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Yunnan Discovery
Duration
12 days
Site savings
$78
From
$2,522 USD
There is seldom a dull moment on this trip as it goes through a good diversity of scenic environments from snow capped mountains to green forests and a variety of ethnic villages. The riding is a real mixture as some days are short but have hill climbs, and others are longer, flat and fast, but they are all filled with jaw-dropping scenery. Add in a great deal of ethnic diversity and you have the recipe for a wonderful tour for enthusiastic cyclists.
- CategoryAdventurous
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration12 days
- Culture LevelAdventurous
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level4 - Challenging
- Elevation4 - Challenging
- TerrainMountainous
- Distance321.2 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance40.4 miles
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Quick Stats
- Duration12 days
- Main DestinationChina
- Distance321.2 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance40.4 miles
- Elevation4 - Challenging
- TerrainMountainous
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Meet at Shangri-La
- Day 2Shangri-La Loop
Shangri-La is very high at 3,300m (10,827ft) so after a bike fitting, a short high-elevation acclimatization ride around scenic Napa Lake will follow. After lunch at the hotel, you'll visit the spectacular Ganden Sumsanling Monastery, built at the instruction of the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The rest of the afternoon you are free to explore this Tibetan town.
- 15.5 miles
1,033.5 ft
1,033.5 ft- Compass Inn
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Day 3Shangri-La – Bai Shui Tai
Today the tour departs Shangri-La with a short morning transfer to start the ride out of town. It will be a tough day with rides that climb up and down through valleys and across mountains with spectacular scenery to arrive in Bai Shui Tai in late afternoon. Check in the hotel and see if you can still manage a walk up to the spiritual origin place of the Naxi people, the Karst Terraces "Bai Shui Tai".
- 46.6 miles
- -2,880.6 ft
4,448.8 ft
7,329.4 ft - Baodan Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Bai Shui Tai – Tiger Leaping Gorge
There are a few short climbs and rolling sections in the morning, but you'll be rewarded with the view of Haba Mountain (5,396m (17,703ft)) towering above a beautiful valley. Then you'll head down to the Naxi village of Haba for lunch at a local guesthouse. Afterwards, the ride continues towards the Yangtse River Valley. When you reach the village of Yonke you'll turn into Tiger Leaping Gorge and cycle through one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world.
- 46 miles
- -1,223.8 ft
6,164.7 ft
7,388.5 ft - Tibet Guesthouse
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5Tiger Leaping Gorge Rest Day
A rest day to explore the the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge of the Yangtze River. Cycle or hike, or do both!
- 42.3 miles
- Tibet Guesthouse
- Breakfast
- Day 6Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang
Today you have an easy 12 km (7 mi) cycle back through the gorge towards the Yangtze ferry where you will cross the river and then start a 30 km (19 mi) steady climb of 1,500 meters(4,921 ft)! Some undulating hills with long downhills takes you to Blue Moon Valley, which is an extremely blue river meandering through a lush valley of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
This will be the the stop for the day and you will be transferred to Lijiang.
- 45.4 miles
- 2,545.9 ft
7,503.3 ft
4,957.3 ft - Palace Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 7Lijiang – Shaxi
After a morning transfer, today you will take a journey into the heart of rural Yunnan. You'll ride over a pass, descend to a valley, and finally ride along the ‘Old Tibet 214 highway’ to Shaxi where you'll overnight at a wonderful local hotel with a courtyard.
- 46.6 miles
- -1,108.9 ft
3,986.2 ft
5,095.1 ft - Shaxi Dianting
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 8Shaxi Village Rest Day
- Day 9Shaxi – Xia Shan Kou
You'll start with another beautiful day of riding on the once very busy tea horse caravan route. Today follows the Heihui River, passing through villages to the town of Liantie where you will also have your lunch.
Afterwards, you'll be transferred to the mountain pass at 3,022m (9,915 ft) that has a thrilling 22km (14mi) downhill on the other side. Ride another 10km (6.2mi) and finish the day Xia Shan Kou, where you can soothe your sore muscles in the famous hot springs.
- 52.8 miles
- -3,510.5 ft
5,052.5 ft
8,563 ft - Er Yuan Hot Springs Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 10Xia Shan Kou - Dali
On the last riding day, you'll head to the historical town of Dali. Today's cycling is along a flat paved road between the towering Canshan Mountain range and Er Hai Lake. Dali is an extraordinary town to explore with its gated city walls, bustling old streets and lakeside setting. It is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, reflected aptly in its amazing architecture, cobbled streets and colorful markets.
- 34.2 miles
- -118.1 ft
1,072.8 ft
1,190.9 ft - Dali Old City Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 11Dali to Kunming
The group will transfer by bus to Kunming (4-5 hours) for the last overnight. The rest of the day you'll have free to explore the city before meeting to have a farewell meal together.
- U-Choice Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 12Departure