Voyage Vietnam MOTOTOURS ASIA | 21 days trekking (not in winter)- Special tours offered by Voyage Vietnam

21 days in land let us deep into the old China history. If all Chinese cities and town have been westernized, most parts of the country remain unchanged for centuries. Trekking is perhaps the best way to approach this authentic China: landscape untouched by artificial action, tradition and lifestyle keeping their own way.

Two full days trekking in Zhongdien (former Shang-rila), the mini-Tibet with 2 nights staying in their home allows us the first discovery of this mysterious nationality. Following with 7 days trekking from the Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lugu Lake, grandiose mountain and colourful cultures of minorities Yi, Naxi, Mosos …

Others highlights of our trip: Lijiang and Dali, the two old cities still keeping its authentic architecture against the challenge of the time.

Day 1: Kunming

Arrive in Kunming, Capital of Yunnan, Kunming is the gate of China to South East Asia. The trade to Burma, Thailand and Vietnam is very flourishing. As its climate is nice all over the year, Kunming is also famous for its various kinds of flowers.

Transfer to Camellia Hotel**, visit Kunming Minority nationalities museum.

Day 2: Lijiang

Kunming - Lijiang by early flight: Today you will visit a traditional Naxi village, where life has gone relatively unchanged for hundreds of years. Black Dragon Pool, where the snow-capped mountains seemingly shimmer as they are reflected in the waters of the lake and a Tibetan lamasery are also on the agenda.

This afternoon has been left free for further independent exploration the Old Town, which is located at an altitude of almost 8,000 feet and a UN World Heritage Site. The old part of the town has wonderful old cobbled streets, meandering streams and views that will take your breath away. Night in Yuquan nationality hotel**.

Day 3: Lugu Lake

Drive to Lugu Lake from Lijiang about 7 hours. Visit a lamasery, Mouso family, tour on the Lake Lugu by boat, take part in the bon-fire party in the evening with young local people (dancing hand in hand to experience how the local falling love with each other by this way since Mosuo people don't have the fixed marriage but walking marriage) night in Mosuo Family Hotel 2* in Luoshui village by the Lake Lugu

Day 4: Trekking Lugu Lake - Zhuangzi

Bus to Yongnin town from Lugu Lake: Yongnin town - Zhuangzi on foot about 6 hours over a mountain 3,700 m, night in local Pumi people resident house.

Day 5: Zhuangzi - Gewa

Zhuangzi - Gewa, 6 hours trekking through the primitive forest. We walk through some Pumin minority people villages over the mountain pass that is 3,300 m above sea level, night in Mosuo guest house.

Day 6: Gewa - Labo village - Fenglian

An easy day of walking through rice field and all the way down to the Yangtze bank (1,600 m altitude). We will cross the Yangtze River and begin to discover the Mosuo's country. This mountain main people conserve a matriarchal society for a long time. They build houses with wood. Stay in the guesthouse near the riverside over 2,600 m above the sea.

Day 7: Fenglian - Liuqing

A wonderful walk through the pine tree forest, it is a long but pleasant trip, you will see kinds of wild flowers as gentian and azalea etc. Stay in the Teacher He's guest house. 2,300 m altitude.

Day 8: Liuqing - Baoshan

We climb over the mountain Pass Taizhi that is 2,245 meters high. It is the hardest day but you can view thousands and thousands goats wandering and eating grass. 6 hours trekking over a mountain pass. Shi Baoshan meaning the stone castle. Here you will find some historic site defending against Yi intruders. Night in Mr Mu's family guest house.

Day 9: Baoshan Stone city - Guole - Laru - Daju

Trek for 5 hours. You will enjoy the beautiful deep gorge with different species of bushes. 4.5 hours by minibus to Daju. Then we will be back again to the Golden Sand River (Yangtze River) and overnight at an old and fantastic village in Daju guesthouse. Daju was the important centre for tea and salt transportation in the history. The horsemen would stay here for several days for refreshing.

Day 10: Tiger Leaping Gorge

A full day trekking in the countryside north of Lijiang where the scenery is stunning. The Yangtze River, still in its infancy here, passes through the Gorge with cliffs of almost 4,000 metres on either side. Trekking to Daju town, Heika village, crossing the Yangtze River by ferry again.

Transfer from the Yangtze River by local bus about 30 minutes to Walnuts village. Start trekking from Walnuts village to Half Way House through the bamboo and bushes and a waterfall in Haba Mountain for about 2 hours. Night in Half Way Guest House (2 people share a room with public bath).

Day 11: Tiger Leaping Gorge

Continue trekking to Qiaotou from Half Way for about 5 hours along the Tea and Horse House in the Gorge, passing through 18 zigzag, cool and interesting. Opposite, Yulong (Jade Dragon) Mountain appearing in your eyes always, looks like a Chinese painting. One can't help sigh how marvellous the nature is. Transfer from Qiaotou of Gorge to Zhongdian in about 2 hours. Night in Salong hotel 3* for 2 nights.

