Cultures of Yunnan & Tibet

Arrive at Kunming, where you will be assisted with the onward flight to Lijiang. Transfer to the beautiful Intercontinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort. Settle in and explore at your own pace.

Intercontinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort (Club Intercontinental Room)

Discover the many charms of Lijiang’s UNESCO listed Old Town as you stroll through the cobbled streets amongst the weathered, postcard-perfect wooden houses. Cross ancient timber footbridges over the network of spring-fed canals. Continue up to the auspicious Wang Gu Lou Pagoda, which stands sentinel above the city as a beacon of protection and good fortune. Next, take your seat in an old tea house to partake in an important ritual – a tea ceremony. Spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Intercontinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort (Club Intercontinental Room) | Meals: B

Head beyond the city to Bai Sha Village, the former capital of the Naxi kingdom. Wander through this intriguing village and seek out the site of the 16^th century Bai Sha Murals. Then, accept your invitation into the home of Dr. Ho, a 96-year-old herbal medicine practitioner who for years has been treating the villagers for free. Later, learn centuries-old traditions in the national Embroidery Institute. Continue overland to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to enjoy the colourful and dynamic Mountains and Rivers song and dance performance, which will draw you into the world of Yunnan’s myriad ethnic groups. Continue to Shuhe, 'the hometown of springs', one of the earliest Naxi settlements. Meander through this well-preserved town on the Tea Horse Road and seek out the local cobblers whose leatherwork is said to match the best in Italy.

Intercontinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort (Club Intercontinental Room) | Meals: B

Journey overland to Shangri-La (formally Zhongdian) on the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Pause en route at the ‘First Bend’ in the Yangtze River to see this auspicious site where the mighty river flows south out of Tibet. Next, visit the charming Naxi village of Shigu, with its large 16th century stone drum memorial. Continue to the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge and see where, according to folklore, the desperate animal leapt across at its narrowest point to escape a hunter. A short hike in this dramatic canyon reveals the Yangtze River roaring 4,000 metres below on the gorge floor. Arrive into Shangri-La late this afternoon.

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (Superior Suite) | Meals: BL

The area round Shangri-La introduces you to the fascinating Tibetan culture. First stop the Songzanlin Monastery, the largest in Yunnan, with a special visit to the Protector Temple. Continue onwards to a Khampa Tibetan village where herds of yak, mountain pony, sheep and goats graze on the spring pasture and the fields yield bumper crops of highland barley, buckwheat and potatoes. Meet with local families and get an exclusive glimpse into Tibetan life as you watch yak butter being made and enjoy tea with your hosts. Then, head to the 800-year-old working monastery, Ringha, where prayer flags flutter and the views extend over the Sudugang River below. Visit the Tibetan Culture Museum to delve deeper into Tibetan cultural and lifestyle traditions. Or visit a printing house to learn the art of traditional script printing.

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (Superior Suite) | Meals: BL

Venture deeper into Tibetan culture today. Start at the Napa Hai Forest Reserve and discover a wonderful wetland area and paradise for birdlife. Next, visit the Nishi black pottery village to watch artisans shaping the clay with their hands and wooden tools. Onwards to the Scenic Moon Crescent Gorge and the Marriage of the Waters. Later, watch a demonstration on how to make Tibetan incense. Visit the Dongzhulin Monastery, soaring 3,000 metres above sea level, and lose yourself in this Buddhist cultural treasure house for pilgrims. Tonight, feast on a hearty Tibetan hot pot dinner – the perfect end to your day’s adventures. .

Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (Superior Suite) | Meals: BLD

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lhasa, then continue overland to Tsedang.

Along the way, stop at Yumbu Lakang, said to be the first Tibetan palace. Wander amongst the towers, chapels, monks' rooms and buildings of this majestic structure, before journeying onwards to your hotel.

Tsedang Hotel (Deluxe Room) | Meals: B

Journey overland to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet. Along the way, pause at Samye Monastery, the oldest and most sacred of all monasteries in Tibet, dating to the late 8^th century. Arrive in Lhasa, one of the highest cities on earth.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (Horizon Club Room) | Meals: BL

Discover the city’s long history, unique culture and isolated location surrounded by the world’s highest mountains. Visit the Ani Tsankhung Nunnery, a Buddhist nunnery built in the 7^th century by Songsten Gampo, before moving onto the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most revered religious structure, in the heart of Lhasa. Here, you’ll get a real sense of daily life in Tibet as people come together for one purpose: to express their devotion. Encircling the temple is Barkhor Square, where you can follow pilgrims from all over Tibet as they complete their kora (walking clockwise around a sacred spot). In nearby Barkhor Bazaar, lose yourself amongst prayer beads and wheels, carpets, and thangkas. After lunch, pause at the serene Sera Monastery, one of Tibet’s Great Six monasteries and a renowned seat of Buddhist learning. Explore the monastic city before watching the dramatic debates held in the outside courtyards as part of the monks’ training.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (Horizon Club Room) | Meals: BL

Visit Sanggye Dhunghor, the Thousand Buddha Shrine, and count some 200 Buddha statues carved into a dramatic rock face. Then, climb to the Potala Palace, the UNESCO World Heritage site dominating the skyline of Lhasa. This intricate building was commissioned by the Dalai Lama in 1645 and became the winter residence of nine Dalai Lamas. See statues and treasured prayer halls at every turn and admire the walls exquisitely covered with frescoes depicting episodes from Buddhist scriptures, landscapes and historical events. Step outside where, on a clear day, the view of the Himalayas is magical. Continue to the Norbulingka, “the Jewel Park”, and bask in the tranquility of this 99-acre haven. Finally, venture inside the palace of the present Dalai Lama, left exactly as it was when he fled to India in 1959.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa (Horizon Club Room) | Meals: BL

Transfer to Lhasa Airport for your onward flight.

Meals: B