6 Days Lijiang Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
   Zhongyi Market, Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang Old Town

   When you arrive at Lijiang airport (please arrive before 13:00), the local driver and the tour guide will pick you up at the exit gate.

   Then follow your guide to explore Zhongyi Market. At this largest food and vegetable market in Lijiang, you will find fresh produce, dry goods, and street food, and have a glimpse into the old Lijiang.

   Next, visit the Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park, which is an iconic site in Lijiang. Beside the pool bank are arbors, pavilions, swaying willow trees, a white marble bridge, and ancient temples. Reflected in the water is the marvelous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   

   Lijiang Ancient Town, more than 800 years ago, is one of the most famous towns on the Tea-horse Ancient Road, which was quite prosperous during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient city is full of wooden buildings, stone bridges, and running water. Visitors standing on East Street can look up at the spectacular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. You can find ethnic jewelry, tea, silverware, shawls, etc., and feel the strong Naxi ethnic style here.

   Accommodation: Lijiang

2. Day 2: Lijiang Tour
   Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley, Shuhe Ancient Town

   Get up early and drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at 8:30 for the magnificent snow view on this always-snow-capped mountain. It is a sacred mountain of the Naxi people highlighting varied and beautiful natural scenery.

   

   Visit Ganhaizi Meadow, then take the sightseeing bus to visit Baishui River, which is well-known as the Blue Moon Valley from the glacier of the snow mountain. Take a chairlift to visit Glacier Park in the snow mountain.

   Follow your guide to the Shuhe Ancient Town which boasts a history as long as Lijiang Ancient Town but sees fewer tourists. Combining beautiful natural scenery and unsophisticated Naxi folk customs, it is a world cultural heritage site in China.

   Another local market can be visited before your driver escorts you to the hotel.

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

3. Day 3: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge
   First Bend of Yangtze River, Upper Trekking Route, Naxi Family Guesthouse

   In the morning, the local English-speaking guide and the driver will pick you up from your Lijiang downtown hotel, and start your exploration.

   First, drive about 52 km from Lijiang to view the First Bend of the Yangtze River. Then continue driving north for about 1 hour to one of the deepest canyons in China - Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you will have an unforgettable hiking experience.

   

   Today, you will start your guided hike along the Upper Trekking Route - the narrowest section of the entire gorge (the river is only about 20 meters wide). Our hike starts on the trail near Hutiaoxia Town. After a short hike, you will arrive at the farm of the Naxi minority where you will learn more about the daily life of this minority. Then continue your wonderful hike to Naxi Family Guesthouse where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and take a break to recover.

   Trek along the cliff edge and past some small waterfalls as the muddy and tumbling Yangtze River comes into view. Then you will reach the famous 24 Bends, from where you will gain a new perspective of the Tiger Leaping Gorge with every step up. After completing 24 Bends, you will get the most open view of the entire gorge to see the beautiful Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. Here you can take a good rest and take pictures of the stunning scenery. Afterwards, a hike of about 1 hour will take you to the Tea Horse Guesthouse, where you will spend the night.

   Accommodation: Tea Horse Guesthouse

4. Day 4: Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangri-La
   Halfway Guesthouse, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill

   After breakfast, descend for about 2 hours to Halfway Guesthouse, the midpoint of the trek, where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding towering ranges of snow-covered mountains.

   

   Next, wind the way down the path dug out from the cliff, enjoying the beautiful small waterfalls until you reach Tina's Guesthouse on the main driving road. Meet your driver there for the 2-hour drive to Shangri-La, where you can experience the rich Tibetan culture and admire the magnificent monasteries, awe-inspiring snow mountains, and ancient Tibetan dwellings.

   Stroll through Dukezong Ancient Town, the best-preserved and largest Tibetan dwelling complex in China, and also the hub of the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The last stop of the day is Guishan Hill, where you will experience turning a Prayer Wheel, 21 meters high, weighing 60 tons in total, and it takes at least four or five people to turn it. Also, don't miss the chance to get a bird's eye view of the whole Duzekong Ancient Town.

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

5. Day 5: Shangri-La Tour
   Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Thangka Making

   Shangri-La has a different appearance from the past places, where you will start to meet Tibetan elements.

   The first site will be the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan - Songzanlin Monastery, which is built on the slope of a hill and looks quite similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, hence the name "Little Potala Palace".

   After lunch, your guide will take you to Pudacuo National Park, one of the main attractions of the Shangri-La tour. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful lakes, forests, meadows, valleys, streams, and rare rare flora and fauna here. If you are a photography enthusiast, the Park is a great travel destination, especially during the spring and autumn seasons.

   

   After that, you will get a chance to experience the process of Making Thangka. A dedicated teacher will be arranged to teach you how to make a Thangka from the basics.

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

6. Day 6: Shangri-La Departure
   Free Time

   Our 6-day Lijiang tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge will end here! At the confirmed time (according to your flight), the driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby and see you off at Diqing Airport for your departure flight.

   Note: NO English tour guide for today.

   Accommodation: N/A