Arrival at Lijiang airport or railway station. Welcome by your English-speaking driver-guide (who will have a sign with your name on it), and set off to discover Lijiang’s old town and its morning market (depending on your arrival time), then venture to the very pretty Black Dragon Pond Park with the mountains in the background reflected in the clear waters. And if you feel like it, a visit to the Dongba Museum will immerse you in the Naxi Dongba culture, with 2,500 items and relics directly from this ethnic minority. Transfer to the charming 4-star Hotel The Bivou, located in the peaceful old town of Shuhe, away from the sometimes busy roads of old Lijiang, but not far from it (6km). Don’t forget to set aside some time to stroll through the heart of Shuhe’s old town on foot. Don’t be afraid to stray from the centre and venture into the hillside lanes lined with vegetable gardens and the shady park (behind The Bivou hotel) where rivers and ponds with particularly clear water mingle. Overnight in Shuhe.

Breakfast and drive to the remote region of Tacheng. On the way, a short stop at the village of Shigu, site of the first bend in the Yangtze River. A diversion to the Liming area to discover the exceptional Laojun Shan National Park, with its immense karst mountains accessible by cable car. This protected area is China’s second-largest park in terms of biodiversity and cultural richness. If you have time, we can advise you to walk back down the mountain (3km, on steps and prepared path). Continue your journey and arrive in Tacheng. Check-in at the superb Songtsam Tacheng Lodge 5*. Overnight in Tacheng.

Breakfast and short transfer to the Baima nature reserve to observe the Yunnan golden monkey, a protected species, in the wild. Return to the hotel, with the possibility of visiting some Naxi minority villages along the way, as well as the village close to the hotel, which is beautifully surrounded by vineyards and also produces some very good traditional honey! This afternoon, you’ll head for the Mekong valley and the astonishing village of Cizhong, populated by Catholic Tibetans. Discover the village overlooking the river, its vineyards and its church. Originally built by French missionaries from the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 1867, it was destroyed and burnt down during the Tibetan Revolt of 1905. It was rebuilt in the centre of the village of Cizhong. Overnight at the Cizhong Songtsam Lodge 5*.

After breakfast, an early start on the road along the Mekong to the Mingyong glacier below the Kawa Karpo summit and the Meili mountains. You will reach the glacier by local shuttle bus. A beautiful hike awaits you along a path frequented by many Tibetan pilgrims, to a local temple and the glacier (around 3 hours’ walk each way). Continue on to the isolated Meili Songstam Lodge 5*, facing the high peaks. Spend the night in the heart of the mountains for a real nature experience!

Superb sunrise over the Meili Mountains, with the first rays of sunlight licking the snow-covered slopes of Kawa Karpo. We then make our way to Benzilan via the three passes of the White Horse Mountains. Passages at an altitude of over 4,000 metres! On the way, there are some lovely views of the mountains and then the Yangtze River. Stop off at a small local nunnery. At Benzilan, we visit the Dongzhulin Tibetan monastery, situated high above the Yangtze. It is a popular spot for locals, known for housing several ‘living Buddhas’. In Benzilan, you may be lucky enough to discover a wood pottery workshop, in a superb large Tibetan house, if the owner is available when you visit. Settle into your lodge, conveniently located in a tiny, protected and peaceful valley with a notorious micro-climate. Overnight at the charming Songtsam Benzilan Lodge.

Breakfast and onward journey, with a stop along the way in the village of Nixi to visit new potters, the black clay of the region being renowned for its quality. Arriving in Shangri La, we explore the Tibetan countryside, including the green Ringha valley, to discover the pretty Dao Bao Si temple. This temple is considered to be one of the 5 most important Tibetan monasteries in Yunnan. The place is peaceful and uncrowded, an ideal place for meditation. Settle into your lodge in the late afternoon, at the foot of the Songzanlin monastery, away from the town. Overnight at the Songtsam Lugu Lodge 5*.

A day of sightseeing in Shangri La, starting with the impressive Songzanlin Tibetan monastery. For lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a Tibetan family, discover their habitat, taste yak butter tea, ‘Tsampa’ and of course yak butter cheese, all local specialities and staples of the daily diet. A stroll through the local market, with its stalls selling local produce such as yak cheese and its many species of freshly-picked mushrooms, followed by a walk through the narrow streets of the old town, in particular to the Bai Ji Si temple offering beautiful views of the Shangri La area and the Shika mountains. You will then pass the small Da Gui Shang temple, which faces a giant Tibetan prayer wheel overlooking the town. Return to your lodge to enjoy a peaceful end to the day. Overnight at Songtsam Lugu Lodge.

A leisurely breakfast and a few moments at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your return or onward flight. End of the Songtsam tour, over the mountains of North Yunnan along the Mekong.

Note: Your room must be vacated by 12 noon. Your luggage can be stored at the hotel.

End of our services. Our teams wish you a pleasant journey home, filled with magical memories of Upper Yunnan!