Itinerary in detail:

Day 1: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge (L, D) - 2300

Transfer from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Beginning of the hike in the Gorge from the village of Qiaotou. Lunch stop after 2 hours walking to the Naxi Family Guest House, then continue for about 3 hours until the Tea Horse Trade Guest House, situated in a beautiful natural setting.

Day 2: Tiger Leaping Gorge - Daju (B, L, D) - 1750m

The morning and after lunch, then hike on flat down through the village of Bendiwan particular, to reach the road through the Gorge. Lunch and local minibus to reach the start of a hike leading to the ferry across the river gorges and majestic Yangtze. Beautiful setting of high mountains and rice terraces. Then short walk across to the village of Daju. Accommodation Daju Inn (toilets and showers).

Day 3: Daju - Baoshan (B, L, D) - 1700

After breakfast, transfer to a superb through 100km road dominated by the Jade Dragon Mountain to the village of Naxi minority Guolu. Continuation of the road for several miles, then start a march of three hours to the village of Baoshan, built on a great rock of stone, and recalling some of Machu Pichu. Accommodation Guest House Family Mu (toilets and showers).

Day 4: Baoshan - Liouqing (B, L, D) - 2300

2 hours of the morning walking along a road passing through many villages of the Naxi minority, and through tunnels carved into the mountain to the summit of the mountain called "Prince." Picnic lunch on the road. Beautiful mountain views from the road on the valley. Accommodation in a family in the village of Naxi Liouqing (common toilets, no showers).

Day 5: Liouqing - Fenglian (B, L, D) - 2100m

Hiking for 6-7 hours on a flat road, again passing many villages Naxi, located along the Yangtze River. Accommodation Guest House in a small village of Fenglian, equipped with toilets and showers.

Day 6: Fenglian - Gouwao (B, L, D) - 2200m

Hiking in the morning for about 2 hours to reach the ferry across the Yangtze River. Continuation of the hike from the other side for an hour until the minority village Mosuo Lab. Lunch stop, then continue on a path going up for 3 hours to reach the village of Mosuo Gouwao to spend the night. Accommodation in a local family Mosuo (no possibility of showers).

Day 7: Gouwao - Zhuangzi (B, L, D) - 2800m

4-5 hour hike today through several villages Mosuo in a savage campaign to reach the village of Zhuangzi Pumi belonging to the minority. Accommodation in a local family, with shared showers and toilets.

Day 8: Zhuangzi - Yongning - Lugu Lake (B, L, D) - 2760m

Walk after breakfast in a beautiful forest of azaleas and rhododendrons for 3 hours to reach a pass at 3600m altitude. Continue on a path down to through a minority village to the town of Yi Yongning (3 hours hiking). On arrival, local taxi transportation to your comfortable hotel in the Lugu Lake (optional accommodation at the superb Namu Palace).

Day 9: Lugu Lake - Lijiang (B, L) - 2760m

Walk in the morning on Lake Lugu around the lake, then drive back to Lijiang (200km). Lunch at the village of Ninglang of the Yi minority. Free time and dinner in the evening in Lijiang. Accommodation at the hotel charming Zen Garden Hotel in the heart of the old town of Lijiang.

Day 10: Lijiang - Zhongdian (B, L) (3344 m)

We start to Zhongdian. After a short transfer to the village of Ishi, we climb to the alpine plateau (4000 m) at the foot of Mount Qianhu, also called the Thousand Lakes Plateau. On the descent, stop to drink tea in a large house Khamba. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Zhongdian (B, L, D)

Zhongdian leaving on foot, we go into the mountains to join a small monastery very withdrawn. Herds of yaks. Back to Zhongdian in the afternoon to explore this delightful city. Overnight hotel.
4-5 hours of walking.

