Day 1 — Arrival in Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu and transfer to the western side of the city before beginning the overland expedition across western China’s highland regions.
Day 2 — Wolong Panda Base & Four Girls Mountain
Visit Wolong Panda Base before ascending into the alpine landscapes of Four Girls Mountain through the high-altitude Balang Mountain Pass.
In the evening, photograph changing sunset light across the snow peaks and valleys surrounding Four Girls Mountain.
Day 3 — Shuangqiao Valley & Danba Tibetan Villages
Explore Shuangqiao Valley surrounded by glaciers, alpine forests, rivers, and snow mountains rising above 5,000 meters.
Continue toward Danba, known for its Tibetan villages, ancient stone watchtowers, and dramatic mountain landscapes along the Dadu River valley.
Day 4 — Yala Snow Mountain & Tagong Grasslands
Hike toward Youcuo Lake beneath Yala Snow Mountain surrounded by alpine scenery, sacred mountain landscapes, and plateau environments.
In the afternoon, visit Tagong and Muya Temple while photographing Tibetan grasslands, prayer flags, and sunset light across Yala Mountain.
Day 5 — Tibetan Plateau Villages & Ganzi County
Cross remote Tibetan regions through Bamei and quieter plateau villages decorated with colorful prayer flags, sacred stone landscapes, and open grasslands.
Photograph Kasa Lake and distant snow mountains before arriving in Ganzi County deep within the Tibetan plateau landscapes of western Sichuan.
Day 6 — Yulonglacuo Lake & Dege
Visit high-altitude Yulonglacuo Lake beneath Mount Que’er while exploring alpine plateau landscapes and remote mountain scenery.
Continue to Dege and explore the famous Dege Parkhang Sutra Printing House — one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important cultural and printing centers.
Day 7 — Baiyu Monasteries & Batang
Travel through Baiyu County while visiting Kathok Monastery and important Tibetan Buddhist academy regions rarely visited by international travelers.
Continue southward through remote plateau valleys, rivers, and mountain landscapes toward Batang.
Day 8 — Mount Genie & Shangri-La Town
Drive through Xiangcheng while viewing Mount Genie and traditional white Tibetan villages hidden among plateau valleys and mountain landscapes.
Arrive in Shangri-La Town surrounded by the sacred mountain scenery and alpine environments of the Yading region.
Day 9 — Yading Nature Reserve
Spend the day exploring Yading’s sacred mountains, alpine meadows, glacier valleys, lakes, and some of western China’s most iconic Himalayan-style scenery.
Photograph Mount Yangmaiyong, Mount Xiannairi, Chonggu Monastery, Luorong Pasture, and dramatic landscapes connected to the legendary Shangri-La region.
Day 10 — Yading to Meili Snow Mountain
Cross deep mountain gorges into Yunnan Province toward Feilaisi overlooking the sacred Meili Snow Mountain range.
Stay facing the Meili Mountains and prepare for sunrise photography over Mount Kawagebo the following morning.
Day 11 — Meili Sunrise & Shangri-La City
Wake early to photograph sunrise light across the sacred Meili Snow Mountains before continuing southward into Shangri-La City in northwestern Yunnan.
Visit Songzanlin Monastery and Dukezong Old Town while experiencing Tibetan culture, mountain architecture, and the atmosphere of Yunnan’s historic Shangri-La region.
Day 12 — Shangri-La to Lugu Lake
Begin the overland journey northward through changing plateau landscapes, forest valleys, mountain roads, and remote regions connecting northwestern Yunnan with southwestern Sichuan.
Arrive at Lugu Lake surrounded by mountain scenery and the traditional homeland of the Mosuo people, known for its unique lake culture and slower pace of life.
Day 13 — Lugu Lake to Xichang
Spend the morning exploring the lakeside landscapes of Lugu Lake while experiencing peaceful mountain scenery, Mosuo villages, and the atmosphere of one of Southwest China’s most iconic alpine lakes.
Continue toward Xichang through changing mountain terrain and valleys connecting the plateau regions with southern Sichuan landscapes.
Day 14 — Xichang to Jiulong County
Return deeper into western Sichuan through remote mountain roads, valleys, forests, and highland scenery while traveling toward Jiulong County.
Visit Wuxu Lake surrounded by alpine landscapes and quieter plateau environments rarely visited by mainstream tourism routes.
Day 15 — Mount Gongga & Lenggacuo Lake
Approach Mount Gongga — the highest mountain in Sichuan — through Zimei Pass and the dramatic glacier landscapes surrounding Lenggacuo Lake.
Optional uphill hike or horse ride to Lenggacuo Lake for close views of Mount Gongga during ideal sunset photography conditions beneath western Sichuan’s alpine skyline.
Day 16 — Return to Chengdu
Complete the Shangri-La expedition loop and return to Chengdu through western Sichuan’s mountain roads, river valleys, and changing plateau landscapes.
