3 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour
Hike above the Cloud
Hike above the Cloud
This tour will take you to embark on a trek of the legendary trail of one of the world’s deepest gorges - Tiger Leaping Gorge! You will find yourself lost in a world full of cliffs, steep lifts and drops, loose and rocky earth, raging river and epic towering snow mountains. With rhythmic sheep bleating and clip-clop of horses, stories of Ancient Tea Horse Road will also emerge in front of you. The level is intermediate, thus all the hiking lovers slightly above average physical condition will be welcomed.
This tour starts from the most beautiful ancient city in China - Lijiang which is only about 50km from the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It will be an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts and avid hikers alike. Our carefully crafted itinerary ensures you explore the awe-inspiring landscapes of Tiger Leaping Gorge at your own pace, away from the crowds. Our knowledgeable guides will lead you to hidden gems, providing insights into the rich local culture and ensuring a personalized journey. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of nature while enjoying the comfort and exclusivity of a private tour. Book now for an intimate and immersive Tiger Leaping Gorge adventure that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime!
Day 1 Lijiang Arrival
Pick up at Lijiang
Ni Hao! Welcome to Lijiang, a very impressive ancient city! Upon arrival at the airport or railway station, your guide and driver will meet you at the arrival hall and transfer you to the hotel in ancient town area with a private car which is comfortable, air-conditioned and non-smoking. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the Lijiang Old Town.
Lijiang Old Town: Established in the Ming dynasty as a commercial center, Lijiang Old Town (or known as Dayan Ancient Town) is a well-preserved 800-year-old town for Naxi ethnic group, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Stroll the so many old alleys, old bridges, featured shops and bar to feel its past prosperity and today’s lively atmosphere. Lijiang Old Town will certainly jolt your senses!
Arrival Ideas: There’re direct flights from Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guiyang, etc to Lijiang Sanyi Airport. Trains are available from Kunming (about 3-3.5 hours), Dali (about 2-3 hours) to Lijiang Railway Station.
Marcin from USA visited Lijiang Old Town in 2023
Day 2 Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge (B)
Lijiang - First Bend of Yangtze River - Qiaotou - Naxi Family Guesthouse - 24 Bends - Tea Horse Guesthouse
This day, get ready to start your breathtaking in-depth Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking tour!
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, drive about 52 kilometers from Lijiang to view the First Bend of Yangtze River. The upper reach of the Yangtze River is Jinsha River coming down from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and when it arrives at Shigu Town, it is obstructed by Hailuo Mountain and forms a V-shape turn. Then it changes the direction and goes to the northeast. You’ll reach the observation deck to catch a panoramic view of the bend, an extraordinary turn nearly about 180 degrees with beautiful and marvelous views like a wonderful landscape painting unfolding before your eyes. You’ll have a look at local market and Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in Shigu Town.
Then drive further north for about 50km (1 hour) to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyon in the world and a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site called Three Parallel of Yunnan Protected Areas. For the rest of the day, you will trek this great gorge along its Upper Trekking Route, one of the top 10 classic hiking trails in the world that famed among worldwide backpackers.
Your amazing trekking tour starts from paths near Naxi Family Guesthouse. The walk will then wind through pine forests, past waterfalls and snaking along the cliff edge with spectacular views of the muddy churning Yangtze River below and the looming ridges above. Later you will pass by the famous 24 Bends, where trails ascend with 24 swirling twists await your challenge. With every step upwards, the rugged terrain will introduce you a new perspective of the depths that make up the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Once complete the 24 Bends, you will be rewarded with the broadest view of the gorge. Look up to see the awe-inspiring Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Snow Mountain, then down to see the lingering rays dancing on the rippling waters a thousand meters below, congratulations, you are embracing Tiger Leaping Gorge on the highest point of this route! Take plenty of breaks to enjoy the gorgeous views. And then continue on for an hour or so, you’ll descend a few hundred meters in altitude to Tea Horse Guesthouse for your night stay.
Today’s trekking ends. Before going to bed, you can share today’s memorable hiking trip with your partners while appreciating the beautiful sparkling starry sky.
