Yunnan Trip

yonGO travel

End Oct - early Nov 2010 (15 days) Yunnan Explorer & Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek 14-days
Cost Rm4200 (per pax for group of 8 pax), Rm4000 (10-11 pax), Rm3800 (12 pax and above)

Update 27 Mar 2010 - This was our trip in 2009 including cost. Expect changes because of unconfirmed flight schedules. We still hope that flights out from Lijiang is available.

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: Meet at KLIA at 130AM (EARLY MONRING) on 26 Oct MONDAY. We fly ZH796 to Shenzhen at 0330AM arriving 0705AM, follow by ZH9833 to Kunming at 1430PM arriving 1640PM. Check in hotel. Overnight (ON) Kunming.
Day 2 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 3 Lijiang: We will go for cycling in the morning and to Lijiang 2400m in the afternoon, viist Xizhou old town on the way. ON Lijiang
Day 4 Haba Village : Trekking to a Yi village under the Snow Mountain. ON at Haba Snow Mountain Inn. (Note : Basic Stay with basic facilities)
Day 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 Zhongdian/Tiger Leaping Gorge (TLG)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. (Note : Basic Stay with basic facilities)
Day 10 TLG 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. (Note : Basic Stay with basic facilities)
Day 11 TLG 3: There are some nice waterfalls on the way down Tina's Guesthouse where we lunch. We will back to Lijiang after lunch. ON Lijiang.
Day 12 Lijiang: Spend the rest of the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage town. Final shopping. ON Lijiang.
Day 13 Lijiang: Day bus to Kunming. ON Kunming.
Day 14 Go Home: Morning Kunming Flower market etc. Afternoon we will fly back ZH9834 from Kunming 1730PM then arriving Shenzhen 1920PM. We will connect ZH795 to Kuala Lumpur leaving 2200PM
Day 15 Home: Arriving Kuala Lumpur at 130AM (9 NOV MON)

Map of Tiger Leaping Gorge

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Cost cover airfares, budget accommodation, all town to town public bus trips and bus/jeep hires only.
Cost excludes airport taxes & fuel surcharges, visa fees (Rm40), meals, luggage on horse, cycling, 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. We 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.
Rm1026 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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