Yunnan 6 Days Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge & Wenhai
- Durée 5 nights / 6 days
- Langue English
- Thème Adventure
- Rythme Moderate
- Taille du groupe Prix 4 pax
Résumé du voyage
Explore Yunnan’s dramatic mountain landscapes on foot, from UNESCO-listed Lijiang Old Town to remote Naxi villages and the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge, ending in Tibetan-influenced Shangri-La (Zhongdian). Enjoy guided hikes, scenic transfers and cultural encounters with local minorities while your luggage is transported by car.
Prestations prévues
Programme complet
Arrival in Lijiang
Points of Interest :
Upon arrival in Lijiang, your German- or English-speaking guide meets you at the airport or railway station. You drive into the city center and set out on a guided walk through Lijiang’s atmospheric Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with cobbled alleys, canals and traditional wooden houses.
Later, you visit a local family belonging to the Naxi minority. Here you gain insight into their daily life and cuisine, and you are introduced to the basics of the unique Naxi script.
Driving time: about 45 minutes, 50 km.
- Meals included : Lunch
- Accommodation : Zen Garden, Lijiang
Lijiang, hike to Wenhai village
Points of Interest :
In the morning you start your first hike from Yuhu village, located near Lijiang at an elevation of around 2,500 m, to Wenhai village at about 3,100 m. The walk takes roughly 3.5 hours, with about half of the route being a fairly strenuous uphill climb.
Wenhai, also inhabited by the Naxi, is set beside a mountain lake and reached only by unpaved roads, so very few tourists visit. With a bit of luck, you may even spot rare cranes in this tranquil setting.
Driving time to the trailhead: about 30 minutes, 25 km.
- Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation : Wenhai Eco Lodge, Wenhai
Wenhai hike and drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge
Points of Interest :
After breakfast you set off on a longer hike through the Wenhai valley. For about 5 hours you walk through subalpine mountain scenery along the flanks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, enjoying wide-open views over Lijiang and the surrounding villages.
In Longpan your driver meets you and takes you to Qiaotou, the starting point of Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you spend the night. Tiger Leaping Gorge lies on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, here called the Jinsha (Golden Sand) River. The gorge is about 15 km long and framed by towering peaks, with nearly 4,000 m difference in elevation between the highest summits and the river below, making it one of the deepest gorges in the world.
Driving time: about 20 minutes, 15 km.
- Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation : Qiaotou Hotel (guesthouse), Qiaotou
Hiking through Tiger Leaping Gorge
Points of Interest :
Today you begin your full-day hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge. The trail runs between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Haba Mountains, following the river with several ascents to tackle. Qiaotou lies at around 1,800 m, while the highest point of today’s route exceeds 2,500 m above sea level, rewarding you with spectacular canyon views.
After about 7 hours of hiking you arrive in the afternoon at the Tea Horse Guest House, a simple lodge where you spend the night high above the river.
- Meals included : Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Accommodation : Tea Horse Guesthouse, Tiger Leaping Gorge area
Tiger Leaping Gorge hike and drive to Zhongdian (Shangri-La)
Points of Interest :
You complete your hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge by around midday. This morning you still face some uphill stretches, but the walking time is only about 3.5 hours. Afterwards you continue by private car to Zhongdian, today commonly known as Shangri-La, a town largely inhabited by Tibetans.
A stroll through the Old Town is rewarding, although the high altitude of about 3,300 m may require some acclimatization. Close to your hotel you also find a large Tibetan Buddhist (lamaist) monastery that is well worth a visit.
Driving time: about 2 hours, 100 km.
- Meals included : Breakfast and lunch
- Accommodation : Songtsam Hotel, Zhongdian (Shangri-La)
Departure or trip extension
Points of Interest :
Depending on your flight time, you are transferred to the airport for your onward journey, or you may choose to extend your stay in Zhongdian to explore more of the Tibetan plateau and surrounding landscapes.
Driving time: about 30 minutes, 10 km.
- Meals included : Breakfast
- Last day : Transfer to the airport or optional trip extension in Zhongdian
Yunnan 6 Days Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge & Wenhai
Participants
Date
Time
Overall rating
...5.02026-03-01Neos Travel organized the trip superbly; everything went off without a hitch, exactly as agreed. The flexibility in tailoring the package was also excellent. A big thank you to our outstanding contact, Liane!
- Silke5.02026-02-22
China was our first trip there, and we honestly couldn't imagine doing it any better. Neos Travel's local partner Markus planned and organized everything to perfection for us. From our very first contact with Markus to the end of our entire China tour, we received expert guidance, attentive support, and plenty of practical tips. Over 19 days we explored Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. We rode high-speed trains four times and took two domestic flights. At every stop we had a private guide and driver, and everything ran seamlessly. Guides welcomed us at stations and airports with signs bearing our name, so we found each other immediately. The guides spoke excellent German, were courteous, friendly, and possessed an incredible depth of knowledge that they shared with us brilliantly. Every single day was fantastic and completely different. It's impossible to pick a highlight — it was all wonderful and breathtaking. A huge thank-you to Markus; we had a wonderful time in China. We’re also very happy with Neos Travel and would gladly recommend it.
