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TOUR OVERVIEW
A compact twin-trail mountain route
Over 6 days, 6-Day Meili & Yubeng Twin-Trail Trek links Shangri-La to Feilai Temple with Return to Shangri-La, taking in Meili sunrise and hike into Yubeng, Ice Lake trail, Sacred Waterfall trail, Exit Yubeng to Deqin along the way. Meet your guide at the agreed Shangri-La hotel and begin the mountain journey immediately. Shangri-La is about 3,200 metres above sea level; Dukezong’s stone lanes are gentle, while Songzanlin and Pudacuo add open plateau walks where the air and weather change quickly. Complete the overland return to Shangri-La with practical road stops. Warm up with Tibetan butter tea, yak yoghurt or a barley noodle dish, and leave a few minutes at the prayer wheels to learn the local custom before photographing the monastery roofs. The route is best suited to travelers who prefer a private guide, a named set of sights and time for a proper meal in each place, with the daily emphasis on a focused private journey with a balanced daily rhythm. Altitude, road access and mountain weather are reviewed locally, and a walk can be shortened when conditions change.
Start
Shangri-La
Finish
Shangri-La
Travel rhythm
Two demanding Yubeng day hikes in a compact six-day route
Best suited to
Fit travelers who arrive already acclimatized in Shangri-La and want both the Ice Lake and Sacred Waterfall trail days.
Trip Highlights Code: YN-MEI07
Leave Shangri-La for Feilai Temple on Day 1; this compact route does not include an arrival or acclimatization day.
Enter Yubeng after a weather-dependent Meili sunrise and a confirmed trailhead transfer.
Reserve separate guided days for the Ice Lake route and the Sacred Waterfall route.
Exit to Deqin on Day 5 and return to Shangri-La on Day 6, with no forced shopping stops.
Before confirming: Share fitness, altitude experience and any mobility or health concern. The final route follows current local access and safe operating conditions.
DAY BY DAY
The 6-Day Journey
Daily itinerary: Shangri-La to Feilai Temple → Meili sunrise and hike into Yubeng → Ice Lake trail → Sacred Waterfall trail → Exit Yubeng to Deqin → Return to Shangri-La.
INTERACTIVE ROUTE MAP
6-Day Meili & Yubeng Twin-Trail Trek
Drag to explore, use + / − to zoom, and select a numbered stop for details.
Meet your guide at the agreed Shangri-La hotel and begin the mountain journey immediately before continuing to Meili sunrise and hike into Yubeng the following day. Travel through the Jinsha River valley and Benzilan toward Feilai Temple, using planned comfort stops while keeping the day focused on the long northwest transfer. Choose this itinerary only after spending enough time at altitude before Day 1. Around Shangri-La to Feilai Temple on Day 1, Feilai Temple faces the Meili range from roughly 3,400 metres; when cloud lifts, dawn colour moves across Kawagebo before breakfast of noodles, tsampa or yak cheese.
Use the Feilai viewpoint at sunrise when visibility cooperates, then transfer to the locally confirmed trailhead after Shangri-La to Feilai Temple; Ice Lake trail follows on the next day. Hike into Yubeng with a guide and a light daypack, settling into the guesthouse before the two principal trail days. With Ice Lake trail planned for the following day, Feilai Temple faces the Meili range from roughly 3,400 metres; when cloud lifts, dawn colour moves across Kawagebo before breakfast of noodles, tsampa or yak cheese.
Tackle the Ice Lake direction as a dedicated guided mountain day after Meili sunrise and hike into Yubeng; Sacred Waterfall trail follows on the next day. A shorter forest alternative remains available when the full objective is unsuitable. Before setting out for Ice Lake trail, the guide checks the day's weather, access and walking conditions. After Meili sunrise and hike into Yubeng, wear shoes with reliable grip, carry water and a light layer, and use the planned rest points for photographs; the distance can be shortened without replacing the named highlight if conditions turn.
Take a separate day for the Sacred Waterfall route rather than combining both objectives after Ice Lake trail; Exit Yubeng to Deqin follows on the next day. Start after reviewing recovery from the Ice Lake day, carry appropriate weather layers and accept a shorter turnaround when conditions or fatigue make the full walk unsafe. Before setting out for Sacred Waterfall trail, the guide checks the day's weather, access and walking conditions. Around Sacred Waterfall trail on Day 4, wear shoes with reliable grip, carry water and a light layer, and use the planned rest points for photographs; the distance can be shortened without replacing the named highlight if conditions turn.
Leave Yubeng on the confirmed exit route and meet the private vehicle for Deqin or Feilai Temple after Sacred Waterfall trail; Return to Shangri-La follows on the next day. The day is kept for the trail, transfer and recovery rather than adding unrelated sightseeing after two strenuous hiking days. On the Meili and Yubeng Twin-Trail Trek plan, Day 5 at Exit Yubeng to Deqin: Feilai Temple faces the Meili range from roughly 3,400 metres; when cloud lifts, dawn colour moves across Kawagebo before breakfast of noodles, tsampa or yak cheese.
The Return to Shangri-La portion of Meili & Yubeng Village Trek follows the earlier Exit Yubeng to Deqin visit. Complete the overland return to Shangri-La with practical road stops. End at the agreed hotel, station or airport, allowing a conservative margin before any fixed onward service because mountain-road timing can change.
Planning note for this route
This compact route has no arrival day and assumes you are already acclimatized in Shangri-La. It schedules both the Ice Lake and Sacred Waterfall hiking days, so it requires stronger fitness than the seven-day Waterfall-focused itinerary. Either trail may be shortened or replaced when local conditions are unsuitable.
2–3 US$1,420 / person4–5 US$1,300 / person6+ Contact Us
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Typical Overnight Bases
Only places used by this itinerary are shown below. The final hotel list follows confirmed transport, season and room availability; upgrades and room preferences can be customized.
Domestic airfares and train fares listed in the itinerary
Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed driver
Professional English-speaking local guide
Selected hotel accommodation with breakfast
Entrance fees for listed sights
⊘ Price Excludes
International airfares
China visa fee if applicable
Personal expenses and gratuities
Meals not specifically listed in the itinerary
Questions about this itinerary
Why is this itinerary six days?
Day 1 travels directly from Shangri-La to Feilai Temple. The route then enters Yubeng, uses two separate trail days, exits on Day 5 and returns to Shangri-La on Day 6.
Who should choose the twin-trail itinerary?
It is intended for fit travelers who are already acclimatized in Shangri-La and want both the Ice Lake and Sacred Waterfall hiking days. It is not the best choice for a first day at altitude.
Can one of the two trail days be removed?
Yes. A trail day can become a village, forest or recovery day. The final choice should reflect current weather, access, health and how the group recovers after entering Yubeng.
Are both trail objectives guaranteed?
No. Mountain weather, maintenance and local access rules decide what is safe. The guide may set an earlier turnaround, shorten a route or use an alternative.
