Path of the Immortals: 7-Day Yading’s Holy Mountains & Mosuo Lakeside Adventure

Travelers from around the world will arrive in Lijiang and check into the designated hotel. If you arrive early, you may explore ​Dayan Ancient Town​ or ​Shuhe Ancient Town​ independently. Recommended local attractions include:

​-Sifang Street: The bustling heart of the old town
​-Mu Palace: A restored 14th-century Naxi chieftain’s residence
​-Lion Hill: Offers panoramic views of Lijiang’s tiled rooftops

Stroll through snack streets to sample local delicacies like jidou liangfen (chickpea jelly) or Naxi baba (fried wheat cakes), or unwind at ​Bar Street​ with live music and drinks.

​Accommodation: Traditional Naxi-style guesthouse/hotel twin room
​Meals: At your own arrangement
​Altitude: 2,400m (allow time to acclimatize; avoid strenuous activity/alcohol initially)

​Note: Hotel details (name/address/contact), airport/station transfers, and guide contact will be provided before your China arrival.

Morning
After breakfast, embark on a journey to the legendary ​Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world. Trek along the wooden walkway to the valley floor, where the roaring Jinsha River—sandwiched between the snow-capped Jade Dragon and Haba Mountains—splits violently around a central boulder, creating a spectacle of thunderous rapids and mist.

​Afternoon
Continue to ​Baishuitai, the “Turkish Cotton Castle of Yunnan.” This UNESCO-listed natural wonder is formed by millennia of calcium carbonate deposits from mineral springs, creating terraced pools that resemble frozen waterfalls or “celestial rice fields.” The ethereal white travertine contrasts starkly with the surrounding emerald forests, glowing under sunlight like a surreal painting.

​Evening
Arrive in ​Shangri-La, the fabled land from Lost Horizon. Stroll through ​Dukezong Ancient Town, a preserved the tibetan settlement with cobblestone streets worn smooth by centuries of horse caravans on the Tea-Horse Road. Visit ​Moonlight Square​ to spin the giant prayer wheel, absorbing the town’s spiritual aura under starry skies.

​Accommodation:​​ 4-star boutique hotel in Shangri-La
​Meals:​​ Breakfast, lunch, dinner
​Distance:​​ 255 km (~5 hrs)
​Altitude:​​ 3,200 m

Morning
Venture into Shangri-La’s hidden gem: ​Wudi Lake, a mystical alpine lake cradled by primeval forests and towering peaks. Often dubbed “Hogwarts’ Enchanted Forest,” its mirror-like waters reflect snow-capped mountains while wild yaks and horses graze along its shores—a scene straight out of a fantasy novel.

​Afternoon
Drive through the ​Sichuan-Xizang Highlands, passing emerald pastures, unnamed snow peaks, and the iconic white the tibetan houses of ​Xiangcheng, resembling wedges of cheese dotting the valleys.

​Evening
Arrive in ​Riwa (Shangri-La Town)​, the gateway to Yading. Explore this quaint highland village at leisure, soaking in its rustic charm.

​Accommodation:​​ 4-star lodge in Riwa
​Meals:​​ Breakfast, lunch, dinner
​Distance:​​ 243 km (~4.5 hrs)
​Altitude:​​ 2,900 m

Full-Day Trekking Adventure

​Morning
Hike or horseback ride (optional) to ​Chonggu Monastery, a 600-year-old the tibetan Buddhist site framed by ​Mount Chenrezig (6,032 m)​. Traverse ​Lorong Pasture (4,150 m)​, where wildflowers bloom against a backdrop of the sacred peaks ​Mount Jambeyang​ and ​Mount Chanadorje.

​Afternoon
Ascend 500 m to ​Milk Lake (4,600 m)​, a turquoise glacial lake with ivory sands, nestled beneath Mount Jambeyang’s icefalls. A further 100-m climb reveals ​Five-Color Lake (4,700 m)​, where mineral-rich waters shimmer in hues of sapphire and emerald—a vantage point for panoramic views of Mount Chenrezig.
​Evening:​​ Descend to ​Pearl Lake, capturing the perfect reflection of Mount Chenrezig at sunset. Return to Riwa.
​
Highlights
-UNESCO-listed ​​”Three Holy Peaks”​​ of the tibetan Buddhism.
-Rare wildlife sightings: blue sheep, snow pigeons, and golden monkeys.
​-Accommodation:​​ 4-star lodge in Riwa
​
Meals:​​ Breakfast, lunch, dinner
​Trekking:​​ 12 km round-trip (~6–7 hrs)
​Altitude:​​ 4,150–4,700 m

​Notes:​​
-High-altitude trek; assess fitness level.
-Last shuttle bus departs seasonally—plan accordingly.

Morning
Journey along the rugged ​Lugu-Yading Highway, stopping at ​Luoyi Village, a 400-year-old Naxi ethnic stronghold. Explore its labyrinthine adobe houses interconnected by rooftop pathways—a living museum of communal living.

​Afternoon
Wind through dense old-growth forests to ​Lugu Lake, a crystalline alpine lake straddling Yunnan and Sichuan. Visit ​Lovers’ Trees​ and ​Lige Peninsula​ for postcard-perfect views.

​Evening
Join a ​Mosuo Bonfire Night, dancing with locals in traditional attire under starry skies—an immersion into China’s last matriarchal society.

​Accommodation:​​ 4-star lakeside lodge
​Meals:​​ Breakfast, lunch, dinner
​Distance:​​ 260 km (~6.5 hrs)
​Altitude:​​ 2,600 m

Morning
Glide across mist-covered waters on a ​hand-carved “Pig-Trough Boat”​​ to ​Liwubi Island, one of Lugu’s “Three Immortal Isles.” Hike through wild cherry blossoms to the tibetan Buddhist stupa, where prayer flags flutter against lake vistas.

​Afternoon
Stop at ​Lugu Lake Viewpoint​ for a final panorama before returning to ​Lijiang.

​Meals:​​ Breakfast, lunch
​Distance:​​ 111 km (~3 hrs)

Transfer to Lijiang trian station/Airport,hotel check-out: 12:00 PM. Double-check passports/flight details.