14-day Legend of Shangri-la
Destinations: Kunming, Lijiang, Shangri-la, Xiangcheng, Daocheng, Litang, Xinduqiao, Kangding, Luding, Chengdu
Tour code: TCG-L-011
The mythical land of Shangri-La is the novelist James Hilton's fictional account of the legendary Tibetan paradise Shambala. In Hilton's 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, he changes the name of the paradise to Shangri-La. This lost Tibetan paradise we will take you to is a pure land cut off from the world!
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Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Transfer via: TBA – your arrangement
Activities for today: Airport to hotel transfer
Upon your arrival at Kunming Changshui International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel of your choice. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
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Day 2 Kunming
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Stone Forest
After breakfast at the hotel, meet the guide and drive to visit the Stone Forest. It is the most famous tourist attraction in Kunming - a typical formation of Karst topography. On the way back to Kunming, visit a traditional minority village.
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Day 3 Kunming / Lijiang
Transfer via: train - on our arrangement
Activities for today: West Hill, Golden Temple, Green Lake
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day sight-seeing tour of Kunming visiting West Hill -- Your visit includes a cable car up the Dragon Gate to have a panoramic view of the beautiful Dianchi Lake. Later proceed to see the Golden Temple and a walk around the Green Lake at your own pace.
Transfer to the railway station and take the overnight train to Lijiang. -
Day 4 Lijiang
Transfer via: Private car
Activities for today: Old Town of Lijiang, Black Dragon Pool Park, Naxi Dongba Cultural Museum
Upon arrival, be met by our guide and transferred to check into your hotel. After a short rest, visit Old Town of Lijiang - a UNESCO World Heritage Site with orderly system of waterways and bridges. The town differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Naxi (Nakhi) people.
Followed tour to the Black Dragon Pool Park and Naxi Dongba Cultural Museum. There are more than 10, 000 cultural relics of the Naxi people and various other historical relics in the museum. -
Day 5 Lijiang/Shangri-la
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Tiger Leaping Gorge
Depart for Shangri-la by road. On the way, visit the world's deepest river canyon - Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas World Heritage Site. The inhabitants of the gorge are primarily the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets.
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Day 6 Shangri-la
Activities for today: Gedan Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park
Shangrila, the old name is Zhongdian, is famed for its temples, grassland, rivers, lakes, forest, valleys, and mysterious Tibetan villages. Our tour will start from the Gedan Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling Monastery), the largest Tibetan lamasery in Yunnan Province, it is known as the "Lesser Potala Palace". Later, proceed to visit the picturesque Pudacuo National Park.
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Day 7 Shangri-la/Bironggorge/Xiangcheng
Transfer via: private vehicle
After breakfast, head for Xiangcheng, a Tibetan county in Sichuan province. Stop for the photos of snow capped mountains and beautiful decorated Tibetan house on the way. Lunch at a lcoal restaurant, go to visit Birong Gorge of Sichuan. You will get an idea of the differences between the traditional Tibetan houses built in Xiangcheng and Zhongdian.
After arrival at Xiangcheng, check into the hotel, and then visit Sangpi Monastery, which is one of the biggest Gelupa sect (yellow hat) monastery in Kham Tibetan region. Overnight at local Hotel. -
Day 8 Xiangcheng/Sangdun/Zhujiesi/Daocheng
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Kawagebo Peak, Genie Mountain, Kagyupa Sect Zhujiesi Monastery
Today drive from Xiangcheng to Daocheng. Take a distant look of the two famous sacred mountains: Kawagebo Peak of Yunnan and Genie Mountain of Sichuan.
After a short stop in Sangdun village, we will then proceed to visit famous Kagyupa Sect (white hat) Zhujiesi Monastery. The monks in this monastery feed many Tibet pheasants. Arrive at Daocheng in the afternoon. Free time at the rest of the day. -
Day 9 Daocheng/Sangdun/Benbosi/Litang
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Rubuchaka Hot Spring, Benpo Monastery, Changqingchunker Monastery
After visiting Rubuchaka Hot Spring near the town, proceed to drive to Litang. Visit Benpo monastery built under a mountain cave, then drive over Mt. Haizi, witnessing the magnificent remains of ancient glaciers and widely dotted highland lakes.
Arrive at Litang County in the afternoon, visit Changqingchunker Monastery (meaning Maitreya-Holy Wheel Temple) located in the western suburb of the town. As the most important temple of Gelupa Sect (yellow hat) in the south of Kham Region, it was originally under the control of the Bon religion but converted into a Gelupa Sect monastery in 1580 by the third Dalai Lama. -
Day 10 Litang / Yajiang / Xinduqiao / Tagong
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Xinduqiao, Tagong Monastery
Cross over Mt. Honglong (4280m) and Mt. Kazila (4400m), then drive down to Yajiang, a small county at the foot of the mountain. Continue driving to Tagong after lunch in Yajiang.
We will pass by Xinduqiao, a perfect place for photo taking in autumn. After arrival at Tagong, go to visit Tagong Monastery. Tagong is a very small town with tiny population, while Tibetan religion deeply penetrated into the local people’s life. -
Day 11 Tagong / Xinduqiao / Kangding
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Orphangage, Juemu Nunnery
After breakfast, visit the orphanage, nearly 130 orphans here were from Tibetan, Han, Yi and Qiang nationality. Then drive to visit Juemu Nunnery, have a stop at Muya gilded stupa on the way to nunnery. Handicraftsman making pray stone carving can be seen near the nunnery. Driver across over Mt. Zheduo and Mt. Gaoershi.
In the afternoon arrive at Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the important juncture of Tibetan and Han People in history. -
Day 12 Kangding / Luding / Chengdu
Transfer via: private vehicle
Activities for today: Luding Iron Chain Bridge
Drive to Chengdu City (6-7 hours). On the way, visit the 400 year-old Luding Iron Chain Bridge over Dadu River. Go through the 5 kilometer-long channel of the craggy Mt. Erlang. Arrive in Chengdu in the afternoon. Free time at leisure.
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Day 13 Chengdu
Activities for today: Panda Breeding Center, Jinsha Site Museum, Jinli Old Street
Drive to visit Panda Breeding and Research Center. Usually pandas get fed in the morning, it is the most active period during the day. Watch a film at Panda Museum to have some knowledge of pandas.
After lunch at the city downtown, go and visit Jinsha Site Museum, a great place for visitors to closely observe the excavation of archeological spot and learn the glorious culture of the ancient Shu Kingdom. Then wander around Jinli ancient streets, you can taste different kinds of local snacks there. -
Day 14 Chengdu/Exit
Transfer via: TBA – your arrangement
Activities for today: Hotel to airport transfer
Check out from your hotel and transfer to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport for the flight to your next destination.
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