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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

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Casual Inns
  • From $4,698
    To $4,898 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$790 for sgl. occ.)
  • Internal Flights: $780

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Kunming, China/Chengdu, China

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Tibet Walking Hiking

Tibet & Yunnan Hiking

From Historic Lijiang to Legendary Lhasa

On this journey, you'll discover landscapes of contrasting beauty, from the architecturally rich ancient Chinese town of Lijiang to the lush lake-dotted hills of China's Yunnan Province with its small Tibetan and hilltribe communities, to the arid rugged Tibetan Plateau and the splendor of Lhasa. As Tibetans continue to press for cultural autonomy from China, Tibet has slowly undergone a renaissance of sorts, with the restoration of monasteries, palaces and artwork. Enjoy the hospitality of warm and gracious Tibetan and Chinese hosts who are proud to share their native culture, traditions and homeland.

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Days 1-2 lijiang

Meet in Kunming Fly to Lijiang, set on a high plateau amid stunning mountain peaks in China's Yunnan Province Walk through the ancient city's atmospheric Old Town, a World Heritage site laced with canals and filled with unique architecture.

Days 3-5 gyalthang

Embark on a vigorous hike through one of the world's deepest river canyons, Tiger Leaping Gorge Shuttle to Gyalthang, a city set amid snowcapped peaks and virgin forests Walk through the Gyalthang Dzong and into the countryside, where ethnic Tibetans keep ancient traditions alive Hike to the village of Ringha and hang a prayer flag at its monastery.

Days 6-9 lhasa

Take a spectacular flight above the Tibetan Plateau to the holy city of Lhasa, one of the world's highest cities at over 11,800 feet Follow a trail up to the Tashi Chöling hermitage for fantastic views of the Lhasa Valley Receive a warm welcome and a taste of yak butter tea at the Chupsang Nunnery Walk the kora (a devotional route around a sacred object) of the Sera Monastery Tour the awe-inspiring Potala Palace, with its grand murals, mandalas and gem-encrusted coffins Pass rock paintings, prayer flags and statues on the Drepung Monastery kora Hike from the Ganden Monastery, at 13,700 feet, to the valley floor Catch a morning flight to Chengdu.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

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Guest Trip Reviews

For years I've wanted to travel through Tibet, although I never quite understood where my desire was coming from... The guides were able to guide me through an amazingly foreign land while removing all doubt and hesitation I may have had about immersing myself into Tibetan culture... In fact, as I witnessed the passion with which the guides led us through the cities, hills, and villages, I began to envy their globe trotting lifestyle and picture myself in their shoes one day. This trip proved to be all that it promised and more... The most memorable thing that I'll take from this trip is the friendship that I found with our Tibetan Nomad local tour guides, with whom I hope to visit again soon in the future.
Michael Conti - New York, NY

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All Guest Reviews

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Tibet tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Asia & the Pacific, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Asia & the Pacific walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific multisport tours click here.

Tibet & Yunnan Hiking

Tibetan Style & Authentic Charm: Casual Inns

Jian Nan Cun

Lijiang (2 nights): This traditionally styled simple hotel offers comfortable accommodations and a superb location in the heart of Old Town.

Gyalthang Dzong Hotel

Gyalthang (3 nights): In an idyllic setting, this impressive hotel was built in the Tibetan dzong (fortress) style and features guest rooms with authentic Tibetan décor.

Thangka Hotel

Lhasa (3 nights): Located next to the Jokhang Temple's Barkhor Square in the heart of old Lhasa, the Thangka Hotel offers comfortable and charming rooms in traditional Tibetan décor.

Tibet & Yunnan Hiking Tibet & Yunnan Hiking

Gyalthang Dzong Hotel

Tibet & Yunnan Hiking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2  1 Route Option Available
  • 2 hours
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 2  3 Route Options Available
  • 1.8, 2, 3.8 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 2  1 Route Option Available
  • 5.6 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 3.8 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Level 2 1 Route Option Available
  • 6.4 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1  1 Route Option Available
  • 1.2 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 2.5 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Levels 1 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • 2, 6, 9 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 9
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 30 minutes
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Tibet & Yunnan Hiking Tibet & Yunnan Hiking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles