Name: Dreaming of Shangri-La: Yunnan’s Tibetan Valleys
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1

About this Journey

Along the southeastern tip of the Tibetan Plateau lies a collection of humble villages that blend harmoniously into their surroundings. From mingling with shamans and monks to discovering ancient villages and verdant natural spaces, we’ll enjoy life at a slower pace; letting the trip leisurely unfold so the area’s atmosphere and nuances can truly be appreciated. Although the region’s landscapes consistently leave us slack-jawed, it’s the charm of the people you’ll meet along the way that make this journey unforgettable.

What we love

Kneading fresh tofu and sharing stories with a local family
Sharing views on village life and the modern world with a shaman-cum-chief
Chanting sutras with a Lama in Dongzhulin Monastery

Map

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Lijiang

Arrive in Lijiang and meet your WildChina guide • Transfer to your hotel for check-in • Visit a Pu’er tea workshop to taste and press your own tea cake while learning about its cultural role in Yunnan • If time allows, stroll the quieter lanes of Lijiang Old Town for encounters with Naxi residents and a glimpse into their music, rituals, and Dongba traditions.

Day 2Lijiang

Visit Baisha Village, a quiet Naxi community of stone and wood houses at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain • Stroll through Wenhai Valley, rich in biodiversity and home to yak, miniature horses, and blooming rhododendrons • Meet a Yi village shaman, or Bimo, to learn about his hereditary role, animist faith, and efforts to preserve Yi traditions in the face of modern change • Return to Lijiang for the evening.

Day 3Lijiang to Tacheng

Drive 5–6 hours from Lijiang to Tacheng, stopping in Shigu Old Town to wander its market, browse local specialties such as wild honey and rainbow trout, see the carved stone drum, and view the Yangtze River’s first bend • Enjoy lunch in a village along the route • In Tacheng, visit a local family to talk about their traditions, farming practices, and daily life in this remote valley • Continue on to Benzilan.

Day 4Tacheng

Visit the Tacheng Snub-Nosed Monkey Sanctuary with a local conservationist to see these rare, protected primates in their mountain forest habitat • Stop in Kena Village to share tea with a local family and learn about life in the countryside • In Hada Village, visit a farming family to make soy milk and tofu together • Explore Dharma Cave at Xiangbi Mountain, a pilgrimage site linked to Bodhidharma, with sweeping views over the mountains and the Jinsha River.

Day 5Tacheng to Shangri-La

Drive from Tacheng to Shangri-La, stopping at the Great Bend of the Jinsha River • Visit Dongzhulin Monastery, the second-largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan, to observe monastic life and prayer • Continue to Napahai Lake, a high-altitude wetland where yaks, sheep, and horses graze and seasonal birdlife flourishes • Arrive in Shangri-La and check in to your hotel to rest and acclimate to the altitude.

Day 6Shangri-La

Visit Songzanlin Monastery, known as “Little Potala” for its resemblance to the Dalai Lama’s palace, and home to 700 monks • Wander through incense-filled halls, gilded copper pillars, and scripture rooms while taking in views of snow-capped peaks • Explore Pudacuo National Park, China’s first national park, on a two-hour hike past alpine lakes, grasslands, and forests that shelter over 100 endangered species • Stroll Dukezong Old Town, once a key stop on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, and browse markets, prayer halls, and lanes draped with colorful prayer flags.

Day 7Depart from Shangri-La

Your WildChina guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.

Hotels

The Bivou, Lijiang

Local Boutique

This charming establishment is located at the foot of the Yulong Mountain and everything from the interior bamboo floors to the solar-powered heating system is a testament to the establishment’s sustainability pledge.

Songtsam Shangri-La

Local Boutique

Located right next to the Songzanlin Monastery and housed in a traditional Tibetan dwelling, Songtsam Shangri-La has made world travelers at home for ten years.

Songtsam Linka Retreat Shangri-La

Luxury Boutique

An authentic Tibetan village retreat nestled below Songzanlin Monastery, featuring traditional furnishings, working fireplaces, and views of daily life unfolding among monks, mountains, and village paths.

Photos

Details

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Next Steps

How do I book this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email info@wildchina.com to get started. One of our travel designers will be in touch accordingly to start the process of planning your custom China trip!

What is the payment schedule?

Deposit:

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

Full payment:
Full trip payment will be requested 60 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 60 days of your departure, you may be asked to pay make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

Our team of advisors will design every detail of the trip with you through close consultation, then orchestrate your entire journey while on the ground. We’re in the same time zone as you, so we can fulfill requests and handle issues without a hitch. With over 40 staff in China and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we have the manpower to ensure your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. We pull off journeys for pioneers with a 6-hour layover to Hollywood’s elite, and everywhere in between. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

Supporting inspired local economies allows you to experience the soul of the destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s artisanal culture. From watching artisans creating their handcrafts, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Dreaming of Shangri-La: Yunnan’s Tibetan Valleys

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