Yunnan · China

THREE PARALLEL RIVERS

Lijiang to Shangri-La, lodge to lodge

Private Tour · 8N9D

A Songtsam journey through the UNESCO Three Parallel Rivers heartland — gorge hikes, vineyard villages and the sacred peaks of Meili.

RouteLijiang → Shangri-La
Duration8N / 9D
Highest StayMeili 3,600m
StaysSongtsam Lodges
Group2-8 PAX private

Design Philosophy

Living heritage, lodge to lodge

"A place that is more than hotels and gift shops — where guests immerse themselves in living history."

Songtsam founder Pema Dorjee turned his family guesthouse in Shangri-La into the first lodge, working with local artisans and the community. Eleven properties and eighteen years later, the same idea guides every route: travel slowly, stay close to the land, and let the people of the valleys tell their own story.

The Ancient Tea Horse Road茶马古道

Follow the caravan towns of Lijiang and Shi Gu through the gorges that carried tea to Lhasa.

Three Parallel Rivers三江并流

Yangtze, Mekong and Salween run side by side through one UNESCO landscape — four seasons in a single day.

Many faiths, one valley多元信仰

Tibetan monasteries, a century-old Catholic church and Naxi Dongba culture coexist along the route.

Lodge living山居生活

Small Songtsam lodges with local hosts — set menus of Tibetan and Yunnan cuisine, book cafés, and valley views.

Gradual ascent渐进海拔

From 2,400 m in Lijiang to 3,600 m at Meili, the route is built for natural acclimatization.

Trip Highlights

What makes this journey

Meili & the golden summit

·Sunrise over Kawagebo, Yunnan's highest peak (weather permitting)
·Sang offering at Feilaisi with your own printed prayer flags
·Lodge set away from the tourist viewpoints

Tiger Leaping Gorge day hike

·One of the world's top hiking trails
·The scenic Chama Guesthouse → Zhongtu Inn stretch
·Route length adapts to your pace

Wine country of the Mekong

·Songtsam Rizui Vineyard and biodynamic farming
·Five-course wine dinner with Shangri-La wines
·The century-old Cizhong Catholic Church

Living cultures

·Naxi Dongba pictographs in Lijiang
·Soy-milk and tofu making with a Hada Village family
·Dongzhulin and Songzanlin monasteries

Stays

Songtsam lodges along the route

Five nights of valley lodges and mountain retreats: Lijiang, Tacheng, Cizhong, Meili and Linka Shangri-La — each small, local and quietly luxurious.

Hidden sanctuaries of the mountains

Lodge-to-lodgeLocal hostsBook cafésMountain views

Itinerary

9-Day Itinerary

Three Parallel RiversYUNNAN · CHINA

Altitude profile

Highest point 3,600 m · gradual ascent for acclimatization

DAY 1

Arrival in Lijiang

Touch down at Lijiang Sanyi International Airport, where your driver meets you for the one-hour transfer to Songtsam Lodge Lijiang at 2,400 m. If you arrive early, head to the Dongba Academy: follow a teacher to learn Dongba characters, experience woodblock printing of the Dongba Twelve Zodiacs, and enjoy a Naxi-style afternoon tea. Beyond the fun of learning an unfamiliar writing system, it is a window into how the local ancestors understood the world and life. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner at Songtsam Lodge Lijiang and toast the start of your journey through the Three Parallel Rivers country.

No hiking today · 2,400 m altitude

Terrain: arrival + naxi culture + hotel
Transport: Private airport transfer, about 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast: not included; Lunch: not included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Lijiang (2,400 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 2

Lijiang Old Town & Tiger Leaping Gorge

After breakfast, drive 20 minutes to Dayan Ancient Town and stroll the route described by Russian writer Peter Goullart in Forgotten Kingdom, uncovering the former glory of this vital Tea Horse Road town and the resilience of its people over centuries. The walk ends at Zhongyi Market, where you immerse yourself in the daily life of the Naxi people, explore local ingredients, and feel the vibrant charm of the old town. After lunch at Songtsam Lodge Lijiang, drive 1.5 hours to Tiger Leaping Gorge, the scenic canyon of the Jinsha River and one of the world's top ten hiking trails. Your day hike follows the most beautiful, least difficult stretch from Chama Guesthouse to Zhongtu Inn — extendable according to your strength and preference — before returning to Lijiang for dinner.

