Yunnan 6 Days Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge & Wenhai

4.8 (44 reviews)
  • 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

  • Logement

    5 nights in guesthouses and boutique hotels
    Accommodation with breakfast in the mentioned hotels and lodges
    Overnight in Wenhai Eco Lodge
    Overnight in local guesthouses in Qiaotou and Tiger Leaping Gorge
    Overnight in a hotel in Lijiang and Zhongdian

  • Transport

    All transfers and visits listed in the program by private car
    Airport and railway station transfers in Lijiang
    Luggage transport by car so you only carry a daypack on hikes

  • Repas

    5 breakfasts
    4 lunches
    3 dinners

  • Encadrement

    English-speaking tour guide for all transfers and visits (German-speaking guide available at significant extra cost)

  • Activités et visites

    Guided walking tour of Lijiang Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage)
    Visit to a Naxi family with introduction to Naxi lifestyle, cuisine and script
    Day hike from Yuhu village to Wenhai village
    Hike through the Wenhai valley along Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
    Multi-day trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge
    Visit of Zhongdian (Shangri-La) Old Town
    Visit of a large Tibetan Buddhist (lamaist) monastery near Zhongdian
    Scenic drives through the mountains of Yunnan

More details

Programme complet

Day 1

Arrival in Lijiang

Traditional rooftops and canals of Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan at sunset

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
Day 2

Lijiang, hike to Wenhai village

Hikers approaching the remote Naxi village of Wenhai beside a mountain lake in Yunnan

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
Day 3

Wenhai hike and drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge

View over Tiger Leaping Gorge and the Jinsha River with high snow-capped peaks in the background

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
Day 4

Hiking through Tiger Leaping Gorge

Narrow trail high above the river inside Tiger Leaping Gorge with steep cliffs on both sides

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
Day 5

Tiger Leaping Gorge hike and drive to Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

View of Shangri-La (Zhongdian) with traditional Tibetan-style houses and a large monastery on a hillside

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)
Day 6

Departure or trip extension

Traveler looking out over the mountains and town of Zhongdian (Shangri-La) before departure

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
Total :

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Experience added to cart
Yunnan 6 Days Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge & Wenhai
4.8 (44 Reviews)

Yunnan 6 Days Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge & Wenhai

Participants

Date

4.8 (44 reviews)

Overall rating

  • Reisen mit Kindern
    5.0
    2026-05-18

    Excellent planning of domestic flights and trains, and very good guides in Beijing and Xi'an. Perfect for families; we traveled with our three kids. Thanks to Neos Travel for making this experience seamless and enjoyable.

  • Susann
    5.0
    2026-05-07

    Beijing offered the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, Coal Hill Park (Jingshan Park), the Temple of Heaven, and a private Tai Chi session. Xi’an featured the City Wall, Jade House, and the Terracotta Army. Lhasa welcomed the Potala Palace. The Yangtze River cruise showcased the Three Gorges and the dam. In Shanghai we visited the Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden, and Tongli, and in Hong Kong we rode up to Victoria Peak. With Neos Travel, these highlights were well arranged.

  • C. E
    5.0
    2026-05-03

    The trip exceeded my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone interested in China. Neos Travel handled the arrangements smoothly, and the support from the local guides was flawless. I’d travel with Neos Travel again. A few notes for improvement: the pre-trip information could be clearer—visiting sights and especially the nature parks involve long walks, roughly 16–19 km for us. Breaks come mainly during transfers by train, plane, or taxi, so it’s wise to add a few extra days. The riverfront hotel we stayed at was perfect for a multi-day stay. The local guides impressed us with excellent language skills and great courtesy. We would have loved to chat more with them over meals, but that wasn’t possible; our invitations were politely declined each time. It’s also worth packing a small provisions kit for the nature hikes, as some on-site food stalls can be less suitable for European travellers. It’s good to know that communication isn’t a problem thanks to affordable eSIM cards; we could even WhatsApp. Getting started with Alipay and WeChat payments is a bit fiddly, but the guides were happy to help. The most adventurous moment is ordering taxis via the Alipay didi feature, since entering pickup and destination points can be clunky. All of this together made for a unique travel experience. Thank you.

  • Fantastische Reise, die zu unserem Top 5 Reisen insgesamt gehört
    5.0
    2026-05-03

    We love booking our trips with Neos Travel and have never been disappointed. This trip to China surpassed all our expectations and was a fantastic experience from start to finish. It was very well organized. At every stop we were welcomed by an excellent German-speaking guide who accompanied us throughout our days there. The drivers were very friendly and the vehicles were incredibly clean and well maintained. Special praise goes to our Xi’an guide Wen; we had a wonderful time and Wen took such good care of us. Wen even arranged for us a night excursion to a lantern-lit spectacle that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Otherwise, all the guides were top-notch; no question went unanswered, and every guide offered restaurant tips and local specialties. The hotels were in great locations and generally clean and comfortable. Our last hotel in Beijing was a bit dated, but the staff went above and beyond to compensate with outstanding service. China is simply a fantastic travel destination. Even weeks after returning, we’re still amazed by the blend of a futuristic world and tradition. Each place we visited—Hong Kong, Guilin, Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing—could be worth a trip on its own. There are so many incredible buildings to marvel at, the people are incredibly friendly and engaged, and the atmosphere is truly unique. We were especially impressed by the parks, beautifully lit in the evenings and nights and used by locals for relaxation. This is a mega trip we’d highly recommend adding to your top five.

  • Ophtho
    5.0
    2026-04-21

    Every stop felt unique, each with its own charm, and it was great that a local guide was always there to introduce the city. The varied perspectives from these guides truly brought each place to life. We would gladly travel with Neos Travel again.

  • KURT
    5.0
    2026-04-18

    The trip was perfectly organized; all transfers went smoothly, and the guides were competent and reliable. Our Neos Travel contact, Markus Bo, was always available for questions and could answer everything.

  • Le Suisse
    5.0
    2026-04-12

    Very well organized, with excellent guides—our Xi'an guide Sofia was outstanding. A big thank you to Neos Travel for putting this trip together.

  • Wassermann
    5.0
    2026-04-07

    Our travel group consisted of three friendly couples. Our destinations were Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guilin, and Yangshuo / Longsheng. Highlights included the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, the tallest tower in China in Shanghai, a Li River cruise in Guilin, and the rice terraces of Longsheng. Hangzhou and Suzhou, with their parks and gardens, impressed us as well. Everything was organized superbly by Neos Travel.

  • Claudia M.
    5.0
    2026-03-27

    This was our second trip booked through Neos Travel, and we were thrilled. Everything went smoothly; Markus's team was always reachable and planned a dream trip according to our wishes. The hotel accommodations were varied—some authentically local, some upscale—the mix worked perfectly. The guides and drivers were very nice; we had a lot of fun and learned plenty about the country and its people. It was a dream vacation, and my husband is still sifting through the countless photos. Thank you again to Markus and your team; it was also wonderful when, on my birthday, we were surprised with a cake in the rice terraces. An unforgettable day and vacation.

  • Tetyana
    5.0
    2026-03-04

    Neos Travel designed a trip that could be personalized to my schedule. The guides were very competent, and it was possible to start later and stay longer to fit my daily rhythm. Markus provided excellent planning advice and was always reachable, offering several alternatives. I couldn't fault a thing—perfect—and I will plan my next Japan trip again with Neos Travel.

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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