- Rambler5.02026-02-18
China surprised me with its efficient public transport, the high electrification of traffic, and the overall cleanliness and safety — a wonderful destination for travel. At first I had to adjust to the crowds, but the wide streets and parks help spread people out, so you’re rarely crowded. Landscapes impressed me: Beijing’s northern surroundings and Guilin’s scenery in the south were highlights. I was lucky with the weather — three weeks without a drop of rain! Among the cities, Beijing and Shanghai left a strong impression; Xi’an and Chengdu were also beautiful, while Giongqing was a bit much for me. The guides were excellent, and through them I learned a lot about the country’s history and culture. I admire how the drivers handle the heavy traffic — calm, confident, and in control. Communication with Neos Travel was quick and informative at all times, and everything went smoothly. Thank you, Neos Travel; I would gladly recommend you.
- D&S4.02026-02-11
As part of our Neos Travel itinerary, our first day in Shanghai was filled with boundless wonder. The city, the traffic, the people—everything felt larger than life! It takes a moment to adjust to the crowds, but Xi’an was especially impressive beyond Shanghai. The hotel selections were excellent in Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and again in Shanghai/Pudong, and very tidy in Hangzhou; we were less impressed by Suzhou (Holiday Inn) and Beijing (Penta Hotel). The boat trip was very good, and the views along the Yangtze were partly superb. The first excursion into the Xiling Gorge was thrilling!
- Wortmann4.02026-02-07
Overall, the trip was very nice. The on-site guides were good and informative, and the drivers were mostly excellent (one exception). The accommodations were also fine. The only clouds were the cancellation of the helicopter flight and the hot-air balloon ride, which dimmed the finale somewhat. In the future, it would be better not to collect money upfront for activities—pay on-site if the event goes ahead. We also appreciated the travel guidance from our Neos Travel team, especially the Xi'an tip about the evening theater with dinner.
- Marie5.02026-01-21
We did a tailor-made journey with Neos Travel. From Frankfurt we flew to Beijing to visit the Great Wall, then after this short stop we hopped on the train to Xining and from there embarked on the legendary journey to Lhasa (we were the only foreigners on the train). Lhasa was our central stop, and from there we explored Tibet thanks to the excellent organization by Neos Travel. We'd love to come back.
- Anonym5.02026-01-16
Neos Travel planned the trip to perfection and executed it flawlessly, and even our on-site requests were accommodated without any problems. Thank you for this fantastic experience with Neos Travel!
- Sandra5.02026-01-10
This trip, organized by Neos Travel, turned out to be perfectly planned. We were all initially thrilled by how well it was organized; we had no problems or uneasy moments, and we felt very safe as everything ran smoothly. The China journey was very impressive for us Europeans; we hadn’t expected it to be so wonderful, and we all gained plenty of impressions. Although we visited several big cities, we never felt that the people were stressed. The sights were busy, but it was not an organizational issue. We take only positive memories from the China trip and would highly recommend the organization.
- Stefan5.02026-01-08
The organization of the long journey to Zhangye was perfect, even though I had some concerns at first. After a long final leg (FRA-Beijing-Lanzhou train to Zhangye, about 4.5 hours) and roughly 24 hours of travel, I was picked up at night by the guide and driver and taken to the hotel. The support was excellent, thoughtful, and the guide's English was easy to understand. I had unforgettable 1.5 to 2 days with him. The trip and return flight to Guilin went smoothly. There I was reliably picked up again, and the next four days, including the rice terraces, were very impressive. The guide was very considerate, spoke clear German, and was flexible with my visiting wishes. The time after the program drop-off in Yangshuo I could spend in many ways thanks to the hosts at my chosen accommodation. The pickup at Hong Kong station was a very pleasant surprise (guide Daniel) to the hotel and for the welcome briefing. Thank you Neos Travel for organizing a well-rounded trip.
- Birgit K5.02025-12-25
Markus listened closely to our wishes and organized everything to perfection. The trip ran smoothly from start to finish, thanks to his attentive planning and Neos Travel.
- ...5.02026-03-01
Neos Travel organized the trip superbly; everything went off without a hitch, exactly as agreed. The flexibility in tailoring the package was also excellent. A big thank you to our outstanding contact, Liane!
