D1

Shangri-La Arrival

D2

Shangri-La

D3

Cycle Shangri-La → Baishuitai

D4

Cycle Baishuitai → Tiger Leaping Gorge

D5

Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge

D6

Cycle Tiger Leaping Gorge → Lijiang

D7

Cycle Lijiang → Shaxi

D8

Hike in Shaxi: Mapingguan → Mijing

D9

Cycle Shaxi → Eryuan

D10

Cycle Eryuan → Dali

D11

Bullet Train: Dali - Kunming (15:25-17:55, 2:30hrs)

D12

Kunming Departure

    D1

Shangri-La Arrival

- / - / D

Highlights: ✔Recover from jetlag ✔Shangri-La Ancient Town ✔Welcome Dinner of Tibetan Cuisine

DIST. 7km/0.5hrs

Welcome to Diqing Shangri-La (3,160 m)! Your local guide and driver will be there to greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Shangri-La Ancient Town, aka. Dukezong Ancient Town, with its lovely exquisite Tibetan architecture. Fresh up, take a nap. Allow your body time to acclimatize. In the evening, a welcome dinner of local Tibetan cuisine will be waiting for you!

    D2

Shangri-La

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Ganden Sumtseling Monastery ✔Hundred Chicken Monastery ✔Fix up and test your bike with a local bike mechanic ✔Take a test ride around

DIST. 5km/0.5hrs

Morning, we visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province and is sometimes referred to as the Little Potala Palace. Then we hike up to Hundred Chicken Monastery, where you will have a panoramic view of Shangri-La Ancient Town. Afternoon, fix up and test your bike with a local bike mechanic, and have a test ride around.

    D3

Cycle Shangri-La → Baishuitai

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Your ride starts today

CYCLE DIST. 104 km

ASCEND. 1,356 m

DESCEND. 2,234 m

Your two days of acclimatization are over. Your riding starts today! Whoopee! First, a flat section of easy ride to ease you into your riding mode, with Tibetan villages and white pagodas in the background. Some mild climbs follow while you wind your way up and down through valleys that are full of wild camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and osmanthus trees. Your supporting vehicle will set up stops along the way to supply you with drinking water, hot tea, nuts, bananas, etc. Late afternoon, arrive in Baishuitai (2,380 m), located at the foothills of the Haba Snow Mountains.

    D4

Cycle Baishuitai → Tiger Leaping Gorge

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Baishuitai Water Terraces ✔Magnificent views of Haba Snow Mountain ✔Cycle through Tiger Leaping Gorge

CYCLE DIST. 63 km

ASCEND. 1,879 m

DESCEND. 2,252 m

Early morning, drive to check out Baishuitai Water Terraces, one of the biggest limestone terraces among China and the Dongba culture birthplace of the Naxi minority people. Then we go back to hotel to pick up your bikes and luggage.

Today's ride is one of the most memorable rides of your trip as you circumnavigate the mountains with its dramatic, sheer cliffs. It's demanding but also rewarding with epic views and climbs on tap. One of which is the Haba Snow Mountain (5,396 m) towering above a beautiful valley. Following a 6km descent winding down towards Naxi village, then 7km climb towards a pass (3,250 m), then another descend of 25km to Yangtze River Valley. At Yonke village, turn to Tiger Leaping Gorge and cycle through one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world, rising nearly 4,000 m from the river to snow-capped peaks. Overnight at one of the guesthouse in the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge Walnut Garden village, with superb views from your hotel room.

    D5

Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Hike the Middle Gorge of Tiger Leaping Gorge

DIST. - / -

A half-day hike of the Middle Gorge starting from your guesthouse unveils the beauty of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Middle Gorge trails along the roaring Jinsha River offer unbeaten views of the sheer gorge. Take cool pictures standing on Tiger Leaping Rock in the rapids, climb the vertical Sky Ladder, and follow the paths cut through the cliff.

    D6

Cycle Tiger Leaping Gorge → Lijiang

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Yangtze Ferry ✔Dragon Snow Mountain Pass

CYCLE DIST. 98 km

ASCEND. 2,287 m

DESCEND. 1,511 m

Morning, cycle about 12km to take the Yangtze Ferry with your supporting vehicle and bikes. After crossing the river, an immediate 30km climb is ahead of you, followed by the Dragon Snow Mountain Pass (3,100 m), where you ascended about 1,500 meters! Then enjoy an easy downhill section all the way to Lijiang (2,400 m).

    D7

Cycle Lijiang → Shaxi

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Shaxi Ancient Town

CYCLE DIST. 104 km

ASCEND. 1,215 m

DESCEND. 1,553 m

This morning, we drive out of Lijiang city first before you start riding into the heart of rural Yunnan. Shortly, you descend into a valley, then cycle along the Old Tibet 214 Hwy passing tranquil scenes of mud brick villages, bamboo groves, rivers, and paddy fields. Followed by two short but steep climbs, you then ride downhill to Shaxi Ancient Town, which used to be an important and prosperous hub along the ancient Tea Horse Road.

    D8

Hike in Shaxi: Mapingguan → Mijing

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Mapinguan Village ✔Mijing Village

DIST. - / -

Transfer from Shaxi to Mapinguan Village. First, we check out the Mapinguan Village of the Bai minority, then we start hiking to Mijing Village via a mountain pass and some dense forests and valleys and Misha River. Afterwards, transfer back to Shaxi.

    D9

Cycle Shaxi → Eryuan

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Ride to Eryuan

CYCLE DIST. 52 km

ASCEND. 1,540 m

DESCEND. 2,610 m

Today we cycle further along the ancient Tea-Horse Road, which used to transport tea and salt to as far as Tibet and India. We ride along the Heihui River and pass through some lovely villages. An easy level ride of 47km takes us to Liantie Town where we have our lunch. Afterwards, transfer to a mountain pass (3,022 m), and you ride downhill all the way to Eryuan.

   D10

Cycle Eryuan → Dali

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Ride to Dali passing Canshan Mountain range and Erhai Lake ✔Visit Dali Old Town

CYCLE DIST. 59 km

ASCEND. 662 m

DESCEND. 662 m

Today we cycle on a flat paved road, en route pass by the towering Canshan Mountain range and Erhai Lake. Arrive in Dali for a late lunch, and pack up your bikes.

Afternoon, we go check out Dali Old Town, the capital of two large kingdoms from the 8th and 10th centuries until conquered by the Mongols in the 12th century. The present Old Town was rebuilt by the Ming dynasty at the beginning of the 14th century. Outside of the Old Town are the famous Three Pagodas, from the 9th-10th century.

   D11

Bullet Train: Dali - Kunming (15:25-17:55, 2:30hrs)

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Xizhou Market ✔Tie-dye experience at Zhouchen Village ✔Bullet train to Kunming

DIST. - / -

Today we go and check out Xizhou Town, a famous historic cultural town of Bai minority. You will see traditional buildings, and join the locals at Xizhou Market. Then visit Zhouchen Village, framed as the 'Hometown of Tie-dye'. You will get to watch how the Bai minority dye their clothes and try some simple tie-dye yourselves.

Afternoon, take the bullet train to Kunming. Bring a coin to do a coin balance test on the train to see if it really wouldn't fall on China's high-speed train. Local guide and driver will greet you at Kunming Railway Station and take you to your hotel.

   D12

Kunming Departure

B / - / -

Highlights: ✔Homeward Bound

DIST. 30km/0.5hrs

Soak up your last dose of Yunnan. Transfer to Kunming Airport for your homeward flight. We see you next year? Perhaps a highland cycling in Tibet? Let’s see.