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11-day Yunnan-Tibet Adventure Route

City//spot: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La-Deqin-Zuogong-Ranwu-Bomi-Tongmai- Yaluzangbu River Valley- Nyingchi/Bayi-Lhasa

Feature:

The Yunnan-Tibet Adventure Route is the one with the most amazing scenery for adventurers:

It is a route of famous rivers, canyons and gorges; a route of Snow Mountains and glaciers; a route of virgin forests and meadows; a route of exotic inhabitants and villages; a route of pilgrimage and sacred Tibetan Buddhism sites; and a route of romantic - brimming with wind, flowers snow and moon.

This is a harmonious place and pure land of peace where people dream for and yearn towards!

This route includes the most beautiful places in China selected by ‘China National Geography’: The most beautiful glacier: Mitui Glacier; the most beautiful forest: Lulang Forest Sea, Pomigang (Bagyai) Village; the most beautiful mountain: Meili Snow Mountain, and Namjagbarwa Snow Mountain.

It brings you to see the biggest canyon: Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, and

Experience a visit to Zang (Tibetan) family. 

Highlights of the tour:  

The Yarlung Zangbo River/Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon:

Reputed as the highest river in the world the Yarlung Zangbo (Yaluzangbu or Brahmaputra) River originates from Jiemayangzong Glacier between the Himalaya and Gangdise Mountains and creates the longest and the deepest valley in the world. It is deemed as the ‘cradle’ and ‘mother river’ by the Tibetan people. At a depth of 6009m, The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon (the Yarlung Zangbo Daxiagu) undoubtedly is the deepest canyon in the world, with a length of 504.6km and average depth of over 2268m. In the section of the canyon, the average river flow is 4425 square meters/second, much more inclement than other valleys. So far, nobody successfully drifted into the canyon as the current speed is as high as 16m/second. In the deepest Valley area, the altitude distributes from 200m to 7782m, provided with 9 vertical natural zones from the mountain Frigid Zone to the low river valley Tropical Monsoon Forest, that is reputed as the most complete and intact area with integrated vertical natural zones. It is the paradise for scientific expedition, adventure tour and creative photography. 

Tiger Leaping Gorge:

The Tiger Leaping Gorge (as ‘Hu Tiao Xia’ in Chinese) is a gorge on the Yangtze River, about 60 km north of Lijiang City. With a vertical height of 3,790 meters, the gorge is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Around 15 km in length, the gorge is located where the river passes between the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Haba Snow Mountain. The gorge is divided into three segments, the upper gorge, the middle gorge and the lower gorge. Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the narrowest point (still 25 metres wide, believed as one of the narrowest gorge in the world), hence the name. Tiger Leaping Gorge is an ideal place for hikers, and is regarded as one of the top ten hiking trails in China.  

Meili Snow Mountain:

Meaning ‘white mountain’ in Tibetan, Meili Snow Mountain, a UNESCO nature site located in Deqin County dividing Yunnan from Tibet, is a wonderful place to hike and explore both nature and Tibetan culture. As the head of the 8 divine mountains in Tibetan area, the Kawa Karpo Peak, 6740m above sea-level, is a sharp snow mountain that has never been conquered yet, and is the highest one among the 13 peaks, called as 13 Princes Peaks of Meili, all over 6000m high. Legend says that the Meili Snow Mountain is a god guarding Tibetan Buddhism, and here is a sacred place for pilgrimage of Tibetan Buddhism. It is reputed as ‘the Most Beautiful Mountain in the World’. Just as the local people say, ‘You come to Shangri-la in vain if you do not see Meili’.  

Midui Glacier:

The Midui Glacier is located in Yupu Township, about 100 kilometers east of the county seat of Bome. The glaciers are of typical monsoon moderate glaciers and they appear in all shapes. Midui Glacier is most famous for its giant ice basin, frequent snow avalanches and giant ice cascade as high as 700-800 meters. The Midui Glacier is formed from the convergence of two excellent ice waterfalls, sandwiching a stretch of lush green virgin forest. Glistening, soul-stirring ice cliffs are everywhere at the head of the glacier; at its leading edge extends into sub-tropical evergreen broadleaf forests. Midui Glacier descends through four distinctly different seasons of scenery. Here snow mountains, glaciers, forests, lakes, villages and temples co-exist in harmony.  