Day 12: Zhongdian - Tongtöling - Dequen (3480 m) (B, L, D)
We penetrate further into the Tibetan plateau. Our goal: imposing monastic city of Gelukpa Tongtöling (100 km from Zhongdian). The landscape, very mineral, is in complete contrast with that of previous days. After the visit, beautiful to Dequen road (80 km). We cross the Yak La (4230 m) which separates the basins of the Mekong and Yangtze. A few kilometers before Dequen, Mount Kawa Karpo (6740 m), highest point of Yunnan, is revealed in all its glory. Overnight hotel.
5-6 pm bus. 1 hour walk.

Day 13: Dequen - Kawa Karpo (B, L, D)

Day hike in the beautiful region of Dequen populated rongpas peasants who grow barley in the month of June. Beautiful views of the Kawa Karpo. Overnight hotel.
5-6 hours of walking.

Day 14: Dequen - Zhongdian (B, L, D)

Return by bus to Zhongdian. Before arriving, we visit the largest monastery in Yunnan, Sumtseling, which would house eight hundred monks, according to official sources. Its architecture is reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa. Overnight hotel.
2 hours of walking.


Day 15:  Zhongdian -Flight Kunming (B, L)

This is an airplane that we cover the 200 kilometers from Lijiang and the 680 kilometers from Kunming in total. Overnight hotel.

Day 16: Kunming - Departure (B)

Free day. Late afternoon, transfer to airport for flight to France.


Additional Information:

- Possibility of an extra day to Lugu Lake with accommodations at Namu Palace.
- During the six days of minorities villages, the accommodation is in modest condition but the welcome is warm
- Any person in good health and accustomed to walking can make this hike.
- Hikers will need to wear their everyday equipment needed for the day, the rest being provided by portering porters and horses (from Goulu to Yongning). In the Gorge, the transport of luggage is carried by car from Lijiang, and the road Qiaotou in the Gorges before leaving Daju.
- The walking times are calculated on the pace means including breaks, photographs and visits to villages.

Best time to hike: March to May and September to November.


                                                                 End of our services

                                                      Minh Anh  travel wish you a nice journey!

 
The team
- A English speaking Chinese tour guide. There are few tour guides and tourism in China as we see it (alternate site visits and hikes) they are not yet familiar. You will need to be lenient towards them.
- A local guide from the ethnicities: Tibetan, Naxi, depending on location.
- The driver of the bus, mostly Han Chinese.
- A cook for trekking, Tibet.

Travel
- Domestic flights on regular lines of Dragon Air, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, China or South-West Airlines.
- Transfers road with private bus driver.
Note: the network carriage in China is evolving. Many tracks are under construction, making way for more convenient routes. However, it is impossible to predict the state of the roads you will take: the changes are significant from one year to another. Everything is implemented by your guide to best manage this situation.

Accommodation
- In urban centers, comfortable hotels, two and three star local standard, double room.
- In small towns in China, local hotels. The hotel industry has been steadily improving for several years: we select the best hotel where possible.
- Outside of urban centers and villages, accommodation in local hotels or homestay: hot water thermos, showers often nonexistent.
- During the trekking, tents dome arches perfect for the mountain (two persons per tent).

Meals
- In cities, meals at restaurants. Varied cuisine and good quality.
- In villages, meals in popular restaurants or private houses (traditional Chinese cuisine).
- During the trek: Picnic at noon. In the evening, hot meals prepared by the cook, based on local products (pasta, rice, fish, fried vegetables, duck, pork, chicken, beef, etc..). For all trips to China, a complementary food energy is provided during treks. If you wish, you can make some granola complementary to suit your taste.
Drinks: You can buy bottled water or treat water with purifying tablets. Feel free to try the Chinese beer, very refreshing!
Note: Chinese food is generally good and varied. It can be slightly oily but not spicy. Be prepared to discover new tastes. Breakfast, in particular, can be confusing to the stomach French pasta and soups are the everyday Chinese. Your coach will seek to buy biscuits and coffee in various local grocery stores.

Luggage transport
Each participant walk with a small backpack for the day including water bottle, camera, some food of race, etc.. The remaining cases, available in the evening at the hotel or camp, is transported by vehicle or pack animals (yaks, mules).

Tags: