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Highlights
Discover the majesty of the Meili Snow Mountains on this 9-day trekking tour
Visit high mountain monasteries, where they practice Tibetan Buddhism.
Spend days exploring the pristine nature and villages around the Meili Snow Mountains.
Trek to Ice Lake at 3,900 m / 12,795 ft—it’s as cold as it sounds!
Partake in a purification ritual underneath the Sacred Waterfall near Yubeng Village.
Yunnan Province is renowned as a dream destination for nature-lovers and trekkers. The region comprises grand canyons, high mountains, a handful of lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, dotted with ancient villages where the atmosphere is palpably mystical. On this 9-day trekking tour, you will experience an exquisite sample of what Yunnan Province has to offer.
Start your tour in the UNESCO-protected city of Lijiang. You will spend a couple of days visiting nearby attractions and sites to get acquainted with the area, including the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The scenery will astound you with great 4000-metre peaks falling steeply into the vivid river below.
Begin trekking on Day 3, heading into the mountains to set up camp at a guesthouse in Yubeng Village. You’ll hike day trips from this village and return to your same bed each night. The day hikes bring you to incredible alpine lakes and the Sacred Waterfall, where the locals often perform purification rituals. When you return to Lijiang on the final day, stop at a stunning natural reserve to admire the colourful flora—an excellent place for some final photos!
If you want an adventure tour with some days in the Meili Snow Mountain range, and some days exploring ancient villages and monasteries, this is an ideal tour for you. You spend some nights in guesthouses, which works well for those who would rather not stay in a tent. Check out Yunnan!
Yunnan Province is renowned as a dream destination for nature-lovers and trekkers. The region comprises grand canyons, high mountains, a handful of lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, dotted with ancient villages where the atmosphere is palpably mystical. On this 9-day trekking tour, you will experience an exquisite sample of what Yunnan Province has to offer.
Start your tour in the UNESCO-protected city of Lijiang. You will spend a couple of days visiting nearby attractions and sites to get acquainted with the area, including the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The scenery will astound you with great 4000-metre peaks falling steeply into the vivid river below.
Begin trekking on Day 3, heading into the mountains to set up camp at a guesthouse in Yubeng Village. You’ll hike day trips from this village and return to your same bed each night. The day hikes bring you to incredible alpine lakes and the Sacred Waterfall, where the locals often perform purification rituals. When you return to Lijiang on the final day, stop at a stunning natural reserve to admire the colourful flora—an excellent place for some final photos!
If you want an adventure tour with some days in the Meili Snow Mountain range, and some days exploring ancient villages and monasteries, this is an ideal tour for you. You spend some nights in guesthouses, which works well for those who would rather not stay in a tent. Check out Yunnan!
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Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour
Day 1 Arrival in Lijiang
Welcome to China! Meet your guide and group to take a walking tour of the old town. Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its remarkable wooden houses, canals, bridges, with huge snow-capped mountains as the backdrop. After strolling Lijiang’s narrow streets, you will take a short drive to Baisha Village, home to historical murals painted during the Ming Dynasty. The artwork comprises a mix of styles from Buddhism, Taoism, and Lamaism. Spend the night in the charming Lijiang.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lijiang
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
Today you will begin to explore the stunning nature in Yunnan Province. After breakfast, you will take a short hike in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, an impressive site with 4000-metre peaks enveloping the vivid blue Yangtze River. From the gorge, you drive to Shangri-La, the southern gateway to Tibet. This paradise-like town is a sight to behold with its traditional architecture, native vegetation, and snowy peaks in the distance. Visit the Sumzanlin Monastery here, created by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1679, where about 800 monks currently live. If you have free time in the evening, take a stroll through the ancient Dukezong neighbourhood before settling into the hotel to rest.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Shangri-La (3,165 m / 10,383’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Explore Dong Trubling Monastery
After breakfast, you’ll be driven towards the starting point of the trek tomorrow. On the way, admire the scenes out your window of vivid jungle-covered hills and snow-capped mountains drawing nearer. Yunnan Province has dramatic and idyllic views at every turn. Pause in the charming Benzilan village for a panoramic view of the Golden Sand River below. Get another fill of spirituality with a visit to the Dong Trubling Monastery before stopping in Dechen for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Dechen (3,200 m / 10,498’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Begin Trek in Meili Snow Mountains
Rise bright and early to catch a fantastic sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountains. Then follows one hour drive to Yubeng Upper Village (3100 m) where you start your trekking tour, and go to Yubeng Shenpu (Holy Waterfall, 3800 m) Tibetans consider bathed under the waterfall as a purification of their hearts. “Yubeng” means the scriptures, and its name is related to the “Shijietianshu” that is not far from the village. Late in the afternoon go back to Yubeng Upper Village .
