Dali–Lijiang–Shangri-La 6-Day Guided Tour Guide
The classic northern Yunnan loop: Dali (Erhai Lake) + Cangshan Mountain + Lijiang Old Town + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain + Tiger Leaping Gorge + Shangri-La Tibetan area + Pudacuo. Klook packages from ¥2,880.
At a Glance
| Standard tour | ¥3,180 / Klook ¥2,880 |
|---|---|
| Comfort tour | ¥3,880 / Klook ¥3,580 |
| Deluxe tour | ¥5,280 / Klook ¥4,880 |
| Departures | Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays |
| Group size | Small groups, 15–20 pax |
| Includes | Charter + 5 nights' hotels + some meals + admissions + Mandarin guide |
| Altitude | 1,900–3,300 m |
1. 6-day itinerary outline
Day 1: Arrive Kunming
- Land at Kunming Changshui Airport;
- Check in at central hotel;
- Dinner: crossing-the-bridge rice noodles + Yunnan dishes.
Day 2: Kunming → Dali
- 09:00 HSR Kunming → Dali (2 hr);
- 14:00 Erhai Lake cruise + Shuanglang Old Town;
- 17:00 check in at Dali Old Town.
Day 3: Dali → Lijiang
- 08:00 Cangshan cable car (4,122 m);
- 11:00 Three Pagodas;
- 14:00 charter → Lijiang (4 hr);
- 18:00 Lijiang Old Town + Big Water Wheel Square.
Day 4: Lijiang → Shangri-La
- 08:00 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (cable car up, 4,506 m);
- 11:30 Blue Moon Valley;
- 14:00 Tiger Leaping Gorge (narrowest stretch of the Jinsha River);
- 17:00 Shangri-La check-in.
Day 5: Shangri-La
- 08:00 Pudacuo National Park (3,500 m);
- 14:00 Songzanlin Monastery (Ganden Sumtseling) — Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery;
- 17:00 Shangri-La Old Town.
Day 6: Departure
- 09:00 fly Shangri-La → Kunming → home airport;
- Airport drop-off.
2. Package comparison
| Package | Includes | Klook |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 3-star hotels + coach | ¥2,880 |
| Comfort | 4-star hotels + some flights | ¥3,580 |
| Deluxe | 5-star + VIP charter | ¥4,880 |
3. Best season
- March–May: rhododendrons + crab-apple in bloom, 15–22°C.
- September–November: clear skies, great visibility.
- Avoid: June–August rainy season + mudslides; December–February Shangri-La hits -10°C with mountain road closures.
4. Altitude sickness — important
Shangri-La is above 3,300 m, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reaches 4,506 m, and Cangshan tops out at 4,122 m. Around 30% of visitors get mild altitude sickness:
- Start Rhodiola one week before departure;
- The tour includes oxygen canisters;
- No showers or alcohol in the first 24 hours in Shangri-La;
- Move slowly;
- Skip if you have heart conditions.
5. How to save money
- Pre-book on Klook 30 days ahead: save ¥300+;
- Avoid public holidays: Spring Festival, May Day, National Day all +30%;
- Pick the standard tour: ¥700 less than comfort, mostly hotel;
- Children 1.0–1.4 m half price.
6. Practical tips
- Bring: ID / passport, warm jacket, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, Tibetan-style headscarf;
- Don't bring: outside food into the parks;
- Language: Tibetan + Naxi-ethnic guides offer Mandarin and English;
- Phone: no signal in remote areas;
- Payment: Tibetan area takes WeChat but small shops are cash only.
7. Why book through us
- 6-day all-in: transport + hotels + admissions + guide + oxygen;
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours ahead;
- Mandarin, English, Japanese and Tibetan customer service.