7 Days Shangri-La Hiking Tour: Abuji, Thousand Lakes Mountain

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shangri-La Arrival

   Welcome to our 7-day Shangri-La hiking tour! Upon your arrival at Shangri-La Airport (Diqing Shangri-La Airport: DIG), a local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and then transfer you to a local 4-star hotel for check-in.

   Have a good rest at the hotel or enjoy your free time exploring this "paradise on earth" at your own pace.

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

2. Day 2: Shangri-La Highlights Tour
   Enjoy Both Culture and Nature of Shangri-La

   Today you will meet a lot of Tibetan elements in Shangri-La town.

   The first site of your Shangri-La tour is 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 tour guide will take you to Pudacuo National Park, one of the main attractions of the Shangri-La trip. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful lakes, forests, meadows, valleys, streams, and 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, stroll through Dukezong Ancient Town, the largest and best-preserved 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 of Duzekong Ancient Town and Shangri-La County.

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

   

3. Day 3: Shangri-La Abuji Hiking Tour
   Hike Sacred Trails and Discover Breathtaking Views of Abuji Lake

   After breakfast, take a half-hour drive along National Highway 214 to Dejilin Monastery, the only temple in Tibet that houses a 12-year-old full-length statue of Sakyamuni and Buddha statues of the ancestors of the eight major sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Continue the 1-hour drive along the banks of the Serchu River (meaning Golden River) for stunning views of meadows and snow mountains. Finally, arrive at the blooming pastures at the foot of the sacred Abuji Mountain, where your Abuji hiking will start.

   

   Hike through meteorite sinkholes and dense woodlands, past babbling streams. A 3-4 hour hike will take you to the sacred Abuji Lake. Around the eyes are green mountains and white clouds, as if the world fairyland. You will find many medicinal plants here even including the highly nutritious treasure - Thamnolia vermicularis.

   At the end of the tour, hike to the foot of the mountain to meet your driver. Then drive back to Shangri-La town.

   Note: Children under 12 years old and those with heart conditions or asthma are not advised to join the hike. (The whole hike is 7.5 km)

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

   

4. Day 4: Thousand Lakes Mountain Hiking from Shangri-La
   Explore Thousand Lakes Mountain and Embrace Lamo Yangtsok Holy Lake

   Thousand Lakes Mountain, known as Lamo DongTso in Tibetan, is made up of thousands of small lakes. Some of these lakes are as round as a mirror, some as long as a swimming fish, some are half-ringed in the depths of hills, and some are hidden among cuckoos. The vast alpine pastures are covered with a colorful carpet of flowers, scattered with leisurely cattle and sheep, running through clear brooks.

   

   The driver will take you (about 1 hour) to Xiagei Village after you have had your breakfast. The village, a representative of Tibetan folk culture, is traversed by a river winding like a jade belt. Here we will hike for 3 hours, passing through high pastures, and dense virgin forest. At noon we will have a picnic (self-prepare lunch box) at the Lazaha Nomadic Pasture.

   In the afternoon, hike for 30 minutes to Lamo Yangtsok Holy Lake. Immerse yourself in the beautiful natural scenery. Then return to the parking spot. (The whole hike is 9 km)

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

5. Day 5: Shangri-La to Deqin Tour
   Discover Tibetan Buddhist Heritage & Sunsets of Meili Snow Mountain

   After breakfast, drive about 5 hours to Feilai Temple. You won't get bored as there are so many amazing views along the way!

   After a 1.5-hour drive, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Nixi Pottery Village - a remote village with a long history of pottery. Continue driving along the Jinshan River, and you can enjoy the magnificent natural scenery en route.

   

   After lunch, move on to visit Dongzhulin Monastery, the cradle of Tibetan Buddhism in Western Yunnan Province. Then, you will pay a visit to The First Bend of the Yangtze River, which takes a bend in the shape of "Ω" around the pyramid-like Rizhui Peak.

   Arrive at Feilai Temple in the late afternoon, and catch the beautiful sunset of Meili Snow Mountain.

   Accommodation: Feilai Temple

6. Day 6: Feilai Temple to Shangri-La Tour
   Capture the Stunning Mingyong Glacier Up Close

   Get up early for the gorgeous sunrise views over the snow-white mountains. After breakfast at the hotel, drive for about 1 hour to Mingyong village from where you will start your today's trekking. A 2-hour walk will lead you halfway up the mountain to the Taizi Temple, a place where local people make offerings to the sacred snow mountain.

   Continue your walk up to the viewing platform. Take a break here and capture the stunning Mingyong Glacier up close (the largest and longest canyon glacier in Yunnan Province, which looks like a silver dragon from a distance).

   Accommodation: Shangri-La

   

7. Day 7: Shangri-La Departure

   The 7-day Yunnan adventure in Shangri-La will end by today. At the confirmed time (according to your departure flight), your driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and see you off at Shangri-La Airport.

   Accommodation: N/A