6 kmDistance+300 mAscent−300 mDescent2,600 mMax altitude

Terrain: old town + gorge trail + river canyon + hiking
Transport: 20-minute drive to Dayan Old Town, then about 1.5 h drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Lijiang (2,400 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 3

To Tacheng via the First Bend of the Yangtze

Leave Lijiang on a four-hour scenic drive to Tacheng, passing the First Bend of the Yangtze River — where the great river makes its dramatic hairpin turn — and visiting Shi Gu Village on the way. Check in and have lunch at Songtsam Lodge Tacheng, then spend a slow afternoon taking in the beautiful rice and flower fields and the ancient villages that surround the lodge. A fifteen-minute walk brings you to Hada Village, where a local family welcomes you into their courtyard to learn how soy milk and tofu are made by hand. Dinner at Songtsam Lodge Tacheng.

2 kmDistance+60 mAscent2,400 mMax altitude

Terrain: scenic drive + river bend + village walk + rice fields
Transport: About 4 h scenic drive to Tacheng with stops, then a 15-minute village walk
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Tacheng (2,020 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 4

Into the Mekong valley — Cizhong

Morning takes you to Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park, a 30-minute drive, for a gentle hike through the nature reserve in search of the golden monkeys. Return for lunch at Songtsam Lodge Tacheng, then cross from the Yangtze watershed into the Lancang (Mekong) valley on the drive to Cizhong, arriving at Songtsam Lodge Cizhong with time to relax. The evening celebrates this improbable wine country: a carefully designed five-course dinner of Western cuisine blended with local Yunnan ingredients, paired with five glasses of Shangri-La wine, each reflecting a different terroir of the region — sparkling to awaken the taste buds, red wine with the main course, and ice wine with dessert.

3 kmDistance+200 mAscent−200 mDescent2,400 mMax altitude

Terrain: nature reserve + forest hike + mekong valley
Transport: 30-minute drive to the monkey park, then about 4 h drive to Cizhong
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Cizhong (2,200 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 5

Vineyards and the century-old church

After breakfast, drive 40 minutes to the Songtsam Rizui Vineyard. When French missionaries arrived in Cizhong in 1898 to build the church, they also brought grape cultivation and traditional winemaking — and northwestern Yunnan remains one of China's most important wine-producing areas. With your Songtsam guide, tour the vineyard of Songtsam Winery and learn how the estate uses Shangri-La's unique 'biodynamic farming method' to care for this land, and how nature, the local economy and people's lives are interdependent. After lunch at the lodge, savor Songtsam's mystery wine blend at the Cizhong Wine Experience Center — a deeper understanding of terroir in a single glass. Then walk 15 minutes to the century-old Cizhong Catholic Church, in a village where Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and stupas stand beside a Catholic church and more than half the villagers practice Catholicism. Mass is held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and on Sunday mornings.

2 kmDistance+50 mAscent−50 mDescent2,200 mMax altitude

Terrain: vineyard + wine tasting + village walk + church
Transport: 40-minute drive to the Rizui Vineyard, short walks around Cizhong
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Cizhong (2,200 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 6

Up the valley to Meili

Climb out of the Mekong valley on the mountain drive to the foot of the Meili range, checking into Songtsam Lodge Meili at 3,600 m with a short break to acclimatize gradually. After lunch at the lodge, join your Songtsam guide for a light hike up the back mountain — the water source for Deqin County, cloaked in primeval forest with remarkably rich vegetation. In Yunnan's rainy July, wild fungi such as matsutake, termite mushroom, boletus and golden chanterelle break through the soil here, growing freely in the forest. Then explore the surrounding village and visit a local family to learn to print Tibetan prayer flags — keep them for tomorrow's offering. Dinner at Songtsam Lodge Meili, facing the thirteen peaks.

