10 Days Looking for Shangri-La, the last piece of pure land on the blue planet

After arrival in Chengdu airport or train station, you will be transferred to your reserved hotel in Chengdu. The rest of the time is free for you to have a good rest. You can enjoy Sichuan opera after dinner.

Stay overnight in Chengdu

Drive from Chengdu to Kangding with a stop at Ya’an for lunch. We'll pass Erlang Mountain - the first pass of the countless high mountains on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. We will arrive in Kangding, the capital city of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Area. You can enjoy the hot spring at Erdaoqiao after dinner.

Stay overnight in Kangding

First visit Kangding Mugecuo Scenic Area, and then drive to Yajiang via Xinduqiao after lunch. We will cross the Mt. Zheduo (4300m), and visit the Xinduqiao known as the paradise for photographers.

Stay overnight in Yajiang

In the morning, drive to Litang, the highest city in the world, for lunch. We will pass two 4,300m high mountains-the Jianziwan & Kazila Mountain. Drive another 146km to Daocheng after the visit to a Tibetan monastery. Daocheng is a place with rich soil & Tibetan culture, and a good place for recharging yourself before Yading.

Stay overnight in Daocheng

Drive around 2 hours to Yading Nature Reserve through Riwa (Shangrila) village after breakfast. We can enjoy charming countryside scenery en route. Then enjoy a horse-riding to Chonggu Temple to see the scenery of Chonggu Temple and holy peak Xiannairi and a short trek from Chonggu Temple to Drolma-la tso (Pearl Lake).

Stay overnight in Yading Village

Get up early to see the beautiful sunrise at Ghonggu Temple if it is a nice day, and then keep riding horse to Luorong Pasture. It is the best location to pilgrim the three saint peaks of Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong and Xialuoduojie.

In the afternoon, ride horse back to Yading village and drive back to Daocheng. At night, you can enjoy a hot spring and a Tibetan performance.

Stay overnight in Daocheng

Get up early and drive to Shangri-La, which by coincidence mirrors the enchanting and peaceful land, i.e. Shangri-La, described in James Hilton's ficton--'Lost Horizon'. You can explore the magnificent Sumtseling Monastery，a well-known Buddhist site of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and stroll in picturesque Potatso National Park, where rarely-seen flora and fauna, gushing valleys and local Tibetan villages, etc. make fictional images come alive before your eyes. 

Stay overnight in Shangri-La

In the morning, enjoy a short walk to see the famous Jinsha River bend, and then drive to Deqin via White Horse Mountains. After arriving in Deqin, drive another 7km to Feilaisi, which is the best place to see holy Mt. Meili, one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. Thousands of devout pilgrims worship together and encircle the holy mountain in winter each day.

Stay overnight in Feilaisi or Deqin

Get up to see the sunrise at Mt. Meili, then drive to Zhongdian by passing White horse mountains and Benzilan again. In the afternoon, visit the Grand Songzhanlin Monastery of Yellow school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is renowned as the little Potala Palace.

Stay overnight in Zhongdian

After breakfast, drive to the ancient town Lijiang, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical remains of building and culture. See the famous Tiger-leeping Gorges en route.

Stay overnight in Lijiang

(Note: The overland tour ends in Lijiang. If you need to extend your tour to Dali, Kunjing or other places of China, just let us know.)