4 days / 3 nights
Tiger Leaping Gorge High Trail
The High Trail above the Yangtze, the 28 Bends, and two nights in Naxi villages under Haba Snow Mountain.
From$760per person
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5 days / 4 nights · Lijiang → Lijiang · 2–6 hikers
The route
Haba is the one 5,000 m+ peak in Yunnan that a fit hiker can summit without technical climbing, and this route takes you to its base camp and above without the summit push — the lakes, the rhododendron valleys, a night at 4,100 m, and sunrise from 4,500 m looking across at Jade Dragon and Meili. If you want the summit too, it can be added as an option — see below.
Day 1
Meet in Lijiang, gear check, briefing on altitude and on what sleeping at 4,100 m actually feels like. Early night.
Day 2 · 5 km
Drive to Haba village (about 2,650 m) through the Tiger Leaping Gorge road, then a short acclimatisation hike above the village in the afternoon. This day exists purely to make day 4 possible.
Day 3 · 7 km
Light packs up through old-growth forest — fir, then rhododendron in season — to the Orchid Flat camp, newly upgraded, ringed by forest and with the whole of Haba in view. A deliberately easy afternoon among the rhododendrons to adjust to the altitude before tomorrow's climb. Weather permitting, a campfire in the evening; a whole roast lamb can be ordered in advance.
Day 4 · 14 km
The long high day. Through Rhododendron Valley and over the 4,300 m Ketahua pass to Black Lake — the largest and darkest of a string of glacial lakes along the mountain. Lunch by the lake, then past Swan Lake to base camp at 4,100 m under the summit snowfield.
Day 5 · 15 km
A simple breakfast at 4–5 am, then up to a ridge at about 4,500 m for sunrise — on a clear morning you can see Jade Dragon, Meili and, on the best days, the Yading peaks in Sichuan. Back to base camp, then about 13 km down through the Dry River and Sand Beach pastures to Haba village (horses can be hired for the descent at your own cost). Lunch in Haba village, then the drive back, arriving in Lijiang around 16:30. Flying out the same day? Book a flight after 19:30 or a train after 17:30.
Sunrise from 4,500 m. The sunrise ridge above base camp is genuinely world-class, and reaching it needs no summit permit or crampons.
The lake chain. Black Lake, Golden Lake, Swan Lake — a whole string of glacial tarns along one day's walk, which almost nobody sees because almost everyone is focused on the summit.
Proper acclimatisation. Day 2 exists only for altitude. Operators who skip it have worse outcomes; we don't skip it.
Haba's windows are April to June and September to November — April–June has the rhododendron bloom and the most stable snow, September–November has the clearest air and the best visibility. Summer (July–August) is wet with poor visibility; winter (December–March) brings deep snow and high winds above base camp. We don't run the 4,500 m section in winter.
Legend: Best = stable trails and the clearest views · Good = runnable with caveats · Not advised = we don't run it, or only on request after checking conditions.
These are our proposed departure dates for this route. Availability changes daily — we confirm your place in writing before you pay anything. See our booking and refund terms.
Taking the whole trek as a family or a group of friends: from 2 people, on dates that suit you, with the itinerary adjusted to your pace. Same guide, same lodgings, no other hikers added. Prices vary with group size — tell us who's coming and when.
Ask about a private departureWe grade every route on a 1–3 scale for how hard the walking is. This trek is grade 3 — Challenging.
EasyWalking days of up to about 12 km on good paths, with gentle or modest climbing. Suits anyone who walks regularly at home.
ModerateConsecutive days of 12–15 km with real climbing — around 500–700 m a day, 5–7 hours on foot. You should be comfortable on your feet most of the day.
ChallengingLong or steep days on mountain trails — up to about 15 km, or 800 m or more of climbing — often back to back. You need a regular exercise habit, not mountaineering experience.
Altitude is listed separately. A gentle day can still reach 4,000 m, so we show it on its own rather than folding it into the grade. On this trek: highest point on foot 4,500 m, highest night 4,100 m (base camp). None of our routes involves technical climbing — on some you look up at snow peaks, you don't climb them.
Single-room supplement. A single room for the Lijiang and Haba village nights is US$60 per person. Not available at Orchid Flat (twin tents) or base camp (shared huts of 8–10 beds).
Joining others or adding people. Yes. Solo hikers and pairs can join a scheduled departure, up to 6 hikers in all, and private departures for your own group run from 2 people. Travelling solo and want a room to yourself? The single-room supplement above applies. We ask every hiker for a short altitude-history note before confirming — if you have had a serious altitude reaction before, tell us before you book rather than on the mountain.
On this trail
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The High Trail above the Yangtze, the 28 Bends, and two nights in Naxi villages under Haba Snow Mountain.
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