Day 1: All over the country → or → Shangri-La City ★ Gathering day
All day
Today is a full-day assembly day, so team members please go to the hotel on their own.
After checking in, you'll have free time at Dukezong Ancient Town and dinner. You'll be free to stroll through the ancient city of Dukezong, which boasts over 1,300 years of history. At Guishan Park, perched high above Dukezong, you'll find a massive, gilded copper prayer wheel (21 meters tall, weighing 60 tons, and a Guinness World Record entry). Join us in turning the wheel and chanting prayers.
You can also freely go to the Tibetan Buddhist temple [Songzanlin Temple] in Yunnan. Built on the mountain, Songzanlin Temple looks very similar to the Potala Palace. The unique five-story Tibetan carved architecture is a culmination of Tibetan plastic arts. It is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum" and allows you to appreciate the profound Tibetan Buddhist culture.
How to get to Shangri-La
The meeting hotel is located in downtown Shangri-La, approximately 9km away from Shangri-La Airport and Shangri-La Station, a 20-minute drive away.
1. Direct flight to Shangri-La: For tourists with limited time, you can choose direct flight;
2. Transfer in Kunming: You can choose to transfer in Kunming, which saves both time and cost;
3. High-speed train from Kunming/Dali/Lijiang to Shangri-La: High-speed trains have been launched from Kunming/Dali/Lijiang to Shangri-La, with frequent departures daily. Please check the specific fares in real time.
Day 2 Shangri-La City → Bottomless Lake → Yading Village
All day
Hiking Information
Hiking route: about 6 km, 50 meters in elevation (Wudihu Checkpoint 3810m - Yongluoqu 3840m - Wudihu Lake Forest Line 3860m - Wudihu Coffee House 3850m), about 3 hours
Luggage information: Pack your luggage in advance, leave large luggage on the tour bus, and travel light with necessary supplies
Meal information: There will be no supplies along the way, so you need to bring your own lunch
Take a light hike around the bottomless lake and get lost in the beautiful scenery.
After gathering, we'll depart for Daocheng Yading, where we'll reach Bottomless Lake. The lake is graceful and elegant, its waters flowing freely. Surrounded by expansive pastures and forests, horses leisurely graze, occasionally glancing up at passersby – a perfect reflection of the idyllic setting. In May, the pastures begin to turn green, and in June and July, small wildflowers like primroses and goldenrod begin to bloom in the meadows. After arriving at Bottomless Lake, we'll hike along the trail around the lake, weaving through forests and wetlands. Strolling through tall fir trees and soft moss will soothe you. At the end of the hike, we'll return to the starting point, where a delicious afternoon tea awaits. We'll take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, then relax and unwind by the lake, enjoying a few minutes of leisurely play time and a few shouts.
Depart at the right time for Daocheng Yading and stay in Yading Village that night.
Day 3 Yading Village → Zhaguanbeng → Pearl Lake → Xiannairi Ice Lake → Zhaguanbeng → Yading Village
All day
Hiking Information
Hiking route: about 8km round trip, with a total altitude gain of 664m and a descent of 664m (Zhaguanbeng 3900m - Chonggu Temple 3965m - Pearl Sea 4065m - Ice Lake 4466m - Zhaguanbeng 3900m), about 7 hours
Luggage information: Please pack your luggage in advance, carry necessary supplies and travel light, and leave your large luggage at the hotel.
Meal information: There will be no supplies along the way, so you need to bring your own lunch
Hike to Pearl Sea and Ice Lake to see the Sunrise up close
After breakfast, take a scenic shuttle bus to Zhaguanbeng. Passing Chonggu Temple, hike to Pearl Lake. Named Zhuoma Lacuo in Tibetan, Zhuoma means fairy, so it's also known as Fairy Lake. Hidden in the dense forest just below Xiannairi, the lakeside boasts azalea blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and vibrant forests in autumn. The rippling waters of the lake reflect the snow-capped mountains and paddy fields, making it a perfect spot for photographing Xiannairi. After a brief stop at Pearl Lake, continue toward the glacial lake beneath the cliffs of Xiannairi. Meltwater from the snowcapped mountains creates a blue lake beneath the cliffs. With Xiannairi so close at hand, it feels like being transported to another world, breaking the sense of oppression.
After the glacial lake tour, we descended to Zhaguanbeng and took the scenic shuttle bus back to the Yading Village Hotel.
[Special Note] From May to June, the cliffs of Xiannairi Ice Lake are prone to ice avalanches. During this period, we will not visit the ice lake. Instead, we will hike to Pearl Sea and play around Chonggu Meadow. Thank you for your understanding.
Day 4: Yading Village → Big and Small Frog Sea → Upper Frog Sea → Yading Village
All day
Hiking Information
Hiking route: about 12 km round trip, with a total altitude gain of 773 meters and a descent of 773 meters (Yading Village 3959 meters - Small Frog Sea 4358 meters - Big Frog Sea 4400 meters - Upper Frog Sea 4541 meters), about 7 hours
Luggage information: Please pack your luggage in advance, carry necessary supplies and travel light, and leave your large luggage at the hotel.
