13 Days Trekking from Daocheng to Lugu Lake to Lijiang with Mysterious Ethnic Flavor
Destination:Diqing(Shangri-La), Kunming, Lijiang
Tour Code: CHTT09
Tour Duration: 13 Days
- Tour overview:
- With 25 of 56 Chinese ethnic groups living there, Yunnan Province is well known for its thick and multiple ethnic custom and culture. During this tour, you will explore some villages of some local ethnic minority groups and observe their daily life there, and of course, the surprising natural sceneries en route will not disappoint you!
Day by Day Itinerary
Tour Summary
Reviews
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Day 1
Kunming Arrival
Transfer via: Internal Flight on our arrangement / International flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival in Kunming, you will be met by your local guide and then be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy some leisure time for the rest of the day.
Day 2
Kunming to Zhongdian to Xiangcheng (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Flight / Private Vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Songzanling Monastery
Take morning flight to Zhongdian (Shangri-la, 3200m); meet at Zhongdian airport, and transfer to visit the Songzanlin Monastery which was built 300 years ago under the instruction of the 5th Dalai Lama. After lunch, drive 220 km from Zhongdian to Xiangcheng.
Stay in a local hotel.
Day 3
Xiangcheng to Daocheng to Riwa to Yading (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Private vehicle on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Daocheng
Drive 112 km from Xiangcheng to Daocheng(3750m), after lunch, drive another 77 km from Daocheng to Riwa, then take a local bus drive for another 20 km to Yading(the Rilongba).
Stay in a local guesthouse or camping.
Day 4
Yading to Kars Yak Ranch (B, L, D)
Trekking route: Chonggu Monastery, Peal Lake, Luorong Yak Ranch, Milk Lake, Kars Yak Ranch
Start your trekking tour with horses, first, trek 1 hour to Chonggu Monastery(3800m) which is in fact a ruin, then trek up to visit the Pearl Lake, then continue trek to the Luorong Yak Ranch(4200m), then trek along the Milk Lake shore up to a mountain pass(4681m), then trek down to the Kars Yak Ranch. Camping at the night.
Day 5
Kars Yak Ranch to Kars Village (B, L, D)
Trekking route: Kars Yak Ranch to Kars Hell Valley to Kars Village
Trek from Kars Yak Ranch down to the Kars Hell Valley, then trek through the valley, on the way, you will see several waterfalls (the valley is named Hell, but in fact it is as beautiful as Paradise), at the end of the valley, you will cross a narrow wood bridge, walk in the Kars Village.
Stay in a local villager's house or camping.
Day 6
Kars Village to Seku Village (B, L, D)
Trekking Route: Kars Village to Dongyi Village to Eryatong Village to Emei Village to Seku Village
Take a tractor for 39 km from Kars Village to Dongyi Village via Geka Village, then change to a minibus, drive another 18 km from Dongyi Village to Eryatong Village via Wangzi Village. Here is the end of the dust road; you have to start your trekking tour again. You will trek 6 km from Eryatong Village to Emei Village, on the way, you will see the U-shape Bend of the Dongyi River, and you will also see some ruined castles on the way(These castles are related with the war between the Naxi people in Lijiang and the Tibetan people living in this area in Ming Dynasty). Then continue trek from Emei Village to Seku Village (3500m, most villagers are Mongolian people).
Stay in a local villager's house or camping.
Day 7
Seku Village to Kawa Village (B, L, D)
Trekking Route: Seku Village to Eryada Village to Keku Village to Kawa Village
Trek from Seku Village to Eryada Village, then continue trek to Keku Village (most villagers are Pumi people), then continue trek to Kawa Village(3500m, most villagers are Naxi people and Mongolian people), on the way, you will see many cactus as big as trees, you will also see a 100-meter-high waterfall. Stay in a local villager's house or camping.
Day 8
Kawa Village to Yiji Village (B, L, D)
Trekking Route: Kawa Village to Hadi Village to Yiji Village
Trek along the Dongyi River and the Tongtian River from Kawa Village to Yiji Village, on the way, you will pass the Hadi Village (most villagers are Naxi people). Stay in a local villager's house or camping.
Day 9
Yiji Village to Yongning Hot Spring Village (B, L, D)
Trekking Route: Yiji Village to Yongning Hot Spring Village
Trek up a mountain pass (the Yiejiliangzi, about 4000m). The colorful prayer cloth on the trees reminds us of arriving at the mountain pass, from where we may have a nice view of the Lion Mountain near Lugu Lake. Then trek down to Yongning Hot Spring Village. Enjoy a hot spring bath.
Stay in a local guesthouse.
Day 10
Yongning to Lugu Lake (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Private Vehicle on our arrangement
Trek to Yongning town, here is the end of your trekking tour. Then drive 1 hour to Lugu Lake, take a small wood boat cruise on the lake, visit the Mosuo villages.
