Day 1 Kunming
Take a flight to Kunming either from Hongkong, Bangkok or Beijing. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide. Kunming, called the City of Eternal Spring, is more than 2200 years old. Stay at the highly favored Camellia Hotel. You will meet your bikes today and we will spend some time with your mechanic to select a bike that fits you well. Your guide will take you for a short walking tour through the city and visit the birds and flower market. Enjoy good food in a fine restaurant.  (D)

Day 2  Kunming/Lijiang
We will depart Kunming early in the morning to take a flight to Lijiang, an ancient Naxi town in northwestern Yunnan, with a history of over 800 years. You will be met and taken from the airport to the old city of Lijiang and check in Sanhe Hotel that well located in the old town. Lijiang is the capital of the Naxi people, a small but fascinating ethnic minority known for their matriarchal society, their pictographic language, and their distinctive music. Explore Lijiang Old Town and the Square Market. You may have an optional walk to the Wangulou Pagoda (said to be the highest wooden pagoda in China) that rises above the Old Town. Or you can visit the Naxi Dongba Museum and the Black Dragon Pool Park and enjoy beautiful views of 18,000-foot-high Yulong Shan(Jade Dragon Mountain ) reflected in the waters of Black Dragon Pool. Optional performance of the Naxi Orchestra in the evening or or enjoy yourself at one of its lively bars. (B,L,D)

Day 3  Lijiang (40 KM)
(Cycling 40 KM, 4 hours)
After last day’s activities you will acclimatize well the altitude of Lijiang(2400m). Today we will meet our bikes again and gear up for a gentle introduction to warm those leg muscles up as we cycle around the beautiful Lashi Lake. This is found at an elevation of 2500m and is home to tens of thousands of migratory birds. Passing through small Naxi villages, we will experience the traditional rural lifestyle of this intriguing ethnic minority. The cycling today provides an escape into Old China with a step back in time as we ride under the shadow of the Yulong Mountains, the southern most section of Himalayas. Today includes a few sections of off road cycling, sure to be appreciated by those who enjoy getting off the sealed paths. We will also visit Zhi Yun Temple, a Red Hat Tibetan Buddhism temple of 600 year history. It will be a short ride for you to be prepared for the coming biking journey.. (B,L,D)

Day 4  Lijiang to Bai Shui He  (50 KM)
(Cycling 50KM, 5 hours)
We take back roads out of Lijiang past the ancient villages of Su He and Baisha, famous for their 15th century Buddhist fresco paintings. Today we will ride along a mixture of sealed roads and packed dirt paths that will take us past an intricate terraced landscape and unusual buildings such as the Yu Feng temple(2700m), a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. After some moderate climbs, we continue on a few kilometres of rough dirt track before we're back onto tarmac and a welcome descent to get ready for our last ascent for the day. It’s seven kilometers up but the road is good, and the view is spectacular. We have our last descent down to the valley of Bai Shui He and our home for the night, a quiet location with awesome views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and renowned for its crystal blue waters. We will stay overnight at Baishuihe Villa Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 5   Bai Shui He to Tiger Leaping Gorge  (56 KM)
Cycling 56 KM, 5-6 hours)
Few rides can match the magnificent scenery and sense of adventure when cycling through the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge of the Yangtze River. This is one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world, rising 3900m from the river to the snow capped peaks. We start the day with a climb along cliff hugging roads with dramatic drops and, following a descent to match, head into the valley floor. After a second and more difficult climb, we take a well-deserved break at 3300m - the highest point of the first half trip. We then brace ourselves for a spectacular 30km downhill descent on rocky roads to Daju(1780m). From here we hike down to the river, cross in a small ferry (with the bikes) and then a steep climb out of the gorge for 2km. We then ride the remaining 10km into the gorge along the spectacular road that has been cut out of the steep cliffs. We stop at a small cluster of houses (Walnut Grove, 2040m) half way up the gorge for an overnight stay in a guesthouse. (B,L,D)

Day 6    Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest gorges tucked between Yulong Snow Mountain and the Haba Mountains. Along a path from which you could see Yangtse River literally 'leaping' through this narrow gorge. We will have a free day in the gorge to rest your legs and take in the breathtaking scenery. For the energetic there is the option of taking a hike to the bottom of the gorge following small dirt paths along its dramatic cliff edges. Otherwise, just sit back and be mesmerized by the sheer natural beauty of this remarkable natural wonder. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Tiger Leaping Gorge to Baishuitai (70 KM)
(Cycling 57M, 6 hours)
Cycle out the gorge and take north to Haba village(2600m), the climb to Haba village is demanding(Your supporting van will give you a ride to the top of the pass). Haba is a Naxi village and you will see the snow capped mountain of Haba from the village. Afafterwards continue to Bai Shui Tai( White Water Terrace, 2520m). Stay at Bai Yu Hotel, a basic hotel with private toilets. (B,L,D)

