Yubeng & the Meili Snow Mountains
7 days · Starts and ends in Shangri-La · Moderate
- Duration
- 7 days
- Route
- Shangri-La
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Highest point
- 3,850 m
- Group size
- 2 to 10
Seven days from Shangri-La. Sunrise on Kawagebo, a pass at 3,700 m into the roadless village of Yubeng, day hikes to Ice Lake and the Sacred Waterfall, and out through the Ninong gorge.
Who it’s for: fit hikers comfortable with 5–7 hour days at 3,000–3,850 m. The itinerary builds in two nights above 3,000 m before the trek starts.
Altitude: your leader carries a pulse oximeter and checks the group every morning and evening. If someone feels unwell, the plan always allows them to rest or descend.
Highlights
- Sunrise over Kawagebo (6,740 m) from Feilaisi
- Cross the Nazongla Pass into Yubeng on foot
- Ice Lake beneath the Meili glaciers
- The pilgrim path to the Sacred Waterfall
- Songzanlin, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Shangri-La
Airport pickup. An easy afternoon to adjust to the altitude, with a walk around the old town of Dukezong and a briefing dinner.
Day 2Songzanlin and the drive to Feilaisi
Morning at Songzanlin Monastery, then a spectacular drive above the Jinsha River to Feilaisi, facing the Meili range.
Day 3Over the Nazongla Pass to Upper Yubeng
Sunrise over Kawagebo, then a drive to the trailhead near Xidang. Climb through forest to the pass and descend into the Yubeng valley. Horses carry the bags.
Day 4Ice Lake
A full day through old forest and meadows to the glacial lake under the Meili ice falls, the high point of the trek.
Day 5The Sacred Waterfall
Walk down to Lower Yubeng, then follow the pilgrim path up the gorge to the Sacred Waterfall, where pilgrims walk through the spray for a blessing.
Day 6Out through the Ninong gorge
Follow the Yubeng river down the dramatic Ninong gorge to the road, where the car meets you for the drive back to Feilaisi.
Day 7Back to Shangri-La
Drive back to Shangri-La for an afternoon flight.
What's included
Included
- English-speaking trek leader and local Yubeng guide
- Private vehicle and driver
- 6 nights twin-share in guesthouses and small hotels
- All meals on trek days (days 3–6)
- Meili scenic-area ticket and Songzanlin entry
- Luggage horses on the trek
- Airport transfers on days 1 and 7
Not included
- Flights to and from Shangri-La
- Travel insurance covering trekking to 4,000 m and evacuation (required)
- Single room supplement
- Meals not listed, drinks and personal spending
- Tips
Visas. At 7 days this fits within 240-hour visa-free transit for US travellers who arrive from one country and leave for another. Read our visa guide
Trail guides for this trek: Yubeng Village & the Meili Snow Mountains
Dates and prices
Join a scheduled group date, or book a private trek on dates that suit you. Prices are per person in US dollars.
Group dates
Private trek
| Private trek, group of | Per person |
|---|---|
| 2 | US$3,890 |
| 3 | US$2,990 |
| 4 | US$2,490 |
| 5 | US$2,290 |
| 6 | US$2,090 |
| 7–8 | US$1,890 |
| Join a group date | US$2,290 |
Placeholder prices. Run npm run price after real ground quotes.