An Exceptional Adventure in Northwest Yunnan
6-Day Lijiang to Shangri-La Adventure Tour
Lijiang and Shangri-La could well be Yunnan destinations that are most full of the explorer's spirit. This is not only because the great explorer Joseph Rock pioneered the atmosphere of adventure there, but also because the awesome landscapes and the old and mysterious cultures create a natural and cultural adventure for travelers today.
In this 6-day Lijiang to Shangri-La tour, you will visit the must-sees in an off-the-beaten-path way and also experience the local culture in the aspects of religion, art, food, and lifestyle.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Discover a Hidden Valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Skipping the cable car and tourist crowds, you will hike through the bushes, wade across a little stream, and enjoy the exclusive views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that only hikers can.
Explore a Hidden Fairyland of Purple Azalea (option for tours in May)
Enjoy a leisure walk on the purple meadow. The yaks might be wandering around the beautiful plateau lake.
Lie down on an Alpine Meadow with a Breathtaking View of Haba Snow Mountain
Discover a hidden treasure on Haba Snow Mountain, which is unknown to 99% of tourists. You will be jealous of the yaks living on this meadow! It is unbelievable that Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain can be seen so superbly at the same time.
Visit a Non-Public Dormitory of Songzanlin Monastery
Talk with a local Tibetan lama in his dormitory's study room, which is not normally open to tourists. If you are lucky, you might meet a living Buddha!
Discover the Mystery of Prayer flags at Songzanlin Monastery
Experience a Tibetan ceremony of blessing behind Songzanlin Monastery, which is not seen by ordinary tourists. Leanr how the local people pray toward sacred Songzanlin Monastery.
Walk in a Tibetan Family's House
Avoid the commercial house tours and visit a traditional Tibetan family's house near quiet Napa Lake. There, you will enjoy some homemade Tibetan snacks and friendly conversation.
Why Choose Us
Your Wellbeing is Our Priority.
- 1-to-1 travel expert
- Vaccinated guides
- Private Rides
Your Trip is Perfectly Planned.
- No crowds
- Exclusive Exciting Experiences
Your Booking is Risk-Free.
- No cancellation fee
- Free changes
Finish Your Booking in as Quick as 1 Day
1. Tell us your dream travel idea
2. Work out your unique plan with 1 to 1 expert advice
What Our Customers Said
|
We have been travelling around Yunnan…
We have been travelling around Yunnan Province for 8 days and it’s been amazing. The culture, the food, the people’s kindness, all these things made our trip unforgettable. Especially our guide Nancy! The most helpful and friendly guide we could have. We really appreciate her knowledge about the local history and the culture. She’s really amazing and we strongly recommend her services. moreMar 2022, Danielle Toledo
|
Awesome Yunnan trip with Nancy
We had a 6-day tour with guide Nancy around Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La in Yunnan. She’s very professional and experienced guide that made our tour far exceed expectations. It was a pleasure to have her as our tour guide. We strongly recommend her. Thank you! moreMar 2022, Rodrigo
|
One of the best things I’ve done in China
One of the best things I’ve done in China. Being that I am pretty well traveled in China this Experience was so different from the others. Each city provided a different aspect of the culture, local traditions and beauty that China has to offer. Our Tour guide Nancy was amazing as she made our itinerary very well constructed and organized. She was there to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Her hyper energy and cheerfulness made us feel enthusiastic for the day. We are very satisfied with this trip and Nancy’s services that we will be sure to book again. moreFeb 2022, RoshR
|
One of the best things I’ve done in China
One of the best things I’ve done in China. Being that I am pretty well traveled in China this Experience was so different from the others. Each city provided a different aspect of the culture, local traditions and beauty that China has to offer. Our Tour guide Nancy was amazing as she made our itinerary very well constructed and organized. She was there to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Her hyper energy and cheerfulness made us feel enthusiastic for the day. We are very satisfied with this trip and Nancy’s services that we will be sure to book again. moreFeb 2022, RoshR
|
Lijiang Trip July 2021