Day 8  Shangri-La (103 KM)
(Cycling 70 KM, 6 hours)
A scenic and challenging ride to Zhongdian(3300m). We will drive to the first pass at 3550m, from the pass we will cycle to Shangri_la. Head further north today, biking though Forest and farmlands and villages. The cycling journey takes you higher and higher. You'll spend some time at altitudes above 36500m through mixed forest, then up into alpine and rhododendron forests, and then into a rich grassland valley on the Tibetan Plateau. Overnight at Song Zan hotel in Zhongdian. (B,L,D)

Day 9  Shangri-La (Zhongdian) (20 KM)
(No cycling today to rest the legs)
Zhongdian is the capital of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is located in the southernmost part of Kham, or East Tibet, traditional land of the tall, turbaned Khampa horsemen. Today, Zhongdian is principally a Tibetan township but has Han Chinese people as well as a smattering of Bai, Hui, and Naxi minorities. Historically, the town was a trading center between Tibet, Burma, and India. Mule caravans once made journeys to conduct commerce between the regions. One of the major trade items was "brick tea" from Yunnan, in demand by Tibetan nomads and farmers. Activities include a visit to the spectacular Ganden Sumsanling Monastery, built at the instruction of the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, where more than 800 monks now live and practice. It is picturesquely located on top of a hill and its style very much recalls the Potala Palace in Lhasa. You can take a walk around the hill and enjoy beautiful views of the Zhongdian valley. (B,L,D)

Day 10  Stone Drum Town (109 KM)
(Cycling 60 KM, 6 hours)
We will say good bye today to the Tibetans. We will ride first to Lesser Zhongdian, it is a relatively flat ride through the grassland and small hills. A long but steady ascend will take us to a pass before the long descend to Qiaotou. A long down hill ride on the way to Qiaotou. One should keep the speed under your control. We will be taken by the vehicle follow the river to what is known as the 'first bend' of the Yangtze since leaving Tibet. This is a popular spot for the locals to sell fruit and other local produce. Overnight at the ancient town of Shigu at a Shi Hong hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 11  Stone Drum Town to Shaxi Village  (90 KM)
(Cycling 90 KM, 8 hours)
Another memorable day that will take us into the heart of rural Yunnan as we ride along the 'Old Tibet' road past tranquil scenes of mud brick villages, bamboo groves, rivers and paddy fields. After the initial 10km warm-up climb, the rest of the day is flat enjoyable riding through rural scenery to Shaxi(2075m). You really sense a feeling of timelessness, as the way of life here has remained unchanged for centuries. Stay at a local Guesthouse. (B,L,D)

Day 12  Shaxi to Er Yuan  (60 KM)
(Cycling 60 KM, 5-6 hours)
This is one of our hardest days riding. After a gentle start to the day passing small towns we start our Challenge of 11 km grinding up and over a long, steep, winding mountain road covered in terraced paddy fields resembling giant staircases. Our burning quads are rewarded with a good rest and an inspiring panorama at the top. There is an exhilarating down hill on the other side as we enter the mouth of the valley that leads to Dali! We end the day in Er Yuan where we can soothe our leg muscles in its famous hot springs. (B,L,D)

Days 13  Er Yuan to Dali  (55 KM)
(Cycling 55 KM, 5 hours)
This morning is the last leg of our Challenge as we ride to the historical town of Dali(1900m). Cycling along flat sealed road between the towering Canshan Mountain range and Er Hai Lake, we should arrive in Old Dali in time for a late lunch. This fascinating town is home to the Bai people, one of the nation's largest minorities and once the centre of the powerful 8th Century Nanzhao Kingdom. Dali is an extraordinary town to explore with its gated city walls, bustling old streets and lakeside setting. In the 16^th Century Dali was an important gateway for cultural exchange and trading with South East Asian countries. Today it is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, reflected aptly in its amazing architecture, cobbled streets and colorful markets. Stay at Lan Lin Ge Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 14.   Dali to Kunming
We take a bus back to Kunming(4-5 hours)and spend overnight in Kunming. (B)

Day 15  Kunming onward
Trip ends after breakfast. (B)  

Bikes

Our mountain bikes are entry-level standard but well maintained. They are 70-80% new.

We use Hard tail (front suspension) bikes with the following specifications;

(Frames)Giant, Trek, Specialized and others with same standard

Shimano 21-24 speed gears

Shimano V-brakes

Off road tires

One bottle cage

Ergonomic seat