Yunnan Extension

Arrive in Kunming and connect to Lijiang. Transfer to your luxury resort hotel, featuring views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from every room.

Visit Baisha, the former capital of the 12th-century Naxi Kingdom and now a sleepy hamlet that houses remarkable mural paintings. Visit the tiny rural village of Yuhu, once home to explorer and botanist Joseph Rock, who is said to have inspired James Hilton’s classic book Lost Horizons, about a mythical land called Shangri-La. Then, stroll the cobblestone lanes of Lijiang’s ancient Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, stop by the idyllic Black Dragon Pool Park. This evening, take in a performance by the Naxi Ancient Music Ensemble.

Drive to Zhongdian (renamed Shangri-La in 2001), stopping at the First Bend of the Yangtze River and the village of Shigu. Continue along the stunning Yunnan/Tibet Highway, and lunch beside the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the most dramatically beautiful sites in all of Asia. Arrive in the late afternoon at your luxury retreat, nestled in a peaceful valley overlooking the Songzangling Monastery.

Meet with monks and the lama (Living Buddha) at the Songzangling Monastery. Then explore Zhongdian’s 400-year-old Old Town and Ringha, a traditional Khampa Tibetan village. Hike to the summit of Dabaosi (sacred hill of Ringha) and sip butter tea with a farming family.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.