A Journey to Meili Snow Mountain

After breakfast, we will embark on a journey to Deqin to appreciate the amazing Meili Snow Mountain, revered as the top of the eight holy mountains in Tibetan Buddhism. Along the way, your guide and driver will first escort you to the Nixi Pottery Village, home to the over-2,000-year-old Tibetan black pottery craftsmanship. Walk into a local workshop to witness how a craftsman deftly shape a plain lump of clay into a round pot, or admire row upon row of finished pieces on the shelves like teacups, stockpots, and butter lamps.

Then, let’s visit a true natural wonder, the First Bend of the Golden Sands River, where the river makes a graceful Ω-shaped turn around the pyramidal mountain ranges, like a piece of crescent jade embedded in this land.We will then visit the Dongzhulin Monastery. From a distance, you can see mist swirl around the monastery perched on the mountains, like a living ink painting. Upon entering, your anxieties will fade away as if gently brushed away by bamboo leaves. Admire the millennium-old Buddhist statues with compassionate faces, stroll through serene courtyards embraced by bamboo groves, and listen to the gurgle of flowing water and the rustle of swaying pine branches.
► Note: Out of respect, please remove your hats and wear shoe covers before entering the hall. Photography is not permitted inside.

Afterwards, enjoy a scenic two-hour drive to Deqin, and check into your hotel for a short break. Follow your guide to the final reward of the day - a brilliant sunset over the Meili Snow Mountain seeing from the observation deck of Feilai Temple. With a history of more than 400 years, the temple features gilded ornaments on the eave that shed a brilliant light under the sunlight, while colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind. Close to the Kawagebo Peak of Meli Snow Mountain, this temple is a perfect place to capture the breathtaking sunset. When rays of the setting sun gently caress the summit, the rolling snowcapped peaks gradually shift from a dazzling golden-white into a soft crimson shade. At this moment, the imposing mountain seems to remove its armor, revealing a peaceful countenance. Finally, your guide will escort you back to your hotel, and have an early night for tomorrow’s sunrise!

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Guanjing Tiantang Hotel, Deqin

In the morning, your guide and driver will accompany you to the Mingyong Glacier, the longest and largest glacier on the Meili Snow Mountain. It stretches 11.7 kilometers (7.3 miles) in an arc from the main peak at 6,740 meters (22,112 feet) down to the virgin forest zone at 2,600 meters (8,530 feet). From afar, you’ll behold it like a silver dragon roaring down from the sky. We’ll board a sightseeing bus to the starting point of its hiking plank road to kick off a pilgrimage: trek through the towering forests, put the stones you pick up upon the sacred stone cairns along the way, and feed cute cats at the Prince Temple. Finally, from the viewing platform, marvel at the massive glacier ablaze with a gem-like luster under the sun, and savor an up-close view of every crisscrossing crevasse on its surface.
► FYI: If you’d like to catch a breathtaking sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountain, please coordinate with your guide in advance to confirm the schedule. While a standard tour typically begins around 8:30 or 9:00 AM, a sunrise tour requires an early start around 6:30 AM.

Next, let’s continue to Wunongding Viewing Platform, arguably the best vantage point to take in the majestic 13 peaks of Meili. Grab your camera, and use Feilai Village and the V-shaped gorge as foreground elements to capture the interplay between natural beauty and bustling mortal life, or switch to a medium telephoto lens to record the jagged contours of one snow-capped peak after another. The solemn white stupas and vibrantly fluttering prayer flags will offer you a glimpse into the devout reverence of local Tibetans for mountain gods.

As the tour concludes, your guide and driver will accompany you on a roughly 1.5-hour drive to your hotel in Benzilan.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: LUX Tea Horse Road Benzilan Hotel (4 stars)

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you on a 3-to-4-hour hike through the Niding Forest. This 9-km (5.6-mi) moderate trail will gradually draw you into a tranquil fairyland. The paths, trees and stones are carpeted with a thick layer of bright green mosses, while ancient pines are draped in long usneas swaying gently in the mountain breeze. Venturing deeper, you can hear the murmur of the streams, and spot small white and red mushrooms dotting the fallen trees. Wild flowers such as mauve azaleas, yellow peonies and purple irises are fully blooming everywhere. Around noon, we’ll take a break for a simple packed lunch.
► Tips:
1. This forest is roughly 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) above sea level. Though most people do not suffer from severe altitude sickness, it’s still advisable to avoid strenuous activities.
2. Wear sunblock, sunglasses, and water-proof hiking boots.

