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

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Lijiang
1 stop
1
Lijiang
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."
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Lijiang — Tacheng (Laojun Mountain — Jinsha River Gorge)
2 stops
2
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.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
3
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.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Tacheng — Shangri-La
2 stops
4
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.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
5
Shangri-La County
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.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Shangri-La
4 stops
6
Songzanlin Monastery
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 hours • Admission ticket included
7
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 hours • Admission ticket included
8
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
9
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Deqin — Dulongjiang
2 stops
10
Early morning opportunity to photograph the "Sunlight over Golden Summit" spectacle on Meili Snow Mountain.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
11
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.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Dulongjiang
1 stop
12
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.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Dulongjiang — Gongshan
1 stop
13
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.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Gongshan — Laomudeng — Baihualing
3 stops
14
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 hours • Admission ticket included
15
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.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
16
Travel deep into the Gaoligong Mountains to Baihualing.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Baihualing, Gaoligong Mountains Hike
1 stop
17
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...
7 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 10
Baihualing — Tengchong
1 stop
18
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.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Departure from Tengchong
1 stop
19
Transfer to Tengchong Airport, concluding the Yunnan ecological exploration journey.
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• 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

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