Basecamp Travel | Trekking from Stone Town to Shangri-La (Zhongdian)

This trekking can be done as a separate trekking or as a extension of the Lijiang - Stone Town trekking.

Baoshan or Stone Town, is one of the most beautiful villages in Yunnan. Stone Town is built on an enormous rock in a deep valley. Traditionally the stones were used for making beds, benches and stoves in the houses. Nowadays the stones carved out of the rocks are used as stairs and passages from one house to another. Tibetan girls in Zhongdian

We leave Stone Town and also the views at the Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River, the upper Yangtze). After 5 hours walking we enter the village Guole. From here we take a bus to Daju.

Daju is an old traditional Naxi village with narrow alleys and a lot of brightly coloured Bougainvillea. We stay in the village inn.

Next day we traverse the Jinsha river on the small ferry and in the distance we see the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Through corn- and rice fields and small villages like Heika, we arrive in Haba at the end of the day.

The top of the impressive Haba Shan is the second tallest mountain in the region and 5396 meters above sea level and is capped with snow all year round.

In the morning Baishuitai waterterrases

a short bus transfer brings us to the starting point for this day. We walk through beautiful rice fields, villages and green forests to Baishuitai that is situated on a splendid limestone plateau.

The Baishuitai water terraces (near the Naxi village Baidi) are known as the place of birth of the Dongba religion and very famous. They say the terraces are at most 200.000 years old.

By bus we drive the last 110 kilometres to Zhongdian. I Songzanlin monastary

n the afternoon we arrive at the green grass-lands, we see the yaks and stupas of the Tibetan plateau of Zhongdian.

The next day we can explore Zhongdian and environment. We walk through the old ancient city and along the shore of the holy Bitai lake. We can go to the Songzanlin monastery, also called "little Potala". The typical lama monastery was built in 1679 and has been rebuilt many times. Also there is the Buddhist monastery Dabao.

Lijiang Black Dragonpool

The bus will take us back to Lijiang, where we will arrive late afternoon.

The Trekking per day

day	route	description
0	With (local) bus from Lijiang to Stone Town (6-7hr)	Sleep at MU family guesthouse (GH)
1	Walking from Baoshan to Guole (4hr) and bus to Daju (3,5hr)	Sleep in village inn
2	Walking from Daju via Heika to Haba (6-7hr)	Sleep in guesthouse
3	Short busride, walking to Baishuitai and a bus transfer to Zhongdian	Sleep in guesthouse
4	Sight-seeing in Zhongdian	Sleep in guesthouse
5	By bus from Zhongdian to Lijiang	8 hr, diner and sleep in guesthouse

Suitable time for the trekking

Best period for the trekking is March-May and September-November (the dry season).

In the rainy season (June till September) trekkings will also be organized, but take into account heavier circumstances.

In the winter (December-March) the trekking can also be organized, however there is big chance on snow. A better preparation and better own equipment is required.

Grading and duration

The trek is graded from moderate to strenuous (strenuous after or with rain or snow).

Most people are potentially capable of doing a trek at moderate level. You need to be in good health and reasonable fitness, and you will probably take regular exercise.

The trek have no direction marks and there are many side paths, a local guide is necessary.

Maximum altitude: 3300 meter. Daily walking time can be anything between 4 and 7 hours, including rests.

Basecamp Travel reserves the right to make the trekking in reversed direction.

The duration of the trekking is 6 days from Lijiang until Lijiang or

5 days as an extension of the trek Lijiang to Stone Town.

Here you can find a diagram of the trekking and a map of the trek.

The person, who will dare this trekking and have a big dose of flexibility, will be rewarded with an unforgettable experience.

Price

as extension of the trek Lijiang - Stone Town

3800 rmb pp by 2 participants

2500 rmb pp by 3 to 5 participants

1500 rmb pp by 6 to 9 participants

1200 rmb pp by 10 to 16 participants

as independent trek

5000 rmb pp by 2 participants

4000 rmb pp by 3 to 5 participants

3500 rmb pp by 6 to 9 participants

3000 rmb pp by 10 to 16 participants

Remarks

The trekking takes place from 2 persons, with a maximum of 16 persons on the same departure date.

The prices are without a guesthouse in Lijiang. If you want we organize a guesthouse in the ancient town of Lijiang. If you want to use this guesthouse, 160 rmb per night (max. 2) per room will be added at the mentioned prices.

Single supplement (in Lijiang) per night is 80 rmb.

During the Chinese Public Holidays higher prices, if any, are calculated.

Departure date

Basecamp Travel has chosen not to stipulate fixed departure dates in advance, but to continue the trekking if the minimum number of participants has been reached around the same desired departure date.

We discuss mutually over the effective departure date, where we expect, however, some flexibility. Basecamp Travel eventually decides what the departure date is going to be and this date will communicated to the participants. If participants agree with the date then, after payment of the trekking, we can take off.

Accommodation

If you want we organize a guesthouse in the ancient town of Lijiang. In this guesthouse it is possible to have a single room (supplement).

During the trekking a single room is not possible most of the time. We sleep in simple accommodation (guest- or farmershouse) in rooms for 2 persons and sometimes with 3 persons.

During the dry season, sleeping in tents is possible. In that case sleeping bags are provided.

Inclusive

· transportation (we prefer to use public bus) Lijiang - Stone Town, Guole - Daju, a short busride at Haba, Baishuitai - Zhongdian and Zhongdian - Lijiang

· during the trekking: accommodation, meals (3 per day, including several picnic lunches).

· during the trekking: local guides and horses from Stone Town until Guole.

· an English speaking tour-guide service (who also has a First Aid-kit).

Exclusive

· other food, drinks and other accommodation as mentioned before.

· entry fee for curiosities.

· personal expenses.

· journey to (before the trekking) and from (after the trekking) Lijiang.

· tips to guides, drivers, etc.

· travel assurance (obliged).

Your equipment at least

While on trek we advise you to take no more than 8 kg of personal gear. Gear not needed on trek can normally be left in the guesthouse. Villages have shops selling drinks and snacks.

· day pack

· good mountaineering boots with a good profile

· apart from cold and wet weather protection, comfortable casual clothes are all that is needed

· inner sheet

· supply against mosquito’s (e.g. DEET)

· supply against (too much) sun (e.g. sunglasses, sun cream with high factor, cap)

· personal first-aid and medicine (e.g. against blisters)

· flashlight (extra batteries)

· plastic bags for clothes

· towel

· water bottles

· etc.