5 Days Classic Shangri-La Tour with Meili Snow Mountain

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shangri-La Arrival
   Arrival day with optional ancient town strolls and Tibetan cultural sights

   Upon your arrival at Shangri-La Airport (Diqing Shangri-La Airport: DIG), the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer you to local hotel.

   If time allows and you also feel in mood of take a slow walk outside, then you can consider exploring the Dukezong Ancient Town, which can show you some traditional Tibetan dwellings. Slow down your pace, and immerse yourself in the unparalleled atmosphere while cobblestone alleys that glow warmly at sunset. You may also climb Guishan Hill, and many people come here for the world’s largest prayer wheel. Spinning it with other visitors is believed to bring blessings and good fortune to oneself. The hilltop can give you a sweeping view of Shangri-La County and the surrounding houses decorated with colorful prayer flags. These simple activities offer an easy, relaxing introduction to Tibetan culture without rushing after your flight.

   Free and easy on your own for the rest of the day.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
2. Day 2: Shangri-La's Culture and Nature
   Explore Tibetan monasteries, natural wonders and experience authentic local life

   Shangri-La has a different appearance of the past places where you will start to meet Tibetan element. The first site will be Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and often referred to as the “Small Potala Palace.” Built against a hillside, it resembles an ancient fortress and showcases exquisite Tibetan architectural craftsmanship. The monastery houses golden-roofed halls, ancient scriptures, and intricate murals, offering insight into Tibetan religious traditions and monastic life.

   In the afternoon, continue your journey to Pudacuo National Park. This site presents a treasured highland ecosystem located between 3,500m and 4,159m. Here, you can explore a combination of lakes, alpine meadows, wetlands, and rare wildlife, and all these incredible highlights have together made it one of Shangri-La’s most breathtaking natural reserves. You’ll be visiting Shudu Lake, a tranquil alpine lake encircled by dense spruce forests, and Bita Lake, known as the “Pearl of the Plateau” for its mirror-like waters and floating island vegetation.

   At the end of the day, enjoy a Tibetan family visit, taste traditional yak butter tea, and learn about local customs, household layout, and daily routines shared by warm-hearted Tibetan hosts.

   Get to your Shangri-La hotel to check in.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
3. Day 3: Shangri-La- Deqin-Feilaisi 180kms/4hrs driving
   Nixi Pottery Village, Dongzhulin Monastery, The First Bend of Jinsha River, sunset over Meili Snow Mountain

   After breakfast, follow your guide to drive for around 5 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude). You won’t be bored since there are many amazing views on the way!

   After 1.5 hours of driving, you would have a panoramic view of Nixi Pottery Village, which is a remote village with a long history of pottery. Continuing to drive along the Jinshan River, you could enjoy the beautiful natural scenery along the river and arrive at Benzilan Town for lunch.

   

   After lunch, move on to your visit to Dongzhulin Monastery. Lesser-visited though Dongzhulin Monastery is, it has a quite famous historical origin as the cradle of Tibetan Buddhism in Western Yunnan Province. The Monastery houses many precious relics like Buddhist statues, Thangkas, and pagodas.

   Then, you will pay a visit to The First Bend of Jinsha River, also called the Moon Bend, which is a spectacular natural landscape on the border of Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province. The grand Jinsha River flows and takes a bend in the shape of “Ω” around the pyramid-like Rizhui Peak, impressing the visitors a lot with the amazing views.

   Arrival at Feilaisi in the late afternoon, the gorgeous sunset over Meili Snow Mountain will be waiting for you! Meili Snow Mountain is reputed as “Snow Mountain Prince” in China and attracts endless backpackers with the scene of “Snowy Peak bathed in Gold Sunlight”. There are 13 peaks with an altitude of over 6,000 meters in Meli Snow Mountain, enjoying the title of “Thirteen Peaks of the Snow Mountain Prince”. The main peak of Meli Snow Mountain, Kawakarpo Peak, is the highest in Yunnan Province, with 6740 meters, without being topped so far.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
4. Day 4: Feilaisi-Mingyong-Shangri-La 210kms/ 4-5 hrs driving
   Sunrise over Meli Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glacier

   Today, get up early to catch the marvelous sunrise over Meli Snow Mountain. Don’t forget to bring your camera to record this amazing moment!

   After breakfast at the hotel, drive for around 1 hour to Mingyong village, from where you will start today’s hiking. The trail gradually ascends through forest paths and prayer-flag-lined slopes until you reach Taizi Temple, a sacred worship site dedicated to mountain deities. It serves as both a spiritual rest point and a scenic platform for viewing the glacier’s lower tongue. Continuing onward, you’ll arrive at the viewing deck, where you can rest and appreciate the dramatic sight of Mingyong Glacier, cascading like a silver dragon toward the Lancang River.

   Mingyong Glacier is the largest and longest valley glacier in Yunnan Province, like a silver dragon roaring from the deepest of sky to the Lantsang River when looking from a distance. It’s one of the hottest hiking routes in Yunnan Province and is taken as a must-do-once-in-a-lifetime activity for those adventurers.

   After the visit, drive around 4.5 hours back to Shangri-La.

   

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   3-Star Hotel in Shangri-La
5. Day 5: Shangri-La Departure

   The 5 days classic Shangri-La tour will end today. At the confirmed time (according to your departure flight), the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and see you off at Shangri-La airport. Thanks for traveling with China Xian Tour to spend your 5 days in Yunnan!

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