Meal information: There will be no supplies along the way, so you need to bring your own lunch
Hiking on Frog Sea and meeting another side of Xiannairi
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll begin our hike to the first stop in Yading, Frog Lake. Legend has it that this place got its name from a frog-like stone conjured by a monk to block a flood. From the farmland behind Yading Village, we'll pass through the distant Xianuoduoji and enter the forest, climbing upwards, occasionally encountering alpine plants such as azaleas and gentians. Upon reaching Small Frog Lake, we'll see the peak of Mount Xiannairi. A few hundred meters further, we'll reach Big Frog Lake, where the deep blue waters reflect the majestic form of Mount Xiannairi. In spring and summer, the azaleas bloom along the lake's edge, and in autumn, some plants begin to bloom. If you're lucky, you might even spot alpine scaleless fish swimming freely within. If you have enough energy, climb further up Frog Lake and take a photo overlooking Big Frog Lake and Mount Xiannairi. This is a great spot to capture the lake, snow-capped mountains, and flowers.
Then we descended and returned to the Yading Village Hotel to rest.
Day 5 Yading Village → Zhaguanbeng → Boyongcuo → Zhaguanbeng → Yading Village
All day
Hiking Information
Hiking route: round trip about 13 km, cumulative altitude climb about 922 meters, descent about 922 meters (Zhaguanbeng 3900 meters - Bayu camp 4520 meters - Boyongcuo 4750 - Zhaguanbeng 3900 meters), about 8 hours
Luggage Information: Stay in the same hotel that night. Don't pack any large luggage. Just bring the necessary supplies.
Meal information: There will be no supplies along the way, so you need to bring your own lunch
Boyongcuo went back and forth to witness the three sacred mountains in the same frame
Today's destination is Boyongcuo. Hidden among the snow-capped mountains, Boyongcuo resembles a shimmering pearl, a crystalline fairy tear, fallen to earth. Its colors change slightly with the seasons, and from here you can see the three sacred mountains of Yading all in one frame. Again, take the scenic shuttle bus to Zhaguanbeng and then begin your hike. Once you reach Boyongcuo, you can circle the lake and find your favorite spot to capture the reflection of the sun. On a clear day, you'll be able to see the three sacred mountains in full view, with Boyongcuo shimmering in all its glory.
After staying for a while, return to Yading Village.
Day 6 Yading Village → Luorong Cattle Farm → Gonggacuo → Five Color Lake & Milk Lake → Snake Lake → Luorong Cattle Farm → Yading Village
All day
Hiking Information
Hiking route: round trip about 20km, cumulative altitude climb about 1440m, descent about 1431m (Luolong Cow Farm 4142m - Gonggacuo 4200m - Milk Lake 4480m - Five-Color Lake 4540m - One Mirror and Two Lakes shooting point 4700m - Songduo Pass 4670m - Snake Lake 4474m - Luolong Cow Farm 4142m), about 9 hours
Luggage Information: Stay in the same hotel that night. Don't pack any large luggage. Just bring the necessary supplies.
Meal information: There will be no supplies along the way, so you need to bring your own lunch
Five-Colored Sea, Milk Sea, and Snake Lake: Pearls Among the Snow Mountains
The Five-Colored Lake and the Milk Lake are surrounded by the Xiannairi and Yangmaiyong Mountains. The Milk Lake gets its name from its white outer ring, transitioning from a white outer ring to an emerald green in the center, resembling a piece of jade embedded in the mountains. The Five-Colored Lake is a sacred lake in Tibet, displaying different colors in different weather and light conditions. Today, we'll take a scenic shuttle bus and electric car to Luorong Ranch for the start of our hike. We'll pass the Five-Colored Lake and the Milk Lake and proceed to the 4,670-meter Songduo Pass, admiring the three sacred mountains and the jewel-like Five-Colored Lake and Milk Lake. Not far from Songduo Pass, Snake Lake will be visible. Those with better physical fitness can follow the guide down to Snake Lake to admire the reflection of Yangmaiyong, then circle the lake before returning to Luorong Ranch.
[Special Note] Today's hike is at a high altitude, long distance, and of high intensity. Please consider whether to visit Songduo Pass and Snake Lake based on your physical condition. You can return after visiting the Five-Colored Sea/Milk Lake. Be sure to follow the leader's advice and arrangements.
Day 7 Yading Village → Shangri-La City ★ Disbandment Day
All day
Today is the return day. We will take the scenic shuttle bus from Yading Village to the Daocheng Yading Scenic Area Visitor Center at around 9:00 to transfer to the tour bus. Then we will return to Shangri-La City to disband. There are several special disbanding points:
The tour will arrive at Shangri-La Station at approximately 17:00, Shangri-La Airport at 17:30, and will be dispersed near Dukezong Ancient Town at 18:00. Tourists returning on the same day are advised to book flights after 19:00 or trains after 17:30.
Alternatively, you can leave the group at your Shangri-La Town (Riwa) hotel and make your own way to Daocheng Yading Airport (approximately 160 kilometers, about 3 hours). We can assist in arranging a shared ride to the airport, but you will pay for the return trip yourself.
