Traversing the Ancient Tea Horse Road

About the Ancient Tea Horse Road
The world drinks over 2 billion cups of tea every day. But beyond our obsession and the fine china, how much do you know about the beverage’s 3,000 years of history?

Follow the trail back to its roots on this journey, led by tea expert Jeff Fuchs, along tea’s most ancient trade roads. Hike through the forests of the first tea trees and step into the homes of descendants of the first tea cultivators on this thirst-quenching National Geographic ‘Tour of a Lifetime’.

Itinerary
Day 1 Xishuangbanna
Upon arriving in Jinghong, your WanderEastern Xishuangbanna guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with your private vehicle on standby • Check into your hotel and rest up for a refreshing welcome dinner • After dinner, spend the remainder of the evening at your leisure.
 
Day 2 Xishuangbanna
In the morning, start your day off with a relaxing breakfast while Jeff gives you an introduction to the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road • Pass by waving coconut palms and banana trees as you drive along the mighty Mekong River to the stilted bamboo houses and Buddhist pagodas of Ganlanba • Trek to a Dai minority village and local monastery hidden in the hills • Enjoy a sizzling barbecue dinner at a local restaurant in the countryside.

Day 3 Xishuangbanna
Spend your second morning at bustling Menghai Market, where you’ll find everything from high-quality Pu’erh tea to lively eels • Meet the descendants of the first tea cultivators and challenge your taste buds during a ‘pickled tea’ tasting • Drive past sugarcane fields and verdant tea plantations to reach the ancient tea tree forest of Nannuo Mountain • Take a load off and enjoy a warming cup of tea made with leaves from the age-old trees • Enjoy a local fresh dinner before driving back to the hotel for a rest.

Day 4 Xishuangbanna to Shaxi via Dali
In the morning, your WanderEastern team will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Dali • Upon arriving in Dali, head to the city’s picturesque old town – home to colorful Bai minority communities – for a light lunch before continuing to Shaxi • Arrive at Shaxi Old Town, a lively border town which connected Tibet and Eastern China during the era of the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road • Enjoy a traditional Bai dinner at a local restaurant before retiring for the evening.

Day 5 Shaxi
Spend the day following the Ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road through Shaxi’s sloping valleys, brushing past golden barley and canola fields • After your full day of exploration, enjoy a filling Bai royal feast before retiring for the evening.

Day 6 Shaxi to Lijiang
Admire Shibaoshan Grottoes’ ancient stone-carved Buddhist figurines and learn about the dissemination of Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet to Yunnan province along the Tea and Horse Road • Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lijiang • Check in at the Amandayan and enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 7 Lijiang to Shangri-La
Explore the small paths and canals that weave through Lijiang Old Town and come across Naxi people, another cultural minority integral to the trade route • Pass by the mythical First Bend of the Yangtze River as you continue along the trade route to fabled Shangri-La • Upon arrival, check in and relax before a Tibetan welcome dinner.

Day 8 Shangri-La
Wander through the gilded pillars and incense-filled rooms of Songzanlin, Yunnan’s largest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery • Follow the narrow, winding lanes of Shangri-La Old Town and join the locals for a cup of Tibetan butter tea • Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring at your own pace.

Day 9 Shangri-La
Reach the fringes of Tibet as you continue along the Tea and Horse Caravan Road to ephemeral Napahai Lake, which recedes into green grassland during dry season, only to be revived by fresh snowmelt in the summer • Pay a visit to a nearby artisan village and watch local craftsmen knead, fashion, and fire their famous black clay products • Partake in a festive Tibetan-style farewell dinner (and maybe swap your cup of tea for a glass of local whiskey).

Day 10 Depart Shangri-La
In the morning, our WanderEastern team will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight home, bringing your journey to an end.

Hotels

Yourantai, Jinghong Local Boutique Guest House
Gazing out over the Mekong, experience a local kind of tropical splendor in the heart of Xishuangbanna at this authentic guest house inspired by traditional Dai architecture.

Shaxi Aoding Courtyard Local Boutique
Boasting only 17 spacious and well-equipped guest rooms, Shaxi Aoding Courtyard offers a quiet retreat for travelers looking to immerse in local culture.

Banyan Tree Lijiang Luxury Boutique
Blending traditional Naxi ethnic minority architecture with modern elegance and luxurious amenities, Banyan Tree Lijiang is a refuge of calm amidst the city’s hustle and bustle.

Songtsam Shangri-La Luxury Boutique
Located right next to the Songzanlin Monastery and housed in a traditional Tibetan dwelling, Songtsam Shangri-La has made world travelers at home for ten years.

Details

What’s Included

• Services of WanderEastern tour guide
• All accommodations based on double-occupancy including breakfasts, as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals, as indicated in the itinerary, and drinking water
• All admission fees and activity expenses, as indicated in the itinerary
• Ground transportation, including airport transfers
• Services of an English-speaking WanderEastern guide

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

$6480 USD per person 

Single Supplement $1980 USD per person