Overview
A 7-day private trek into the hidden Yubeng valley beneath sacred Meili Snow Mountain, chasing golden sunrises, the Ice Lake and the Sacred Waterfall on a 700-year Tibetan pilgrimage trail.
About This Tour
This is one of the great Himalayan treks of southwest China, run as a private tour for your group only with an English-speaking guide and private vehicle. From the old town of Lijiang you drive north through Shangri-La and along the dramatic First Bend of the Jinsha River to Feilai Temple, the classic viewpoint over the thirteen peaks of Meili (Kawagarbo, 6,740m), Yunnan's highest and holiest mountain. On clear autumn and winter mornings the summits light up in the famous 'sunshine on golden mountain.' You then hike into Yubeng, a roadless Tibetan hamlet reached only on foot, and spend three days walking the pilgrimage circuit that devotees have followed for over 700 years: up forest and meadow trails to the Sacred Waterfall, and over a high pass to the glacier-fed Ice Lake at about 3,800m. Nights are spent in simple Tibetan guesthouses among prayer flags and snow peaks. This trek suits fit, adventurous travelers who want a genuine high-altitude wilderness and Tibetan-culture experience. Best in October-November and April-May for clear skies and the best chance of sunrise. Itinerary may adjust based on weather, road and local regulations. Good to know: • Best season: Oct-Nov and Apr-May for clear skies and sunrise on the peaks • Fitness level: good; 3 trekking days of 5-8 hours with sustained ascents • Altitude: sleeps at 3,000-3,200m, day hikes reach 3,650-3,864m; risk of altitude sickness • Yubeng is roadless: you carry a daypack with 4 days of essentials while main luggage stays in the vehicle • Simple guesthouse facilities inside Yubeng; share rooms and basic bathrooms • Bring warm layers, sun protection, trekking poles and a headlamp
Itinerary
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Day 1: Lijiang | Arrival & Acclimatization
Make your own way to your hotel in Lijiang (approx. 2,400m) where you check in and meet your guide. The day is free to wander the lanes of Dayan Old Town, a UNESCO-listed Naxi town of canals and cobbled streets, or watch sunset over Qingxi Reservoir while you start adjusting to the altitude. Around 20:00 your guide holds a pre-trip briefing covering the route, safety and packing. Travelers flying into Shangri-La can arrange to join the vehicle there the next morning. Optional warm-up hikes such as the Tiger Leaping Gorge high trail can be added before departure. Meals: not included. Overnight: comfortable hotel in Lijiang.
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Day 2: Lijiang to Feilai Temple | First Bend & Sunset
After breakfast you drive roughly 340km (about 6 hours) north toward the Tibetan borderlands, passing the caravan town of Benzilan for lunch. In the afternoon you stop at Moon Bay to take in the vast First Bend of the Jinsha River, then continue to Feilai Temple, the prime viewpoint facing the thirteen snow peaks of Meili. On a clear evening the range glows at sunset, one of the most photogenic scenes in Yunnan. Tonight you rest at altitude beneath the stars to prepare for the early sunrise and the start of the trek. Meals: breakfast included. Overnight: view hotel at Feilai Temple (approx. 3,400m).
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Day 3: Sunrise on Meili & Trek into Yubeng
Rise before dawn at the Feilai Temple platform to watch for 'sunshine on golden mountain' as the first light strikes Kawagarbo and Mianzimu, brightest in the drier autumn and winter months. After breakfast you drive about 1.5 hours to Ninong village (2,030m), the trailhead, and begin the climb into Yubeng. The path follows a gorge, passing rest huts and small shops, then eases before a final gentle ascent to the Tibetan hamlets of Lower or Upper Yubeng (3,054-3,160m), wrapped in prayer flags and snow ridges. You carry only what you need for the next four days. Meals: breakfast self-arranged in Yubeng. Overnight: Tibetan guesthouse in Yubeng.
