From Salween to Mekong

Name: From Salween to Mekong
Brand: WanderEastern
Price: 500.0 USD
Availability: InStock

$500.00 USD

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About this Journey
During the nineteenth century, adventurous French missionaries embarked on an epic journey into the remote Tibetan valleys of Yunnan. Unfazed by the challenges that lay before them, they ventured out along two of Asia’s mightiest rivers – the Salween and the Mekong. This trip retraces the arduous route they took, through small villages and up and over a mountain along Yunnan’s border with Myanmar. Take the road less traveled and discover the Catholic communities and churches these missionaries left behind. The roads are long and the hikes can be demanding, but this trip provides a rare chance to explore the unknown face of China.

Itinerary
Day 1 - 2 Baoshan - Gongshan
Arrive in Baoshan • Travel along the mighty Salween, known in Chinese as the “Angry River,” to the untamed frontier town of Gongshan

Day 3 - 4 Gongshan – Baihanluo – Biluo Mountain
Hike from Demalo village to Baihanluo village • Admire Baihanluo’s wooden Catholic Church, built in a distinctly Tibetan style by a French missionary in 1898 • Share lunch and a game with the local women’s basketball team • Hike to campsite, located at 3,000m • Hike up Biluo Mountain and cross over the Biluo Mountain pass at 3,900m • Set up camp in a lush valley beside a gurgling stream

Day 5 - 6 Biluo Mountain Hike
Embark on a strenuous hike through exposed terrain and leafy forests to the Mekong valley • Descend, re-ascend, and then descend again to a small Tibetan village • Visit Cizhong’s Catholic Church, built from stone in 1867 • Drive along the Mekong and past Lisu villages to Tacheng

Day 6 - 7 Tacheng – Lijiang
Explore Tacheng Nature Reserve and encounter its snub-nosed monkeys • Amble through the small paths and canals that weave through Lijiang Old Town

Recommended Hotels

SONGTSAM CIZHONG LODGE Luxury Boutique
Nestled into a Tibetan village along the Mekong river, this cozy lodge offers views of the surrounding vineyards and hillsides.

SONGTSAM TACHENG LODGE Luxury Boutique
Each room at the Songtsam Tacheng features a large balcony for enjoying views of surrounding river valley.

CAMPING
Set up camp and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful natural setting.

Details

What’s Included

All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
Ground transportation, including airport transfers
Services of an English-speaking WanderEastern guide
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

TRIP COST

$4480 USD per person

Single Supplement $1680 USD per person

Next Steps

How do I secure my spot on this tour?

We will continue to work with you until your trip is perfect.

For international bookings: Once you are ready to book, a USD$500 planning fee, per booking, is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

For bookings made in China: Once you are ready to book, a RMB1,000 deposit, per person, is required. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:
A deposit is required to secure your reservation. Once your deposit has been received, we will send your confirmation along with a detailed itinerary and all the information you’ll need to prepare for your journey.

2. Full payment:
Full trip payment should be made 30 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 30 days of your departure, you may be asked to pay make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via Paypal, credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay

Is this trip guaranteed to run?

This trip will be scheduled to run once we receive bookings from 2 passengers. Should the journey be cancelled due to lack of sign-ups or government restrictions, WanderEastern will fully refund any deposits or fees paid.

What is your cancelation policy?

See our full terms and conditions for more information.

Why WanderEastern

We’re on the ground with you

Our team of advisors will design every detail of the trip with you through close consultation, then orchestrate your entire journey while on the ground. We’re in the same time zone as you, so we can fulfill requests and handle issues without a hitch. With over 40 staff in Beijing and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we have the manpower to ensure your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. We pull off journeys for pioneers with a 6-hour layover to Hollywood’s elite, and everywhere in between. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WanderEastern guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

Supporting inspired local economies allows you to experience the soul of the destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s artisanal culture. From watching artisans hand make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.