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yonGO travel ... just go
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Nov 1-15 2008 Yunnan Explorer & Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek 15-days
Cost Rm3600 (per pax for group of 10pax), Rm3550 (12 pax), Rm3450 (14 pax) and Rm3300 (16 pax and above)
Update 1 Oct 08 - Group confirmed now 7 pax. We now fly Shenzhen Airlines into Kunming and fly out from Lijiang. Saving of a day travel which we use to break the journey from Lijiang to Longsheng.
Update 31 Jan 08 - We have 10 persons 'interested' on this trip so far. Kindly contact Rachel 012-352 0868 to confirm your seat asap.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This is meant to be a "free and easy" adventure trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humour, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similiarly assorted types! We had a couple of those before and it wasn't pleasant for us or them. Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun.
UNESCO's Lijiang Old Town / Minorities
This is frontierland, China ! Yunnan is like the last bastion of Han China, before merging into Tibetan China on its west, and Indo-China on its south and east. The result is a land where myriad cultures thrive; from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lijiang, to Tibetan Zhongdian and Deqin, the latter marking the route proper into Tibet . But culture aside, Yunnan also abounds in adventure, with the Mingyong Glaciers outside Deqin, horsing around in the pastures of Yak Meadow and surely the highlight, a 4 days trek onto the Tiger Leaping Gorge—a walk of wondrous sights, scents, and senses!
This trip involves travel by some public buses and an 8 days bus or jeep hire. We stay in a mix of 2 star hotels with attached bathrooms in bigger towns and guesthouses with common or shared bathrooms in smaller places. As with most Yongo trips, you pay for your own meals, entrance fees, horse hires, bicycle hire and other activities.
Tea Horse Trade Guesthouse on TLG / Autumn leaves on Mingyong Glacier walk
Note on the TLG Trek - We leave our main luggage with the vehicles and carry only what is needed on the 3 days trek. The last group used the horses to carry the luggage at a cost of Rm30 per luggage for the duration of the trek, pay your own. This is recommended because it was much easier walking without the backpacks. We'll enjoy the scenery and photo-taking much better. Participants can also opt to ride all the way or part of the way. The cost was Rm50 for a day hire. A few past participants decided on this for the "steep" 28 bends on day 2 and all walked the rest of the way after hitting the top. Another option is for 2 pax to share one horse i.e. taking turns riding and walking.
Day 1 KLIA to Kunming: We fly ZH796 to Shenzhen at 8AM arriving 1125AM, follow by ZH9833 to Kunming at 1430PM arriving 1640PM. Free and Easy after check in hotel. Overnight (ON) Kunming.
Day 2 Kunming : We have a full day in Kunming visiting the early morning flower market, the bird market and shopping at the hypermarkets perhaps. ON Kunming.
Day 3 Dali: In the morning we go by public bus to Dali 190km 3hr. Dali is a backpacker's haven rivaling Yangshuo in Guangxi. There is a vibrant "foreigner's street" lined with cafes and street stalls. We spend the rest of the day and evening there. ON Dali.
Day 4 Lijiang: We will get private van to Lijiang 2400m in the early morning, viist Xizhou old town on the way. ON Lijiang
Day 5 Lijiang: Spend the rest of the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage town. In the late evening we bicycle to a nearby Baisha Naxi minority village. ON Lijiang.
Day 6 Haba Village : Trekking to a Yi village under the Snow Mountain. ON at Haba Snow Mountain Inn.
Day 7 Zhongdian: We hire a bus for 8 days, first taking us through the Tiger Leaping Gorge lower roads, then to Baishutai or White Water Terraces, only one of three places with travertine terraces in the world. Total drive will be about 8 hr and we expect to arrive in Zhongdian aka Shangri-La at about 7pm. ON Zhongdian.
Day 8 Deqin: We do a morning visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan temple in Yunnan. Then its off to Feilaishi Deqin 168km 6hr. The population from Zhongdian onwards are 80% Tibetan. ON Felaishi.
Day 9 Minyong Glacier: We wake up early to catch the sun as it rises over the Meili Snow Mountains peaking at 6740m. It will take us two hours to get to nearest village for Minyong Glacier climb, 2-3 hours trek one-way. Optional horse rides are available to take "non-climbers" up near the top. These mountains are a place of pilgrimage for Tibetans and also another UNESCO Site. ON Felaishi.
Day 10 Zhongdian: We return to Zhongdian, stopping along the way to enjoy the spectacular views of the Meili & Baimang Snow Mountain, as well as the first bend in the Jinsha River, commonly known as the Omega Bend. In Zhongdian, we spend the evening in the Old Town and also to catch the locals at their dance/exercise routine every evening at the Old Square. ON Zhongdian.
Unesco Meili Snow Mountains / Bicycle ride to Baisha Naxi village
Day 11 Zhongdian/Tiger Leaping Gorge 1: We spend the morning visiting the colourful local market. After lunch we drive on to Qiaotou 105km 2hr, the gateway to the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge or Hutiao Xia, one of the deepest gorge in the world. The whole 3 days trail is 15km and from Qiaotou, but its a short 1.5hrs level stroll to the Naxi Family Guesthouse. ON Guesthouse.
Day 12 Tiger Leaping Gorge 2: The second day includes a more difficult 900m height ascent known as the 28 bends. Without our main luggage, it is "expected" to be manageable. There is the option of riding up the bends on horses at Rm50 per horse. We overnight at the another Naxi guesthouse known as Tea Horse Trading Guesthouse.
Day 13 Tiger Leaping Gorge 3: There are some nice waterfalls on the way down Tina's Guesthouse where we lunch. We then proceed by short minivan ride, then a 20min walk to the river's edge and a ferry crossing to the village of Dazu. ON Dazu Guesthouse.
Day 14 Yak Meadow/ Lijiang: We bus from Dazu to Jade Dragon Mountain and Manuiping also known as Yak Meadow 3603m. An optional cable car takes one up to the top of this touristic place before returning to Lijiang. ON Lijiang.
Day 15 Go Home: We will fly back ZH9982 from Lijiang 1155AM arriving Shenzhen 1405PM. Group can opt to town before we connect ZH795 to Kuala Lumpur leaving 2155PM
Day 16 Home: Arriving Kuala Lumpur at 0130AM.
Map of Tiger Leaping Gorge
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Cost cover airfares, accommodation, all town to town public bus trips and bus/jeep hires only.
- Cost excludes airport taxes & fuel surcharges, visa fees (Rm40), meals, entrance activities fees and in-town taxis or bus on free days. Budget about Rm25 per day for meals i.e. Rm350 for 15 days.
- Cost is subject to change depending on fluctuations in exchange rates and/or airfares.
- Note that entrance fees are collected at almost every tourist places. I will compile a list in due course but be aware that because of the numerous places we visit, it can amount to a small fortune. Rough estimate Rm400.
- We do not do compulsory shopping stops common to normal China tours nor do we collect compulsory up-front tips.
- Rm1005 is payable as deposit to confirm your place.
Contact Yong Lee Min 016-220 9033 or 03-4023 8210 Email yongo@streamyx.com
Contact Rachel 012-352 0868 Email rachelheng123@gmail.com
Contact Yong Lee Keng: 012-315 8353 or 603-6137 9937 Email yongleekeng@yahoo.com
Address: 19 Lorong Air Bersih Tiga, Air Panas, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
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