Home > Bike & Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge
Bike & Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge
Price from
1275 USD
Duration
7 Days | 6 Nights
Level
4
Average Ride
Overview
Remote Yunnan stretches from the jungles bordering Myanmar up to the Himalayas. Its huge altitude range gives Yunnan (“South of the Clouds”) spectacular scenery and the people who inhabit this land are equally diverse – 26 of China’s 56 ethnic groups are represented, and along the way, we will meet Tibetan monks, Naxi musicians, not to mention the odd yak!
This amazing adventure takes us from the lofty Tibetan settlement of Zhongdian (3300m) through spectacular mountain scenery, incredible terraces and remote Tibetan villages on our way down to Tiger Leaping Gorge, arguably the world’s deepest gorge, located on the first bend in the mighty Yangtze. After 2 days of riding, we’ll leave the bikes behind and begin the beautiful hike out through gorge. The tour ends in the quaint historic Naxi town of Lijiang overlooked by the ever-imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. We’ll have a final dinner to celebrate this unbelievable journey, and then fly from Lijiang back to Shanghai.
Highlights
Spend a night in the old town of Lijiang with fantastic views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.
Cycle through dramatic mountains and the water terraces of Baishuitai, unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Ride downhill into the striking Tiger Leaping Gorge to an accommodation with incredible views.
Hike up into the gorge to a simple guesthouse with unbelievable views.
Day to Day
Altitude 2400m
Today those of you on the group flight will meet in Hong Kong or Shanghai before making the flight across China to Lijiang, which lies at an altitude of 2400m, offering the opportunity to start acclimatizing. Home to the Naxi people and one of China’s most beautiful towns, the streets of Old Lijiang are lined by waterways, whilst mighty Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5596m) looms in the background. On arrival, we’ll have a drink and a snack and get to know one another.
Altitude 3300m
This morning we’ll drive the spectacular road to Zhongdian (aka Shangri-La), nestled 3300m up in the Himalaya. Once there, we’ll have a tasty local lunch and a detailed briefing to the week ahead. In the afternoon we’ll get to grips with our bikes, and have some time to explore this remote Tibetan town before going out for a Tibetan dinner.
We’ll transfer to a high pass at 3900m to commence our ride. After some tough initial uphill section, there are some fantastic long, fast downhills on our way through the mountains and down to the impressive travertine terraces at Baishuitai (2500m), the spiritual home of the Naxi people. This place is otherworldly and one of the highlights of the trip.
Another beautiful (mostly!) downhill day of riding takes us down and into the giant chasm of Tiger Leaping Gorge (2000m) itself. We overnight in a simple lodge with jaw-dropping views across the world's deepest gorge.
Altitude 2500m / 12km (4-6 hours) hiking
Today we leave the bikes and road behind us as we hike up into the gorge, mesmerizing vistas at every turn. We overnight in a simple guesthouse, again with captivating views into the gorge.
Altitude 2400m / 10km (3-4 hours) hiking
A solid half-day hike takes us back down to the road, from where we’ll transfer to Lijiang. In the evening we’ll head out for a celebratory final dinner to mark the end of our momentous by pedal and bipedal adventure!
This morning we’ll head to the airport for your flight back to Shanghai where the tour will end on arrival.
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
This tour gets you off-the-beaten-path on a true adventure through China’s stunning Yunnan region. We’ve crafted this itinerary to take you to impressive old towns full of history and then on cycling routes with jaw-dropping views at every turn. Spend a few days hiking and exploring the Tiger Leaping Gorge for an expedition you’ll never forget. We take care of all of the details so you can relax and enjoy the views.
