This journey takes you through the captivating landscapes of Lijiang and its surrounding areas. You’ll begin with a visit to Yulong Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you can explore stunning high-altitude meadows filled with wildflowers such as Roscoea alpina and Meconopsis forrestii. The rugged mountains and deep gorges create a dramatic backdrop for the colorful flora, offering an unforgettable natural experience.

Next, you’ll venture to Shangri-La, a region known for its untouched beauty. The primeval forests and alpine meadows are home to an array of stunning plants, including Lilium taliense and Meconopsis pseudointegrifolia. As you explore the tranquil surroundings, you'll be surrounded by towering trees and vibrant wildflowers, with snow-capped peaks in the distance.

The journey continues to Meili Snow Mountain, where the high mountain pastures offer a serene escape. Here, you’ll find rare flowers such as Cypripedium tibeticum and Meconopsis venusta, flourishing amidst the dramatic mountain scenery. The sweeping views of the vast plateau and the sight of these delicate flowers create a sense of peaceful isolation, far from the bustle of everyday life.

Throughout this adventure, you'll experience a harmonious blend of breathtaking landscapes, botanical treasures, and Tibetan culture.  As you explore regions like Shangri-La and Meili, you'll encounter Tibetan villages, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and ancient monasteries that reflect the region's deep spiritual heritage.  The Tibetan people's connection to the land and their traditions adds a unique cultural layer to your journey.  Each destination offers an opportunity to connect with nature, explore diverse ecosystems, and observe rare plant species, all while immersing yourself in the rich Tibetan way of life.

Trip Highlights:

1.Yulong Snow Mountain’s High-Altitude Flora: Explore the breathtaking Yak Meadow on Yulong Snow Mountain, where you’ll discover a variety of rare and stunning flowers in a dramatic high-altitude setting.

2.Tiger Leaping Gorge: Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest gorges, while enjoying its rugged landscapes and unique plant species.

3.Shangri-La’s Primeval Forests and Meadows: Wander through Shangri-La’s untouched primeval forests and vibrant alpine meadows, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and diverse wildlife.

4.Meili Snow Mountain’s Rich Biodiversity: Discover the rich plant life in Meili Snow Mountain’s high-altitude pastures, offering a serene escape into nature with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

5.Scenic Alpine Views: Enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the Tibetan plateau, snow-covered peaks, and lush valleys, immersing yourself in some of China’s most spectacular natural landscapes.

The cost includes the following:

The cost does not include the following:

D1: Arrival in Lijiang. Meals: D

Arrive in Lijiang, meet your guide, and transfer to your hotel.  Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening.

Overnight: Lijiang Fenghuang Wellness Resort Hotel

D2: Yulong Snow Mountain. Meals: BLD

After breakfast, head to Yak Meadow on Yulong Snow Mountain to explore high-altitude flowers, including Roscoea alpina* and Meconopsis forrestii*.  In the afternoon, continue flower viewing on the mountain before returning to the hotel.  Flowers to observe include Neottia acuminata* and Tipularia szechuanica*.

Overnight: Lijiang Fenghuang Wellness Resort Hotel

D3: Tiger Leaping Gorge. Meals: BLD

After breakfast, explore the stunning Tiger Leaping Gorge.  In the afternoon, search for Cypripedium lichiangense** near Haba Snow Mountain.  Then, cross the rhododendron-covered Xilianpen Yakou (Face Wash Basin Pass) to reach Shangri-La.

Overnight: Shangri-La Zunshang Tibetan Charm Manor Oxygen Boutique Hotel

D4: Shangri-La. Meals: BLD

After breakfast, visit Bigu Tianchi in Xiaozhongdian to admire fields of Lilium taliense and shrub rhododendrons.  In the afternoon, explore the surrounding primeval forest to discover wildflowers such as Rosa praelucens**, Nomocharis aperta*, Meconopsis pseudointegrifolia*, and Lilium souliei.

Overnight: Shangri-La Zunshang Tibetan Charm Manor Oxygen Boutique Hotel

D5: Shangri-La – Meili. Meals: BLD

After breakfast, visit the scree slopes of Tianbao Snow Mountain to observe flowers like Cypripedium flavum**, Cypripedium tibeticum**, Cypripedium bardolphianum**,  Meconopsis venusta*, and Meconopsis prattii*.  In the afternoon, travel to Meili.

Overnight: Yunman Mountain Luxury Homestay

D6: Meili – Shangri-La. Meals: BLD

Explore Meili’s high mountain pastures in the morning, searching for Sinopodophyllum hexandrum**, Fritillaria cirrhosa**, Meconopsis pseudointegrifolia* , and Paraquilegia microphylla.  In the afternoon, return to Shangri-La.

Overnight: Shangri-La Zunshang Tibetan Charm Manor Oxygen Boutique Hotel

D7: Depart Shangri-La. Meals: B

After breakfast, transfer to Shangri-La Airport for your departure.

