Lost Horizon Tour

Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-la

7days / 6 nights

$ 980 USD

Lost Horizon

Lost Horizon is a 1933 novel by English writer James Hilton. The book was turned into a movie called Lost Horizon in 1937 by director Frank Capra. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La. In this book, James Hilton invents the word” Shangri-La” by reading Joseph Rock’s and other travelers' articles. In James Hilton’s book, “Shangri-La” is a byword for a mythical utopia, a permanently happy land isolated from the world.

Besides Shangri-La, this route also takes you to visit famous minority culture ancient towns: Dali and Lijiang.

This journey will let you glance at the real meaning of Shangri-La.

Highlights

Start: DaLi

End: Shangri-La

Airports & Travel details

Uncover Mystical Kingdoms

Explore Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La old towns, where Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan legacies shine in ancient murals, sacred temples, and vibrant markets, revealing a forgotten paradise.

Itinerary Summary

7days / 6 nights

Activity Level 4

Boutique Hotels

Private trip

Day 1 Dali Pick-Up

Dali Old Town and Three Pagodas at Chongsheng Temple

Your journey to the Lost Horizon begins in Dali, where our team greets you, opening the gates to a Bai paradise. Visit the Three Pagodas at Chongsheng Temple, their golden spires shimmering like beacons of a forgotten realm, framed by Cangshan Mountain. Most Attractive Moment: As dusk paints the sky, wander Dali Old Town, where cobbled alleys hum with Bai artisans offering silver trinkets and rose cakes. Savor Erhai fish stew in a lantern-lit courtyard, the vibrant nightlife pulling you into Dali’s enchanted world. Sleep in Dali, dreaming of hidden kingdoms.
Dali pick-up; Three Pagodas (~1 hour); Dali Old Town (evening).

Day 2 : Dali

Xizhou Old Town, Bai Tie-Dyeing Or Bai Three-Course Tea Ceremony, and Erhai Lake Cycling

Awake in Dali and journey to Xizhou Old Town, a Bai haven where ornate courtyards whisper of a lost paradise. Most Attractive Moment: Choose your cultural immersion—craft vibrant indigo patterns in a Bai tie-dyeing workshop, a keepsake of Bai artistry, or savor the Bai Three Course Tea Ceremony, where bitter, sweet, and spiced teas unfold a poetic tale of life against Erhai’s glow. Pedal along Erhai Lake’s cycling path, the turquoise waters and snow-dusted peaks framing a ride through a dreamlike landscape. Sleep in Dali, wrapped in Bai serenity.
Xizhou (30 minutes from Dali); tie-dyeing or tea ceremony (1 hour); Erhai cycling (~1–2 hours).

Day 3: Dali — Lijiang

Lijiang Dayan Old Town and Baisha Mural

Travel from Dali to Lijiang, the Naxi heartland, where rugged hills signal a new chapter in your quest. Explore Lijiang Dayan Old Town, a UNESCO gem where canals and Naxi architecture glow like a hidden kingdom. Most Attractive Moment: In Baisha Old Town, marvel at the Baisha Murals, vibrant artworks blending Buddhist and Naxi artistry, their colors whispering tales of a mythical past. Savor Naxi pork pancakes in a quiet courtyard, the flavors as rich as the history. Sleep in Lijiang, enchanted by Naxi lore.
3-hour drive to Lijiang; Lijiang Dayan Old Town (evening); Baisha Murals (1 h)

Day 4: Lijiang

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Yuhu Village

Your journey ascends to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Naxi’s sacred peak, its snow-capped summit a gateway to the heavens. Ascend to Yunshanping Meadow by cable car, where alpine vistas steal your breath. Most Attractive Moment: In Yuhu Village, step into a Naxi home to learn Dongba script, carving ancient symbols with an elder, each stroke a secret from the Lost Horizon’s heart. Savor a warm Naxi meal, the mountain’s grandeur lingering in your soul. Sleep in Lijiang, lost in royal splendor.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (1-hour drive, 2–3 hours including cable car); Yuhu (30 minutes, ~1 hour).

Day 5 : Lijiang — Shangri-La

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Tibetan Black Pottery Class, and Shangri-La Old Town

Depart Lijiang for Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the Jinsha River roars through cliffs, a wild frontier of your hidden paradise. Hike a gentle trail, the river’s thunder echoing a tiger’s mythic leap. Most Attractive Moment: In a Tibetan black pottery class near Shangri-La, mold smooth clay with a local artisan, crafting a vessel that holds the highland’s ancient spirit. Arrive in Shangri-La Old Town, where Tibetan prayer flags flutter and yak butter tea warms your hands. Sleep in Shangri-La, dreaming of Himalayan tales.
Tiger Leaping Gorge (2-hour drive, 1–2-hour hike); pottery class (1 hour); ~2 hours to Shangri-La.

