This 12 day journey truly exhibits all that Yunnan has to offer and shows why the province is unlike any other place on earth. From the province's diverse and colorful ethnic minorities to its wealth of geological wonders the journey is certain to instill some unforgettable memories.

Day 1:  After arriving in Kunming on an afternoon or evening flight we'll greet you at the airport and take you directly to your hotel. If time allows we'll visit the Bamboo Temple or the Bird and Flower Market.  Those who arrive in time for dinner will enjoy Dai cuisine, native to southern Yunnan. Since we won't have the chance to visit their homeland on this journey a few restaurants in Kunming offer an excellent chance to taste their creative cuisine which often incorporates tropical fruit, mint, and nuts among other unusual ingredients.

Day 2: We'll hit the road early as our first geological wonder, the Stone Forest, awaits us an hour and a half east of Kunming. After a few photographs that will certainly require further description for envious friends back home we'll need four to five hours to reach Jianshui. The tastefully restored Zhu Family Gardens will be our host in Jianshui. The complex of interconnected traditional central courtyard homes and gardens represents an excellent example of Qing Dynasty architecture.

Day 3: We'll start the day by visiting Jianshui's famed Confucian Temple, the third largest of its kind in China. We'll need about two more hours to reach Yuanyang, where the Hani people have been sculpting rice terraces out of the Ailao Mountains for more than 1000 years.  While in Yuanyang we'll have the opportunity to visit local Hani villages, homes, and schools.

Day 4: Many viewpoints in the Yuanyang area offer breathtaking views of the rice terraces, so we'll spend most of the day winding around the mountains to take in each one of them. Also nearly everyday one ore more villages in the region hosts a market day. These colorful events attract merchants and traders from throughout the area, as they use any and all forms of transportation to reach town. The markets are an excellent opportunity to witness Yi and Hani locals in colorful traditional dress.

Day 5: After one last memorable sunrise over the terraces in Yuanyang we'll need about six hours to drive back to Kunming where we'll catch a direct flight to Lijiang. We'll reach the ancient city by nightfall where guests can enjoy a magical evening stroll under the lights through the old town or relax in one of the many friendly cafes.

Day 6: A busy day in Lijiang begins with a tour of the old city followed by a visit to the Black Dragon Pool, which forms a decorative foreground for Jade Dragon Mountain beyond it. We'll then scamper up adjacent Elephant Hill for an unbeatable view of the mountain as well as Lijiang's old town and the surrounding valley.  In the afternoon the nearby villages of Baisha and Shuhe provide a glimpse of Naxi culture from centuries past.  Baisha, the former capital of the Naxi kingdom, is well known for its 15^th and 16^th century frescoes depicting a mixture of Daoist with Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist iconography.  We'll return to Lijiang in the evening for dinner and the option of a Naxi music performance that is sure to leave a memory.  Those who opt to do the hike through the Tiger Leaping Gorge will want to get a good night's rest.

Day 7 features Tiger Leaping Gorge and the peaceful Haba valley which is home to an astounding seven different ethnic minorities. Halfway between Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge we'll stop off at Stone Drum to see how Cloud Mountain's affect on this upper reach of the Yangtze River reshaped Chinese civilization. From one geological marvel to another the moderate day and a half long day hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge is simply breathtaking. Those who choose not to hike are treated to a completely different set of intimidating viewpoints closer down to the crashing waters of the upper Yangtze. Afterwards we will follow the road out of the gorge to Haba Village. We'll have the opportunity to visit local homes in minority villages, witness a traditional song and dance performance, and have an introduction to some rare and well-protected flora and fauna in the high valley. (Guests who opt to complete the hike will spend the 7th night at a guesthouse in the gorge and the 8th night in Haba village. Their trip will be one day longer)

Day 8 begins with breakfast and one more activity in Haba before heading to the magnificent White Water Terraces at Baishuitai. The glimmer of the sun bouncing off the rippling waters is as unique a creation as any natural formation. The beauty of the endless terraces and tiny hamlets in the valley below rivals that of Haba on the previous day. Afterwards we'll follow the back road from Baishuitai to Shangri-La. The scenery along the way should keep you glued to the window. After a few rugged days in the mountains, the cozy and tastefully adorned Tibetan style Songstam Hotel is a welcome refuge just outside town. A traditional Tibetan song and dance performance provides the evening's entertainment.

Day 9 begins with a visit to the majestic Songzanlin Monastery, Yunnan's largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist site. In the afternoon we'll ride on horseback or walk through the nearby Napa Grassland and visit a Tibetan village on the mountain side. In the late afternoon or early evening we'll take time to explore Shangri-La's quaint old town to see what treats the local Tibetans have in store.

The ascent continues on Day 10, as we'll need about five to six hours to reach the small village of Feilaisi which sits at an elevation of over 3700 meters. About half way to Feiliasi we'll stop in the town of Benzilan for lunch. A few kilometers past Benzilan the Tibetan Dhondrupling Monastery sits perched on the mountainside high above the Mekong River. The monastery still houses over 300 monks, and boasts excellent scenic views. We'll make a pass at over 4,100 meters at Baima Mountain before descending to the village of Feilaisi just after the town of Deqin. We'll certainly be able to arrive in Feilaisi well before sundown in order to witness an unforgettable sunset behind Meili Mountain's 6,740 meter peak.

On Day 11 we'll descend further down into the valley below Meili Mountain to visit unspoiled Tibetan villages and the Mingyong Glacier. The local Tibetans were fortunate enough to receive the knowledge of wine-making from French missionaries who arrived in the region over 100 years ago. A local wine industry still thrives. The glacier has been rapidly retreating in recent years due to rising temperatures in the region. As a result the sound of enormous chunks of melted ice crashing against each other can often be heard. 

Alternatively, guests can also choose to complete a fantastic two or three day hike below Meili Mountain. The hike's first day begins at 2,600 meters and then makes a pass at 3,700 meters before descending to the isolated Tibetan village of Yubeng where basic guesthouses serve as accommodation. Guests can also choose to make the ascent on horseback as well. Those who choose the 3 day option are treated to an extra day hike to the valley's sacred lake and waterfall formed by pristine blue glacial waters. The final day brings us out of the valley by looping around the mountain along the Mekong River.

On Day 12 we'll return to Shangri-La and say goodbye. Overland will assist all guests in planning their onward travel from Shangri-La.

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