11-Day Shangri-La Wild Journey: Wildlife and Tibetan culture

Day 1: Arrival in Lijiang

1. Lijiang
   2h
   Assemble in Lijiang, the starting point for our adventure into wild Shangri-La—a land with unique flora and fauna discovered over a century ago. Transfer to the Lisu village of Lizhu at the foot of the Laojun Mountain. Search for bird species rare elsewhere, such as the White-speckled Laughingthrush and Mrs. Hume's Pheasant.
   In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner followed by a briefing session about the "Hidden Realm of Shangri-La."

Day 2: Lijiang — Tacheng (Laojun Mountain — Jinsha River Gorge)

1. Laojun Mountain National Geopark
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Focus on observing the mysterious and rare White-speckled Laughingthrush. Also look for other birds including Black-faced Laughingthrush, Spectacled Laughingthrush, Grey-winged Laughingthrush, Brown-headed Parrotbill, Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Spotted Laughingthrush, White-browed Bush Robin, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Gould's Sunbird, Yellow-browed Tit, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Buff-barred Warbler, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Brown Bullfinch, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, and the White-bellied Woodpecker.
2. Jinsha River
   5h · Admission ticket included
   Travel via the spectacular Jinsha River Gorge to the Lisu village of Xiangguqing. Check into our exclusive forest lodge within the habitat of the mysterious Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey. With guides, search for the monkeys and listen to local conservationists' stories about their discovery and protection.

Day 3: Tacheng — Shangri-La

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   Early morning, return to the misty forests for another chance to find the highly endangered and endemic Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey, notable for its black-and-white coat, large round eyes, red lips, and distinctive "punk" hairstyle.
2. Shangri-La County
   4h
   Travel through the Jinsha River Gorge, with views of the Meili Snow Mountain, to reach the sacred land of Shangri-La. Enjoy a characteristic Tibetan dinner featuring Tibetan fragrant pork and butter tea at a restaurant overlooking meadows, villages, and monasteries.

Day 4: Shangri-La

1. Songzanlin Monastery
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the magnificent Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, an important Tibetan Buddhist site. Ascend its long stairs, explore its astounding religious atmosphere and Tibetan artworks, and learn about the local culture and worldview.
2. 3h · Admission ticket included
   Explore this seasonal highland lake and marsh meadow, a crucial stop on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. It's a key site for observing the plateau-endemic Black-necked Crane, along with other birds like Black Stork, Bar-headed Goose, White-tailed Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Common Crane, Ring-necked Pheasant, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Bittern, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Wallcreeper, White-throated Dipper, Alpine Accentor, and Greylag Goose.
3. Nixi Tangdui Black Pottery Village
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit this ancient Tea Horse Road village famous for its black pottery. Learn about the craft's materials, process, and cultural significance, and savor the local specialty, Nixi chicken.
4. Deqin County
   2h
   Continue to Deqin. At dusk, visit the Feilai Temple platform for a Sang ritual facing the snow mountains, hoping for a glimpse of the "Golden Mountain" sunset glow.

Day 5: Deqin — Dulongjiang

1. Deqin County
   1h
   Early morning opportunity to photograph the "Sunlight over Golden Summit" spectacle on Meili Snow Mountain.
2. 5h
   Journey to the remote Dulongjiang Valley, one of China's most pristine ecosystems known as "Yunnan's Last Secret." Immerse in its quiet, mist-shrouded primeval forests, a haven for rare and unique wildlife and plants.

Day 6: Dulongjiang

1. 7h
   Visit villages of the ancient and reclusive Dulong people. Meet elderly women with traditional facial tattoos to learn about this fading custom.
   Led by experts, search for the valley's avian treasure, the rare and range-restricted Sclater's Monal. Also look for other rare endemic species like the endangered Phayre's Langur, Gaoligong Mountains Takin, and the Fire-tailed Myzornis.

Day 7: Dulongjiang — Gongshan

1. 7h
   Continue exploration of the valley's incredibly rich flora (especially from May onwards), including numerous orchid species like various Gastrochilus and Bulbophyllum, Pleione, and Pholidota, as well as rhododendrons.
   Transfer to Gongshan.

Day 8: Gongshan — Laomudeng — Baihualing

1. Nujiang Grand Canyon
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Experience the traditional "Liǔsuǒ" cable crossing over the Nujiang River, an iconic cultural practice. View and learn about the centuries-old Yunnan rice terraces carved into the mountainous landscape.
2. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit a Nu ethnic village beneath Biluo Snow Mountain. Join a local "Dabiya" dance, listen to love ballads, and enjoy a Nu-style hand-eating rice meal.
3. 3h
   Travel deep into the Gaoligong Mountains to Baihualing.

Day 9: Baihualing, Gaoligong Mountains Hike

1. Gaoligongshan National Natural Reserve
   7h · Admission ticket included
   Full-day guided hike in the Gaoligong Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot with a complete vegetation spectrum from tropical to temperate forest. Search for its astounding birdlife (over 430 species recorded), which may include: Scarlet Finch, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-throated Hill Partridge, Streaked Spiderhunter, Pygmy Cupwing, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Whiskered Yuhina, David's Fulvetta, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-headed Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia, Beautiful Sibia, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Chestnut-throated Shrike-babbler, Red-winged Shrike-babbler, White-bellied Redstart, Rufous-capped Babbler, Black-headed Babbler, Golden Babbler, Flavescent Bulbul, Striated Bulbul, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Collared Finchbill, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Greater Yellownape...

Day 10: Baihualing — Tengchong

1. Tengchong County
   7h
   En route to Tengchong, stop at a coffee plantation to learn about and taste the famous Yunnan Arabica coffee.
   Explore this city on a tectonic boundary, known for its dormant volcanoes and hot springs. Walk ancient ginkgo-lined streets, sample local dishes like Steam Pot Chicken, and relax in a hot spring.

Day 11: Departure from Tengchong

1. Pass by
   Transfer to Tengchong Airport, concluding the Yunnan ecological exploration journey.

Pickup details

All of our itineraries include hotel pick-up and drop-off services. Our staff will contact you three days before your trip to confirm the departure time and location, as well as their contact information. On the day of departure, you just need to wait at the hotel at the agreed time, and our staff will arrive on time.

If you choose our full-service package in China, we will also provide airport pick-up and drop-off services. Our staff will contact you three days before your trip. When you arrive at the destination city airport in China, you will see our staff waiting for you. We will arrange a worry-free trip for you.

We offers you more convenient and considerate services.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Costs (accommodation, meals, flight change) from force majeure (extreme weather, landslides, mudslides).