• Tour of Lijiang and the Tiger Leaping Gorge

    ★★★★★

    4.9/5 498 Latest reviews

    Tour Code: ODY-CN-2416

    Destination:Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La

Duration

11 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Enjoy an 11-day journey through Yunnan and indulge in the diverse land brimming with vibrant ethnic cultures. Starting from Dali, try the welcoming Three-Course Tea of the Bai people in Xizhou, explore the millenarian salt history in Nuodeng Village, and visit the Mufu Mansion in Lijiang, known as the Forbidden City of southern China. Additionally, trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge, travel to the sacred land of Shangri-La, engage in deep conversations with monks at Songzanlin Monastery, hike the circular trail of Nampahai Gumbi Village, and experience the unique Tibetan culture firsthand.

Itinerary Summary

DAYPLACEHIGHLIGHTS
1 -3DaliErhai Lake Bike Tour, Xizhou Town, Nuodeng Village
4 – 6LijiangLijiang Old Town, Naxi Family Visit, Shuhe Old Town, Mu Fu Mansion
7 – 8Tiger Leaping GorgeTiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
9 – 11Shangri-LaSongzanlin Monastery, Tibetan Family Visit, Dukezong Old Town, Nampahai Gumbi Village Hiking
Quick Question

Itinerary

Welcome to Dali, a charming and lively city in Yunnan Province! After arriving at the airport or train station, your guide and driver will be there to greet you and accompany you to your hotel.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will ride along the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor for about 1.5 hours, starting from Caicun and stopping at the S-curve next to the lake, covering approximately 12 kilometers.

Your next stop will be Xizhou Town, where many Bai ethnic-style buildings are preserved. Enter the Yan Family Courtyard and taste three types of tea, the highest courtesy of the hospitable Bai people. Further exploration will lead you to the Xi Embroidery Workshop, a nearly century-old establishment known for its exquisite embroidery works and intricate crafts.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

From Dali, a 4-hour drive leads to the living ancient Nuodeng Village, a hidden gem famed for its millennium-old salt well and well-preserved folk dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Explore the village, witnessing residents boil salt, visiting temples, ancestral halls, and buildings with distinctive Bai architectural features, and listening to stories of caravans, salt stoves, cured ham, and more.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will leave Nodeng Village and return to Dali, which is approximately a 4-hour journey. Enjoy some leisure time in the afternoon, you may like to take a stroll in the nearby parks, or perhaps treat yourself to some desserts or coffee at a lakeside café.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

The drive from Dali to Lijiang will take approximately 4 hours. Along the way, detour to Shaxi Old Town, an important market town on the ancient Tea Horse Road in China. Explore the tranquil Nangu Zongxiang Alley, surrounded by traditional Bai ethnic dwellings, and you can encounter residents dressed in traditional Bai attire here.

After a brief rest, continue to the Old Town of Lijiang, where charming streets and local shops showcasing diverse products invite a leisurely stroll. A highlight not to be missed in Lijiang is the majestic Mufu Mansion – the former royal palace of the Naxi government in feudal times.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Start the tour today by strolling Shuhe Town, which offers a contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lijiang Old Town. Then, nestled beneath the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Village rests in quiet serenity. Discover its precious Buddhist murals, whose colors may have faded over time but still exhibit a vibrant palette, precise layout, and meticulous brushwork.

Following that, be welcomed into a local Naxi family’s home in Yuhu Village. The hosts dressed in traditional Naxi attire will greet you, introduce you to Naxi script and culture, display ancient artifacts, engage you in making soy milk and tofu pudding, and treat you with Naxi snacks.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

After a 2-hour drive from Lijiang, you will embark on a trek from Qiaotou to Tea Horse Inn (4.5-5 hours), where you will stay for the night.

During the trek, you will traverse along the profound corridor of the canyon, with majestic cliffs on both sides. In the deep recesses of the gorge, the river rushes vigorously, creating spectacular waterfalls and turbulent rapids, outlining a masterpiece crafted by the extraordinary hand of nature.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will continue your in-depth exploration of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Embark on a 4-hour picturesque hike from the Tea Horse Inn to Tina’s House, where you can enjoy the refreshing air and lush vegetation, all while gazing down at the roaring Jinsha River below.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, explore the magnificent Songzanlin Monastery, where you will engage with the lama, gaining insights into Tibetan Buddhism and its practices. Listen to the lama recite scripture and savor some snacks and butter tea in the temple. Following this enlightening experience, immerse yourself in the ancient charm of Dukezong Old Town, participating in a prayer session to embrace the spiritual ambiance.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Take a car from the hotel and travel 8 kilometers to the village of Nampahai, where today’s hiking starts. The scenic route features streams, seasonal high-altitude flowers, pastures, and oak forests. During the appropriate seasons, you may even pick up wild mushrooms. It takes about 3.5 hours to reach the mouth of Cibulakaya, rewarding with the panoramic view of the Napahai Natural Reserve.

Afterward, continue with a visit to a hospitable Tibetan family, where you can indulge in genuine local snacks. On the return trip to Shangri La County, revel in the stunning vistas of Tibetan villages, verdant pastures, and pristine wilderness.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will enjoy a leisurely morning and then bid farewell to Shangri-La. According to your itinerary, we will transport you to either the train station or the airport.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Why Choose Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd.

12-Year TripAdvisor Award

Travellers’ Choice winner every year since 2013

No Commission Shopping

Zero shopping stops, zero pressure, zero hidden agendas

100% Private

Every tour is exclusively yours — no strangers, no shared buses

Expert Local Guides

Licensed, English-speaking guides with deep local knowledge

Real reviews from real travellers

  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eI highly recommend Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd. The team is very easy to work with, has excellent ideas and the guides are knowledgeable and easy to be with. Very solid itineraries and execution — flexible, high quality, and great value for money.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    James T.
    Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe visited both Xi’an and Shanghai under Jiuhong’s arrangement and received the same first-class service in both cities. The guides were knowledgeable, flexible, and happy to discuss all aspects of modern China — giving insights difficult to obtain elsewhere. Strongly recommended.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Greenfly
    Couples · Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe had a wonderful action-packed day. Fei Fei was amazing — her knowledge was very impressive and she was a real pleasure to be with. This was certainly the highlight of our stay in this beautiful city. Thanks so much.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Ludovic V.
    Couples · London, UK · Verified · TripAdvisor

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