11 Days Yunnan Mule Trek Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Lijiang

Today we'll arrive and gather in Lijiang and do some orientation. We'll have a nice meal in a proper Naxi restaurant (one of the last ones left).

Overnight in Lijiang

Day 2: Lijiang to Shaxi

Today, we'll be exploring some interesting spots in Lijiang. After a breakfast on the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, we’ll visit the former home of explorer/botanist Joseph Rock. We’ll have a look at some intriguing murals and a Tea and Horse museum. We’ll leave south to the town of Jianchuan where we’ll have lunch. From here, we’ll drive over to Shaxi, where we have some time to relax and look around the alleys and courtyards of the old town. At dinner, we'll encounter a group of elderly Bai farmers who practice traditional music in their free time. They will give us a performance of pieces passed down from master to pupil for more than 500 years.

Overnight in Shaxi

Day 3: Shaxi – Shibaoshan / Market

We’ll visit some noteworthy places around the Shaxi valley. Perfect timing would be to be in Shaxi on the market day (Friday). This day is perfect to acclimatize and getting introductions to the local history and customs. In the afternoon, we'll explore the Shibao mountain area, home to some of the most important stone carvings in China: both depictions of the court of the Nanzhao Empire from the 8th century and magnificent examples of early Buddhist art. From there we make a beautiful hike down to the valley, and stay in a beautiful courtyard hotel.

Overnight in Shaxi

Day 4: Shaxi – High Camp

Today is the first day we'll load our luggage onto the horse caravan and make our way for the mountains. The road will initially involve some gentle climbing as we move up from the valley into the hills, followed by a final steep ascent to our first camping ground high up on the mountain at a point where several routes of the Tea and Horse Trail intersected. We'll enjoy a nice ‘home-cooked’ meal from our camp kitchen.

Hiking info:

• Approx 16 km/ 6 hours walking
• Elevation change (ascent): 900 meters
• Breakfast, picnic lunch, camp dinner

Overnight in High Camp

Day 5: High Camp - Cibi Lake

On our second day on the trails, we'll walk down the mountain along a beautiful trail to the pristine Cibi lake, passing through some very traditional and isolated Yi settlements. Today, we'll be lodging in a simple village guesthouse and enjoying a meal with the proprietor. If they want, we can take the children (and adults) for a swim in the lake, which is perfectly clean.

Hiking info:

• Approx 10 km / 4-5 hours walking
• Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner  

Overnight at Cibi Lake Village Guesthouse

Day 6: Cibi Lake - Eryuan - Fengyu – Laping

In the morning, we'll first take the boat across the Cibi Lake. Then we follow a riverside trail past papaya groves and through broad bean fields almost right into the heart of the county town of Eryuan, where we break for a delicious lunch. In the meantime, caravan leader Yang Xiao will stock up on fresh vegetables and load your luggage onto a new caravan team. After lunch we make a short drive to the east side of the Fengyu plain, where we face a relatively short but challenging hike for an hour or two to our camping ground in the pine forest near the village of Laping. Yang Xiao will have finished setting up camp and cooking by the time we arrive.

Hiking info:

• Approx 7 km / 3-4 hours hiking
• Elevation change (ascent): 400 meters
• Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Overnight at Laping (camp)

Day 7: Laping – Jici Ba

Today's walk will bring you to the most beautiful part of the Cangshan Mountains. We'll be walking to a pristine high altitude valley, grazed by sheep, goats and a great herd of yaks. We'll camp in a beautiful spot close to where the herders also make their camp – we have good friends among the mountain people here, and you should have the rare opportunity to mix with them and learn about their lifestyle and culture.

Hiking info:

• Approx 9 km / 5-6 hours hiking
• Elevation change (ascent): 900 meters
• Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Overnight in Cangshan Mountains (camp)

Day 8: Jici Ba - Huadian Ba

This is the second day of almost continuously gorgeous old trading road through amazing mountain scenery. We have the option of climbing to the peak of ‘Pot Lid’ Mountain, the highest peak on the east side of the Cangshan range at 3,500 meters above sea level; equally, we can take it easy and simply enjoy the great pastures and wonderful wildflowers.

Hiking info:

• Approx 5 hours hiking
• Elevation change (ascent): 500 meters

• Camping Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner   

Overnight at Huadian Ba (camp)

Day 9: Huadian Ba - Xizhou

Today, we'll be walking down the Cangshan Mountain to Dali valley. It will be beautiful to have the Erhai Lake appear in sight as we zigzag our way down the mountain path. When we get down to the valley, we'll say goodbye to our caravan team and celebrate our successful journey on foot by a delicious local meal in the nearest town, which also happens to have the nicest restaurants of the valley. We’ll stay for the night in a beautifully restored courtyard, built originally by a local trader.

Hiking info:

• Approx 12 km / 5 hours hiking
• Elevation (descent): 1,200 meters
• Breakfast, picnic lunch and restaurant dinner  

Overnight in Xizhou

Day 10: Xizhou & Dali 

After a relaxing night in our fantastic boutique hotel, we’ll do some exploring around the town of Xizhou, as well as some other fascinating spots in this valley, both along the Erhai Lake, as well as in Dali Old Town.

Day 11: Departure from Xizhou

Today, you’ll be driven to Dali Airport where your tour ends. We are looking forward welcoming you again in Yunnan soon!