Hike Shangri-La's highland trails, with sweeping mountain views and Tibetan plateaus all around.

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Our top picks for hiking in Shangri-La — highland trails with sweeping mountain views and wide Tibetan plateaus all around.

Hiking in Shangri-La: The Best Trails for Mountain Views

Hiking in Shangri-La

Hike Shangri-La's highland trails, with sweeping mountain views and Tibetan plateaus all around.

2D1N Tiger Leaping Gorge Views & Hidden Alpine Lake Trek in Shangri-La

Hike to 4,200m Abuji Lake, a quieter side of Shangri-La few visitors see.

1-Day Escape into Shangri-La’s Tibetan Countryside

Explore Shangri-La’s quieter side, far from the usual tourist trail.

We had an absolutely amazing experience doing the two-day, one-night hike through the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail! The scenery was simply breathtaking from start to finish, and every viewpoint made the effort feel completely worthwhile.

Our guide, Trent, was fantastic. He was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Along the way, we learned a lot about the local culture, history, and different ethnic minority groups, which gave us a much deeper appreciation of the area.

And yes, the famous 28 Bends definitely lived up to their reputation! 😂 It was a tough uphill climb and we were absolutely drenched in sweat by the time we reached the top, but the views made every step worth it.

Staying overnight on the mountain was another highlight. Our hotel had such an incredible view that we actually slept with the curtains open so we could wake up surrounded by the mountains. It was truly unforgettable.

We would highly recommend this two-day hike to anyone visiting Yunnan. The combination of spectacular scenery, physical challenge, local culture, and an excellent guide made it one of the highlights of our trip! ⛰️❤️

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2D1N Lesser-Known High Trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge

We had an absolutely amazing experience doing the two-day, one-night hike through the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail! The scenery was simply breathtaking from start to finish, and every viewpoint made the effort feel completely worthwhile.

Our guide, Trent, was fantastic. He was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Along the way, we learned a lot about the local culture, history, and different ethnic minority groups, which gave us a much deeper appreciation of the area.

And yes, the famous 28 Bends definitely lived up to their reputation! 😂 It was a tough uphill climb and we were absolutely drenched in sweat by the time we reached the top, but the views made every step worth it.

Staying overnight on the mountain was another highlight. Our hotel had such an incredible view that we actually slept with the curtains open so we could wake up surrounded by the mountains. It was truly unforgettable.

We would highly recommend this two-day hike to anyone visiting Yunnan. The combination of spectacular scenery, physical challenge, local culture, and an excellent guide made it one of the highlights of our trip! ⛰️❤️

Walking through Lijiang Old Town with a guide completely changed how I saw it. I'd expected it to feel like a tourist trap, rows of similar shops, walk in, walk out — but instead we actually understood how the town came to be. Even small details had reasons behind them, like the canals running through the streets, built because buildings back then caught fire so easily. 

We also learned about the pictographic script used there, one of the oldest writing systems still in active use today. It turned what could've been a quick stroll into something I actually remember

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Private Lijiang Old Town Walk with Naxi Guide 

Walking through Lijiang Old Town with a guide completely changed how I saw it. I'd expected it to feel like a tourist trap, rows of similar shops, walk in, walk out — but instead we actually understood how the town came to be. Even small details had reasons behind them, like the canals running through the streets, built because buildings back then caught fire so easily. 

We also learned about the pictographic script used there, one of the oldest writing systems still in active use today. It turned what could've been a quick stroll into something I actually remember

The 2D1N Tiger Leaping Gorge hike might be one of the most gorgeous hikes I've ever done. It's beginner-friendly, but the views feel completely disproportionate to the effort 
 , genuinely gave me Patagonia vibes, and there were so little people we came across the whole way. 

Nong Bu made it even better, he'd point out plants along the trail and tell us how he used to use them for healing when he was younger. Those little stories stuck with me more than I expected.

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The 2D1N Tiger Leaping Gorge hike might be one of the most gorgeous hikes I've ever done. It's beginner-friendly, but the views feel completely disproportionate to the effort 
, genuinely gave me Patagonia vibes, and there were so little people we came across the whole way. 

Nong Bu made it even better, he'd point out plants along the trail and tell us how he used to use them for healing when he was younger. Those little stories stuck with me more than I expected.

Tiger Leaping Gorge can be super touristy (lots of domestic tourists who prefer driving directly to the easy access viewpoints). But by doing this trek that's much higher up in the mountains and requires effort, you're already eliminating most of them! 

The views are incredible. If you're looking for a proper hike that rewards you with stunning views - this is it. I would say that some parts of it are comparable to some parts of Switzerland and Patagonia too.

But the thing that made this extra extra special is our SeekSophie guide Nong Bu. While others were just hiking on their own, we got so much context of Lijiang's nature, terrain and culture. Nongbu is a plant guy, so he would stop and point out different trees along the way, explaining how pine trees are used for fertiliser, to make furniture, and also as medicine. Very cool insider info we definitely would not have known if not for him. Nongbu himself is also of the Naxi minority group so we were asking him lots of questions about his childhood and life too. Made for really fun and meaningful conversation over our 2 days :)

I'm glad we did this 2 day option even though you can technically do a shorter hike and finish it 1 day. Bc we stayed overnight at a guesthouse, we could catch the beautiful sunset over the mountains, take it slow, and watch the stars at night. Very nice.

