Heart of Shangri-la - On the Pilgrimage Trail to Mt.Kawagebo

 - Witness buddhist pilgrims circling a sacred track around the clear waters of Yubeng Waterfall

 - Hike around the sparking glaciers surrounding Yunnan's crown jewel, Mt. Kawagebo

 - Glimpse into the lives of Tibet's youth as you visit a local schoolhouse, built by a local entrepreneur in efforts to preserve and pass on Tibetan culture

Tucked away at the foot of Mt. Kawagebo, one of Tibet's most sacred mountains, is the stunningly beautiful and isolated village of Yubeng. With the exception of the occasional mountain climbing expedition or Buddhist pilgrimage, Yubeng is rarely visited by outsiders. The villagers' timeless way of life - herding yak, plowing fields, and fetching water from a nearby glacial stream - has changed little over the centuries. We take you on a journey to the heart of this hidden gem of Yunnan, where for several days we bask in Yubeng's ethereal and pristine natural scenery and explore its nearby countryside wonderland. Whether you are a repeat or first-time traveler to Yunnan, this is a magical trip for those looking to remove themselves (physically and spiritually) from the typical beaten tourist path, and to find instead a their own private piece of paradise.
We begin our journey in the provincial capital of Kunming, and from there take the short flight to the northern town of Zhongdian. After a brief tour to nearby Songzhanlin (the largest Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, fashioned after the Potala Palace of Lhasa) and a Tibetan nunnery, we head off on the road to the border town of Deqin. Our surroundings turn increasingly mountainous and majestic, with white-capped summits stretching across the horizon. The next day, we drive along the Mekong River and find our trailhead, from which we depart for the environs of Yubeng, passing through primordial alpine forests and a dramatic landscape of peaks and glaciers, until we at last reach our fabled village by late afternoon. We spend our night resting in a quaint Yubeng lodge. The next morning, we continue along the Mt. Kawagebo pilgrimage path to the sacred waterfall from which Yubeng derives its name. Buddhists arriving here circumambulate these falls 13 times with the belief that this act will accumulate merit. Whether we are religious or not, we cannot help but feel our spirits lifted and cleansed by the sheer majesty of Yubeng's native scenery. We return to the village, passing by various sacred sites for pilgrims along the way. The next morning we walk through several challenging but rewarding mountain passes, before arriving back at the trailhead for the journey back to Deqin. Memories of Yubeng still fresh in our minds, we spend our last day resting in town and visiting a local Tibetan school (where we meet the Tibetan owner, and learn of his efforts to preserve his native culture) before finally making our way to the airport and departing for home.