3 kmDistance+200 mAscent−200 mDescent3,600 mMax altitude

Terrain: mountain drive + forest hike + wild mushrooms + village culture
Transport: About 1.5 h drive to Meili, then on foot for the back-mountain hike
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Lodge Meili (3,600 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 7

Kawagebo sunrise, Benzilan & Niding forest

Before dawn, the telephone rings only with good news: the 'Snow Mountain of Sunshine' has appeared — curtains up as sunrise gilds the summit of Mt. Kawagebo (weather permitting). After breakfast, visit Feilaisi Temple and join a Sang offering facing the Meili snow range, hanging the prayer flags you printed yesterday to pray for blessings. Drive toward Benzilan, stopping at Dongzhulin Monastery overlooking the Jinsha River — little known, yet popular with local Tibetans — and at the Moon Bay, the river's natural hairpin bend 15 km north of Benzilan. Picnic in the forest (April to November; in winter, lunch at Songtsam Lodge Benzilan), then hike a gentle, mainly downhill circular route through Niding Forest's towering Yunnan and Huashan pines, peonies, azaleas and irises. Finally, drive two hours to Shangri-La via Napa Lake — a herders' pasture and a paradise for birds — arriving at Songtsam Linka Shangri-La for dinner.

5 kmDistance+150 mAscent−400 mDescent3,600 mMax altitude

Terrain: snow mountain + temple + forest hike + lake
Transport: 30 minutes to Feilaisi, about 2 h to Benzilan, then about 2 h to Shangri-La
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (3,300 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 8

Songzanlin — the Little Potala

A 10–15 minute walk from the Linka stands Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, sometimes referred to as the 'Little Potala Palace' — spend the morning in its halls. After lunch at Songtsam Linka Shangri-La, the afternoon is yours to choose. Option one: on the grassland in front of the Linka, experienced instructors teach you how to saddle and lead a horse, guiding you step by step toward graceful horsemanship, followed by an archery experience — draw the bow, nock the arrow, and enjoy carefree time on the grassland. Option two: a city walk through Dukezong Ancient Town, over 1,300 years old and home to the best-preserved, largest Tibetan residential complex in China — for Tea Horse Road caravans, the first major stop after entering Tibet — with afternoon tea while your guide shares stories of the town's old and new faces. Dinner at the Linka.

3 kmDistance+100 mAscent−100 mDescent3,300 mMax altitude

Terrain: monastery + grassland + old town + citywalk
Transport: On foot to Songzanlin Monastery, local transfers for afternoon options
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (3,300 m) Deluxe Room

DAY 9

Departure

After breakfast, a 25-minute transfer brings you to Diqing Shangri-La Airport. If your flight is scheduled later, visit the Songtsam Museum first, where a guided introduction unlocks the cultural knowledge contained in the collection — a last, quiet look at the world of the Three Parallel Rivers before you fly onward.

No hiking today · 3,300 m altitude

Terrain: departure + airport transfer
Transport: Private transfer to Diqing Shangri-La Airport, about 25 minutes
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: not included; Dinner: not included

Seasons & Pricing

When to go, and what it costs

This route runs year-round. Songtsam prices it in three tariff windows — most of the year falls in the best-value shoulder dates.

Per person · based on 2 travelers · 4+ travelers from $4,950 pp

Shoulder

Best value — spring blooms, autumn gold and winter clarity

3 Jan–12 Feb · 24 Feb–30 Apr · 6 May–9 Jul · 26 Aug–27 Sep · 8 Oct–23 Dec

Best

From $6,200 pp

Peak

Summer school holidays & Christmas week

1–2 Jan · 10 Jul–25 Aug · 24–31 Dec

Good

From $6,600 pp

Holiday

Losar · May Day · Golden Week

13–23 Feb · 1–5 May · 28 Sep–7 Oct — book 2–3 months ahead

Good

From $7,100 pp

Converted from Songtsam 2026 CNY tariff at 7.15. Includes lodges, all meals, private vehicle and English-speaking guide. Single supplement from $1,150. No Tibet permit needed on this route. Final pricing is confirmed by your consultant.

