Trip Highlights: 

The colorful ethnic minority groups of Yunnan must be experienced to be truly understood. This tour will not only allow you to witness their ancient cultures and colorful clothing but also let you immerse in the amazing scenery of Yunnan.

Day-by-Day Itinerary：

Day 1

Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out onto the city for a little adventure of your own.

Day 2

On this day you will visit Kunming's famous Stone Forest, a bizarre rock formation created over millennia of rain and weather. A must-see! In the afternoon you will be free to check out all that Kunming has to offer.

Day 3

This morning you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Lijiang. Upon arriving, your tour guide will meet you at the airport. You will then be driven to Qiaotou at an altitude of 2070 meters. On the way you will stop in the town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to visit the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and the Iron Chain Bridge.

Day 4

You will be driven to the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, 9 kilometers to hike the world's deepest gorge. Upon arriving, you will descend the more than 400 steps down to the gorge's river bed, where you can see the very rock used by the tiger in the naming of the gorge. You will then hike for 5 to 6 hours along the High Trail from Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, pass the gorge's 28 bends till you get to the Half Way Guesthouse. The Half Way Guesthouse is situated between two snow capped mountains, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Mountain. Although the guesthouse does not have all the amenities of a star rated hotel, the scenery is exceptional, and the legendary hospitality of the local ethnic minority people will make you feel at home. Stay overnight at Half Way Guesthouse.

Day 5

On this morning you will get up early to continue your amazing hike. You will continue hiking for about 5 hours on the High Trail from the Half Way Guesthouse to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, and then you will hike through the Heaven's Staircase until you get to the Hetaoyuan (Walnut Grove). Stay overnight at the No.1 Woody's house (Guesthouse). Located at 2175meters, the guesthouse has a viewing platform, which offers spectacular views of the gorge and the Yangtze River raging through it.

(For the more adventurous visitors, there is another path called "Heaven of One Thread" from the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge to the Hetaoyuan (Walnut Grove), which takes an hour longer than the above mentioned route, but the scenery is absolutely amazing!)

Day 6

You will begin this day's hike from Hetaoyuan (Walnut Grove) and hike to Daju 14 kilometers which will take about 6 hours. At first you will walk along the Yangtze River on the main road first and then on the small trail down to the bank of the river, where you will take a very simple ferry to get across the Yangtze River (about 20 minutes on the ferry) to the side of Daju. You will continue hiking up on the small trail to the parking lot where your driver will be waiting for you. You will then be driven back to Lijiang, 87 kilometers. Along the way, you will view white water rapids and the other side of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Day 7

This day you will visit the Lijiang Ancient Town and Lion Hill located inside. You will then visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture inside the park. In the afternoon you will be free to explore the Lijiang Ancient City on your own.

Day 8

On this day you will be free until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

Note: This tour is not available during the rainy season (late June, July, August and September). Due to the landslides that inevitably occur, hiking is very dangerous. The best season for this tour would be April, May, early June, October, and November.

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