D1

Arrive in Kunming, meet at airport and transfer to a 4 star hotel.

D2

Take a morning flight from Kunming to Zhongdian (the Shangri-la, 3200m), meet at Zhongdian airport, and transfer to visit the Songzanlin Monastery which was built 300 years ago under the instruction of the 5th Dalai Lama. After lunch, drive 220 km from Zhongdian to Xiangcheng. Stay in a 1 star hotel.

D3

Drive 112 km from Xiangcheng to Daocheng(3750m), after lunch, drive another 77 km from Daocheng to Riwa, then take a local government-selected bus for another 20 km to Yading (the Rilongba). Stay in a local guesthouse or camping.

D4

Start your trekking tour with horses, first, trek 1 hour to Chongguo Monastery(3800m) which is in fact a ruin, then trek up to visit the Pearl Lake, then continue trek to the Luorong Yak Ranch(4200m), then trek along the Milk Lake shore up to a mountain pass(4681m), then trek down to the Kars Yak Ranch. Camping.

D5

Trek from Kars Yak Ranch down to the Kars Hell Valley, then trek through the valley, on the way, you will see several waterfalls, (the valley is named Hell, but in fact it is as beautiful as Paradise), at the end of the valley, you will cross a narrow wood bridge, walk in the Kars Village. Stay in a local villager’s house or camping.

D6

Take a tractor for 39 km from Kars Village to Dongyi Village via Geka Village, then change to a minibus, drive another 18 km from Dongyi Village to Eryatong Village via Wangzi Village. Here is the end of the dust road, you have to start your trekking tour again. You will trek 6 km from Eryatong Village to Emei Village, on the way, you will see the U-shape Bend of the Dongyi River, you will also see some ruined castles on the way. (these castles are related with the war between the Naxi people in Lijiang and the Tibetan people living in this area in Ming Dynasty). Then continue trek from Emei Village to Seku Village(3500m, most villagers are Mongolian people). Stay in a local villager’s house or camping.

D7

Trek from Seku Village to Eryada Village, then continue trek to Keku Village (most villagers are Pumi people), then continue trek to Kawa Village(3500m, most villagers are Naxi people and Mongolian people), on the way, you will see many cactus as big as trees, you will also see a 100m-high waterfall. Stay in a local villager’s house or camping.

D8

Trek along the Dongyi River and the Tongtian River from Kawa Village to Yiji Village, on the way, you will pass the Hadi Village (most villagers are Naxi people). Stay in a local villager’s house or camping.

D9

Trek up a mountain pass (the Yiejiliangzi, about 4000m), then trek down to Yongning Hot Spring Village. Enjoy a hot spring bath. Stay in a local guesthouse.

D10

Trek to Yongning town, here is the end of your trekking tour. Then drive 1 hour to Lugu Lake, take a small wood boat cruise on the lake, visit the Mosuo villages. Stay in the 2 star Daba Hotel by the lake.

D11

Drive 6 hours from Lugu Lake to Lijiang, check in a 4 star hotel and rest.

D12

Visit Lijiang Old Town which is a World Cultural Heritage site, including the Square Market, the Mu’s Family Palace which is like a little Forbidden City, and the Black Dragon Pond where is the ideal place to view the snow mountain. Stay in the 4 star hotel.

D13

Take a morning flight from Lijiang back to Kunming, then connect your departure flight back home.