Day 1 – Tuesday
San Francisco: After meeting and greeting your flight leader and the other students joining the Yunnan Explorer, we’re off to Hong Kong! This is an easy, non-stop ride across the Pacific – and most students find that after dinner and a movie, they’re able to manage dozing off to sleep for a while. So sit back, have a chat with your new friends, and enjoy the flight!
Day 2 – Wednesday
This day is ‘lost’ as you cross the International Date Line. But don’t worry– you’ll get it back when returning home!
Day 3 – Thursday
Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport, where you’ll meet your program leaders and have time for a long awaited stretch. You will have a few hours in the airport before connecting onwards. Next, we’ll grab our bags (preferably small and manageable!) and check-in for our connecting flight to Kunming. The flight takes about 1 ½ hours, and then you will be setting down in mainland China! Arriving into Kunming International Airport, you will meet up with the rest of the staff awaiting your arrival. Hop on a private bus, and make your way over to the Camellia Hotel, where you will be staying tonight. Drop your bags off, grab a quick shower and a change of clothes, enjoy your first traditional Chinese meal, and then you are off to begin exploring. This first afternoon you will head out of the city, and up into the mountains to explore one of Kunming’s most famous sights, the West Dragon’s Gate. This intricate complex of cave’s and monasteries were carved into the cliff face by Taoist monks over 50 years during the 18th century. As you wind your way through the stone passageways, you will see the vast seeping countryside surrounding Kunming spread out below. Take your time walking through this magical place, stop to take in the view, and admire the astounding craftsmanship of this place. Once we reach the summit, hop on a cable car and enjoy the ride as you snake along above the treetops, descending back down the mountain. Once we reach the bottom again, hop back in your private bus, and return to the hotel. Take some time this afternoon to relax and rest up a bit from the journey, and get yourself situated to “Asia time”. This evening, enjoy a great feast and possibly catch a traditional Yunnanese folk concert to welcome you to this magical land. Welcome to the Yunnan Explorer!
Day 4 – Friday
Waking up early, enjoy a great breakfast buffet at the Camellia hotel, pack up your bags, and we are off to the Kunming Airport to catch a flight up to the city of Lijiang, your base of operations for the rest of your time. This flight is very short, about 45 minutes long, and as you gaze out the window, you will watch the city of Kunming fade away and be replaced with the lush mountains of Northern Yunnan Province. Once we arrive into Lijiang Airport, grab your bags, and hop on a private bus to take you into the city. The drive takes about 25 minutes, and before you know it you will be stepping into the beautiful city of Lijiang! Settle into the hotel, drop off your bags and unpack, and then explore a bit of the city on this first morning. After lunch, we will hike up to the Black Dragon Pool Park, one of the most famous vantage points to view the stunning peaks of Yulong Xueshan, the famous mountain which you will be summiting in a few short days. After hiking back down to the city, you will have some time to explore some more of the beautiful streets of Lijiang before a traditional dinner of Yunnan food, a true and rare delicacy in China. After dinner, you will treat yourself to a truly rare occasion, an evening at the Naxi Opera house. This special performance is truly a unique event, as the performers are still the original participants in this show. Many of them in their late 70’s, the musicians have survived the Cultural Revolution and still enjoy performing for visitors each night. After a long day of hiking, exploring the city, some fantastic dining, and a night at the opera, it’s off for a good nights rest.
Day 5 – Saturday
Wake up early, grab a great breakfast in the city, pack a day bag, hop on a mountain bike, and we are off to explore the village of Baisha. The village lies about a 30 minute ride outside the city, and is one of the most famous sights located around Lijiang. Originally the Naxi capital during the 10th and 11th centuries, Baisha is one of the last remaining glimpses into the traditional Naxi culture. Enjoy exploring the village, meeting some of the locals, dining in a local Naxi restaurant, and exploring some age old temples located around the village. Hop back on your bikes in the afternoon and return to Lijiang. This evening we will explore some more of Lijiang, walking the cobbled streets filled with small markets and cafes, all with a feel of an ancient Chinese kingdom. Enjoy a great dinner of local Chinese dishes, and then head off to sleep.