Day 6: Shangri-La

Songzanlin Lamasery and Pudacuo National Park

In Shangri-La, the air feels like a breath from paradise. Visit Songzanlin Lamasery, a golden-roofed Tibetan monastery where monks’ chants echo like hymns of a lost world. Most Attractive Moment: At Pudacuo National Park, wander pristine meadows and turquoise lakes, where yaks graze and snow-capped peaks mirror in crystal waters. The crisp alpine air and Himalayan vistas make you feel you’ve found Shangri-La’s fabled utopia. Savor a spicy Tibetan hotpot lunch, its warmth a perfect match for the cool heights. Sleep in Shangri-La, wrapped in mystical glow.
Songzanlin (30 minutes, ~1.5 hours); Pudacuo (1-hour drive, 2–3 hours).

Day 7: Shangri-La Departure

Pick Up Pottery, Napa Sea Tour, and Airport Transfer

Your final chapter dawns in Shangri-La, the heart of the Lost Horizon. Most Attractive Moment: Collect your fired black pottery, a tangible piece of Tibetan craft, then explore Napa Sea Wetland, where migratory birds dance over golden grasslands framed by distant peaks, a serene farewell to paradise. Savor a final yak butter tea before a private car whisks you to Shangri-La Airport for your departure, carrying tales of Yunnan’s hidden realms—Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan—etched in your soul.
Pottery pick-up (30 minutes); Napa Sea (30 minutes, ~1–2 hours); airport transfer

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High Altitude Reaction:

1. the average altitude in Yunnan is 1894 meters. Kunming: 1890 meters. Dali: 2050 meters. Lijiang: 2400 meters, Jade Dragon Mountain: 4506 meters. Shangri-La: 3280 meters. We strongly suggest our consumers thoroughly prepare for high-altitude reactions and intense ultraviolet rays. By preparing these, you can take high-altitude reaction medicines or bring some Oxygen Can before you depart.

2. If you suffer any diseases, please advise your doctor before you depart.

There are various kinds of heart disease, high blood pressure, blood diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diseases of the respiratory system, and so on.

3. We don’t suggest our guests take showers in the first two days in a high-altitude area. If they get cold, it may easily lead to pulmonary edema and encephaloma.

4. Please don’t drink any alcohol, especially any strong liquids, since alcohol will lead to a high severe altitude reaction.

The price excludes：

1. Other personal expenses during the journey.

2. Our accommodation prices are for twin rooms (two people live in one room, with a separate bed/one bed). There will be an extra cost if consumers require a separate room for each person.

3. Chinese Visa Fees.

4. The extra expense is due to transportation delays, cancellations, wars, natural accidents, and strikes.

5. Meals (lunch and dinner)

Accommodations

We pick suitable and tasteful hotels for your requirements.

Transfer

We provide your own private and comfortable vehicle.

Guide/Driver service

Professional driver and Chinese/ English speaking guide.

Activities

All the activities listed in this program.

Local Knowledge

Our staff are locals with true love and knowledge of our hometown.

Entrance tickets for the sightseeing places listed in this program.

Tickets

Personalized Consultant Service

we provide one-on-one professional consultant service to all travelers to meet your demands.

Insurance

Travel accident insurance and Travel Agency’s Responsibility insurance.

How’s the weather? What should we wear?

Yunnan is dominated by the subtropical monsoon climate. Integrating low latitude, highland, and monsoon, the climate in Yunnan has four characteristics: first, there is a slight difference in annual temperature but a significant difference in daily temperature. Second, there is a big contrast between the rainy and dry seasons. Third, the climate alters according to the change in altitude. Fourth, the frost-free period is extended.
When you travel to Yunnan, the best advice for your wardrobe is to bring all kinds of clothes. A jacket, scarf, raincoat for the rainy season, and sunglasses are essential.

How’s the accommodation?

We believe that staying in a beautiful boutique hotel is one of the most essential parts of the journey. We strongly advise guests to choose hotels with comfortable service and tasteful design. Due to the diversity of ethnic culture, Yunnan has some extraordinary hotels that can bring you the most unforgettable memories. We offer various accommodation choices, from famous international brands to local boutique resorts.

How’s the road?

Because the significant landscape in Yunnan is mountainous, the mountain area has bumpy roads and steep slopes. Even on the expressway, there are always sharp turns. So we strongly suggest our guests fasten their seat belts before they depart.

How’s the meal?

Most hotels will provide breakfast in both American and Chinese. During the travel, we will recommend featured local dishes and street food for our consumers. We also encourage our consumers to explore the local food they like since eating is essential for a journey. Our guide will suggest a suitable restaurant to our consumers.

Design my trip

Quality Guide Of KiKi

Accommodations

Being in a beautiful boutique hotel is one of the most essential parts of a journey. We strongly advise guests to choose hotels with comfortable service and tasteful design. Due to the diversity of ethnic cultures, Yunnan has some extraordinary hotels that can bring you unforgettable memories. We offer various accommodation choices, from famous international brands to local boutique resorts.