Yunnan【Oct1-7】Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike + Dali minorities

◻️ Day 1: Lijiang Arrival 

◻️ Day 2: Lijiang: Jade Dragon Snow Mt, Baisha village

◻️ Day 3: Lijiang > Dali

◻️ Day 4: Dali > Shaxi

◻️ Day 5: Shaxi > Tiger Leaping Gorge

◻️ Day 6: Tiger Leaping Gorge > Lijiang

◻️ Day 7: Departure

Lijiang, arrival

Today is arrival day. You may take any flight convenient to arrive. 

If you arrive early can visit Lijiang Old Town and have dinner together (at your own expense)!

🚗 Transportation: /

🛌 Accommodation: Hotel at Lijiang

🍚 Meals: /

Lijiang

Highlight: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha village

After breakfast, we'll drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain range - situated in the southern part of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, which is the most glacier mountain in the area. 

We'll take a cable ride to the glacier park at 4500m. Here, we'll have the chance to view the whole Lijiang valley. Enjoy the view~ We will also visit the Blue moon valley later where the water reflects the entire glacier and mountain.

After a group Hotpot lunch (included), let's head to Baisha village & murals - at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain. Baisha village was the earliest settlement of the Naxi Minority people. Many ancient constructions that were originally built during the Ming Dynasty can be found here.

What's special about Baisha is that you can find a total of 44 pieces of murals carved in the early Ming Dynasty. All of which depict religious stories from Taoism, Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism, as well as exemplify the artistic characteristics of the Naxi, Tibetan, Han, and Bai ethnic groups.

Drive back to our hotel at Lijiang to stay the night.

🚗 Transportation: Car (~2.5hrs)

🛌 Accommodation: Hotel at Lijiang

🍚 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Lijiang > Dali

Highlight: Erhai Lake, hike to Cangshan Snow Mountain 

In the early morning, we'll hop on the car to head to Dali ancient city. Today, let's visit Erhai Lake for a cycling tour (2hrs)

Located ~22km east of Dali, between Cangshan & Dali, Erhai is the largest highland lake and one of the 7 biggest freshwater lakes in China. And cycling is the perfect choice to discover this crescent-like beautiful lake! During the trip, we can visit surrounding islands, temples, and villages as well.

After lunch, we'll pack our bags to start the hike to Cangshan Snow Mountain (3hrs) - one of the most famous attractions in Dali.

Here, you can have a full view of Erhai Lake & Dali Ancient Town. Enjoy the snow-capped peaks, soft clouds, nature sceneries, and make sure to visit Xima Pond, Qingbi Stream, and Zhonghe Temple.

Stay overnight in Dali.

🚗 Transportation: Car (~2hrs)

🛌 Accommodation: Hotel in Dali

🍚 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Dali > Shaxi

Highlight: Xizhou (Bai Minority) ancient village, Shaxi old town

Get your breakfast~ This morning, we'll visit Xizhou - a thousand-year-old ancient village to experience Bai ethnic minority culture.

Situated ~18 km north of Dali Old Town, faces Erhai Lake on the east and rests on Cangshan Mountain in the west, it's a must-visit for tourists. There are numerous Bai classical residences here, and you can even experience Bai's famous local dishes - Xizhou Baba, and Bai ethnic customs and activities like Three-course Tea and Tie-dye

By noon, stop for lunch. In the afternoon, let's drive to Shaxi to visit Shibaoshan Mountain & Shaxi Old Town.

Shaxi once was a bustling trade station on the Tea and Horse Caravan Road, an important branch of the ancient Silk Road, connecting Tibet with Eastern China. While today people don't trade along this route anymore, Shaxi's still the hustling border town with different minorities, including the Yi & Bai, clashing every Friday during the Sideng Market when mountain villagers come down from the hills to trade their goods.

We'll hike Shibaoshan - a mountainside trail passing caves with Buddhist statues & imagery carved more than 1,300 years ago.

The rock carvings here are evidence of the spread of Mahayana Buddhism into Yunnan from Tibet.

Stay overnight in Shaxi Old Town.

