Arrive in Lijiang, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.
Visit Lijiang Ancient Town by your own in the rest time.

Drive 50km/1h to the First Bend of Yangtze River, which originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. When the river reaches Shigu Township, it makes an abrupt turn and flows further northward, forming the rare U-shape bend. [0.5h]
 
Stone Drum Town (Shigu): Owning a Memorial Monument of Red Army’s Long March, and been an important site in the ancient times of Tea-Horse trade caravan. [0.5h]
 
Tiger Leaping Gorge [HuTiaoXia]: A contender for the world's deepest river canyon. Around 15 km in length, the gorge is located where the river passes between 5,596m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 5,396m Haba Snow Mountain in a series of rapids under steep 2000 meter cliffs. Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the narrowest point [still 25 meters wide], hence the name. [2h]
 
Transfer to Shangri-la. [2.5h] 
 
Stroll in the Dukezong Old Town, a 1300-year-old Tibetan town, experienced both the flames of war and prosperity of frontier trade. It has authentic Tibetan dwellings, majestic prayer halls and pagodas, winding lanes offer sanctuary to all those seeking refuge from the bustle city. [1h]   

In the morning, drive 6 to 7 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Shangri-La. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. From Shangri-La, after half an hour driving, you will have a panoramic view of Nixi Pottery Village; drive town to the river valley, continue the nice scenery along the Jinsha River to Benzilan Town where you will have lunch.
 
After lunch, drive uphill to the Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in Shusong Village, Benzilan District, Deqin County, and 105km from the seat of Zhongdian County. The Yunnan-Tibet Road passes behind the temple and cars can get straight to the temple. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period in Qing Dynasty.  Visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which is the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan. This is different from the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City. The bend in Shigu Town changes the flow direction of the Yangtze River but in Benzilan, the Moon Bend is just a grand bend between the mountains with an impressive scenery. Visit 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. 
 
Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, you will have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the "Prince's 13 peaks".
 
----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.

Departing Deqin, we travel along the north of Mekong River valley into Tibet. Along the way, we may be able to see the peaks of Kawagebo mountain range on a good day. Mt. Meili (6,740 m/22,113 ft), which straddles the border of Yunnan and Tibet, is the highest peak in the province. Once into Tibet, our first stop will be in the town of Yanjing, which was once the main source of salt for half of the Kham Tibetan area, which ranged from northwestern Sichuan down into Yunnan. We will visit to the salt fields and visit the only one catholic church in Tibet. followed by a stop at the hot springs, where each of us could pick our own natural hot bath overlooking the Mekong. Certainly the best way to relax our body for the adventure ahead!

We cross two high passes in this section of the drive, one at around 3,900 m(12,795 ft), the other at 5,008 m(16,430 ft). Driving past local Tibetan houses scattered round the feet of snow-capped peaks, the expressions on innocent Tibetan girls would make you realize that you are one of the first foreign visitors to this isolated region. 

We will drive along the deep valleys of the Nu River (the Salween River), which is a long and tough journey, but our destination, the Ranwu Lake, a spectacularly crystal blue lake cupped by snow peaks.

We will wander along the Poto-chu Valley at Tramog (2,743 m/8999 ft), located deep in the thickly forested gorge of Parlung Tsangpo with glacial waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides. We will go down several hundred meters in altitude as we reach the lowland jungle settlement of Tang-me where the Tsangpo and Parlung Tsangpo rivers meet.

Waking up to the birds' singing, you will have an unobstructed view of the majestic NamJiabawa peak. After a long 9 hours drive, we will arrive in Bayi, the largest Tibetan town we will have reached at this point. 

First we will drive 30 kms to visit the Lamaling monastery which an important monastery in Ningchi. And then drive to Basong lake. The crystal clear water of the Basong Lake will seem like an oasis to you -- another place you would be reluctant to leave. Drive to Lhase.

Today, you will visit the highest palace in the world-Potala Palace which is the Dalai Lama's winter palace. It locates on the red hill, a good viewing point in Lhasa.
In the afternoon, we go to the renowned Jokhang Temple which will provide you one of your first sights of devout Tibetans. In the temple you will see the glistening Sakyamuni statue which is considered as Tibetan Buddhism's rarity.
 
After then, stroll around the bustling Barkhor Street.

About hundred kilometers, you will appreciate the holy Lake of Yamdrok Yumtso Lake.The sacred lake of Yamdrok Yutso is revered as a talisman, supporting the life-spirit of Tibet. It is said that should its waters dry, Tibet will no longer be habitable.
 
Back to Lhasa before 3:00 p.m to visit the Sera monastery where lively lama debating will be seen (except Sundays). This is very interesting. Many lamas sitting or standing in the yard debate a certain topic their teacher has given.

Transfer to Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station to take flight or train out of Lhasa.
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