Cycle China - Yunan

Our newest Yunnan trip is one that we get really excited about! This unique itinerary takes you into Yunnan’s frontier Tibetan region with its fascinating culture and dramatic scenery. The tour starts in the old Tibetan town Zhongdian, renamed Shangri La, heads north to the sacred pilgrimage site of Mei Li Snow Mountain on the border of Tibet and Myanmar, before turning south and taking in the rapidly changing scenery along the Mekong River. This region was made a UNESCO protected area in 2003 due its incredible biological diversity, including the Golden Haired Monkey, one of China’s most endangered species, and unique land formations. This region is dotted with villages of several minority groups including Tibetan, Naxi, Lisu, Yi and Bai and we stay in a combination of local guesthouses, hotels, a Tibetan monastery, a 100 year old Christian church and one night camping so there are plenty of opportunities to explore these diverse cultures and awe-inspiring landscapes. The roads on this tour defy the imagination and the cycling features several climbs, including a 60 km climb up to our highest point at 4200m split over two days, and incredibly long sweeping down hills into the Yangzi and Mekong River Valleys. This tour gets you right out there into little traveled regions with Yunnan’s best cycling.

Shangri La – Unesco Three Parallel Rivers Protected Area– Tibetan, Naxi, Bai, Yi and Lisu minority cultures – White Horse and Me Li Snow Mountains – hot springs – big climbs and long descents – ancient Tea Horse Caravan route – village markets – Christian churches and Buddhist monasteries – Stunning, wild scenery – Golden Haired Monkeys