Shangri-La 4 Days 3 Nights Travel Guide

1. Preparation Before the Trip: Spend a Little to Avoid Big Trouble

- Transportation: Prioritize taking the bus from Lijiang to Shangri-La (50 RMB/person, 2.5 hours), which is more flexible than the train and cheaper than hiring a private car; if departing from Kunming, you can take the overnight train to Lijiang (hard sleeper 150 RMB/person), then transfer to the bus the next day to save one night's accommodation fee.
- Essentials: Shangri-La’s average altitude is 3300 meters, so a light down jacket + sun hat + sunglasses are standard (it can get cold even in summer); don’t buy expensive oxygen tanks, local pharmacies in the old town sell cans for 20 RMB each, and take Rhodiola (25 RMB/box) one day in advance to prevent altitude sickness.
- Accommodation Money-Saving Tips: Avoid expensive inns in the old town center, choose guesthouses within a 10-minute walk on the outskirts, about 300 RMB per person for 3 nights (cheaper in the off-season, book 2 weeks in advance during peak season), prioritize those with oxygen supply and electric blankets to stay warm at night.

2. Daily Itinerary: No Detours, Fully Explore the Core

Day 1: First Encounter with Tibetan Land — Leisurely Walk in the Old Town, Acclimate to Altitude

- Morning: After arrival, rest at the guesthouse for 1 hour (don’t shower immediately! To prevent altitude sickness), and enjoy a free cup of butter tea at the guesthouse to warm up.
- Afternoon: Explore Dukezong Old Town (free), spin the prayer wheels three times, and overlook the entire city with its red roofs from Guishan Park; visit handmade Tibetan incense shops in the old town, buy a small box for 50 RMB as a souvenir, which is half the price of souvenir shops in scenic spots.
- Evening: Have a simple Tibetan meal on the outskirts of the old town, recommended yak beef rice bowl (35 RMB/serving), avoid expensive “Tibetan set meals,” you can eat well for about 60 RMB per person; after dinner, watch locals dance the Guozhuang dance at the old town square, free and lively.
- Daily Expenses: Food 60 RMB + Souvenir 50 RMB = 110 RMB

Day 2: Journey of Faith — Songzanlin Monastery + Napa Lake, Embrace Tibetan Scenery

- Morning: Visit Songzanlin Monastery (90 RMB/person including shuttle bus), known as the “Little Potala Palace,” listen to Tibetan Buddhist stories with a guide, walk slowly up the steps, and rest to admire the distant snow-capped mountains.
- Afternoon: Carpool to Napa Lake (30 RMB/person, free to walk around the lake), avoid taking the scenic horse carriage (150 RMB/person is too expensive)! Ask the driver to drop you off at “Yila Grassland,” rent a horse (50 RMB/hour) to ride on the meadow, watch cattle and sheep grazing, every photo is wallpaper-worthy.
- Evening: Return to the old town for yak hotpot (80 RMB per person, sharing among 4 is more cost-effective), choose the clear broth to taste the freshness of yak meat, avoid spicy broth (may cause stomach discomfort at high altitude).
- Daily Expenses: Ticket 90 RMB + Carpool 30 RMB + Horse Riding 50 RMB + Food 80 RMB = 250 RMB

Day 3: Secret Trek — Pudacuo National Park Light Hiking, Touch Nature

- All day: Visit Pudacuo National Park (138 RMB/person including shuttle bus), don’t just play at Shudu Lake as some say; it’s recommended to take the light hiking route “Shudu Lake → Militang → Bita Lake” (8 km total, 3 hours), along the way you can see squirrels, prayer flags, and snow mountains reflected in the lake; rest by taking the shuttle bus if tired.
- Food: There is only one restaurant in the park, prices are high (instant noodles 25 RMB/cup), buy bread, beef jerky, and bottled water (15 RMB/person) in advance at the old town supermarket, picnic on the wooden boardwalk at Shudu Lake, the scenery is a hundred times better than the restaurant.
- Daily Expenses: Ticket 138 RMB + Food 15 RMB = 153 RMB

Day 4: Savor the Moment — Zaya Tusi Manor + Return Trip

- Morning: Visit Zaya Tusi Manor (60 RMB/person), experience Tibetan life here: learn to make tsampa (free), wear Tibetan costumes for photos (30 RMB/set, no time limit), the butter tea brewed in the manor is richer than in the old town, remember to drink a few cups to warm up.
- Afternoon: Shop for local specialties in the old town, buy yak jerky (50 RMB/jin, choose vacuum packaging), saffron (20 RMB/small box, avoid expensive loose ones), then take the bus back to Lijiang (50 RMB/person), ending the trip.
- Daily Expenses: Ticket 60 RMB + Tibetan Costume 30 RMB + Specialties 70 RMB + Transportation 50 RMB = 210 RMB

3. Total Expense Breakdown (Per Person)

- Transportation: Round-trip bus Lijiang 100 RMB + local carpool 60 RMB = 160 RMB
- Accommodation: 3 nights guesthouse 300 RMB
- Tickets: Songzanlin Monastery 90 RMB + Pudacuo 138 RMB + Zaya Tusi Manor 60 RMB = 288 RMB
- Food: About 300 RMB for 4 days (including picnic snacks)
- Experiences + Souvenirs: Horse riding 50 RMB + Tibetan costume 30 RMB + specialties 120 RMB = 200 RMB
- Total: 160 + 300 + 288 + 300 + 200 = 1248 RMB (reserve 200 RMB for emergencies, 1500 RMB per person is enough; with a 2500 RMB budget, you can upgrade to a lake-view guesthouse for one night or experience Tibetan costume photoshoot)

The beauty of Shangri-La lies not in how many attractions you check off, but in slowing down — listening to the wind through prayer flags at Songzanlin Monastery, watching the sunset dye the grassland golden at Napa Lake, and stepping on moonlight on the cobblestone streets of the old town. This guide helps you save unnecessary expenses and spend every penny on “feeling,” to meet your own Tibetan romance.