Hi, We are looking at the Yunnan Revealed trip for October, and we're wondering how travelers have found the Gorge hike. The trip info does not give the elevation or condition of the trail. Have you done it? When the trip material says it's a hard workout, does that mean hard all day long, in spots; is it like Machu Pichu trail? Grand Canyon? Help, plz. And, thanks. Judy Scheible
Tiger Leaping Gorge hike
Tiger Leaping Gorge trek
Hello Judy,
Thank you for posting on the forums! I have some comprehensive information here about the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek which I hope will help.
THE HIKE:
The exact route of the hike will depend on local conditions. Due to landslides or blasting sections of the walk can be dangerous. The Tour Leader must find out well in advance the most appropriate route.
1st Day: lunch in Qiaotou, hike into gorge, stay with Naxi Family,
2nd Day: lunch at Halfway Guesthouse, hike through gorge, stay at Tina’s,
3rd Day: free morning to explore or rest, bus to Lijiang.
Dali to Qiaotou and the Naxi Family Guesthouse:
The drive from Dali to Qiaotou takes about 5 hours. You have breakfast, and then leave at 09:00 so you arrive in Qiaotou for late lunch. You get dropped off at the corner of the main road and the road that leads into the gorge. It’s a 2 hour (7km) hike to the Naxi Family Guesthouse. They’re a wonderful family and everyone really enjoys this experience. Just after you begin walking there is a ticket booth where the tour leader buys the entrance tickets on behalf of the group (the group pays for them). Follow the road past the school entrance gate to the end of the wall. There should be a road kilometre marker there. This is where you leave the bitumen road. There are now plenty of arrows marking the route, and you will stop plenty of times for excellent photos.
Naxi Family to Tina’s Guesthouse:
Today you will have a reasonably early start. Have breakfast (noodles or steamed buns) and head off into the gorge at about 07:30 or 08:00. The walk is completely stunning and gets more and more beautiful as the day progresses. It’s about 20 km to Tina’s and you climb up and up, gaining 700m (maximum altitude is about 2560m). You climb gradually at first and then after half an hour, get to the 24 bends (there are really 28 or so) where you climb very steeply. Once at the top of the bends go on a few minutes to where you get a view over the river. Look down and you can see a large flat-surfaced rock on a slant in the middle of the river. That is where the tiger supposedly leaped. From here on it is mainly downhill or level (with the occasional bit of up still thrown in). You descend fairly quickly about a third of the way back down the hillside and then walk pretty much at the same height for a while. So enjoy the views whilst you are still high. After about 5 hours you get to a village called Bendi Wan where there is a place called the Halfway Guesthouse. You can stop for lunch and drinks there (good ginger or mint tea), they do good food (Naxi baba sandwiches) and it is cheap. There are quite a few new places springing up along the way selling drinks, etc. but in summer make sure you are carrying enough drinks with you. After lunch continue hiking, but now heading back down towards the low road to Tina's Guest House.
Tina’s to Lijiang Guesthouse:
There’s no reason to hurry to Lijiang so you may have some free time in the morning to relax or explore (maybe wander down towards the stone the tiger supposedly leaped off). The drive to Lijiang takes around 3 hours. The itinerary has changed in that we don't continue walking the last 15km to Daju anymore on the 3rd day. This is based on customer feedback. You have the free time mentioned and then drive back out of the gorge on the low road via Qiaotou to Lijiang. Width of Path can be variable, with places where it is quite narrow. It is never usually a problem for our clients. If a client can do the first day's easier 2hr walk and stay at the guesthouse but them doesn’t feel completely comfortable after that then he/she could either walk the low trail or get a vehicle to the guesthouse where we stay for the second night. This is all quite easy to arrange.
TRAVELLERS NEED:
Comfortable daypack to carry all your gear.
Good walking shoes (parts can be quite slippery).
Clean underwear and a change of clothes (Jersey, long-sleeved shirt or jacket since it can get cold at night.
Lightweight trousers are good. Shorts are ok but it can be quite chilly or sunny on the hike).
Toiletries, toilet paper, torch and insect repellent.
Hat and/or sunglasses and sunscreen.
Wet weather gear.
Raincoat or umbrella (good for rain and sun protection)
Snacks (energy bars, chocolates, etc.) and drinks for the walk (not too much, you can buy along the way).
Plastic bags for rubbish and keeping gear dry in the rain.
I hope this helps!
Best wishes
Kelly