Cost Details

From (2 travelers, shoulder dates)

6,200USDper person

Included

Transport: All land transfers on best-in-class local transportation
Experienced Songtsam drivers
Stay & meals: All lodges, double occupancy
All meals from day-1 dinner to last-day breakfast
Complimentary minibar; water and snacks en route
Experiences: All admissions and activities in the itinerary
English-speaking local guides

Not Included

Not included: - Medical, travel or evacuation insurance
- Airfare to Lijiang / from Shangri-La
- Personal telecommunication
- Activities not listed in the itinerary

Difficulty

Trip Expectations

Moderate touring and moderate hiking, with full days that start early and end in the evening.

Highest stay

3,600 m (Meili)

Hiking grade

Moderate, adaptable

Longest drive

~4 h scenic

Altitude

The route rises gradually from 2,400 m to 3,600 m. Reactions vary by person; in case of altitude sickness we move to lower ground and rest. Consult your doctor before travel.

Roads

Well-maintained SUVs or vans driven by experienced Songtsam drivers. Some mountain sections are winding and bumpy; we break the drives at villages and viewpoints.

Weather & packing

Expect 20°C to 5°C within a single day — dress in layers year-round.

About the Area

The Three Parallel Rivers

In northern Yunnan the China plate runs into the Tibetan Plateau, forging snow-packed ranges where the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween cut three parallel gorges. The altitude range means travellers move from snowy passes to warm, flower-filled valleys within hours — four seasons in a day.

This is possibly the most biologically diverse temperate region on earth: over 3,000 orchid species, more than 200 of the world's 400 rhododendrons, and the black-necked crane — the holy bird of the Tibetans — wintering at Napa Lake.

Geography also kept cultures distinct: Kham Tibetan villages with great white houses, Naxi market towns, Lisu river settlements, and along the Mekong, Tibetan Catholics tending vineyards beside golden-roofed monasteries.

Journey details

Songtsam Exploring Three Parallel Rivers 8N9D

From the former Tea Horse Road town of Lijiang to the sacred peaks of Meili, a lodge-to-lodge private journey through the heart of the Three Parallel Rivers UNESCO region.

This trip is for travelers looking for physical and cultural activities, wildlife discovery, and untouched off-the-beaten-path exploration. From the highest snow peak in Yunnan to the lush Mekong valley, the route reveals the living heritage of the Three Parallel Rivers area: a day hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge, soy-milk making with a Naxi family in Tacheng, century-old Catholic vineyards in Cizhong, the golden-summit sunrise over Kawagebo at Meili, and Songzanlin — the "Little Potala" of Shangri-La. Stays are in Songtsam's intimate lodges throughout; no Tibet permit is required on this route.

Route: Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Tacheng → Cizhong → Meili → Benzilan → Shangri-La
Stops: Lijiang · Tiger Leaping Gorge · Tacheng · Cizhong · Meili · Benzilan · Shangri-La
Departure city: Lijiang
Suitable for: Couples · Photographers · First-time plateau travelers · Food & wine lovers
Highlights: Sunrise golden summit of Kawagebo at Meili (weather permitting) · Day hike in Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's great trails · Songtsam Rizui Vineyard and the century-old Cizhong Catholic church · Songzanlin Monastery — the "Little Potala Palace" of Yunnan · Niding primeval forest walk and picnic among rhododendrons

Before you book

Included: All land transfers on best-in-class local transportation · All admission fees and activities indicated in the itinerary · All accommodation based on double occupancy · All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day · Drinking water and snacks throughout the trip · Complimentary minibar in guest rooms · English-speaking local guides
Excluded: Medical, travel or evacuation insurance · Domestic or international airfare to Lijiang / from Shangri-La · Personal telecommunication · Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Booking notes: No Tibet permit required — this route stays within Yunnan. · Arrive Lijiang (LJG); depart Shangri-La (DIG). · Runs year-round; lodges are small — Chinese holiday dates sell out 2–3 months ahead. · Altitude rises gradually from 2,400 m to 3,600 m for natural acclimatization.