★ Special Experience: DIY a Tibetan Lacquer Bowl

Benzilan Town boasts the lacquer bowl culture passed down for hundreds of years. Follow your guide to visit a local workshop and observe the bowl-making process: a skilled craftsman, stepping on the pedal, attentively shapes a rotating wooden base with his sharp tool into a round bowl. Under his guidance, you’ll be welcome to finish the bowl in colored lacquer to create your one-of-a-kind keepsake. 

The day will then end with a 1.5-hour private car ride back to your hotel in Shangri-La.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La (4 stars)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will accompany you to Songzanlin Monastery - the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the region. Nicknamed ‘Little Potala Palace’, it resembles an ancient castle with red, yellow and white as the main colors. When you slowly mount the steep stone steps, the restlessness deep in your heart seems to dissipate. At the summit, you’ll be overwhelmed by the profoundly secluded atmosphere of the Dratsang Hall: the over-10-meter-high (33-foot) murals cover the entire walls, and their figures appear alive under the flickering candlelight, as if gazing lovingly at you whenever you go. Climbing to the hall’s observation deck, the vista becomes wide and clear: Lamuyangcuo Lake, like a green gem set in the surrounding mountains, mirrors the golden roofs and white walls of the monastery. Further away, green meadows spread out, dotted with small villages.

Later, let’s head to Potatso National Park. As the Tibetan meaning of “Potatso” implies - the place where all living beings attain happiness and enter paradise - you will be totally healed by its pristine ecology. Considering the vast expanse of the park, we’ll specially arrange a sightseeing shuttle to whisk you between its key attractions. Start our visit from the Shudu Lake, where flocks of birds often fly low over the water. The lake shines brightly like a polished mirror in the sunshine, turning into a large, tranquil obsidian during overcast periods. Strolling along the Tranquil Eco Hiking Trail, you’ll be delighted by small wonders - scampering squirrels, soft lush mosses, and hidden waterfalls. At these moments, the boundary between human and nature becomes less clear.
► Tip: This park is located at an average altitude of over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet). To prevent or alleviate altitude sickness, please get adequate rest and avoid strenuous activities.

★ Featured Inclusion: Tibetan Family Visit 

Stepping into a local Tibetan home, you will marvel at the intricately carved Tibetan-style furniture - each pattern symbolizing an auspicious wish. Sit by the fireplace, and the hostess will treat you to a hot bowl of butter tea with its unique salty flavor. With the help of your guide, converse with the host about the thangka silk paintings enshrined in the niche, learning how they integrate their faith into everyday life. Also, ask him about the polished rosary beads in his hand, and he may tell you tales of circumambulating sacred mountains for blessings. After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La (4 stars)

This morning, your guide and driver will see you off at the Shangri-La airport or high-speed train station based on your schedule. If you would like to dive into the nearby cities such as Lijiang, Dali, and Kunming, we’re very glad to customize your exclusive trip!

Meal: Western buffet breakfast

► Inspiration for an In-depth Shangri-la Hike:
For seasoned hikers, we can also include the Yubeng Village trek into this itinerary. Depending on your physical fitness, two classic routes are available: a one-day hike to the Sacred Waterfall, where you’ll receive spiritual blessings from the holy water and admire lush green meadows; or a two-day excursion that continues to the Glacier Lake, a turquoise alpine pool framed by dramatic snow peaks. For off-the-beaten-path explorers, our in-depth trip to Ninong Grand Canyon offers awe-inspiring vistas of sheer cliffs and the roaring Lancang River. Every detail can be fully tailored to your preferences.