LUX Tea Horse Road: Lijiang & Shangri-La* — 1

LUX Tea Horse Road: Lijiang & Shangri-La* — 2

1 / 3

LUX Tea Horse Road: Lijiang & Shangri-La*

Tours and Cruises4 Giorni

Lijiang, China

Lijiang›Shangri-La City (Zhongdian)

Abstract

The journey is not just about the destination, but also every detail along the way. With LUX, everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail: you will stay in extraordinary retreats and boutique hotels that offer the perfect respite during your adventure. Each stop will allow you to discover the most picturesque places in Yunnan and enjoy guided experiences that will immerse you completely in the local culture. A unique collection of hotels along the mystical Tea Horse Road: the journey itself is the destination.,

Characteristics

Private tour
local English-speaking guides during the tours
include meals (v. the fee includes)
departures are guaranteed (min 2 participants). Subject to availability,

Itinerary

Giorno 1 — Lijiang

After immigration formalities, passport control, baggage collection and customs, welcome by the LUX Tea Horse Road team staff and transfer to the hotel., Meet the 'Discovery Host'. (People who come from local Tibetan villages and have in-depth knowledge of the region's cultures, mountains and rivers. They will accompany you on this journey and act as your personal butlers.), the rest of the day available, Lijiang is a historic city in Yunnan, famous for its ancient centre (Dayan), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cobbled streets, canals and traditional Naxi architecture. It is known for the culture of the Naxi minority, traditional music and Dongba pictogram writing. Near the city is the spectacular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visible from afar and sacred to the locals. Other attractions include Black Dragon Pool Park, Shuhe Village and Tiger Leaping Gorge. Lijiang combines mountain scenery, ancient culture and a romantic atmosphere: it is an ideal starting point for exploring northern Yunnan., dinner at the hotel,

Giorno 2 — Lijiang

Breakfast, city tour, Zhongyi Market is a lively local market in the heart of Lijiang, where you can experience the daily life of the local population. Here you will find fruit, vegetables, spices, medicinal herbs and typical products. In the surrounding area there are also craft shops where you can buy handmade items from ethnic minorities, such as fabrics, jewellery and traditional souvenirs., The Ancient Town of Dayan is the historic centre of Lijiang, with cobbled streets, stone bridges and picturesque canals. It is a perfect place to stroll, discover Naxi culture and enjoy the atmosphere of times gone by. A short walk away is Black Dragon Pool Park, an oasis of tranquillity with views of Jade Dragon Mountain: one of Yunnan's most iconic landscapes., Lunch at Yunge Restaurant to enjoy Naxi cuisine, rich in local flavours and fresh ingredients from the mountains of Yunnan, The afternoon is dedicated to several activities: making Dongba paper and Dongba calligraphy, an ancient Naxi tradition, handmade using traditional techniques handed down through generations. You will learn how this natural paper is produced and have the opportunity to try Dongba calligraphy, a writing system unique in the world, based on sacred pictograms used by Naxi priests. Afterwards, you will take part in a practical workshop where you can learn how to make tea cakes, the typical compressed forms of Pu'er tea, famous for its long ageing process. You will follow the process from leaf to shape, creating your own small tea 'disc' to take home. Finally, you will experience the Pu'er tea ceremony, a refined ritual that combines flavour, meditation and culture. You will taste different varieties of this prized fermented tea, known for its health benefits and complex flavour, in a tranquil setting guided by a tea master., Dinner,

Auto

Giorno 3 — Lijiang → Shangri-La City (Zhongdian)

Breakfast, early in the morning departure for, km 185 - hours 2 approximately, short stop for a visit, Songzanlin Monastery, also known as "Little Potala", is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. Located near the town of Shangri-La, at an altitude of about 3,300 metres, it is an important spiritual centre that is home to over 700 monks. Built in the 17th century following traditional Tibetan architecture, the monastery is rich in frescoes, golden Buddha statues, thangkas (painted cloths) and carved wooden details. From above, it offers spectacular views of the surrounding valley. It is a perfect place to learn more about Tibetan culture, watch the monks pray and breathe in an atmosphere of deep spirituality., Arrive at ., Lunch at the hotel in Tibetan style, in the afternoon visit to Shangri-La City (Zhongdian), Dukezong, the ancient Tibetan town in the heart of Shangri-La, is one of the highest and most fascinating towns in China. With over 1,300 years of history, Dukezong is famous for its cobbled streets, decorated Tibetan wooden houses, and spiritual atmosphere. Highlights include the world's largest golden prayer wheel and stunning views of the surrounding valley. Next, you will take part in a unique cultural experience dedicated to Thangka painting, the sacred Tibetan art created on fabric or paper. Guided by a local artist, you will discover the symbolic meaning of these works and try your hand at painting one yourself, following traditional methods that combine spirituality, meditation and craftsmanship., dinner at the hotel,

Giorno 4 — Shangri-La City (Zhongdian)

