TREK FROM LUGU LAKE TO MOUNT KAWA KARPO
15 days | Lijiang, Lugu Lake, Zhuangzi, Labo, Baoshan, Wumu, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La, Deqin, Kawa Karpo Mountain, Yubeng, Ninong
Tour Highlights:
Information:
It is a high-strength hike to discover the beautiful landscapes of Lijiang and Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. A long walk between amazing lake, beautiful alpine landscapes, the roaring of the Yangtze River, forests of rhododendrons, azaleas, snow-capped mountains, remote villages, etc. To penetrate deeply into the Yunnan region will give you an overview of the colorful cultures of minority ethnic groups: Naxi, Yi, Bai, Tibetan, etc.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIJIANG 2400 m alt.
- Arrive in Lijiang, welcome by your English-speaking guide, and drive to Lijiang (1hr).
- Stroll in the old town of Lijiang.
- Discover the Residence of the Mu family.
- Visit the Black Dragon Pool Park. It is a model of Chinese gardens and gives you a superb view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
DAY 2: LIJIANG – LUGU LAKE 2700 m alt.
- Drive to Lugu Lake (4h30/5hrs).
- Arrive, check-in at your hotel near Lugu Lake.
- Boat trip to Lugu Lake.
DAY 3: LUGU LAKE – YONGNING – ZHUANGZI (6/7hrs trekking time)
- After breakfast, depart by mountainous road to Yongning and visit the local small market (40 minutes).
- Arrive at Yangping Yi Village and start your hike tour from there to Zhuangzi Village of the Pumi.
DAY 4: ZHUANGZI – BAJIAHE – DILUO – LABO (4h30/5hrs trekking time)
- Short driving to Diluo Village (30 minutes).
- Hike from Diluo Village to Labo Village, where is located on the bank of the Yangtze River.
DAY 5: LABO – LIUQING LOWER VILLAGE – LIUQING UPPER VILLAGE (4h30 trekking time)
- Hike along the Yangtze River to Luoman Village, cross the river by ferry, then climb to Liuqing Upper Village (4hrs), which is nestled in a green ravine at the foot of the cliffs.
DAY 6: LIUQING – BAOSHAN (6/7hrs trekking time)
- Hike to today’s destination Baoshan Village. During the hike, you will climb on the mountainside in the rocks, cross two tunnels, and have a picnic in Aoshulou Village.
- Arrive at Baoshan Village, check in at your guesthouse.
- Walk in the fortified village of Baoshan, which was built at the beginning of the Mongol dynasty and on a gigantic boulder, overlooking the Yangtze River.
- Information: You will need to bring your personal belongings for the night spent in Baoshan Village, and your luggage is transported directly by vehicle to Wumu Village.
DAY 7: BAOSHAN – WUMU (4h30 trekking time)
- After breakfast, walk down to the edge of the Yangtze River by a small path.
- Take a boat on the Yangtze River to the foot of the Wumu Village (50 minutes).
- Then, you will go up to Wumu Village by a slightly steep path (2h30/3hrs). Like Baoshan, Wumu has a long history spanning several hundred years, but the village is quieter here. The old center is built on a rock around which the houses have spread.
DAY 8: WUMU – TINA’S GUESTHOUSE – TEA & HORSE GUESTHOUSE (4hrs/4h30 trekking time)
- After breakfast, depart by mountainous road to Daju Village (3hrs).
- From there, take the ferry to cross the Yangtze River and continue the driving to Tina’s Guesthouse in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
- Hike from Tina’s Guesthouse to Tea & Horse Guesthouse (4hrs).
DAY 9: TEA & HORSE GUESTHOUSE – SHANGRI-LA (5hrs trekking time)
- After breakfast, continue your trekking to Qiaotou (5hrs) along the trail between the Haba Snow Mountain (5398 m) and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5596 m).
- Visit the Hutiaoshi scenic area. (You can visit on foot or take the escalator at your own expense)
- Departure by road to Shangri-La (2hrs). Arrival, check-in at your hotel, and free walk in the old town Shangri-La.
DAY 10: SHANGRI-LA – FEILAISI
- Drive to Feilaisi (4h30). On the way, a short stroll in the Tibetan village around Napa Lake.
- Lunch with a Tibetan family.
- Discover the Dongzhulin Monastery, where several lamas still live.
- Admire the impressive landscapes of the first bend of the Yangtze River.
- On arrival, visit the temple of Feilaisi, which offers the best viewpoint over the Mekong valley and the eternal snow-capped Meili Mountain.
DAY 11: FEILAISI – XIDAN – YUBENG (6hrs trekking time)
- Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the snow-capped Meili Mountain (Kawa Karpo).
- Transfer to Xidang Village along the Mekong (1h30/2hrs).
- Begin the trekking following the pilgrimage route around Kawa Karpo Mountain to the upper village of Yubeng (3200 m) at the foot of Karwa Karpo Mountain, and is the home to hospitable and friendly Tibetan families.
- Stop at Nanzongla Pass (3800 m) to appreciate the beauty of the region.