Mt. Namjagbarwa:

The main peak of Nanjiabawa is 7,782 meters high and famed as ‘the father of icebergs’. The foot of the peak abounds with a host of hot springs and exuberant vegetation, which is an ideal resort for both leisure and exploration. It is the highest in the Prefecture of Nyingchi and the 15th highest in the globe. The 14 higher peaks are all above 8,000 meters; therefore Najiabawa is the No. 1 in all the peaks below the altitude of 8,000 meters. Its colossal triangle body is covered with deep snow and mists all year around which makes people hard to see its real face. It was not until 1992 that the Sino-Japan Mountain Climbing Team conquered Nanjiabawa. Today it has become a very hot and challenging destination for professional mountain climbers from both home and abroad. 

Three Parallel Rivers:

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province. It lies within the watershed areas of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Lancang (Mekong) and Nujiang (Salween) rivers, in the Yunnan section of the Hengduan Mountains. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia's great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. In the area there live multiple minorities who co-exist in harmony for long. In the heartland of the area there sits a county of special minority of Lisu - Weixi Lisu Nationality Autonomous County, reputes as the ‘Maid (In-door Girl) of the Three Parallel Rivers’ because it is rarely known by the outside world from the hidden land.

Lulang Forest Sea:

LuLang means Dragon King Valley in Tibetan, also known a place of Forget Home. With a high of 3700m, it is located by the Sichuan-Tibet Highway about 80km from Linzhi Town, and is a typical plateau mountain meadow in panhandle about 15km long with an average width of 1km. In summer, the whole area will be covered by flowers.  It is also one of the best spot to watch the Namjagbarwa (Nanmche Barwa).  

Old Town of Lijiang:

The Lijiang Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Lijiang City, Yunnan. The town has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Nakhi people. The Nakhi people perform Dongjing Music, an ancient form of Taoist ritual music. Lijiang old town (including Dayan, Baisha and Shuhe) was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. 

Day-by-day itinerary: 

Day1: Arrive Lijiang

Arrive at Lijiang and transfer to hotel. Visit Lijiang Old Town. Prepare for the adventure…  

Day2: Lijiang- Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hu Tiao Xiao)-Shangri-La (B)

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition.

Highlights of today: view Jinsha River; hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge and sightsee at Zhonghutiao (middle section of the Gorge, the best part of scene) to see ‘A line of view of sky’, 'Giant gorge’ and ‘Sky Ladder’; view from far the Haba and Jade-dragon Snow Mountains; make stops to see natural villages; visit a Tibetan family in Shangri-La.

(You can choose to stay at a hotel/hostel near Tiger Leaping Gorge if you want to explore deeper the place) 

Day3: Shangri-La-Deqin (185km) [altitude 3450m]

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition, with curves in some sections.

Highlights of today: visit Moonlight Old Town, a key town on the Tea-Horse Road 1300 years ago, where majorly lives Tibetan nationality; climb up to the Guishan Park to visit Chaoyanglou and turn round the biggest Buddhist Script Bucket in the world by Guinness World Records; view from far Songzanlin Temple and Napa Sea (Yila Grassland); cross Jinsha River and watch Moon Bay – one of the four natural views in China; drive over Baimang Snow Mountain [4292M] where gathers the rare animal Yunan Snub-nosed Monkey; arrive at Deqin to visit the Yingbintai (welcoming platform) with 13 arrayed pagodas; overlook the majestic posture of the Meili Snow Mountain; visit Deqin Feilai Temple where is the best place praying to Kawagebo Peak and make your most beautiful wishes; view Sunset Glow over the Meili Mountain. 

Day4: Deqin-Zuogong (350km) [3780m]

Road Condition: about 230km are blacktop road in good condition, about 120km are mud road; some are under construction.

Highlights of today: view from Feilai Temple the Meili Mountain’s verve in early morning, take picture of sunrise over Meili and Weisang (burning plants) Sacrifice; drive over the Hongla Snow Mountain (Hongla Natural Reserve); drive through, the first county we enter Tibet, Mangkang County [3780m] where live multiple nationalities; view from far the exclusive old saline; watch the unique scene of ‘Sanjiangbingliu’- the 3 rivers, Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River, meet here and run together in parallel for hundreds km; drive over the highest mountain pass on the Yuanan-Tibet tour route – Dongda Mountain (5008m).    

Special reminder: today’s itinerary is a test for each. On Dongda Mountain, the temperature of Bangda Grassland could be as low as 0 Celsius, but on the riverside of Lancang River and Nu River it could reach 20 Celsius; the altitude within the day is about 2500m.

Day5: Zuogong-Ranwu (270km) [3850m]

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition, except about 40km of mud road in the section of ‘99 Turns’.