Breakfast, Start the day with a morning blessing at Baiji Temple, a small but charming Tibetan temple located on a hill overlooking the city of Shangri-La. It is a peaceful place, often frequented only by locals. Participating in a morning ceremony offers a moment of reflection and authentic contact with Tibetan spirituality. This is followed by a tour of Napa Lake, a beautiful natural area near Shangri-La, surrounded by alpine meadows, mountains and Tibetan pastures. In summer, it transforms into a sparkling lake, while in winter it becomes a wetland frequented by migratory birds, including black-necked cranes. The tour includes scenic walks, opportunities to meet local shepherds and moments of pure relaxation in the unspoilt nature of the plateau., Traditional Tibetan lunch at a local farm overlooking Lake Napa. The meal includes authentic dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients: tsampa (barley flour), yak stew, yak milk cheese and seasonal vegetables. A perfect opportunity to experience Tibetan hospitality in a peaceful rural setting., In the afternoon, after lunch, relax with Tibetan-style tea, served with yak butter, spiced milk or Pu'er tea, accompanied by small local sweets. All this while immersed in the alpine landscape, ideal for enjoying the calm of nature. Return to the hotel to take part in a special cultural activity: traditional Tibetan sutra printing. You will use hand-carved wooden blocks to print sacred texts on Tibetan paper, according to ancient monastic techniques. A meditative and meaningful experience, with the opportunity to take home your printed Sutra. You will end the day with an aperitif at sunset, ideal for relaxing, enjoying the golden sky and reflecting on the day surrounded by the beauty of Shangri-La., dinner at the hotel,

Giorno 5 — Shangri-La City (Zhongdian)

Breakfast, Transfer to the airport with your guide at the locally indicated time., end of services,

Notes

ROOMS: Triple rooms are always double rooms with an additional bed, often smaller than the two existing beds; triple rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking. Requests for smoking rooms, connecting rooms, adjacent rooms, higher or lower floors, etc., are always on request and not guaranteed.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Participants must ensure before departure that they have the necessary and valid documentation for entry into the countries visited during the tour.
HOTEL FINAL LIST: indicated in the travel documents
HOTEL, CHECK-IN: as a rule, rooms are assigned starting from 2-3 pm; any early check-in is at the hotel's discretion. The request for a guaranteed early assignment requires booking an extra night prior to arrival.
HOTEL, CHECK-OUT: The room must be vacated in the morning, by the time indicated by the hotel; the surcharge for late check-out is equal to 50% of the extra night for check-out by 6 pm; for check-out after that time, an additional night will be charged.
HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The organizing company reserves the right to modify the itinerary and/or hotels with others of similar or higher category, means of transportation, etc., if required by unforeseen circumstances and necessary for the safety and normal continuation of the trip. Furthermore, when it is not possible to accommodate all participants in the same hotel, the group will be divided among different hotels of equal category.
TIMETABLES: departure times are indicative and depend on the number of hotels from which pick-ups are scheduled for each day; the pick-up start time indicates when customers should be ready in the lobby for departure; in hotels reached last, a wait of at least fifteen minutes or more compared to the indicated time is likely. The return times to the hotel are purely indicative and variable depending on a considerable number of factors including the time dedicated to visits and the intensity of traffic.
VISIT TIMES: City tours generally take place from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. The final departure time for visits will be confirmed in advance by each local guide and communicated to customers.. PUNCTUALITY: we recommend respecting the scheduled times. No refunds are provided for services missed due to customer delays.
MEALS: not included unless specified.
REFUNDS: There are no refunds for parts of the tour or excursions not carried out due to force majeure; in any case, no refund is due to the customer who decides to interrupt the trip or stay.
TRANSFERS: not included unless specified; if included, they are exclusively for/from the hotels scheduled for the tour on the days of the tour's start/end; in case of extending the stay, for transfers to/from other hotels, or for arrivals/departures from other airports, a supplement applies. The supplement always applies if the passenger is traveling alone. Requests for booking transfers not included or for different hotels must be received at least 3 weeks before departure, or an additional urgency supplement will be applied.. Security deposit: At the time of check-in, customers will be required to provide a security deposit (with a credit card) as a guarantee for any additional charges. An amount of approximately USD 150 per day per room will be blocked, and the deposit will be released within one month after check-out. Customers can also choose to pay the deposit in cash, which will be refunded at the time of check-out.. Security deposit: At the time of check-in, customers will be required to provide a security deposit (with a credit card) as a guarantee for any additional charges. An amount of approximately USD 150 per day per room will be blocked, and the deposit will be released within one month after check-out. Customers can also choose to pay the deposit in cash, which will be refunded at the time of check-out..

Starts from

4 days / 2 nights - from Lijiang to Shangri-La City (Zhongdian),

Meals

Legend: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner,

Price includes

Transfers and visits with private means as per schedule, Private Discovery Host (English speaking), entrances, visits and excursions as per the itinerary, accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar), meals: breakfasts, lunches, dinners,

Price does not include

Opening fee and Zero Risk coverage, medical-luggage-cancellation insurance, unmentioned meals, beverages and extras in general, tip, janitorial work, flights and airport taxes, everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes",

Important notes

Planned accommodation: LUX Tea Horse Road, Lijiang LUX Tea Horse Road, Shangri-La Altitude of places visited: Lijiang 2,400 m / Shangri-La 3,300 m., The scheduled times are indicative; the exact times will be confirmed locally by the guides.