7 Days Shangri-La Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour

Yubeng Village is a beautiful and miraculous place. When trekking in Yubeng Village, tourists will have a sense of walking at Shangri-La. Located at the back of the Meli Snow Mountain, it is surrounded by mountains. Because of its unique location, there are only 20 households living here and connects outside world only with one small road. Yubeng Village is divided into upper village and lower village. From upper village, tourists can go to the base camp of the Joint Sino-Japanese,while from the lower village, tourists can go to Yubeng, Ancient Seal Character and other scenic spots.

Highlights:

  • Step into Ganden Sumtseling Monastery to experience dignified aesthetic implication of Buddhism.
  • Explore Climbing Tour in Meili Snow Mountain Scenic Area.
  • Breathe in a primitive national park as well as the first national park in China – Pudacuo National Park.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Shangri-La Arrival
  • Day 2: Shangri-La
  • Day 3: Shangri-La – Deqin -Feilaisi
  • Day 4: Feilaisi-Yubeng
  • Day 5: Yubeng Village- Cuoka Lake-Yubeng
  • Day 6: Yubeng-Shangri-La
  • Day 7: Shangri-La Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Arrival Shangri-La
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals:None

Arrive in Kunming(1,890m/6,199ft), and change the flight to Shangri-La, the former Zhongdian (3400M). Then be transferred to the hotel by the local tour guide.

Day 2 Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Pudacuo National Park, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill, Grand Prayer Wheel
Accommodation: Shangri-La 
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning, you’ll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Parkwhich is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, 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.

Continue to visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere. Stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or Tortoise Hill, you will see the Grand Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La County and Dukezong Ancient Town. 

Day 3 Shangri-La – Deqin -Feilaisi

Sightseeing and Activities:Nixi Pottery Village, Dongzhulin Monastery, the First Bend of Jinsha River, Baima Snow Mountain, Meili Snow Mountain
Accommodation: Feilaisi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Kawa Karpo Kora Meili Snow Mountain in Diqing

In the morning, drive 4 to 5 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude) which is 187km away from Shangri-La. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan villages. From Shangri-La, after half an hour driving, you will have a panoramic view of Naxi Pottery Village; drive down to the river valley, continue the nice scenery along the Jinsha River to Benzilan Town where you will have lunch.

After lunch, drive uphill to the Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in Shusong Village, Benzilan District, Deqin County, and 105km from the seat of Zhongdian County. The Yunnan-Tibet Road passes behind the temple and cars can get straight to the temple. The Dongzhulin Monastery was built in 1667, the sixth year of the Kang Xi Period in Qing Dynasty. Visit the First Bend of Jinsha River or Moon Bend, which is the boundary between Sichuan and Yunnan. This is different from the First Bend of Yangtze River in Lijiang City. The bend in Shigu Town changes the flow direction of the Yangtze River but in Benzilan, the Moon Bend is just a grand bend between the mountains with an impressive scenery. Visit Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, you will be able to view Baima Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, pass the top part of today at 4292m altitude at 156km. 

Arrive in Feilaisi in the late afternoon, you will have a nice sunset view of Meili Snow Mountain from the Sightseeing Platform, where you can see the 13 white pagodas meaning of the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, known as the “Prince’s 13 peaks”.

Day 4 Feilaisi-Upper Yubeng Village

Sightseeing and Activities:the sunrise view of Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng Village
Accommodation: Yubeng Village
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning , we could enjoy the golden mountain, on top of which the sunrise touches its snow capped peak if weather permitting. After breakfast, we drive along Mekong River to reach trail head; we hike up to and over a mountain pass to Yubeng, with picnic lunch (5-7 hours, with several steep sections); we arrive in Yubeng village; dinner in a traditional Tibetan living room, followed by lively singing and dancing with local villagers; overnight in Yubeng.

Day 5 Upper Yubeng Village- Cuoka Sacred Ice Lake-Upper Yubeng Village​

Sightseeing and Activities:the sunrise and sunset of the Mt. Kawagebo Glacier, Binghu Ice Lake
Accommodation: Yubeng Village
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Ice Lake of Yubeng Village in Meili Snow Mountain, Diqing

Enjoy the sunrise of the Mt. Kawagebo Glacier from the guesthouse, then walk up to Binghu Ice Lake of the Meili Snow Mountain.Walk through the original forest from Yubeng Village, you will see some horses and yaks, as well as some wild animals if you are lucky enough. A beautiful river originate from the Glacier Park, walk along the river with some wooden bridges and spruce trees, you will have a wonderful view of Mt. Kawagebo Glacier. At last, arrive at the Ice Lake which is located at the foot of the glacier. Trek down back to Yubeng village in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset of Kawagebo Peak .

The return trek takes 3 to 4 hours. This one-day excursion is only reserved for strong hikers. Before June, the upper plateau is often covered by snow. Bring enough food and ask Aqinbu to find a good guide for you. It may be more reasonable to do this trek in two days and overnight camp at Cuoka Pasture.

Day 6 Yubeng-Ninong-Feilaisi-Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Ninong Grand Canyon ,Yubeng Village,Mekong River Grand Canyon
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Set off very early for the long, but amazing walk along the least traveled path of Yubeng, from Lower Yubeng Village back to Xidang, via Ninong Canyon. Drive back to Shangri-La in the afternoon.

Day 7 Departure from Shangri-La

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Shangri-La
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Free at leisure before be picked up from hotel and transferred to Shangri-La airport for the departure flight. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostels
Shangri-La Blossom Hill Inn Shangri-La Shangri-La Old Town Hotel Bodhi Boutique Inn Hanting Hotel
Yubeng / / / Longmen Hostel
Feilaisi Guanjing Tiantang Hotel Mingzhu Hotel Feilaisi Hotel Local Hostel

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide;
  • Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  • Luggage transfers between airports and hotels.

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

  • Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
  • The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
  • Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
  • Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest.
  • Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.
  • Situated on the northern edge of the tropical zone, Xishuangbanna area is hot, humid and rainy.
  • Do not forget to take an umbrella or a raincoat when go out.
  • When take photos, please pay attention to your safety, do not shoot in dangerous areas.