Highlights of today: visit Bangda Grassland; drive over the biggest natural barrier on the Hengduan Mountains – Yela Mountain Pass (4658m); drive through the ‘99 Turns’; stride over the Nujiang natural defense; pass Basu village (3850m) at the foot of Duola Divine Mountain; drive over Anjiula (4475m) and view the mountain meadows; enter Ranwugou with a far view of snow mountains and glaciers; visit the Ranwu Lake, a famous dammed lake on the plateau glacier, with an area of 22 square km at 3850m high; enjoy the view of snow mountains, virgin forests, pastures, crystal-clear waters, birds flying and rural sceneries all over the way. 

Day6: Ranwu-Bomi (216km)

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition, except the section around Midui.

Highlights of today: drive long the most beautiful section of the Yunan-Tibet Route and enjoy the scenery of woods, streamlets, eagles hovering in the sky, snow mountains, lakes and waters, farmlands and villages; visit the Midui Glacier (formed by 2 world-level ice falls which of them is over 800m high and 1000m wide; visit Zhamu Town of Bomi, surrounded by snow mountains and forests, called as tiny ‘Switzerland in Tibet’. 

Day7: Bomi-Tongmai (140km)

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition, except the section of 16km between Tongmai and Pailong is sand & stone road.

Highlights of today: enjoy the natural oxygen bar when drive through the virgin forest; visit the Yigong National Park Exhibition Hall to learn some local geologic and topographic features; drive through last natural barrier on the Yunan-Tibet Route – Tongmai, where the mountain bodies are loose and fragile (landslides and mud-rock flow are easily seen when storm comes or snow and ice melts. The famous 102 Landslide section is in here and called as ‘Death Road’).  

Day8: Tongmai-Yarlung Zangbo River/ Canyon (105km) -Bayi (80km) [3000m]

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition, except the section of 16km between Tongmai and Pailong is sand & stone road.

Highlights of today: pass through the sea of forestry in Lulang; drive over the Sejila Mountain (4702m) wreathed with cloud and mist; watch the Namjagbarwa Peak (7787m, the 15^th of the highest peaks in the world); drive through Linzhi (Nyingchi) Town at the lower reach valley of Niyang River; enjoy the scenery of the Yarlung Zangbo River and Canyon (Yarlung Zangbo Daxiagu) joining with Niyang River; visit the peach tree forest at the joint area; arrive at Bayi Town (2980m), the capital of Linzhi.

Day9: Bayi-Lhasa (410km) [3650m]

Road Condition: blacktop road in good condition.

Highlights of today: enjoy the scenery along the Niyang River: grass fields, woods, farmlands, yaks eating grass, water-birds swimming; visit the ‘Zhongliudizhu’ (Firm Rock in Midstream) at Gongbujiangda; drive over the Mila Mountain (5013m); visit Muozhugongka - the hometown of the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gampo (617-650 A.D.); Drive along the Lhasa River and enter Lhasa at evening time. Bid farewell to vehicle, check in hotel; relax, walk around or just sit in the bar to aftertaste dribs and drabs of what you just experienced from the Yunan-Tibet Adventures.

Day10: Lhasa (B)

Highlights of today: Potala Palace and Square; Jokhang Monastery; Bakkur Street. 

Day11: Depart Lhasa (B)

Bid farewell to the Yunnan-Tibet adventure when we transfer to airport. 

Notes:
- Land transport: SUV, Jeep;
- Meals on your own except marked as per itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, SD=Special Dinner;
- Accommodation: 2-3 star hotels, hostels or best available. 

Tour rate:

Please contact us for quote: 416-640-0235 or info@chinavisittour.com 

Price includes:

1.         Accommodation: standards room, star-rating hotel in Lhasa;

2.         Meals: as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner);

3.         Sightseeing admission fee: main entrance fee only, as per itinerary;

4.         Land transport: all-inclusive;

5.         Free airport/hotel/airport transfers upon arrival and departure;

Price excludes:

1.         Optional items as specified;

2.         Airfares of arrival and departure;

3.         Tips and gratuities for driver(s) and guide(s);

4.         Small entrance fee or items not included in the main sightseeing admissions;

5.         Regular or special medications;

6.         Personal nature consumption or expenses. 

Special declarations:

1.         This itinerary is a special adventure route. The places we are traveling may scatter in some remote areas, and the condition of accommodation and road could be poor. The trip could be tough, even risky, which may differ far from regular city tours. Participants should consult with your doctor first, and prepare well both in body and mind before sign up the tour;

2.         The altitude along the tour is over 3000m with a high of about 5000m, which could cause mountain sickness. People who suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, respiratory disease or a bad cold, and those your doctor think inadvisable to enter the plateau are not allowed participating in such a tour. 

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