TOURSHOTELS

AMAZING JOURNEY, Thanks so much

Back now and still recovering from our amazing journey. It was a fantastic trip.

Mrs. Marilyn L. Geary

Burma, one of the highlights of my life

Our guides were excellent and met our needs with care. Thank you for all of your help.

Mr.John and Loretta Wortley

IN SEARCH OF SHANGRI-LA

We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements

Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursion to accommodation

OVERVIEW ITINERARY TOUR DETAILS REVIEWS

In 1933, British author James Hilton wrote about a mystical earthly paradise in the mountains of Tibet that he dubbed ‘Shangri-La’ in his novel Lost Horizon. The utopia he depicted told of a mythical land isolated from the outside world – a ‘Garden of Eden’ where people enjoyed lengthened lives far beyond the normal lifespan. Although his musings were fictional, much was inspired by his readings of National Geographic accounts about several regions around the Himalayas.

One such place is Zhongdian, which has now formally renamed itself Shangri-La County to reflect its accurate likeness of the utopia Hilton described.

Our four-day, three-night ‘In Search of Shangri-La’ tour provides a glimpse at some of the most picturesque landscapes and terrains of Southwest China and includes visits to: Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world; Baishuitai, a collection of stunning limestone pools; Nixi, a small pottery town nestling on the mountain side; as well as spending time at Songzanlin Monastery and the Mingyong Glacier.

THE BACKYARD DIFFERENCE

Enjoy a picnic breakfast while taking in a sublime sunrise over the Meili Xue Shan mountain range at Feilasi Temple
Learn the ancient art of thangka at a school in Zhongdian
Visit the Songzanlin Monastery and observe the daily life of the 600 monks who live around Lamuyancuo Lake
Take a tour of Pudaocuo National Park, a large natural area that contains over 100 endangered animal species, including the Red Panda and Asiatic Black Bear
Try the Tibetan specialty tsampa, a mixture of yak’s butter, tea and flour in the small mountainside village Nixi
Take part in the daily dance ritual in the Zhongdian’s main square

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS

Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge –...

Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

Deqin – Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

Day 1

Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

Welcome to Shangri-La! Unlike the mythical paradise that James Hilton wrote about though, on this tour you’ll have the chance to visit a modern-day utopia that’s very much real!

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Overnight in Zhongdian

Meals included on this day: None

Day 2

Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

The next morning you will then continue to the small pottery village of Nixi (around 30 minutes’ drive from Zhongdian), nesting on a mountain that overhangs the marvelous Napahai Lake surrounded by mountains on one side and the other by a broad meadow where horses and yaks graze happily. During the journey you will stop at the house of a Tibetan family where you can try tsampa, a mixture of yak’s butter, tea and flour and take the opportunity to savor this local specialty in a traditional small Tibetan house.

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Overnight in Zhongdian

Meals included on this day: Breakfast

Day 3

Zhongdian (Shangri-La) – Deqin

After breakfast, day three will begin with a visit to the impressive Songzanlin monastery, which is located 10-15 minutes’ drive from the old town and is an important location for Tibetan Buddhism. At the monastery you can admire the glittering golden roofs all around and countless prayer flags waving in the wind, as well as the scenes of local life around the Lamuyancuo Lake and the 600 monks who stay in the small houses adjoining the monastery as they go about their daily duties.

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Overnight in Deqin

Meals included on this day: Breakfast

Day 4

Deqin – Zhongdian (Shangri-La)

On your last day you will rise at dawn so as not to miss the sunrise over the Meili Xue Shan mountain range. These mountains stand as an impassable border between Tibet and China and are dominated by the mystical Kawa Karpo, a true natural boundary that, at more than 6,700 meters high, towers over the neighboring mountains. This amazing experience will be enjoyed whilst eating a picnic breakfast, prepared in advance by the hotel.

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