One Day Private Shangri-La Highlights Tour

Shangri-La boasts a unique integration of snow mountains, canyons, grasslands, alpine lakes, primitive forests and ethnic customs. Today, let’s embark on this 1 day Shangri-La private tour to discover its magic. 

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Shangri-La and then escort you on an hour-long scenic drive, leaving the city behind as you head deep into the wilderness of Potatso National Park. Just as its name ‘Potatso’ suggests - ‘the boat ferrying all sentient beings to the other shore of enlightenment’ - exploring the park allows you to forget all worries and completely loosen up in mind and body. For your comfort, we’ll include a shuttle bus to save you time and effort during transfers between attractions. Let’s stroll along the 2.2-kilometer (1.4-mile) Tranquil Eco Hiking Trail first to uncover its unspoiled appearance, passing through groves of 500-year-old poplar trees with their strong branches casting dense shade, and following clear creeks that wind over moss-cloaked stones. Shudu Lake captures the quintessence of the park. In summer from June to August, verdurous grasslands spread endlessly, dotted with varicolored wild flowers, while herds of cattle and sheep graze lazily. With luck, you may spot a little squirrel on a tree branch nibbling a pine nut. During autumn between September and November, the surrounding mountains are touched with crimson and gold, which are reflected in the lake alongside blue skies and white clouds.► For Your Information: Three different ways to explore the park are available. If you’re in good shape, it’s advisable to hike the 3.3-kilometer (2.1-mile) wooden plank path that circles Shudu Lake for an immersive experience. To effortlessly take in the fine, up-close view of the lake, a boat cruise is the best. However, if you prefer a more dynamic adventure, a cycling tour is a good choice. Please note that cruises and bicycle rentals are both at your own expense.

In the afternoon, we’ll drive back toward the city to visit the 400-year-old Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the province. This mountainside complex is a prime example of Sino-Tibetan architectural fusion: the Dratsang Hall stands at its center, embraced by eight monastic houses. Its cornices and upturned corners exude an air of solemn grandeur. Upon entering the hall, you’ll feel like stepping into a Tibetan art museum steeped in the scent of incense, where colorful thangka paintings, millennia-old scriptures and gold-plated Buddha statues are silently exhibited. Let the creak of prayer wheels lead you, and join local believers in turning them softly clockwise for blessings. In front of the monastery lies Lamuyangcuo Lake. Despite its modest size, its crystal-clear waters mirror the monastery’s gilded roofs and red walls, offering a breathtaking landscape known as “A Buddhist Paradise in the Water”. Locals believe that circumambulating the lake once will remove ill fortune - why not give it a try?

As your private Shangri-La day trip ends, your guide and driver will accompany you back to your hotel. If you wish to extend your Shangri-La tour to more places such as the Meili Snow Mountain, Mingyong Glacier, and Dongkezong Ancient Town, please feel free to contact us for more details.