YUNNAN ACTIVE - Your sportive holiday!
Code: YUN-005 (9 days 8 nights)
Kunming - Night Train to Lijiang - Trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge - Baishui Tai - Zhongdian (Shangri-La) - Lijiang
Description
This extraordinary and unique 9 day tour takes you to the places in the Northern Yunnan Province other travelers will hardly see. We mostly travel by train, private car and public bus or on foot, sleep in simple accommodations, and, by doing that, experience the everyday way of life of the local people from within and close up! In Lijiang and Zhongdian we can even arrange a home stay for you! Our experienced tour guide will be your travel buddy and help you understand local customs and traditions as you travel. Your backpack and a certain amount of "adventurous spirit" is all you need to get going!
Highlights
- 3 days Trekking Tour high above the Tiger Leaping Gorge in the shadows of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Visit the White Water Terraces "Baishui Tai"
- Night Train from Lijiang to Kunming
- Explore the Lijiang surroundings by Bicycle
- Stroll through the old town of Zhongdian (Shangri-La)
- Ride your bicycle to the Songtsam Tibetan Monastery
- Explore the hidden alleys of old town Lijiang
- Climb up to the Dragon Gate with magnificent views over the "Spring City" of Kunming
Please note that for this tour we can also arrange home stays in Lijiang and Zhongdian. However, home stays in Zhongdian we are only doing the summer months.
Program
Day 1. KUNMING ARRIVAL
Arrival in Kunming, the "City of Eternal Spring" and capital of the Yunnan Province.
Day 2. KUNMING CITY & WESTERN MOUNTAINS - Overnight Train to LIJIANG (B)
Take a stroll through the idyllic Green Lake Park (Cui Hu), a popular gathering point for the local population, to see the locals engaged in their morning workouts, practice Tai Chi, show off their birds and enjoy social dancing. After that drive to the Western Mountains (Xi Shan). Take a short walk and enjoy breathtaking views over Dian Chi Lake and the city of Kunming. We climb the stairs up to the Dragon Gate, a group of Grottoes that have been hacked out from the cliff by some Taoist monks in the 18th and 19th centuries On the way back visit the hidden Bamboo Temple (Qiong Zhu Si), dating back to the Tang Dynasty and famous for its 500 life sized clay statues of former "arhats" or sages. In the evening board the train K9606 leaving at 22h15 for Lijiang Overnight on train
Day 3. Lijiang (no meals)
Pick up at the train station and head for a cosy place for breakfast. (not included). With our rental bikes we head off to the wonderful "Black Dragon Pool" Park from where, weather permitting, one has a spectacular view of the 5'596 Meter high "Jade Dragon Mountain" (Yu Long Shan). At this time of the day the light is ideal for taking pictures of the Black Dragon Pool and the mountain in the background. Visit the interesting Dongba Museum. After that, ride (about 10km) to the nearby traditional village of "Baisha", the former capital of the Naxi kingdom. Visit the Liu Li Temple, with its beautiful, well preserved wall paintings. Ride back to Lijiang. Time at leisure to explore the old town on your own. In the evening optional visit of a traditional Naxi Dongba Music concert.
Day 4. LIJIANG - QIAOTOU - TIGER LEAPING GORGE (2.5 hrs driving)
In the morning (07h00) drive by public transportation to Qiaotou. Drive to Qiaotou, located at the entrance of the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) and the starting point for our Trek.
Qiaotou - Nuoyu Village: Walking Time 2 hrs/6.5km The path climbs steadily while it follows the hillside in a north-eastern direction into the gorge. There are already some spectacular views of the Yangtze River below. After a two hours walk we arrive at the Nuoyu Village where we stay for the night. There is some time to relax, enjoy the well earned beer or to explore the village and its surroundings. Accommodation is at the Naxi Family Guesthouse, a simple guesthouse which is run by a nice and friendly Family.
Day 5. NUOYU VILLAGE - BENDIWAN VILLAGE (Walking time 4-5 hrs/11.5km (no meals)
After breakfast we head out to face the "28 bends", the steepest and toughest part of the trek. From the top one has spectacular view of the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) and the "5 Fingers" of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. From there the path is mostly flat or downhill along the hill for another 2 hours until we reach Bendiwan Village. This last part of the trek offers exceptional views. We stay the night at the "Halfway Guesthouse" which has a nice balcony with great views of the Tiger Leaping Gorge! The right place to put your feet up, relax and enjoy the scenery!
Day 6. BENDIWAN VILLAGE - WALNUT GROVE Walking time: 2.5 hours/3.5km (no meals)
After a good breakfast we leave the Bendiwan Village, from where the path is mostly downhill towards Walnut Grove. We stay overnight at the simple Tina's Guesthouse. After lunch we make an interesting tour on foot down into the gorge. We walk along the Yangtze River for the most interesting part before a steep climb brings us back to Tina's Guesthouse for overnight accommodation.
Day 7. TIGER LEAPING GORGE - BAISHUI TAI - ZHONGDIAN (220KM / ca 6hrs) (no meals)
Our car will pick us up for a spectacular drive in the shadow of the Haba Mountain Range through stunning scenery towards the impressive Baishuitai (White Water Terraces) where we arrive around lunch time. The natural Limestone-stepped terraces where formed over a period of 250'000 years by the water that is constantly flowing over the terraces. We take a short walk around the terraces before heading for lunch at the nearby Baidi village. In the afternoon the road winds its way up onto the Eastern Tibetan Plateau before continuing through magnificent landscape towards Zhongdian.
Day 8. ZHONGDIAN (SHANGRI LA) (B)
Zhongdian is situated amongst a stunning landscape on the eastern Tibetan plateau at about 3200 meters above sea level. It recently changed its name and is now called "Shangri-La", after the Shangri-La that the British writer James Hilton described in his Novel "The Lost Horizon". By rental bike we head out to the Ganden Sumtseling Gompa, a 300 year old impressive Tibetan Monastery (about 10km). From a historical point of view the Ganden Sumtseling Gompa is very significant to the region because it was inaugurated personally in the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama. After that we drive to the picturesque old town of Zhongdian. We climb Turtle Hill and spin the giant prayer wheel three times for a good karma. Time at leisure to explore the ancient town of Zhongdian on your own.
Day 9. ZHONGDIAN (SHANGRI LA) - LIJIANG (175KM / 4HRS) (B)
We leave Zhongdian and the eastern Tibetan Plateau and drive through a magnificent landscape toward Lijiang. Half way we take a right turn Continue to Shigu village, to see the famous "First Bend", where the Yangtze River is making an abrupt 180 degree turn and flows for several kilometers, parallel to itself towards the north again. The road back to Lijiang offers some spectacular views over the Yangtze Valley and the surrounding mountain scenery. |