Day 3 Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang (B)
Tea Horse Guesthouse - Halfway Guesthouse - Tina’s Guesthouse - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge - Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse - Lijiang
After breakfast, you’ll set off for descend. For about 2 hours later, you will arrive at your first stop - Halfway Guesthouse, which marks the halfway point of the entire journey. Make a short stop at their top deck of “Star Lavatories”, where you will feast your eyes with an unbeatable view of surrounding towering snow-capped mountains. Next, wind the path hewed out of cliffs down while taking in the sensational vistas and hugging small waterfalls until you arrive at Tina’s Guesthouse on the main driving road. Then trek the main road for about 1.5km more to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, the vital starting point of goat paths leading down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge at the bottom. As you approach the bottom, you will hear a loud sound of the Jinsha River relentlessly pounding giant boulders in its path. The churning river splits the mountain into two towering cliffs, forming a giant gate that seems to welcome you. And finally, you will stand just steps from the raging river with a huge rock in its center. According to legends, there was once a tiger leaping from one side of the gorge to the other side via this rock, thus the locals called it Tiger Leaping Rock and started to call the gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge.
After your Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge visit, trek back to Teacher Zhang’s Guesthouse, where you’ll met by your driver who will escort your to Lijiang to catch your flight or bullet train to next destination. Service ends!
Departure idea: Your trekking tour will be finished at about 15:00pm. However, considering the long drive from Tiger Leaping Gorge to the airport (at least 2 hours to Lijiang Sanyi International Airport), you are suggested to book a flight departing after 20:00pm.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Hi Wonder,
I apologize for the delayed response as I've been occupied with work.
In response to your query, here are my feedback:
1. Is your travel consultant of our company fast enough to answer your E-mail and patient enough to answer your questions?
Absolutely, you were incredibly prompt in responding to my numerous queries and helped ensure a smooth trip planning process.
2. How is tour arrangement, including the drivers,tour guides,hotels,etc?
The trip was fantastic. Our guide, Jerry, was exceptional and extremely knowledgeable, making our visit to Huangshan truly memorable.
3. Would you like to recommend our company?
Certainly. I will wholeheartedly recommend China Discovery to friends and family planning future trips to China
Regards,
Alvin
Hi Samantha,
yes we had a good time at the panda volunteer program. Thanks for helping us to arrange it.
Isaac
Hi Rita,
Thank you very much for organizing the tour. We enjoyed it a lot. We also had been quite lucky with the weather in Jiuzhaiguo. Colors of the lakes has been fantastic. I still owe you the feedback - it will take some time as I’m quite busy now. But we already filled the feedback forms with the guides. Thanks to Jason and Michael nd they has asking me about my tour. I hv recommend them to contact you.
Uwe
Hi Samantha,
we had such a great time in Guilin and had a great experience with our tour guide Lynn! Thank you. It has been wonderful so far! We are very pleased with the tour.
Qiuqiu
Hi Wonder,
Feedback as follows:
1. Yes, the travel consultant is very prompt in responding to queries etc
2. All the arrangements are excellent, no complaints at all, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and helpful and courteous.
3. Definitely, already recommended to some of my friends who are planning to go to China this year.
Winnie
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Lijiang Old Town Waterwheel-20190415-Marcin from USA
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike-2019-Zoe Boonshan from Thailand
First Bend of Yangtze River
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Trails
Views of mountains and local village
Tiger Leaping Gorge Jinsha River
Few people will get altitude sickness while trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge, because the elevation rises up and down between a moderate 1,600m and 2,650m. Therefore, all the hikers with physical condition slightly above average will be welcomed. However, you are suggested to get suggestions from your doctor before you go if you have heart problems or serious acrophobia.
Usually, April, May, June, September and October are the best time to trek Tiger Leaping Gorge. Try to avoid to rainy seasons from June to August, because the road will be extremely sloppy and there may be occasional dangerous falling rocks.
Usually, following items are suggested to pack with you when do Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking, including a light backpack, at least 2 litres of water, snacks like cookies, candy, dried fruits and nuts, toilet paper, toothbrush, sunscreen, comfortable walking boots, middle-sized backpack, trekking pole, outdoor jacket, fleece jackets, underwear, sun glasses, bataclave, sun-blocking cream, rainproof, enough snacks and food, some cash, vacuum cup, warm water, camera, backup battery, cellphone, power bank, anti-high altitude drugs, etc.
All the trails are in traditional looks littered with slippery stones. Some parts are hidden in the forest and others are close to the edge of cliffs. There is no protective railing device and the trail can be very narrow and slippery at times so you do have to be extra vigilant with each step, especially in wet weather. The toughest part comes at the 24 Bends, where trails ascend with 24 swirling twists. On the last part down below the highway to the raging river, there are optional adventurous straight iron ladders. In general, trekking trails at Tiger Leaping Gorge are unique and challenging, but can all be pleasantly conquered.
Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
1,860+ Reviews