- Silke5.02026-02-22
China was our first trip there, and we honestly couldn't imagine doing it any better. Neos Travel's local partner Markus planned and organized everything to perfection for us. From our very first contact with Markus to the end of our entire China tour, we received expert guidance, attentive support, and plenty of practical tips. Over 19 days we explored Beijing, Luoyang, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai. We rode high-speed trains four times and took two domestic flights. At every stop we had a private guide and driver, and everything ran seamlessly. Guides welcomed us at stations and airports with signs bearing our name, so we found each other immediately. The guides spoke excellent German, were courteous, friendly, and possessed an incredible depth of knowledge that they shared with us brilliantly. Every single day was fantastic and completely different. It's impossible to pick a highlight — it was all wonderful and breathtaking. A huge thank-you to Markus; we had a wonderful time in China. We’re also very happy with Neos Travel and would gladly recommend it.
- Rambler5.02026-02-18
China surprised me with its efficient public transport, the high electrification of traffic, and the overall cleanliness and safety — a wonderful destination for travel. At first I had to adjust to the crowds, but the wide streets and parks help spread people out, so you’re rarely crowded. Landscapes impressed me: Beijing’s northern surroundings and Guilin’s scenery in the south were highlights. I was lucky with the weather — three weeks without a drop of rain! Among the cities, Beijing and Shanghai left a strong impression; Xi’an and Chengdu were also beautiful, while Giongqing was a bit much for me. The guides were excellent, and through them I learned a lot about the country’s history and culture. I admire how the drivers handle the heavy traffic — calm, confident, and in control. Communication with Neos Travel was quick and informative at all times, and everything went smoothly. Thank you, Neos Travel; I would gladly recommend you.
- D&S4.02026-02-11
As part of our Neos Travel itinerary, our first day in Shanghai was filled with boundless wonder. The city, the traffic, the people—everything felt larger than life! It takes a moment to adjust to the crowds, but Xi’an was especially impressive beyond Shanghai. The hotel selections were excellent in Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and again in Shanghai/Pudong, and very tidy in Hangzhou; we were less impressed by Suzhou (Holiday Inn) and Beijing (Penta Hotel). The boat trip was very good, and the views along the Yangtze were partly superb. The first excursion into the Xiling Gorge was thrilling!
- Wortmann4.02026-02-07
Overall, the trip was very nice. The on-site guides were good and informative, and the drivers were mostly excellent (one exception). The accommodations were also fine. The only clouds were the cancellation of the helicopter flight and the hot-air balloon ride, which dimmed the finale somewhat. In the future, it would be better not to collect money upfront for activities—pay on-site if the event goes ahead. We also appreciated the travel guidance from our Neos Travel team, especially the Xi'an tip about the evening theater with dinner.
- Marie5.02026-01-21
We did a tailor-made journey with Neos Travel. From Frankfurt we flew to Beijing to visit the Great Wall, then after this short stop we hopped on the train to Xining and from there embarked on the legendary journey to Lhasa (we were the only foreigners on the train). Lhasa was our central stop, and from there we explored Tibet thanks to the excellent organization by Neos Travel. We'd love to come back.
- Anonym5.02026-01-16
Neos Travel planned the trip to perfection and executed it flawlessly, and even our on-site requests were accommodated without any problems. Thank you for this fantastic experience with Neos Travel!
- Sandra5.02026-01-10
This trip, organized by Neos Travel, turned out to be perfectly planned. We were all initially thrilled by how well it was organized; we had no problems or uneasy moments, and we felt very safe as everything ran smoothly. The China journey was very impressive for us Europeans; we hadn’t expected it to be so wonderful, and we all gained plenty of impressions. Although we visited several big cities, we never felt that the people were stressed. The sights were busy, but it was not an organizational issue. We take only positive memories from the China trip and would highly recommend the organization.
- Stefan5.02026-01-08
The organization of the long journey to Zhangye was perfect, even though I had some concerns at first. After a long final leg (FRA-Beijing-Lanzhou train to Zhangye, about 4.5 hours) and roughly 24 hours of travel, I was picked up at night by the guide and driver and taken to the hotel. The support was excellent, thoughtful, and the guide's English was easy to understand. I had unforgettable 1.5 to 2 days with him. The trip and return flight to Guilin went smoothly. There I was reliably picked up again, and the next four days, including the rice terraces, were very impressive. The guide was very considerate, spoke clear German, and was flexible with my visiting wishes. The time after the program drop-off in Yangshuo I could spend in many ways thanks to the hosts at my chosen accommodation. The pickup at Hong Kong station was a very pleasant surprise (guide Daniel) to the hotel and for the welcome briefing. Thank you Neos Travel for organizing a well-rounded trip.
- Birgit K5.02025-12-25
Markus listened closely to our wishes and organized everything to perfection. The trip ran smoothly from start to finish, thanks to his attentive planning and Neos Travel.
What is included in the price
- All transfers and visits listed in the program including English-speaking tour guide and entrance fees (German-speaking guide available at significant extra cost)
- Meals as specified in the program
- Accommodation with breakfast in the mentioned hotels and on the specified cruise ship, where applicable
- Luggage transport by car so that only daypacks need to be carried during the hikes
- Visa
- Drinks
- Tips on site
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- All services not mentioned in the program