Day 6 – Sunday
Today begins the two day adventure up to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. One of the most famous hikes in all of China, this amazing adventure will take you along one of the most beautiful hikes along the Yangzi River. Grab breakfast in the city, pack an overnight bag, and off we go! Hopping on your private bus, you will take the 2 hour journey out of the city and into the countryside, watching the countryside transform itself into the rolling farmland of the Yunnan people, and finally being replaced with the mountains surrounding the gorge. Step off the bus, stretch your legs, and let the hike begin. During this first day, the hike will take you most of the way through the gorge. Start off slowly ascending the trail, as the hills turn steeper and the Yangzi drops slowly farther below. Entering the main push, known as the 24 Bends, you will slowly snake your way higher as you crisscross this famous portion of the hike. Once reaching the top, enjoy the breathtaking view of the Yangzi River, now far below in the valley, and the snow capped peaks towering high above. After the 24 bends, it is a steady straight hike along the side of the gorge. You may pass a few Naxi locals and their trusted mules as they pass along the route between villages. Towards the late afternoon we will reach the Naxi Family Guesthouse, where we will be spending the night. This beautiful guest house modeled after the Naxi homes of old is truly a special place to spend the night. Feast on traditional Naxi dishes, enjoy the magnificent starts blazing above the peaks, and fall asleep listening to the Yangzi road deep below in the valley.
Day 7 – Monday
Waking early to warm tea and a Naxi breakfast, it is time to hike the remainder of the trail, back down to the rivers edge. Once you step off the path, hop back on your private bus and make the journey back to Lijiang. Once we arrive back into the city, head back to the hotel, grab a shower, another sumptuous Chinese lunch, and take some time this afternoon to relax after the hike. You can now say you have hiked the Gorge! Enjoy a leisurely evening of walking the streets of Lijiang, dining on more fantastic Chinese dishes, and taking in the tranquility of this special corner of the world.
Day 8 – Tuesday
Waking up early, this is your last full day in Lijiang. Another great breakfast in the city, and we are off again to explore more of the countryside. Today you will be visiting the famed mountain range know as Yulong Xueshan, or Mount Satseto. Soaring to heights of 5500 meters (18,150 feet!), Yulong Xueshan is truly a magnificent spectacle. Don’t worry though; you won’t be hiking to the top. There are a few famous spots along the mountain which we will be visiting, all of which are accessed by chairlift. Along the way up the mountain today, you will see the famous Dry Sea Meadow, originally a glacial lake located at 3050 meters (10,065 feet), the Cloud Fir Meadow, a special spot to view the glaciers from a viewpoint of 4506 meters (14,870 feet), and the Yak Meadow, where there are some GREAT small hikes around the area, located at 3500 meters (11,550 feet). After a full day of exploring the mountains, you will head back down the mountains, hop back on your private bus and return to Lijiang for a final night in this special city. A last traditional Naxi meal, some time in the evening walking the streets of Lijiang a final time, and it’s off for a good nights rest.
Day 9 – Wednesday
Waking up early, grab a final breakfast in the city, pack up your bags, and hop on the bus for the journey back to Kunming. Along the way, you will have ample time to view the amazing countryside, and watch as the towering mountain range is slowly replaced with the rolling hills and farmland of southern Yunnan. Along the way, you will stop by the village of Shaxi, where Rustic Pathways operates our Shaxi Village Service Project. Step into this quaint village, enjoy a traditional Shaxi lunch prepared by the elders of the village especially for you, and do a bit of exploring this small community. Hopping back on the bus, you will make the drive back to the city of Kunming. Arriving into town, head back to the Camellia Hotel, check into your rooms, drop off your bags and grab a bit of time to relax, and then it’s off for your final dinner in China. As you head off to sleep, you will have a bit of time to recount the amazing adventures you have been through in the last 8 days. You won’t believe it’s only been a week!
Day 10 – Thursday
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel, grab a great breakfast at the hotel, pack up your bags, do a bit of last minute shopping, and then hop on a plane for a 1 ½ hour flight to return to Hong Kong. Once arriving into the city of Hong Kong, you will either be taking the Group Flight back to the USA, or connecting to another Rustic Pathways program. Say goodbye to the friends you have made, the adventures you have had, and the country you have come to know – China!
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.
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Lijiang – The Gem of Yunnan
Trekking in the Mountains
