mt. Chenresig (6032m). Return to Longtongba and transfer to Riwa by green bus for overnight.

Day 10: Riwa-Daocheng (110km, 2-3 hours) (B, L, D)

Drive for 74km back to Daocheng stopping on the way for a bath in the Rupuchaka Hot Springs. Visit the Hongcaodi (Red Grassland), which is an inconspicuous wetland most of the time, but is covered with red bushes in autumn. If there’s time explore Gongling Si the biggest monastery in Daocheng County and Bangpu Si, a monastery dating back to the 12th century. Overnight in Daocheng.

Day 11: Daocheng-Litang (150km, 3 hours) (B, L, D)

Set off  for Litang. This part of Sichuan province is the home of the Kham Tibetans, many of whom live a nomadic life, looking after their herds of Yaks which graze the seemingly endless grasslands of this area. As we drive northwards we will pass Haizi Mountain, the largest glacial site of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We will arrive in Litang (Elevation: 4168m) in the early afternoon. Litang is located within lovely, rolling hills surrounded by mountains which are snow-covered year round. It is the administrative capital of the region and an important trading town for the Khampa Nomads. Overnight in Litang.

Day 12: Litang-Xinduqiao-Tagong Grasslands (220km, 6.5 hrs)  (B, L, D)

In the early morning light visit the imposing Litang Gompa, belonging to the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhists. Many famous and influential figures were born here, including the 7th and 10th Dalai Lamas. Then set off eastbound on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, stopping for lunch at Yajiang, a town nestled deep inside the valley of the Yalong River, the biggest tributary of the Yangtze. We reach Tagong in the late afternoon and visit the Tagong Muya Golden Pagoda and the Tagong monastery.  Overnight in a small guesthouse.

Day 13: Tagong – Danba (110km, 4.5 hrs) (B, L, D)

We continue our drive through the ever changing landscape of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Stop at the 200 year old Gelugpa “Garther Choede” monastery near Renmei, then continue driving over a 3800 metre pass towards Danba (Elevation: 3300m), arriving in the early afternoon. Take a hike along the Dadu River to Supo township (Shuanbo) to visit the well preserved “Gudiao”, Qiang Towers. Some of these amazing stone defence towers are 1000 years old and reach heights up to 30 meters. Later in the afternoon we take a stroll through Jiagu village, famous for its traditional, 3 story Jiarong Houses. Overnight in Danba.

Day 14: Danba-Siguniangshan (B, L, D)

Drive for approx. 2 hours to arrive in Rilong, the base for sightseeing in the Siguniang Mountain Area. Mt. Siguniangshan consists of four adjacent mountain peaks, with the highest  highest peak reaching 6,250 meters. Today we will spend a full day horseriding in the Haizi (Alpine Lake) Valley. Overnight in Rilong.

Day 15: Siguniangshan National Park (B, L, D)

We will return to the National Park to hike in Changping (Long Peace) Valley, taking a path through the forest flanked by old cypresses, pines and firs. Visit the Lama Temple, some waterfalls and an alpine meadow at the foot of the mountain.  Overnight in Rilong.

Day 16: Rilong-Chengdu (B, L)

Drive from Rilong back to Chengdu (approx 4 hours). Possible stop in the Wolong Panda Reserve (entry fee at own expense). Overnight in Chengdu.

Day 17 Chengdu Panda Tour (B+L+D)

Sightseeing: Chengdu Panda Breeding Base, Jinsha Museum

Morning time: Set out at about 08:00a.m., drive about 30 minutes to Panda Breeding Base, visit the cute giant pandas, 

Afternoon: Visit Jinsha Museum. The Jinsha Cultural Relics Site is the ruins of the capital city of the ancient Shu Kingdom. It is o-ne of the ruins with the most unearthed ivories compared with others in the same period all over the world and with the most excavated gold and jade wares among all the same kinds of ruins all over China.

Day 18 Departure from Chengdu

Transfer to Chengdu International Airport for returning.

Service ends.