Kudos to Alisa Liu from the agency who I must say was on hand almost 24/7 for requests and queries. Even though our trip was marred with the onset of the Typhoon In Fa with various flight and train cancellations but Alisa was quick to arrange for alternative solutions under the circumstances and made the most effort to make our journey as comfortable as possible whilst we made our way back to Shanghai. As for the itinerary, Alisa understands her clientele’s different needs very well and for the most part my expectations were met. I love private tours with a very relaxed itinerary and comfortable accommodation and some of us prefer more exclusive accommodation vs a packed itinerary trying to go to a hundred location type of tour. moreAug 2021, Ida Suriani
|
Summer holiday in Yunnan
After spending 5 nights in Dali visiting sights in our own time, Alice who was very friendly and helpful, accompanied us on our drive from Dali to Lijiang. She shared interesting facts about the local area and the things we had done. In Lijiang, we met our guide Peter. Peter did an amazing job taking care of us and showing us the beautiful sights for our 3 days. He was so kind, providing us with snacks each morning and always ensuring the food met my dietary requirements. He even picked up our last minute NAT results that we did before our departure late at night! His passion and dedication to his job was very impressive, and we would highly recommend him to our friends. moreAug 2021, O6866ZGlaurag
|
Amazing experience in Yunnan
Please bear in mind that booking tickets and actually getting to the sightseeing point is very challenging, especially during peak season. But with the help of our guides everything went smooth and silky. Thank you, China Highlights, for making our first trip to Yunnan an unforgettable and carefree adventure. It was a true relaxation without any headache or stress. We had nothing to worry about, except enjoying breathtaking beauty of Yunnan. moreJul 2021, olya84
|
I visited Lijiang during the Spring Festival and I thought it was gonna be packed with people but my guide always knew were to take me to avoid crowds. I had a great time, my guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions with gusto. I’m very happy with my trip. --lunarcicles，Buenos Aires, Argentina moreFeb 2019,
|
Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Meet your private guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Explore Lijiang Ancient Town. Discover the splendid history of the Naxi minority. Enjoy a panoramic view of the town from Lion Hill at sunset.
Walk around Yuhu Village where American explorer Joseph Rock lived for 27 years, you will see typical stone houses of the Naxi people and villagers in their traditional dress on their way to their farms or fields. You will visit Rock's former residence and listen to his adventure stories. And then follow in his footsteps in the embrace of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Skipping the cable car and tourist crowds, you will hike through the bushes, wade across a little stream, lie down on an alpine meadow, and enjoy the exclusive views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that only hikers can.
The hike is about 12.5 km (7.7 miles). There is about 600 meters (2,000 feet) of ascent, and normally people need about 5½ hours.
You will drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La in the morning. On the way, you will stop at magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge. Listen to the roar of the Jinsha River (upper Yangtze).
After lunch, discover a best-kept secret of Haba Snow Mountain. During a 2-hour hike on an alpine meadow, enjoy exclusive views of Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Continue to Shangri-La by a brand-new highway. Be impressed by the amazing scenery along the way and another super project of China.
Visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Yunnan, Songzanlin. Discover the beating heart of local Tibetan belief, which reflects the elevated purity and awe of its surroundings.
Visit the dormitory of a lama, which is not normally open to tourists. If you are curious about their lifestyle, religious beliefs, practices, and discipline, this is a great chance to ask a lama face to face. Prepare some questions!
And then you will walk to the back of the monostery to experience a Tibetan ceremony of blessing.
Walk around Shangri-La Old Town in the afternoon. Turn the huge prayer wheel on the top of Guishan hill (if you like) and overlook the old town.
On day 5, you will discover the natural beauty and the life of local people in Shangri-La. The plateau lake and forest are the scenery you cannot miss. You will skip the well-developed scenic areas and just visit the lake and forest, which local people live around.
Explore Nixi Tibetan village. Get close to the daily life of the local Tibetan people and also experience making their famous Nixi black pottery.
Visit a Tibetan family's house. Sit and chat with the host and enjoy some traditional Tibetan snacks.
Driving alongside Napa Lake, you'll see yaks wandering on the grassland, verdant wetlands, and the clouds "floating" on the bright lake.
Private transfer to the airport
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: lj-4
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