- Information: We suggest you take a backpack to bring toiletries for 3 nights in the Kawa Karpo Mountain, or you can rent a 4 * 4 car to transport your large suitcases to your accommodation.
DAY 12: TREK IN THE KAWA KARPO MOUNTAIN (6hrs)
- This morning you set off on foot to explore the Xiao Nong Valley, where at the foot of Mount Kawa Karpo. Xiao Nong was the base camp for the famous Chinese-Japanese mountaineering team in 1991.
- Extend the hike to the lake at the foot of the glacier (2hrs for round trip).
- Return to Yubeng.
DAY 13: TREK IN THE KAWA KARPO MOUNTAIN (5/6hrs trekking time)
- After breakfast, continue your hike to the Holy Waterfall (3600 m) by passing through the path lined with stupas, temples, and prayer flags.
- After the tour, return to Yubeng.
DAY 14: YUBENG – NINONG – SHANGRI-LA (6/7hrs trekking time)
- Hike down the river to Ninong, a Tibetan village surrounded by a landscape of arid slopes, terraced crops, and green oases.
- Meet with your driver, and return to Shangri-La (4hrs/4h30)
DAY 15: DEPARTURE
- Discovery of the Songzanlin Monastery, which is the most important lamasery in Yunnan.
- Transfer to Shangri-La airport, and take the return flight.
The rates below are indicative, and they may vary slightly depending on the season or hotel availability.
| Price per person based on | With driver + An English-speaking guide |
|---|---|
| 2 persons | 2 849 $ |
| 3 persons | 2 322 $ |
| 4 persons | 1 946 $ |
| 5 persons | 1 803 $ |
| 6 persons | 1 625 $ |
| 7 persons | 1 512 $ |
| 8 persons | 1 411 $ |
| 9 persons | 1 415 $ |
| 10 persons | 1 354 $ |
Price includes
- The hotels are mentioned in the itinerary (includes breakfast).
- Transfers by private vehicle with driver during the whole journey. For the group without a guide, if necessary, the driver will also act as a guide.
- Accompaniment by an English-speaking guides from the 3rd day (if this option has been chosen).
- For the group without a guide, a smartphone will be given on your arrival. You will always be in touch with our 24-hour service. We are going to offer you restaurants with its locations, you can also try cashless payment anywhere in China (FYI, we are using less and less cash in China for payment).
- Accommodation and meals for your guides and drivers.
- Lunch from the 2nd day to 15th day.
- The ferryboat on the Yangtze River.
- The entrance ticket of the attractions.
- The high-speed train tickets: Kunming/Lijiang (second class).
- One bottle of mineral water per day per person.
The price does not include
- International flights.
- Entrance tickets for tours and activities, to be paid directly on site.50% reductions sometimes for travelers over 60, free possible for those over 70.
- Tips for guides and drivers (It is recommended of 120 RMB / day in total for the driver guide).
- Accident, repatriation and health insurance.
- The visa fees.
Warm Tips:
- You can also check out our organized small group tours here
- To facilitate your stay, we suggest that you change your quotes on arrival and departure at the current exchange rate. The formalities to be completed in Chinese banks are particularly tedious.
Hotels offered
For each city, we have recommended two or three hotels for you to choose from below. The first hotel listed has been pre-selected by Ciel Yunnan.
| HOTELS | COST-EFFECTIVE |
|---|---|
| Lijiang | E-outfitting Boutique |
| Lugu Lake | Lige Holiday Inn |
| Zhuangzi | Local people’s home |
| Labo | Local people’s home |
| Liuqing | Local people’s home |
| Wumu | Huahuasei Lodge |
| Tiger Leaping Gorge | Tea & Horse Guesthouse |
| Shangri-La | Konggu Youlan Inn |
| Deqin | Once Upon A Time in Meili |
| Supplement/Per | 363 $ |
Guaranteed departures from 6 people
| Departure dates | |
|---|---|
| Saturday May 4 to Monday May 20, 2019 | Probable |
| Saturday October 13 to Monday October 28, 2019 | Probable |
| Thursday 25 October to Saturday 09 November 2019 | Probable |
- The departure dates indicated are reference dates. If you have a date option, don’t hesitate to ask us, we’ll post it on our site.
When to go?
You can do this tour throughout the year. The best seasons to do the trek are spring and autumn for the mild temperatures. The summers are pleasant, and the temperatures remain moderate. Although the monsoon can bring a lot of rains between July and September, this will not pose a big problem for this journey.
It is cold in Shangri-La between December and March, and the temperatures rise to 10 degrees during the day and drop below zero at night. Warm clothes are essential.
Other hiking trails and treks in Yunnan
Trekking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge
4 days | Wumu, Baoshan, and Tiger Leaping Gorge
A superb hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge with stops in two typical and charming villages. A nice break in the most beautiful mountain landscapes of Yunnan.
Trek of Tiger Leaping Gorge and Mount Kawa Karpo
15 days | Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La, and Mount Kawa Karpo
A moderate level hike to discover the beautiful landscapes of the highlands and the most authentic villages of Yunnan.
