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Yunnan Odyssey - with a 2-day Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek
Best Travel Time: Year-round
Length of Journey: 9 days or more
Departure Date: Upon request
Trip Cost: TBD
Inquire about this trip Click here
Visit fishing villages and markets around the Er’hai Lake in Dali; Being at the peak of the Yulong Snow Mountain; Star gazing at the Tiger Leaping Gorge; soaking up the Tibetan culture in Shangri-la
Day–to–Day Itinerary Click Here
Trip Introduction:
This adventure introduces you to the highlights Yunnan province, which is considered as one of China’s most “colorful” provinces for its diverse landscape and ethnic mix.
The adventure begins in Kunming, where you’ll have a chance to visit the Stone Forest, a natural wonder of a petrified limestone on a large scale. Next on you take a night train to Dali, once sreved as the capital to the Nanzhao Kingdom, today it is a charming ancient town nestled below the Cang Shan Mountain range on the shores of the beautiful Er’hai Lake. You may hire a bike to explore the shores of the Er'hai Lake. Lijiang is charming old city that's been rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1994. It was once a lively commercial and cultural center during its heyday of the Tea and Horse trade. You will get a free day in Lijiang to explore the wonders of the ancient city or make a day trip to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the near by sites. After some leisure time in Lijiang, you’ll begin a two day trekking adventure on the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail by taking the “high trail”which includes a 2 hour hike to the Middle Rapids.
Located 60KM north o Lijiang, the TLG stretches 16KM along the Jinsha River and is made spectacular by the peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow mountain which stands at over 5000 meters on each side. It used to be a stretch of the Tea and Horse trail, and served as daily transportation route for the local Naxi people for the transportation of goods, and getting around to other villages before highways were built in 1959. Today, the stunning scenery, rugged paths, and diverse micro ecosystems have caught the attention of adventurers and hikers alike. At last, we’ll arrive at Zhong Dian, also more coined as Shangri-la, where you can soak up some Tibetan culture. Some of the highlights of Shangri-la include the Ganden Songtselling Gompa - locally referred to as the little Potala Palace, it is the most important Tibetan monastery in SW China; nightly dancing in the old town square; and also the Pudatsuo Pudacuo National Forest Park – a natural wonderland of densely wooded forests and emerald-colored lakes. Depart to your next destination by transferring flights in Kunming on the last day, you may also choose to extend your adventure in other parts of Yunnan at the end of the trip.