Stay in the 2-star Daba Hotel by the lake.
Day 11
Lugu Lake to Lijiang (B, L, D)
Transfer via: Private Vehicle on our arrangement
Drive 6 hours from Lugu Lake to Lijiang. On the way, enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains and rivers.
Day 12
Lijiang (B, L)
Sightseeing: Yulong Snow Mountain, Dongba Village
Today we will depart to Yulong Snow Mountain. It is the southernmost marine glacier in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. Altogether there are 13 peaks along the range, stretching for over 35km from south to north. The summit, Shanzidou, is 5596 meters above sea level. Viewed from afar, the snow-capped range resembles a silver dragon with snow curling up its middle. Rich forest, herb and animal resources thrive on the mountain.
On our way we will stop at Dongba Village in Yushui Stockade, which is built completely according to the traditional life style of Naxi Minority. You can feel the traditional atmosphere of national culture from the layout of its yard, building facilities, tools and details of life.
B=Breakfast,L=Lunch,D=Dinner
Tour Dates | Destinations | Services Provided | Meals Included | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 |
Kunming
|
Arrive in Kunming, be met and transferred to hotel.
|
|
||||||||||||||
Day 2 |
Kunming/ Diqing(Shangri-La)/ Xiangcheng
|
Take morning flight to Zhongdian (the Shangri-la, 3200m); meet at Zhongdian airport, and transfer to visit the Songzanlin Monastery . After lunch, drive 220 km from Zhongdian to Xiangcheng. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 3 |
Xiangcheng/ Daocheng/ Riwa/ Yading
|
Drive 112 km from Xiangcheng to Daocheng(3750m), after lunch, drive another 77 km from Daocheng to Riwa, then take a local bus for another 20 km to Yading (the Rilongba). |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 4 |
Yading/Kars Yak Ranch
|
Start your trekking tour with horses, first, trek 1 hour to Chonggu Monastery (3800m) which is in fact a ruin, then trek up to visit the Pearl Lake, then continue trek to the Luorong Yak Ranch(4200m), then trek along the Milk Lake shore up to a mountain pass(4681m), then trek down to the Kars Yak Ranch. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 5 |
Kars Yak Ranch/Kars Village
|
Trek from Kars Yak Ranch down to the Kars Hell Valley, then trek through the valley, on the way, you will see several waterfalls, at the end of the valley, you will cross a narrow wood bridge, walk in the Kars Village. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 6 |
Dongyi Village/Eryatong Village/ Emei Village
|
Take a tractor for 39 km from Kars Village to Dongyi Village via Geka Village, then change to a minibus, drive another 18 km from Dongyi Village to Eryatong Village via Wangzi Village. Then you will trek 6 km from Eryatong Village to Emei Village, on the way, you will see the U-shape Bend of the Dongyi River, you will also see some ruined castles on the way. Then continue trek from Emei Village to Seku Village. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 7 |
Eryada Village/Keku Village/ Kawa Village
|
Trek from Seku Village to Eryada Village, then continue trek to Keku Village , then continue trek to Kawa Village, on the way, you will see many cactus as big as trees, you will also see a 100m-high waterfall. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 8 |
Kawa Village/Yiji Village
|
Trek along the Dongyi River and the Tongtian River from Kawa Village to Yiji Village, on the way, you will pass the Hadi Village. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 9 |
Yiji Village/Yongning Hot Spring Village
|
Trek up a mountain pass, then trek down to Yongning Hot Spring Village. Enjoy a hot spring bath. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 10 |
Yongning/Lugu Lake
|
Trek to Yongning town. Then drive 1 hour to Lugu Lake , take a small wood boat cruise on the lake, visit the Mosuo Villages. |
|
||||||||||||||
Day 11 |
Lugu Lake/Lijiang
|
Drive 6 hours from Lugu Lake to Lijiang, check in a 4 star hotel and rest.
|
|
||||||||||||||
Day 12 |
Lijiang
|
Full day visit Yulong Snow Mountain (take the cable car to Spruce Plateau and overlook the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain), Dongba Village. Dongba Culture Museum .
|
|
||||||||||||||
Day 13 |
Lijiang
|
Be met & transferred to Lijiang airport for your flight to Kunming/Beijing/Shanghai. . |
|
-NOTE:
1. Normally hotels allow a maximum of 3 adults per room with an extra bed, at extra charge. Some hotels will allow three adults and a small child.
2. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
3. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.
Price Includes
A. Entrance fees:To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
B. Meals: All meals as specified in the itinerary.
C. Private Transfers: Among airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the above cities by the private air conditioned vehicle.
