The real Guide to the Tibetan World !
•All the accommodations and meals during the tour
•English speaking Tibetan guide
•Deluxe transport
Day 1 Kunming
After you arrive in the Yunnan provincial capital of Kunming, you'll be met by a representative who will escort you to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax or explore the city on your own. You can explore the bird and flower market in the old part of the city, then visit the charming Green Lake Park that hums from dawn to dusk with street theater, young families at play, and tai chi practitioners doing their exercises.
Day 2 Lijiang
We'll transfer you to the airport for an early morning flight to Lijiang . You will be received by khampa Caravan guide in Lijiang drive to the Hotel. Later we will visit Lijiang old town and the Joseph rock Residence with his definitive works. Afternoon, we will drive to Baisha Buddhist mural paintings and as well as visiting the Shuhe oldtown. Evening enjoying with Naxi orchestra and walk around the old town.
Day 3 Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek
After breakfast, drive 2 hours--mostly descending--to Shigu at the First Bend of the Yangtze river. After visiting the village, we drive to Samkha (Chin-Qiaotou ) which is the Tiger Leaping Gorge area. It is one of the world's deepeast gorges tucked between Yulong snow mountain and the Haba mountains. After lunch trek to Naxi Family Guesthouse with 2 hours. Overnight in Naxi Family Guesthouse.
Day 4 Chateau De Woody Guesthouse
We will head our way to Half Way guesthouse by 4 hours and eat lunch there, then continue trekking with to Chateau De Woody for 3 hours and Overnight there.
Day 5 Shangrila
Today we will drive to Shangrila from the middle gorge . On the way, we will pass lots of villages for Yi, Naxi and Tibetan people. Transfer to the hotel
Day 6 Shangrila
After breakfast we will visit Sumtsamling Monastery, which is one of the 13 largest Gelukpa monasteries in Kham; built by the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The monastery currently has about 500 monks who follow the predominant Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. We visit the Grand Assembly Hall (Dratsang), one of the colleges (Khamtsen) where we will meet monks from all over Shangrila County. We will specially meet a high Lama in his residence to talk about the monastic life.
Later we will drive back to the old town to visit the Shangrila Association of Cultural Preservation. Our clients can specially meet the Founder, Mr. Dakpa and the Thangka Master to learn about Thangka history. Then we will drive down to Trinyi village where people still lead their traditional lives based on agriculture and pastoralism. In the evening you'll enjoy a traditional hotpot dinner, made from delicious local ingredients, followed by traditional dancing and singings by the villagers. www.thangkacenter.org
Day 7 Ringa Trek
A 5 -6 hour trek that begins near Shangrila's Shidag mountains in an easterly direction. We first ascend and cross over the first pass and enter Tsalang village with its rolling fertile valleys and a charming community of around 8 families. After another higher pass, we gradually descend into the sacred Ringa valley with beautiful views of the Gangdreng Mountains across. After walking through the Kochi villages and a visit to a family, we continue up the holy hill strewn with colorful prayer flags and the scent of incense and juniper.
Ringa is one of the oldest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Eastern Tibet, and is believed to hold the sacred key to the famous Buddhist pilgrimage around Mount Chicken Foot and Erhai Lake near Dali (Yunnan). The secluded valley is comprised of six hamlets with a very close knit community who lead a life of highland farming combined with yak herding. Since the road to the valley is barefly 6 years old, the community are very attached to their heritage, environment and ecosystem. After visiting the temple, you'll visit the Ringa Community Nursery where Khampa Caravan's Yeshi and his monk brother have created a center for early child education and sustainable community development in their home village in the valley. Drive back to the town in the afternoon. It will be picnic lunch today.
Day 8 Pudatso National Park
Today we will drive to the Pudacuo National Park.The name "Pudacuo" comes from the local Tibetan word for the divine assistance that ensures boat passengers a safe journey across the many lakes dotting the area. Foremost among the lakes in the park are the Bita and Shudu lakes, though the extended wetlands area extends far beyond to encompass forested mountains, grasslands in river valleys and a great abundance of rare plants and animals. Although the Pudacuo region comprises only 0.7 percent of China's land mass, it contains more than 20 percent of the country's plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species, and almost 100 endangered species.
Day 9 Dechen/ Namka Tashi( Jol in Tibetan)
After driving out of town, we walk around in the Napha marshlands (The wintering grounds of the black neck crane) and then cross over the Tsebula pass before we get to the district of Nishar whose villages are rich in folklore and arts. And then we descend through some wild landscapes and before we come hit the upper Yangtze gorges. After lunch at Kungzera, we drive up along the Yangtze and then gradually ascend to the Dhondupling Monastery. We will continue our driving to Baima Snow Mountain and gradually to Dechen. We can have a very good view of Khawa Karpo from your hotel weathe permiting.
Day 10 Namka Tashi to Mingyong
Weather permiting, we can view the beautiful sunrise over the Snow Mountains. After that we will take a one and half-hour driving to Mingyong village.Then another 2 hours trekking up to the glacier. Mingyong glacier is sacred to the local people. The glacier is fed by snows which fall on 6,740 m (22,107 ft) Mount Meili , also known as the Meili Snow Mountain . The glacier is located at the lowest latitude and elevation of any glacier in China. In the afternoon drive from Mingyong to Namka Tashi.
Day 11 Shangrila
Today we will drive back from Namka Tashi to Shangrila. On the way , we will pay our first visit to the Dundrupling Nunnery at Shusong village. This nunnery is located in a peaceful land surrounded by the corn fields. We will meet one of the Nun leaders to talk about their lives and one's own story about becoming a nun. Later we will drive
Day 12 Fly out of Shangrila to Kunming and connect the home bound flight B