Shangri-La
The word Shangri-La originates from the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton. He introduced the fictitious Himalayan paradise to the world, capturing people's imagination while stirring up their inner desires for peace and tranquility. While not quite the mythical Himalayan utopia Hilton portrayed it as, Tibet’s current Shangri-La is a "heaven on earth" in its own right, a happy land, isolated from the troubles of the outside world while seemingly insulated from the passing of time. Beautiful lakes, majestic Tibetan monasteries and sacred mountains are common throughout Shangri-La.
In recent years, the Chinese government has officially declared Gyalthang as Shangri-La; invested money to improve infrastructure (roads, airport, hotels, etc.) and promoted it extensively for tourism. Today, the town of Shangri-La has divided into two parts: a well-preserved and polished old town and a new town with growing residential and commercial activities. If you are looking to experience Tibetan cultural in an easy and comfortable way, old town Shangri-La and its surrounding areas is an ideal place to go for 5-10 days. You can fly directly from Kunming, stay in a nice Tibetan resort lodge; eat delicious meals and wake-up with morning espresso. Later visit monasteries, local communities and take beautiful hikes (1-3 days). You can always fly to Lhasa directly from here for few days or travel to other parts of Tibet for a more adventurous experience. The best time to visit is Apr-Jun and Sep-Oct.
Highlights
- Visit 800 year old Lijang, a proposed World Heritage Site
- Experience the very distinctive culture of the Naxi people through dress, music, crafts and customs.
-Take in the views at Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yangtze River, and local tribal communities.
- Explore monasteries, local markets, and ancient homes, practice cooking, painting and meditating with Tibetans
- Participate in Kora (walking meditation) with Tibetan pilgrims.
- Take scenic hikes, or country drives and mingle with nomads
- Stroll leisurely through beautiful Shangri-La National Park
Itinerary
Days 1-3: Kunming/Lijiang Participants will fly to Kunming (1800m), the capital of Yunnan Province and have an opportunity to relax, unwind and alleviate the effects of jetlag. The group will then enjoy a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant, participate in a trip briefing and learn about cultural etiquette. We’ll explore local markets and gompas before our 40-min. flight to Lijiang. There we will explore the Old Town section with over 800 years history that was recently selected to be part of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Here we will experience the very distinctive cultural of the Naxi people through dress, music, crafts and customs. On our 4-hour overland journey to Shangri-la, we will visit some of the most beautiful scenic spots in the region along Tiger Leaping Gorge and the Yangtze River.
Days 4-6: Cultural Shangri-La Once settled, our cultural experiences in and around Shangri-La will include visiting sacred monasteries, colorful local markets, ancient homes and interactive cooking, painting and meditating with Tibetans. We will also participate in Kora (walking meditation) with Tibetan pilgrims.
Days 7-10: Active Shangri-La There are several beautiful hiking options around Shangri-La with most approximately 4-6 hours in length. Optional drives include day trips into the countryside to visit Tibetan communities and to experience nomadic culture. Shangri-la National Park is also a wonderful day trip before flying back to Kunming or on to other destinations.
Trip Style: Lodging will be good hotel and comfortable guesthouses .
