➤AM/PM: Arrive in Lijiang and transfer to your hotel near Dayan Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its preserved Naxi culture. Follow our guide for a walking tour and Explore its charming cobblestone streets, traditional wooden architecture, and notable landmarks, including Mufu Palace, the former residence of Lijiang’s ruling family, and Sifang Square, the lively center of the old town.
*Optional activity for early morning and noon: Visit the bustling Xiangshan Market in Lijiang, where you’ll shop for fresh ingredients before joining a local Naxi family for a hands-on cooking class, learning to prepare traditional dishes from the region.
➤Late PM: Visit the scenic Black Dragon Pool (Heilong Pond), a peaceful spot surrounded by lush greenery and traditional Naxi culture, offering beautiful long-distance views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
➤EVE: Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, sampling the Naxi cuisine.
Day 02:Lijiang-Shangri-La
➤AM: Depart from Lijiang early for Tiger Leaping Gorge. Hike the famous high-road trail (moderate difficulty, approx. 4-6 hours), offering breathtaking views of the gorge and surrounding mountains.
➤EVE: Stay along the hike, either at a guesthouse or lodge on the trail, experiencing the remote beauty of the gorge. Enjoy a simple, local dinner at your guesthouse and relax for the night.
➤AM: After breakfast, head down to the Middle Gorge area for an additional hike (around 3-4 hours), offering a more intimate view of the gorge’s majestic cliffs and the rushing river below.
➤PM: Head to Shangri-La and check in to your hotel. Take some time to relax and refresh after the day’s hike. EVE: Yak Hotpot Dinner (Try out the yak pizza as well!)
➤AM: Start the day with a short hike to Baiji Temple (around 30–40 minutes), a small and peaceful temple rarely visited by tourists. Follow local worshippers up the hill and observe their morning rituals — burning juniper incense, praying, making offerings, and turning the prayer wheels. You may also see animals released here as part of Buddhist practice. From the temple, enjoy panoramic views over Dukezong Old Town below.
➤ AM: Take part in a Thangka painting experience, learning about the symbolism and techniques behind this intricate Tibetan Buddhist art form.
➤ MIDDAY: Explore Dukezong Old Town, wandering through its traditional Tibetan streets and learning about the history and culture of Shangri-La.
➤ PM: Visit a local Tibetan family at their home for afternoon tea. Step inside a traditional Tibetan house, learn about their everyday life and customs, and spend some relaxed time together over tea.
➤ EVE: Free evening.
➤AM: Head to Deqin, a remote town surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Along the way, visit Napahai Lake, a scenic plateau lake home to migratory birds, especially in the winter.
➤PM: Continue to the Jinshajiang River Viewpoint, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the river cutting through rugged mountains. Afterwards, head to Dongzhulin Monastery, a centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery, for a spiritual experience. Follow the local people and light up your own Suyou Light.
➤Late PM: Check in to your hotel near Feilai Temple, a quiet retreat offering incredible mountain views.
Highest elevation on the drive from Shangri-La to Feilai Temple: ~4,290 m.
Feilai Temple area & hotel elevation: ~3,400–3,500 m.
Day 06:Deqin-Yubeng Village
➤AM/PM: If the weather is clear, watch the snow-capped peak of Mount Kawagebo turn golden in the first light of sunrise, right from your hotel. Head to Qudengge Pavilion, the first stop on the pilgrimage route around the revered Mount Kawagebo in the Meili mountain range, where you get the "key" that pilgrims obtain to worship the sacred Mount Kawagebo.
Then, trek to Yubeng Village through Ninong Gorge and embark on a challenging yet rewarding hike through dense forests, mountain ridges, and meandering paths. Gain over 1,100 meters in elevation as you make your way to the hidden mountain village of Yubeng, a remote sanctuary at the foot of the sacred Meili Snow Mountain.
➤EVE: Explore Yubeng Village and prepare for the next day’s hike.
Hiking distance: ~14–15 km
Elevation range: ~2,050 m – 3,150 m
Total elevation gain: ~1,000–1,100 m
➤AM/PM: After breakfast, embark on the Waterfall Hike, a shorter, more leisurely hike that will take you about 4-5 hours round-trip. Pilgrims believe that trekking through Yubeng, especially visiting Sacred Waterfall, brings spiritual blessings and purification. The route is deeply intertwined with Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and rituals, making it not just a scenic hike but also a profound spiritual journey.
➤PM: Return to Yubeng Village to relax and take in the peaceful surroundings.
Hiking distance: ~11-12 km (round trip)
Elevation range: ~3,050 m – 3,650 m
Total elevation gain: ~500–600 m
➤AM/PM: After breakfast, begin the Glacier Lake Hike, one of the most iconic and rewarding treks in the Meili Snow Mountain region. The trail ascends steadily from Upper Yubeng Village through ancient fir forests and alpine meadows, eventually opening onto a dramatic cirque cradling the turquoise Ice Lake beneath Kawagebo Peak.
➤PM: Descend back to Yubeng Village at a relaxed pace. Spend the afternoon resting, enjoying hot tea, or simply taking in the silence and raw beauty of this hidden Himalayan settlement.
Hiking distance: ~14-15 km (round trip)
Elevation range: ~3,050 m – 3,860 m
Total elevation gain: ~800-900 m
