Shangri-La, at 3,300 meters (10,826 feet) above sea level, is known as the "mountain garden" and the "kingdom of animals and plants". Located at the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the northern end of the Hengduan Mountains' southern section, as well as the hinterland of the "three parallel rivers", Shangri-La presents a unique landscape integrating snow mountains, canyons, grasslands, alpine lakes, primitive forests and ethnic customs. Today, you will follow us to appreciate the beautiful natural scenery in the Patatso National Park and learn about the Tibetan Buddhist culture in the Songzanlin Temple.

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel at the appointed time and then transfer you to the first destination of this one day private Shangri-La tour, the Potatso National Park. "Pota" means "little boat" in Sanskrit and "tso" means "lake", therefore, "Potatso" means "the boat which send all sentient beings to the other side of the ideal". The original ecological environment here is well preserved, with lakes and wetlands, forests and meadows, river valleys and streams as well as rare animals and plants, forming a fairytale scene which is quite fascinating. Upon arrival, you will be accompanied to visit the Shudu Lake, one of the largest alpine lakes in Shangri-La. The lake is crystal and bright, inhabited by a large number of wild ducks and birds. Around the lake, a 3,000 meters (1.86 miles) wooden walkway has been built, allowing you to view the beauty here from different angles. If lucky, you may also encounter cute little squirrels along the way. After that, you will continue to discover more wonderful sites of the park. Today's lunch is by your own arrangement, but your guide will be glad to assist you.

In the afternoon, we will head to the Songzanlin Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan which was built in 1679 during the Qing Dynasty (1636 - 1912). Known as the little Polata Palace, the Songzanlin Temple is an ancient castle group building equivalent to the size of an ancient town. In addition to the typical Tibetan architecture, there are also many religious artifacts and precious cultural relics, thus also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum". Upon arrival, you will appreciate the magnificent architecture, admire the exquisite Buddha statues and murals, and learn the essence of the Tibetan religious culture under the company of your guide.

After finishing the visit, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Shangri-La and your tour will end here. We sincerely hope you have had a great time with us. If you want to extend your Shangri-La tour to more places, such as the Meili Snow Mountain, the Balagezong Grand Canyon or other destinations, please feel free to contact us and we'd like to customize the itinerary according to your requirements.