Discover China’s ancient tea trails on an exhilarating trek from Shangri-La to the Himalayan peaks and high Tibetan borderlands of Yunnan beyond. You’ll stay in wonderful mobile camps carried by a horse caravan with every conceivable luxury brought along. Trekking has rarely been this stylish, or romantic.
Spring, Summer and early Autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for trekking. Early or late in the season can see nighttime temperatures plummet. For adventurers, winter treks are a beautiful time to travel, but expect extreme cold and icy conditions.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on two adults travelling for 12 nights and does not include international flights.
2 nights in Beijing, 2 nights in Lijiang, 2 nights in Shangri La, 3 nights among the high peaks of Yunnan, 1 night in Shangri La, 2 nights in Shanghai
What makes your luxury China adventure special?
- Immerse yourself in the rich traditional cultures and spellbinding landscapes of Yunnan’s Himalayan region
- Follow the ancient Tea Horse Road on a trek supported by horse caravan through mountains, high pastures and forests to the Gates of Tibet
- Experience the magic of Lijiang, whose UNESCO-listed old town is to many the essence of Ming Dynasty China
- Immerse yourself in the rich Buddhist traditions and architecture of Shangri-La
- Fabulous accommodation throughout from exquisite urban retreats to Asia’s best provisioned and most stylish mobile tented camp
Your China holiday itinerary
Re-imagined dynasties
BEIJING
Arriving in China’s capital city, enjoy the exquisite hutong atmosphere of the Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, which offers a wonderful and luxurious immersion into local life: stroll past mahjong tables, waving children and even pet-cricket-toting elders—all woven into your walk to the lobby. Beyond its gates, Beijing is yours to explore with your private guide. While the Forbidden City and imperial China’s absurdly rich heritage will be a top priority for most, why not experience a different side to Beijing at the extraordinary teamLab Massless Beijing, a body-immersive museum where digital art installations respond to your movements, creating a dynamic and personalized art experience? And, to help you prepare for the trek ahead, add an extra day in Beijing and enjoy a day hike along the rugged and uncrowded Jinshanling section of the Great Wall?
China’s cultural crossroad
LIJIANG
Arriving in Lijiang, you’ll find yourself stepping into Ming Dynasty China. From your stylish base at Amandayan, wander the cobbled lanes of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, then climb high into the clouds on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Immerse yourself in Naqi culture—whether that’s learning Dongba calligraphy, crafting paper by hand or joining in a festival that fills the streets with music, flowers, and firelight. Don’t miss Zhongyi Market, where languages and traditions mingle in a vibrant rhythm of daily life, or one of the centuries-old villages near Lijiang to share a homemade meal with a local Naqi family. Here, every experience feels like an invitation into a culture as alive as the landscapes around you.
Where the earth touches the sky
SHANGRI-LA
Leaving behind the tiled roofs of Lijiang, the road winds steadily upward beside the Yangtze River, past terraced fields and pine forests. As you climb, prayer flags begin to snap in the wind, villages take on a Tibetan demeanour, and by the time you crest the high plateau, you are in another realm entirely: Shangri-La. Here, at nearly 3,200 meters, the rhythm of life is different. Monks chant inside Songzanlin Monastery, their voices rising with the incense smoke that hangs in the rafters. Old Town lanes lead you to quiet teahouses and wood-carved doorways, while beyond the city yak pastures spread wide, framed by mountains that hold snow deep into summer. On clear days, the sky feels impossibly close. It’s a wondrous place to acclimatise before your trek. Add an extra day, and with luck you may even glimpse in nearby forests one of the planet’s rarest primates—the golden snub-nosed monkey—an encounter as special as the landscape itself.
Ancient trails in high style
THE HIGH PEAKS OF YUNNAN
Your trek begins in the village of Zuomogu as you set out on foot across the Ringha Valley. Over the next four days, accompanied by a traditional horse caravan, you’ll follow the ancient Tea Horse Road across grasslands and over high passes in the footsteps of Tibetan traders from centuries ago. Travelling in a way that recreates the elegance of early European expeditions in China, you’ll sleep in stylish and fabulously provisioned Bell tent camps, and be stirred by Himalayan landscapes that shift from rhododendron forests to snow-capped peaks, each vista more breathtaking than the last. The culmination of your trek is the sacred lake of Abudje—a place where the silence and grandeur of the mountains will leave a lasting imprint. It’s a journey that offers a rare escape from modern life, allowing you to share in the daily existence of the Tibetans of the Ringha Valley while walking alongside a dedicated team of passionate guides.