We will arrange one of our WildFloraTour experts for this trip based on the focus of this trip. All our experts have rich experiences of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides for your references.

Cory Li      WildFloraTour plant expert

Cory Li,co-founder, and general manager of WildFloraTour is a super fan of nature, especially for flowers. His passion for nature grows from the beauty of greens in the little boys' eyes. As a native of Sichuan Chengdu, he has spent a lot of time exploring nature in the mountains nearby his hometown. During his study at Sichuan University, he began to take lots of outdoor activities like hiking and mountain climbing and started to study knowledge about flora by himself. After graduation, he even spent more time in the wild than office exploring wildflowers in Sichuan and nearby provinces with other nature lovers and photographed about two thousand wildflower species. He even found several new distributions of some endemic species and even some new species of plants along with some other nature lovers. He loves to share his findings and stories behind the photos with other nature lovers on the internet and became a “flora idol” in southwest China. He never expected becoming famous out of this, he just enjoys sharing the beauty of those lovely flowers with others.

Ke Huang      WildFloraTour plant expert

Huang Ke, who graduated with a master's degree from Sichuan University, joined a local NGO after graduation, dedicating himself to environmental protection and biological resource surveys. Through years of study and fieldwork, he has gained a profound understanding of the diverse animals and plants in Southwest China. His work has taken him to remote forests, high-altitude meadows, and pristine river valleys, where he has documented rare species and contributed valuable ecological data.In addition to his field research, Huang Ke actively participated in the editing of several nature-related books, including the "Wild Bird Cartoon Guide" series, Between the Forest and the Sea, Picture of Giant Pandas, and Chengdu Nature Notes, which aim to enhance public awareness of biodiversity and conservation. His botanical research has also led to the discovery and publication of new plant species, such as Primula xilingensis and Primula meishanensis, enriching scientific knowledge of China’s flora. His passion for nature continues to drive his efforts in research, conservation, and education.

Ray      WildFloraTour plant expert

Ray graduated from Leshan Normal University, majoring in plant science. As an expert at WildFlora, Ray is responsible for the daily operations of WildFloraTour. He possesses a profound passion for nature, which prompted him to resign from his job in his hometown of Deyang and relocate to Chengdu to pursue his dreams and join WildFloraTour. Having specialized in botanical studies during his university years, Ray has acquired a distinct advantage in his work, affording him opportunities to discover endemic species and make thrilling new findings. Additionally, Ray is an avid photographer who captures the ephemeral beauty of nature, preserving invaluable moments that inspire others to appreciate the wonders of the natural world. At WildFloraTour, he collaborates with a team of plant specialists to design customized tours that cater to the individual interests of each traveler who has keen interests in plants. Whether it involves botanical exploration, cultural immersion, or wildlife safaris, Ray and his team strive to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience that fosters a deeper connection with nature.

Bella      WildFloraTour bird and mammal expert

Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, was graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grown up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom’s garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients. She takes great pride in the work she is doing, now she is ready to help you plan your best birding trip in China in cooperation with her colleagues.

Karen       WildFloraTour logistic expert

Karen Lin is a native of Chengdu, Sichuan province. She loves and knows the culture of her hometown well, such as ancient Shu civilization, folk customs and ancient Chinese poetry.She has over 14 years' experience in foreign affairs service and tourism. She is familiar with the whole process of group operation. She is always good at thinking and full of ideas, and always gives the guests a warm experience with the special attention and consideration.Karen loves birds and enjoys go out for birding with the team, sometimes, she works as assistant for the group. She likes nature and is good at parent-child natural activities and education. In addition, she has long devoted herself to public welfare, especially caring for the elderly and disabled people, environmental protection, and reading promotion. She organizes and participates in a number of related volunteer work. She is a passionate and intelligent member of our team.

Philip      WildFloraTour culture and bird expert

As a half Kangba Tibetan, Philip is the founder of WildfloraTour and is native of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He has a deep love for his Kangba Tibetan heritage and the land where he was born and raised. Philip's career has gone from mining technician to teacher, to translator, and finally to a guide and tour operator. Along the way, Philip discovered his passion and love for helping tourists understand the beauty and history of his people and homeland. Philip is known for his ability to plan and execute unique and exciting adventure trips exploring the sights off the usual tourist routes. He is active, open-minded, and adventurous and always ready to share interesting and useful information with his clients. As a travel professional working in this field for more than 15 years, Philip believes travel is an art and a process of learning and discovery. Each trip is a unique artistic work created with knowledge and expertise based on the resources available and the interests and tastes of travelers. To help more people to understand the unique resources in panda habitats and neighboring areas, he established Wildflora to bring his educational fun-filled tours to more people eager to explore and learn about China. Besides, Philip is an active and knowledgeable birder and a dedicated photographer.

Besides, one of WildFloraTour's local guides in Southeast China will participate in this trip to ensure a high-end traveling experience.