In Yunnan, between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Haba Snow Mountain, lies a breathtaking hiking trail known as the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek. It's not only one of China's top ten hiking routes, but also ranks among the world's top ten classic treks. In terms of difficulty, Tiger Leaping Gorge is not the most challenging, but in terms of magnificence, it's absolutely unparalleled. As people often say, this trail is incredibly beautiful: with the Haba Snow Mountain beside you, and view the thirteen peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, also the rushing waters of the Jinsha River beneath your feet. We will spend two days hiking both Upper and Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge.

We have been to this part of China several times now and it is highly recommmented. A real gem for your bucket list! For this trip, we combine our favorits into one tour: Tiger Leaping Gorage and Shangri-La.

Abujee cuo (lake) is still off the well-known tracks, though recently has become a bit more popular and attracts locals as well as outdoor-loving tourists. The stunning views are quite close to Shangri-La and the infrastructure is still a bit underdeveloped. Thus, the hike to Abujicuo is perfect for you if you’d like to be independent and do your own thing. “Cuo” is the Mandarin Chinese spelling for the Tibetan word “tso”, meaning lake. Many lakes in the Tibetan areas of Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai, and of course Tibet itself are named with “cuo” in the end. The lake lies at an elevation of 4200 meters above sea level, and it is a great pleasure to admire the rare alpine flowers and clear waters near the traces.

Songzanlin Monastery is a prominent Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province, holding a significant place in the entire Tibetan region and often referred to as the 'Little Potala Palace.' It stands at an elevation of 3,380 meters and was initially constructed in 1683. The original structure was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in 1966, and reconstruction at the same site began in 1982.

Dukezong Ancient Town built during the Tang Dynasty and is translated by Tibetan name 'City of Moonlight' or 'Castle Built on Stone.' The ancient town is nestled against the mountains, with stone-paved streets following the natural terrain. Its architectural layout resembles a lotus with eight petals, featuring a central Moonlight Square, surrounded by traditional Tibetan wooden houses. A devastating fire on January 11, 2014, turned the town into ruins. In 2015, the reconstruction of Dukezong Ancient Town began, you can still discern the former splendor of this ancient town.

5 Days Trip Information：

Day 1 Arrival day →Lijiang

Note: The specific location we will post in the group before going there. If you would like to arrive there earlier, you can spend the whole day visiting Lijiang after checking in.

Day 2 Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Upper trekking → Guesthouse (Accomodation)

After breakfast, we depart from Lijiang at 07:30am and arrive at the Tiger Leaping Gorge town in about 1.5 hours. Entering the scenic area, we head to the trailhead for the Tiger Leaping Gorge Upper trekking. Do warm-up exercises before we go to the hike. This high-altitude journey takes us deep into the mountainous canyon, allowing us to witness the might of the 'Super Flood' of the Jinsha River.

We walk along the narrow cliff-side paths, experiencing the unique charm of Tiger Leaping Gorge. After conquering the famous 'Twenty-Eight Bends,' we reach the mountain's peak for some photo opportunities. Continuing our journey, we trek through pristine forests until we reach the Tea Horse Guesthouse for lunch.

Here, we take a break while facing the majestic peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and overlooking the Tiger Leaping Gorge valley below—an awe-inspiring sight. Afterward, we continue our hike, and in 2 hours, we'll reach our final destination.

Hike information：

Distance：12km

Hours：6hours

Ascent：700m

Day 3 Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri La (Accomodation)

After breakfast, we continue our journey, marveling at the breathtaking canyon scenery. We make our way to the Zhang Laoshi Trail, which descends smoothly towards the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. This route is less developed and offers a super-pristine experience. It follows the natural contours of the mountains, allowing you to feel the roaring river flow through this magnificent canyon.

Next, we conquer the 168-step Hero Ladder, then return to Zhang Laoshi Guesthouse. The total hiking time is approximately 4 hours. After a short rest, we head to Shangri-La. Along the way, we pass by the Haba Snow Mountain viewpoint and the Napahai Grassland. Upon reaching Shangri-La and checking in, we visit the ancient town of Dukezong.

Please note: the following day we will hike in the high-altitude area, so it is advisable to avoid alcohol and go to bed early.

Hike information：

Distance：7km

Hours：3.5hours

Ascent：500m

Descent：400m

Day 4 Shangri La → Abujee cuo → Shangri La (Accomodation)

After breakfast, at 8:00 am, we head to the Abujee trekking site, which is about 50 minutes drive away. The biggest challenge of Abujee is its high altitude. We will be ascending from 3,500 meters to 4,200 meters.

From the parking area to the first pasture, it's approximately 1 km with a gentle trail. You'll be surrounded by meadows, forests, and streams, providing a gradual adjustment to the rhythm of high-altitude hiking. Take a rest at the pasture and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

After that, we continue towards the Ajia Gang Mountain, crossing through pastures and beginning to climb after about 2km. After reaching a small pasture, about 1 km further, we have lunch and take a short break. We then continue for around 1km to reach a large plateau. If visibility is good, you might catch a glimpse of the sacred mountain near Abujee Lake. From here, it's 1km to reach the lake area, where you can make wishes at the observation deck and send blessings to your family and friends. You can also get closer to Abujee Lake to appreciate its stunning beauty. Afterward, we retrace our steps and return to the parking area, then head back to Shangri-La.

Hike information：

Distance：12km

Hours：6hours

Ascent：600m

Day 5 Shangri La → Songzan temple → Panahai → Lijiang

After breakfast, we will visit Songzanlin Monastery, which is about a 20-minute drive away. The visit will take approximately 2-3 hours. Afterward, we will check out and return to Lijiang. You can book flight from Lijiang after 7pm.

Note: you have the option to also return home from Shangri-La, though prices are usually high and you will need to organize your way to the airport by yourself. If you like to spend more time in Lijiang before or after the trip, we are happy to recommend accomodations to you.

5Days Trip Information:

Date: April 27th – May 1st

Price: 4687/person (6people Minimum.)

Price: 4587/person (7-8 people Maximum.)

Includes:

1. All transportation during the trip.

2. Leaders: A local guide and a leader.

3. Accommodation: listed in the itinerary.

4. Meals: 4 days of breakfast and box lunch, 4 days dinner with 2 beers each one.)

5. Activities, attractions and boat tickets as listed in the itinerary. (Abujue Lake, Songzanlin Monastery, Tiger Leaping Gorge Scenic Area, Zhang's Small Road, and the 168-step Brave Staircase.)

6.Insurance: Yunnan Travel Combo Insurance + Travel Accident Insurance.

Excludes:

- Transportation to and from Lijiang.

- Personal expenses. Such as living seperately.

Note:

1. Pay 200 RMB deposit when we confirm the trip (we will inform you in the group).

2. Pay the full amount by April 21st. Any refund for later cancelation depends on possibilities to still cancel hotel rooms etc.

3. The leader has the authority to make minor adjustments to the itinerary based on specific situation.

Join us：

Add mona_zhangli as your wechat, or scan the QR in below. I'll add you into our group.