D. Guide and Driver: As outlined in the itinerary, a well selected English-speaking guide and driver will accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
E. Hotels: Hotel Based on two persons sharing one room with twin beds. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
F. Luggage Transfers: Between airports and hotels.
G. Service Charge & Government Taxes.
H. Travel insurance in mainland China during the above travel period.
I. Arrangements: The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.
Had an amazing experience with visitourchina during my recent tour to Zhangjiajie. Lisa was very helpful and catered to all my requests for the tour. We wished we had more days to see more of Zhangjiajie. As we are travelling with my elderly parents, we requested for more elderly-friendly itinerary in Zhangjiajie. Even though the trip is still a bit tough for my mum as she has knee problems, my family still enjoyed the tour. Special thank you to Lisa and Max, our guide.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241116
- Tour Starting Date:Saturday, 16 November 2024
- Client's information:Vanessa,Singapore

The services rendered from the travel agency is prompt. Very responsive and cater my tour according to my requests. The tour guides assigned to us were also caring and helpful. I continue to seek inquiries after our tour ended and they continued to response promptly. This is my second trip with this company and will continue to engage them when I next return to China.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241103
- Tour Starting Date:Sunday, 3 November 2024
- Client's information:Wendy, Singapore

How to navigate China for the second time after 45 years for a couple over 70 years old? We spent part of our honeymoon in China in 1978 together with a Spanish speaking tour group when China just opened its door to the outside world. It was the era of "Friendship stores" and "food ration coupons". Tourists could only shop at government designated stores and the ordinary local people lived on rationed food, notwithstanding, tourists were treated with the highest honor and the best of everything including food. By then, the main transportation tool in cities were bicycles. From balconies of hotels, we saw never ending long queue of people on bicycles heading to work every morning. Since then, China has developed into a super modern and industrialized country. Shopping is a bliss nowadays. Motorized vehicles and lots of EV has replaced a huge part of the fleet of human-driven bicycles since. Infrastructure-wise China is the pioneer nowadays. Over the years, the only retained memories are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Pandas. There was an incident which I could not forget either. We went to a theater at night for an opera and I lost my wallet with all my documents and some money ( a small fortune for the Chinese people by then). I was very nervous and didn't know what to do. When we got back to the hotel, my wallet was waiting for me at the reception. Somebody found it at the theatre and sent it to the hotel where we were lodged. Everything was back, nothing missing. Again, it was 1978! Impressed! So, we wanted to visit China again to revive the lost sweet memories and hoping to gain more of them. Being seniors, we don't have the energy to follow a vigorous group tour anymore. Could we plan and schedule our own tour in this wonderland like the modern China? The answer is simple, No! I don't know the language well enough and have no knowledge of the city areas for choices like accommodations and transportations. In order to travel safely, efficient...
- Booking Code:VOC-20241016B
- Tour Starting Date:Wednesday, 16 October 2024
- Client's information:Cheng, Canada

I found Lisa from Trip Advisor and started chatting with her and send my requirements for which she planned excellent tours for me in between my spare time during Canton Fair. She planned and managed the trip so well and professionally and provided me with such an excellent follow up services that we ended up becoming very good friends. A wonderful person to look into for all your China Travel needs. Highly recommended for good planning, timing, and organization of your vacation.
- Booking Code:VOC-20241009
- Tour Starting Date:Wednesday, 9 October 2024
- Client's information:Ismail Soni,Canada

Booked a 2 day private tour of Xi’an with Grace as our local tour guide. Really good service from both the booking agent Lisa as well as Grace and the driver Mr Wang. Managed to see all the big sights including Terracotta Warriors, City Wall, Bell Tower and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. They took care of everything and gave good local food recommendations. Travelled with my father who walks quite slow, but they managed to accomodate him no problem. 10/10 would recommend.
- Booking Code:VOC-20240723
- Tour Starting Date:Tuesday, 23 July 2024
- Client's information:Julian,Singapore
Hello, dear Lisa! Happy to be in Guilin and very pleased to meet you! Thank you for a wonderful tours!!! Every day is filled with magnificient views and unforgetable moments! I would like to Thank you for all these events! Special thanks for Beijing tour. Happy to visit so many places in China ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ wonderful country and wonderful people! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Both tours to Guilin and Beijing were amazing! I visited so many wonderful places! The guides were very friendly and hospitable, thanks for everything! Happy to choose this agency because the programme included all interesting places and they did their best to make my Dreams come true!
- Booking Code:VOC-20240713
- Tour Starting Date:Saturday, 13 July 2024
- Client's information:Elena, Russia
Quick Questions
Our team is waiting for your questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions you might have about our China package tours, Chinese culture, or the sites available. We will gladly help you with any special needs you might have and all questions, like our trip designing is completely free of charge.