Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour

Welcome to China! Meet your guide and group to take a walking tour of the old town. Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its remarkable wooden houses, canals, bridges, with huge snow-capped mountains as the backdrop. After strolling Lijiang’s narrow streets, you will take a short drive to Baisha Village, home to historical murals painted during the Ming Dynasty. The artwork comprises a mix of styles from Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism. Spend the night in the charming Lijiang.

Today you will begin to explore the stunning nature in Yunnan Province. After breakfast, you will take a short hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, an impressive site with 4000-metre peaks enveloping the vivid blue Yangtze River. From the gorge, you drive to Shangri-La, the southern gateway to Tibet. This paradise-like town is a sight to behold with its traditional architecture, native vegetation, and snowy peaks in the distance. Visit the Sumzanlin Monastery here, created by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1679, where about 800 monks currently live. If you have free time in the evening, take a stroll through the ancient Dukezong neighbourhood before settling into the hotel to rest.

After breakfast, you’ll be driven towards the starting point of the trek tomorrow. On the way, admire the scenes out your window of vivid jungle-covered hills and snow-capped mountains drawing nearer. Yunnan Province has dramatic and idyllic views at every turn. Pause in the charming Benzilan village for a panoramic view of the Golden Sand River below. Get another fill of spirituality with a visit to the Dong Trubling Monastery before stopping in Dechen for the night.

Rise bright and early to catch a fantastic sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountains. Then follows one hour drive to Yubeng Upper Village (3100 m) where you start your trekking tour, and go to Yubeng Shenpu (Holy Waterfall, 3800 m) Tibetans consider bathed under the waterfall as a purification of their hearts. "Yubeng" means the scriptures, and its name is related to the "Shijietianshu" that is not far from the village. Late in the afternoon go back to Yubeng Upper Village .

Fuel up on breakfast because you have a challenging hike today. Begin the journey with an ascent to the high-altitude pristine forest and azalea jungle. The fragrant nature and spectacular views may be enough to distract you from the severe elevation. Around lunchtime, you will reach Xiaonong Base Camp at 3,650 m / 11,975 ft, an stellar location to admire the wilderness and catch your breath before heading further into the mountains. The highlight of today’s route is Ice Lake, a vibrant turquoise alpine lake with several waterfalls flowing into it from the peaks above. It sits at 3,900 m / 12,795 ft and is truly breathtaking. After the lake visit, return to Yubeng Village.

Depart at 08:00 in the morning, in one hour drive on a narrow country road you’ll reach the checkpoint of the forestry station (2900 m), then drive for about 50 minutes to enter the mountain, pass Camp No. 1 and 47-turn to reach the pass (3800 m), then start hiking, enter the core scenic area of Nanjieluo here, and visit the extremely beautiful mountain lakes, from Lake No. 1 to Lake No. 5, every step is a scenery. The hiking tour takes about 4-5 hours. Then drive back to Cizhong Village.

Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Cizhong Village (3,000m / 9,840’)

Wake up early and check the weather—if it looks nice, go check out the sunrise coming over the mountains. What’s better than the alpine glow of sunrise? Depart Yubeng Village and follow alongside the Yubeng River through Ninong Canyon made up of immense cliffs and shrubbery as far as you can see. Once you reach the parking lot, a driver will take you to Cizhong Village to visit the century-old Catholic Church built by French missionaries. Stay in Cizhong village for the night.

You will visit some cultural spots on your last full day while giving your legs a rest from hiking. This area comprises many different ethnicities who practice distinct sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Stop in Tongle Village of Lisu minority and witness their traditions. Continue to the Kangpu Monastery in the Mekong River Valley. Each stop is stunning and an insightful glimpse into the local blend of cultures. Stay in Tacheng Village, a remote place perched in the jungle.

After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the Xianggujing Nature Reserve, where you’re likely to spot a few monkeys roaming around. Take full advantage of the scenery as this is one of the most stunning areas in Yunnan, full of wildflowers, colourful vegetation, and wildlife habitats. In the afternoon, you’ll get a ride back to Lijiang to the airport or train station in time for the next leg of your journey.