A Long & Winding Road To Shangri-La

The road to The Road to Shangri-La, like the tour itself, has been full of unexpected twists and turns. Conceived in 2018, scouted in 2019 and planned for 2021, it was, like the rest of us, blindsided by the pandemic. Even once COVID started to loosen its grip on the world, China maintained a very strict quarantine policy which meant that a portion of the route was still unavailable in 2023. As a result, we rerouted the planned portion from Luang Prabang in Laos westward towards Thailand and renamed the tour the Golden Buddha Ride.

This proved to be a very successful tour according to rider reviews in both 2023 and 2025 but now that China has opened up to international tourism, we have decided to revert to the original concept for the route. What this means is that from Luang Prabang in Laos, where the original route deviates from the Golden Buddha Ride’s course, there are a number of exciting new highlights for the riders to experience.

Nam Ou River ride

The cyclists on the Road to Shangri-La will leave the spiritual mecca of Luang Prabang and spin north to the beautiful village of Nong Khiaw. Here they will leave their bikes for a  stunning boat ride up the Nam Ou River to Muang Khua. The journey passes through churning rapids and past isolated villages, all the while surrounded by spectacular limestone karst mountains and vast ancient forests.

Dien Bien Phu

The next day’s stage takes the riders to the historic city of Dien Bien Phu. It was here in 1954 that the Vietnamese defeated French troops in a battle that ended France’s colonial rule and led to increased American involvement that ultimately led to the Vietnam War. There are a number of sights to take in commemorating the battle including the Viet Minh Memorial and the Victory Museum.

Sapa

Sapa is located high up in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northern Vietnam. Surrounded by terraced rice fields, it offers up some stunning, if occasionally misty, views. On their rest day in town the riders can take a cable car up to the ‘Roof of Indochina’, Mount Fansipan. In addition, the area is home to some of the country’s fascinating hill tribes including the Hmong, Tay and Dao peoples.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces

Once in China, the riders will be able to visit the incredible Yuanyang Rice Terraces. These fields, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, were carved into the sides of the mountains by the local Hani people, all the way from 100 -3000m above sea level. The views of the flooded fields reflecting the sky, the clouds and the sun is truly a unique experience.

Kunming

The capital of China’s Yunnan province, Kunming is known as the ‘Spring City’ due to its pleasant climate. Riders have a couple rest days here to prepare for the last push to Shangri-La. They can explore the city’s parks and temples, sample its signature dish, ‘Across The Bridge Noodles’ and explore the charming Flower & Bird Market.

Dali

Set at 1900 m between the Cang Shan Mountains and Erhai Lake, Dali was once a ‘de rigueur’ stop on the backpacker route through Asia. Famous for its gorgeous natural setting, it also boasts a walled old city featuring local Bai architecture and the striking Three Pagodas of Chong Sheng Temple.

Lijiang

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lijiang’s old town is a maze of narrow, cobblestoned alleys bracketed by ancient canals, colourful wooden doors and dazzling Naxi architecture. The city was also an important stop on the Tea Horse Road that linked China with Tibet and India, a trading route whose distant past can still be glimpsed in Lijiang’s Zhongi Market.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, said to be named after a tiger that escaped hunters by leaping across the Jinsha River, is one of the world’s deepest river canyons. The waters rush between the Jade Dragon and Haba Shan Mountains, 3900 m below their peaks creating an absolutely stunning tableau. The area is also home to the indigenous, matrilineal Nakhi people.

Shangri-La

Set at a breathless 3200 m and surrounded by the towering Shika Mountains, the last stop on this adventure is the Tibetan influenced town of Shangri-La. Buddhist prayer flags, butter tea and ancient monasteries all combine to evoke the vision captured in James Hilton’s book, Lost Horizon, the dream of the legendary destination of Shangri-La.

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The Road to Shangri-La

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