🚗 Transportation: Car

🛌 Accommodation: Hotel in Shaxi

🍚 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Shaxi > Tiger Leaping Gorge

Highlight: Hike tiger leaping, half way viewpoint

In the morning after breakfast, we'll drive to the starting point of Tiger leaping gorge.

Today, let's hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge - one of the deepest gorges on the planet (3900m depth), and it has the best hiking trail in the Lijiang area. Enjoy the marvelous view of nature along the way.

Then, we'll hike down to have lunch at a local Naxi family guesthouse.

After lunch, we'll start the most challenging part of the hike - 28 bends zigzag trail up to the top of 2670m. See beautiful mountain view. It's all worth it! Enjoy the view, rest a bit and hike down to the beautiful bamboo pine forest. End of today's trek!

Arrive at the Tea horse guest house (茶马客栈) and stay the night here.

⛰ Hike: ~5hrs

🚗 Transportation: Car (~2.5 hrs)

🛌 Accommodation: Guesthouse

🍚 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tiger Leaping Gorge > Lijiang

Today we'll start the day by hiking down to the most beautiful part of Tiger leaping gorge. Here, we can see the beautiful riverbank & the middle gorge, which look like a big heaven gate.

Then, trek to the Walnut Grove, which is a small village between the Upper & Middle Section of Tiger Leaping Gorge. 

Drive back to Lijiang and stay the night here.

⛰ Hike: ~6hrs

🚗 Transportation: Car (~3hrs)

🛌 Accommodation: Hotel in Lijiang

🍚 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Lijiang, departure

It's departure day. You can book any convenient flight from Lijiang.

🚗 Transportation: 

🛌 Accommodation: /

🍚 Meals: Breakfast

*Note that this itinerary is for referral only. Actual timing might be flexible depending on the weather or other organizational factors. 

Dates: Sep15-21

Oct 1-7

Group size: around12-15ppl

*minimum 4ppl

Price: 6300RMB 

🥳 Early bird price 5999 RMB for the first 3 signups

Deposit: 2000RMB

Balance: to be paid 3 days before departure

- Accepted payment methods: Alipay, Wechat, or Bank transfer

- On-site private transportation with AC (as per itinerary)

- English speaking local guide

- Accommodations as per itinerary: 6 nights, shared room 2ppl*

- Meals: 6 breakfasts

- Meals: 5 lunches

- Entrance fee as listed in the itinerary

- Water: 2 bottles per person per day

- Travel insurance

*Price is based on shared room occupancy, please let us know your sharing preferences upon signing up. If you’re a solo traveler or don’t have another person to share the room with, M2adventure will do its best to help find a roommate whenever possible but if no one is available to share, please note that you will have to take the single room supplement (see price below). Thank you for your understanding.

- Flights arriving to / leaving from Lijiang airport

- Meals not mentioned and drinks 

- Personal expenses and tips to the guide and driver

- Invoice (6%) 

Optional:

- Single room occupancy: 1700rmb

Arrival & Departure:

Airport: Lijiang Sanyi International Airport

机场: 丽江三义机场

Arrival: Day 1, anytime 

Departure: Day 7, anytime 

Cancellation fee

- More than 14 days prior to departure: 200rmb 

- Between 14 and 8 days prior to departure: 1000rmb

- All cancellations made within 7 days: 2000rmb

- 1 days prior to departure or no show: 100% of the price

Cancellation Policy

If the weather is really bad and represents a risk for people's safety, we could cancel the trip up to 1 day in advance. The deposit would be fully refunded. Note that we are NOT responsible for flight cancellation fees. This would need to be dealt with by the airline company directly. 

All forms of outdoor recreation (including hiking) have a higher level of risk than most ordinary activities.

By participating in M2adventure's hike, you acknowledge and accept the responsibility for making your own determinations as to the suitability of the activity and for their own safety, conduct, and well-being and agrees to participate solely at your own risk.

M2adventure, its organizer & hike leaders will not be held responsible for any loss or injury which you may sustain as a result of your participation in any of these activities.

This trip is hosted and operated by Lijiang Godo travel co.,Ltd, its operation permit licence is L-YN-00985