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Yubeng Village (3,000m / 9,840’)
Distance: 5 hours, 14 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Trek Ice Lake Trail
Fuel up on breakfast because you have a challenging hike today. Begin the journey with an ascent to the high-altitude pristine forest and azalea jungle. The fragrant nature and spectacular views may be enough to distract you from the severe elevation. Around lunchtime, you will reach Xiaonong Base Camp at 3,650 m / 11,975 ft, an stellar location to admire the wilderness and catch your breath before heading further into the mountains. The highlight of today’s route is Ice Lake, a vibrant turquoise alpine lake with several waterfalls flowing into it from the peaks above. It sits at 3,900 m / 12,795 ft and is truly breathtaking. After the lake visit, return to Yubeng Village.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Yubeng Village (3,000m / 9,840’)
Distance: 7 hours, 18 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hike to Cizhong Village via Nanjieluo
Depart at 08:00 in the morning, in one hour drive on a narrow country road you’ll reach the checkpoint of the forestry station (2900 m), then drive for about 50 minutes to enter the mountain, pass Camp No. 1 and 47-turn to reach the pass (3800 m), then start hiking, enter the core scenic area of Nanjieluo here, and visit the extremely beautiful mountain lakes, from Lake No. 1 to Lake No. 5, every step is a scenery. The hiking tour takes about 4-5 hours. Then drive back to Cizhong Village.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Cizhong Village (3,000m / 9,840’)
Distance: 4–5 hours, 14 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Trek Along Yubeng River & Ninong Canyon
Wake up early and check the weather—if it looks nice, go check out the sunrise coming over the mountains. What’s better than the alpine glow of sunrise? Depart Yubeng Village and follow alongside the Yubeng River through Ninong Canyon made up of immense cliffs and shrubbery as far as you can see. Once you reach the parking lot, a driver will take you to Cizhong Village to visit the century-old Catholic Church built by French missionaries. Stay in Cizhong village for the night.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Cizhong Village
Distance: 6–7 hours, 20 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Visit Tongle Village + Kangpu Monastery
You will visit some cultural spots on your last full day while giving your legs a rest from hiking. This area comprises many different ethnicities who practice distinct sects of Tibetan Buddhism. Stop in Tongle Village of Lisu minority and witness their traditions. Continue to the Kangpu Monastery in the Mekong River Valley. Each stop is stunning and an insightful glimpse into the local blend of cultures. Stay in Tacheng Village, a remote place perched in the jungle.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Tacheng Village (3,300m / 10,826’)
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Xianggujing Nature Reserve + Farewell
After breakfast, enjoy a visit to the Xianggujing Nature Reserve, where you’re likely to spot a few monkeys roaming around. Take full advantage of the scenery as this is one of the most stunning areas in Yunnan, full of wildflowers, colourful vegetation, and wildlife habitats. In the afternoon, you’ll get a ride back to Lijiang to the airport or train station in time for the next leg of your journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour in China is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the price always depends on the number of people in your group and the traveling season. Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room.- Guided Groups of 2: USD2315 per person*
Accommodation on Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour
This tour is based 3- and 4-star hotels with modern amenities for a comfortable stay. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement. You will also stay in modest mountain guesthouses with basic amenities.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with your group. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
What’s included in the Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour?
Meals
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 8 nights is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for your luggage is included throughout the tour. Airport or railway station transfers are also included.
Also Included
- Entrance and sightseeing fees
- Local English-speaking guides
Not included
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in itinerary
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Insurance
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
- Tips + personal expenses
Optional Extras
- Extra nights in Lijiang
- How hard is the Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to China?
- Are meals included on the Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Lijiang to start this tour?
- Is the Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour in English?
- Where does the Trekking Meili Snow Mountains in Yunnan Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to China?
- Are there any travel restrictions for China?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. You should be comfortable hiking for up to 7 hours in high altitudes for four days in a row.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can reach Lijiang by plane from several major airports in China. You can also take a train to Lijiang from many cities in China. You will be picked up at the airport or train station.
Yes, the local guides are English-speaking.
The tour ends in Lijiang with a drop-off at the airport or railway station.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
Based in Chengdu (Sichuan province, China), with an affiliated agency in Lhasa (the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region), Greatway Tour organizes China tours since 1994. They specialize in adventure and trekking tours in Western China, covering Tibet and the eastern Tibetan area Kham – Amdo in provinces Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu. Since 1995, Greatway Tour began to organize self-driving tours across China for individuals and agencies abroad, whether they drive their own vehicles/motorcycles/bikes brought from their own country, or if they need help with renting the kind of vehicles they wish to start their China self-driving journey.