A note on difficulty: The famous 28 Bends at the start are not easy, but not too difficult either. I'd say you need to be reasonably fit. After the 28 bends, the rest of the trek flattens out for you to enjoy the views. Definitely wear proper hiking shoes! Hiking poles were provided too which was helpful.

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Tiger Leaping Gorge can be super touristy (lots of domestic tourists who prefer driving directly to the easy access viewpoints). But by doing this trek that's much higher up in the mountains and requires effort, you're already eliminating most of them! 

The views are incredible. If you're looking for a proper hike that rewards you with stunning views - this is it. I would say that some parts of it are comparable to some parts of Switzerland and Patagonia too.

But the thing that made this extra extra special is our SeekSophie guide Nong Bu. While others were just hiking on their own, we got so much context of Lijiang's nature, terrain and culture. Nongbu is a plant guy, so he would stop and point out different trees along the way, explaining how pine trees are used for fertiliser, to make furniture, and also as medicine. Very cool insider info we definitely would not have known if not for him. Nongbu himself is also of the Naxi minority group so we were asking him lots of questions about his childhood and life too. Made for really fun and meaningful conversation over our 2 days :)

I'm glad we did this 2 day option even though you can technically do a shorter hike and finish it 1 day. Bc we stayed overnight at a guesthouse, we could catch the beautiful sunset over the mountains, take it slow, and watch the stars at night. Very nice.

A note on difficulty: The famous 28 Bends at the start are not easy, but not too difficult either. I'd say you need to be reasonably fit. After the 28 bends, the rest of the trek flattens out for you to enjoy the views. Definitely wear proper hiking shoes! Hiking poles were provided too which was helpful.

Having a local host makes a huge difference. Lijiang Old Town can be quite overwhelming on your own, but the guide helped bring it all to life with local stories, hidden gems, and insights into why the town is designed the way it is. It felt much more meaningful than simply wandering around. I was so engaged throughout the walk that I didn't even realise how many hours had passed.

Having a local host makes a huge difference. Lijiang Old Town can be quite overwhelming on your own, but the guide helped bring it all to life with local stories, hidden gems, and insights into why the town is designed the way it is. It felt much more meaningful than simply wandering around. I was so engaged throughout the walk that I didn't even realise how many hours had passed.

We (husband and I) had the most wonderful time touring Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang, Shangri La, Lugu Lake) with Nongbu in Dec 2023. The 9 days private trip opened our eyes to the beauty of Yunnan, with Nongbu sharing with us the customs, traditions, and history of different parts of Yunnan. His wealth of knowledge about Yunnan was really amazing, and we learnt so much from him. He was also very friendly and caring, constantly checking to make sure that we’re comfortable throughout the trip. Nongbu is conversant in English and Mandarin.

We (husband and I) had the most wonderful time touring Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang, Shangri La, Lugu Lake) with Nongbu in Dec 2023. The 9 days private trip opened our eyes to the beauty of Yunnan, with Nongbu sharing with us the customs, traditions, and history of different parts of Yunnan. His wealth of knowledge about Yunnan was really amazing, and we learnt so much from him. He was also very friendly and caring, constantly checking to make sure that we’re comfortable throughout the trip. Nongbu is conversant in English and Mandarin. 

All five points!
 It was my treasure discovery in Shangri-La! The tent environment is spotless, the service of the B&amp;B companions is very good, the dinner and breakfast are very delicious, and the scrambled eggs for breakfast are the most delicious I have had in many years of traveling. In the B&amp;B, you can drink homemade wines from all over Yunnan. We tried the one named after the boss's daughter, it was great! I think the boss is doing something with all his heart, creating a relaxing, warm and cozy inn in Shangri-La for travelers! On the day of departure, all the friends in the B&amp;B saw me off, I was very touched! If I have the chance, I would like to go back and live there.

3D2N Shangri-La’s Ancient Caravan Trails | Hike, Horses + Glamping

All five points!
It was my treasure discovery in Shangri-La! The tent environment is spotless, the service of the B&amp;B companions is very good, the dinner and breakfast are very delicious, and the scrambled eggs for breakfast are the most delicious I have had in many years of traveling. In the B&amp;B, you can drink homemade wines from all over Yunnan. We tried the one named after the boss's daughter, it was great! I think the boss is doing something with all his heart, creating a relaxing, warm and cozy inn in Shangri-La for travelers! On the day of departure, all the friends in the B&amp;B saw me off, I was very touched! If I have the chance, I would like to go back and live there.

The stay was extremely comfortable, and the environment was wonderful. The courtyard was a great place to relax, and there's a temple nearby called Tenpo-ji. Although the tent rooms shared toilets and showers, everything was very clean, and everything you needed was there. I usually travel on a budget when I travel solo, so I don't book particularly expensive accommodations, but this place was excellent value for money. I'd definitely come back next time!

The stay was extremely comfortable, and the environment was wonderful. The courtyard was a great place to relax, and there's a temple nearby called Tenpo-ji. Although the tent rooms shared toilets and showers, everything was very clean, and everything you needed was there. I usually travel on a budget when I travel solo, so I don't book particularly expensive accommodations, but this place was excellent value for money. I'd definitely come back next time!