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Day 4: Sacred Waterfall Pilgrimage
An optional early start takes you to the pond below Lower Yubeng to catch sunrise reflected off Mianzimu and the Five-Crown Peak in still water, prayer flags and meadows mirrored before you. After breakfast you follow the Bashilong stream upward through old fir forest, mani stones and prayer flags into high pasture, reaching the Sacred Waterfall at about 3,657m. Fed by snowmelt below the Five-Crown Peak, this is the spiritual heart of the Kawagarbo pilgrimage, where devotees receive the blessing of the sacred water. After taking in the full view you return on the same trail to your Yubeng guesthouse. Meals: self-arranged on trail. Overnight: Tibetan guesthouse in Yubeng.
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Day 5: Ice Lake & Xiaonong Base Camp
Today is the trek's high point. After breakfast you leave the village through sea-buckthorn scrub into old-growth forest, then climb over the Xiaonong pass with the Jiangjun (General) Peak rising ahead. From the viewpoint you continue to Xiaonong Base Camp, once the staging point for expeditions on Kawagarbo, where you take a simple packed lunch. A further hour brings you to the Ice Lake at about 3,864m, a deep green tarn fed by Meili's glaciers and revered as the mountain's sacred lake. After soaking in the alpine scenery you descend the same route back to your guesthouse in Yubeng. Meals: self-arranged, carry trail food. Overnight: Tibetan guesthouse in Yubeng.
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Day 6: Trek out via Xidang to Feilai Temple
After breakfast you trek out of the valley toward Xidang, descending forest switchbacks with farewell views of the snow peaks and prayer-flag passes before regaining your vehicle (a paid local shuttle option is sometimes available for tired legs). You then drive back to Feilai Temple, with a chance for one last evening view of the Meili range and, on clear nights, the snow-mountain stars. Tonight you swap the guesthouse for a comfortable hotel, repack your main luggage and relax after the demands of the high-altitude days. Meals: breakfast included. Overnight: view hotel at Feilai Temple.
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Day 7: Return to Lijiang & Departure
After a final look at Meili Snow Mountain you begin the scenic return drive south through Shangri-La to Lijiang, retracing the Jinsha River valley and Tibetan grasslands. Depending on conditions there may be short photo stops along the way. You arrive in Lijiang in the afternoon where the tour concludes; plan onward flights or trains for the evening or stay an extra night to rest. Your guide can help arrange transfers to the airport or station. Meals: breakfast included. Overnight: not included (tour ends in Lijiang).
What's Included
✓ Included
English-speaking guide Private vehicle & transfers Hotels and Tibetan guesthouses per itinerary (twin share) Listed entrance and shuttle tickets along the route Breakfasts as specified Yubeng area entry and pilgrimage trail arrangements
✕ Not included
International & domestic flights China visa Travel insurance Most lunches and dinners (self-arranged on trail) Optional accommodation upgrades Personal expenses, gear rental and snacks Tips for guide and driver
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
4.6★★★★★Based on 131 reviews
Olivia P.🇬🇧 UK★★★★★2025-03
Honestly, I chose this route for Yubeng, but it didn't feel built around a single attraction. Meili Snow Mountain gave the day a different rhythm.
Mia S.🇳🇿 New Zealand★★★★☆2025-08
The guide checked the pace before the steeper section rather than after someone fell behind. That made the trail feel supportive without becoming fussy. For 7 days around Lhasa, the pace felt about right.
Lena P.🇸🇪 Sweden★★★★★2024-05
A practical note: this is not technical hiking, but it isn't a city stroll either. Starting early gave us a cooler, quieter stretch on the trail. I would rather keep the pause at Yubeng than add another stop.
Hannah I.🇫🇷 France★★★★★2024-06
In hindsight, we booked because arranging Lhasa ourselves looked fiddly. We came away remembering the conversations as much as the places. With 7 days to work with, the balance felt sensible.