Boutique to Bund
SHANGHAI
Returning for a final night in Shangri-La, bid a fond farewell to your mountain companions before flying to Shanghai for some pampered post-trek decompression. With the stylish Capella as your boutique base, enjoy well-earned massages and restorative spa sessions before setting out to explore. With a private guide, explore Shanghai’s colonial architecture, hidden art galleries and quiet gardens at your own pace. Steep yourself in Shanghai’s tea culture with a private masterclass that will reveal the secrets of brewing tea, its rituals and health benefits. Learn the art of dim sum making, or visit a local studio and learn how silk, jade or porcelain masterpieces are created. And no stay in Shanghai is complete without a deep dive into the city’s legendary cuisine—we’ll guide you and secure tables at your preferred dining spots.
Where you'll stay on your luxury China holiday
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Mandarin Oriental Qianmen
Hidden away within Beijing’s storied Qianmen hutongs, the Mandarin Oriental Qianmen is a masterclass in quiet luxury. Each of its 42 courtyard residences feels like a private sanctuary, complete with serene gardens, high-design interiors and whispers of imperial history. Michelin-starred Cantonese at Yan Garden, inventive cocktails at TIAO, and tranquil tea rituals beneath a century-old maple tree create an experience both deeply local and unmistakably refined. Steps from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the hotel offers a rare blend of cultural immersion and modern indulgence.
Amandayan
Perched above Lijiang’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, Amandayan oozes understated sophistication. Fusing Yunnanese heritage and understated contemporary elegance, there is a timelessness about its courtyards, timber and stone carvings and the frequent views of snow-capped mountains that brings harmony and tranquility. Suites are spacious, pared-back and rich in local detail—from Naxi embroidery to hand-polished woods and warm, diffused light. The spa draws on ancient Chinese medicine, while the Library Lounge and Chinese restaurant offer a sanctuary from Lijiang’s bustling alleys.
Ferme Liotard
Set at 3,350 meters in Yunnan’s Ringha Valley, Ferme Liotard is a refined lodge where deep Tibetan tradition meets French flair. This meticulously restored farmhouse and camp offer sweeping views, candlelit dinners and a peaceful immersion into local life, ideal before or after taking a trek with Caravane Liotard. Days unfold with hikes through barley fields, yak pastures and hillside temples; evenings bring seasonal Tibetan–French cuisine served on Limoges china with wine aged in terracotta jars. It’s experiential luxury—thoughtful, atmospheric and deeply connected to the landscape.
Liotard Premium Tented Camp
A luxury mobile camp set and struck each day, and carried on packhorses through Yunnan’s mountains, Caravane Liotard’s Premium Tented Camps offer a rarefied blend of adventure and luxury, evoking the spirit of early twentieth-century exploration. Each bell tent is a warm and spacious sanctuary with proper beds, Tibetan blankets, plush carpets, soft cushions, candlesticks and a private washroom. Mornings typically begin with breakfast served in your tent or in the elegant dining pavilion, followed by a picnic lunch of cheeses and cured meats, late afternoon aperitifs and candlelit three-course dinners paired with French wines.
Capella Shanghai
Hidden on a street in Shanghai’s leafy Xuhui district, Capella Shanghai is an alluring blend of Shanghainese heritage and Parisian flair. The hotel occupies a collection of restored 1930s shikumen townhouses, offering suites with soaring ceilings, wooden latticework and private courtyards. Interiors strike a balance between old-world charm and sleek modernity. Unwind in the award-winning Auriga Spa or savour refined French cuisine at Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire. Quiet, elegant and distinctly local, it feels like a secret retreat amid the city’s pulsing energy.
Customise your journey
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Step into the energy of Hong Kong and embark on a culinary odyssey.
Swap tents for luxury lodges and follow the Tea Horse Trail with Songtsam’s collection of mountain retreats
Continue to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and visit the sacred Potala and the stunning surrounding countryside.
Extend your trek and explore Yunnan’s ‘Lost Villages’, where centuries-old traditions survive.
Make a side-trip from Beijing and visit the remains of Xanadu, Kublai Khan’s mystical palace.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Argentina specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Latin America team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
To every man is given a key to the gates of heaven.