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For thousands of years, only humans and horses treaded the mountains of Southwest China as they followed an ancient pathway through the Chinese hinterlands and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Along the unpaved and rugged pathway that was formed, commodities like tea, salt and sugar flowed into Tibet. Meanwhile, horses, cows, furs, musk and other local products made their way to the outside world. The road was called the tea-horse ancient road.
Follow the trail back to its roots, along tea’s most ancient trade roads. Hike through the forests of the first tea trees and step into the homes of descendants of the first tea cultivators on this thirst-quenching National Geographic ‘Tour of a Lifetime’. Learn more about this ancient trade route.
*We stay in 5-star hotels in Yunnan. While many other trips will book 3&4-star hotels to lower the cost, we find that there is a huge difference in cleanliness and comfort.
Shanghai / Your preferred location
Upon arrival at Xishuangbanna airport , your MoreFunAsia guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with your private vehicle on standby. Check into your hotel and rest up for a refreshing welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight at a 5-star hotel
In the morning, drive to visit Wild Elephant Valley(三岔河野象谷）; sitting in the Sanchahe Valley of Mengyang Natural Reserve, it is the fascinating forest park known for its primaeval tropical rainforest and flocks of Asia wild elephants. In China, Asia elephants can only be seen in the rainforests of Xishuangbanna while the Wild Elephant Valley is the sole place where wild elephants frequently show up.
On the way back to your hotel, visit Handai Village（汉傣） and Huyaodai Village（花腰傣）.
Meals: Breakfast、Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
In the morning, drive to visit Nannuoshan Old Tea Plantation Mountain（南糯山古茶园）, hiking for about an hour and a half to visit the eight hundred year old tea tree（八百年茶树王）.
Then continue drive to Menghai, visit Menghai Local Market（勐海集市）, get to know the local people’s lifestyles. Then visit Dayi Tea Park（大益庄园含园内马车）, take a horse cart to visit the old tea and horse caravan road. After finish your tour, drive back to your Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Flight 8L9653(0720/0815)
In the morning, your MoreFunAsia team will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Dali. Upon arriving in Dali, head to Shaxi(142KM/2.5h), on the way visit Xizhou Morning Market （喜洲早市）and the Old Town（喜洲古镇） Then enjoy a local Three Course tea dancing and singing show（三道茶歌舞表演）.
After arrive at Shaxi,visit Shaxi Old Town（沙溪古镇）, old theatre（古戏台） and Xingjiao Temple（兴教寺）.Nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills, halfway from Lijiang to Dali, Shaxi is a lively border town which connected Tibet and Eastern China during the era of the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
In the morning, drive to visit Shaxi Shibaoshan （石宝山 ）(Shí bǎoshān or Stone Treasure Mountain) . Thanks to the areas remoteness, the temples and grottoes miraculously survived the destruction of the Cultural Revolution. The geology here is a known as a danxia land-form, made up mainly of red sand stone and conglomerates dating back to the cretaceous period. After that, hike from the top of Shibaoshan to Shaxi Old Town for about 2 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Shaxi/Lijiang
In the morning, drive to Lijiang(100km/2H), after arrival, visit the Old Town of Lijiang （丽江古城）and the Black Dragon Pond（东巴文化博物馆） which iwas built in 1737 during the Qing Dynasty and offers a spectacular view on the region’s tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, over its white marble bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Pass by the mythical First Bend of the Yangtze River as you continue along the trade route to fabled Shangri-La As you arrive in Shangri-la, Later afternoon visit Shangri-la Tibetan Ancient Town（独克宗古城）, climb up to the top of Guishan Hill（龟山公园）, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel （转经筒）of the world and have a panoramic view of Shangri-la county.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Start the tour today by visiting the Songzanlin Monastery（松赞林寺）. Reach the fringes of Tibet as you continue along the Tea and Horse Caravan Road to ephemeral Napahai Lake, which recedes into green grassland during dry season, only to be revived by fresh snowmelt in the summer. Continue to visit Nixi Tibetan village. Stop at the Benzilan, where you will see the Jinsha River Grand Canyon. You will spend the overnight at one local guesthouse in Feilaisi, which is the best place to view Mt. Meili.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Get up in the early morning to see the sunrise at Feilai Temple（飞来寺观景台观日出）. Then proceed to Mingyong Glaciers（明永冰川）, spend 3 hours to trek to the Viewpoint to see the Glacier. Afterwards drive back to Shangri-la and check in your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight in a 5-star hotel
Your MoreFunAsia team will transfer you to Lijiang airport, bringing your journey to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