Day 12: Zhongdiang

Being so high, an average of 3,200 m, and the relief is similar to Tibet, Zhongdian is inhabited by Khamba people, a branch of Tibetan, for more than 1,000 years. Lifestyle has all characteristics of highland Tibetan culture: Barely cultivation, yaks, and monasteries.

If most of Tibetan is known as very poor and have difficult living condition, Tibetan in Zhongdian has perhaps the best conditions.Their house is normally very large and perfectly constructed their main income: timber exploitation, medicine plants and mushroom cultivation. Visit Sumtselin lamasery, the largest lamasery in Yunnan. Driving to Baishuitai in about 2 hours, visit the nature rice terrace. Tibetan family and old town of Zhongdian are also on agenda.

Day 13: Zhongdian - Deqin

Zhongdian - Deqin by bus in about 4 hours over White Horse Snow Mountain 4,300 m, visit Dongzhulin lamasery. Deqin, one of the 3 counties attached to Zhongdian Tibetan area, is located in the basin on the altiplano surrounded by the huge mountains. Because it borders Tibet, the resident is less influenced by Han people. Night in Zangxian Great hotel 2*.

Day 14: Deqin - Xidan hot spring

Start trekking along the inner pilgrim around the highest snow mountain in Yunnan (6,700 m). The pilgrim has two kinds: outer and inner trekking around the holy mountain once a year for the local Tibetan people. We follow the inner pilgrim route. It normally takes 7 days walk. Outer takes 2 weeks.

Driving 10 km to Flying over Lamasery (Feilaisi), trekking 4 or 5 hours all the way down to Mekong River, cross the river by the bridge. Having picnic lunch in a lamasery, transfer by bus to Xidang Hot spring in about 20 minutes. Option: some clients prefer to trek all the way up to Xidang in 2 hours. Night in local guesthouse.

Day 15: Xidan hot spring - Zhongweicun village - Yubeng village

Yubeng village is located at the foot of Karwa Karpo Snow Mountain, which has nearly 200 Tibetan families live around. It is really the Shangri-la, the paradise: there is no pollution, automobile, TV, shopping and even the telephone, but only the holy snow mountain under the blue sky with rustic, friendly people. It is the base for us during the next 3 days trekking.

6 hours trek over a mountain pass named Nanzhuka (3,750 m) in the well-protected virgin forest. As soon as you get to the top of the mountain for lunch, it seems the huge snow mountain jumps to your eyes immediately. Night in local guesthouse (standard room but public bath) for 3 nights.

Day 16: Yubeng - Foot of Meili snow mount - Shenpu (water fall) - Yubeng

6 hours trekking forth and back towards the snow mountain, through the forest and grassland along the beautiful river up and down. On the way, you will find colourful cloth strips hanging on the trees, which are fastened by local Tibetan people while they walk for pilgrim - a good wish for health and property. Because of the low temperature in the winter, the waterfall will be icing up.

Day 17: Yubeng - Camp - Food of Glacier - Yubeng

Trekking for 7 or 8 hours forth and back towards the snow mountain in different direction, you will find the view quite different from yesterday: besides the scenery, there are some Tibetan villages scattered on the hillside, white and brown, it looks like a picture. It is also the route for Sino-Japan joined climbing team in the year of 1991. We stop at a beautiful lake and return.

Day 18: Yubeng - Ninong village

Trekking for 6 hours along the Yubeng River to the Mekong river point. You might be little willies and exciting because some parts of Yubeng river valley are so deep that you have to walk close to the mountain side (actually the path in general is 1 or 1.5 m wide). Night in Ninong Tibetan village guesthouse by the Mekong River.

Day 19: Weixi town

Trekking Ninong to Jiabi village (2 and half hours). Met by the bus and transfer to Weixi Town (Lisu people) 225 km. Visit the famous Christian Church - Cizhong. Check in Sanjiang hotel 2*.

Day 20: Weixi - Lijiang, 220 km

Drive back from Mekong River to Yangtze River again. Visit Shigu Red Army Long-March Museum at the first Bend of Yangtze River on the way. Afternoon will be free for further exploring the old town of Lijiang. Check in Sanhe garden Hotel 3*.

Day 21: Kunming

Lijiang - Kunming by early flight, deposit the luggage in Kunming airport, clients take the bus to the Kunming town to visit the bird and flower market before departure off Kunming.

Include:

- Accommodation in hotel and Guesthouse, home stay in village;
- All meals from the arrival until departure;
- Entrance fees;
- Land transportation;
- Services of national French speaking guide and a local English guide from the beginning until the end;
- Luggage carrying by horses and porters, 2 cook if the group size is 9 pax up;
- 2 air tickets Kunming - Lijiang - Kunming;
- Local travel insurance.

Not included:

- Tipping or gratuities to guides and drivers;
- Mandatory international travel insurance;
- Excursions other than those specified in trips;
- Extra cost if itinerary is delayed or changed due to unexpected reasons beyond control.

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