Beginning at 05:30 AM, the group welcomes the sunrise at the border land of Lao Cai before moving early to the border gate for exit procedures and walking across the Ho Kieu Bridge spanning the Nanxi River. At this natural boundary, you will witness the sacred river confluence "Two Dragons Fighting for a Pearl," where the blue Nanxi River merges with the red, silt-heavy Red River—the start of the oldest ancient water trade route into Yunnan. We will see the old railway bridge running parallel, a witness to the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway built by the French (1904-1910) and used by Joseph Rock to penetrate Southwest China.

After receiving vehicles and converting driving licenses, the group drives North on the highway crossing the majestic Ailao Mountains, transitioning from the tropics to the temperate zone, to reach Mojiang—the land of the Hani people—in the afternoon. Here, we visit the Tropic of Cancer Park to stand exactly where the sun turns back and drink from the legendary Twin Well for luck, and if time permits, participate in Hani spring festivals with swinging and face-painting rituals.

A highway through the clouds takes us to Dali, where the Bai people are vibrantly celebrating the Benzhu (Patron God) Festival during these first days of the new year.

The festive atmosphere, filled with drums, Octagonal dances, and red-and-white costumes, creates a vivid cultural picture. We will explore the Three Pagodas (Chongsheng Temple), whose thousand-year-old towers stand tall against the blue sky and snow-capped Cangshan Mountain as a symbol of longevity and protection, and stroll by Erhai Lake at sunset to feel the eternal peace of this Buddhist land. The group aims to arrive in Dali by noon to enjoy lunch and fully immerse in the spring festivals and exploration.

Bidding farewell to Dali, the group turns onto provincial road S223, a winding path through Eryuan and Guandingpha Pass that embodies the true "Ancient Tea Horse Road" with old pine forests and hidden Bai and Yi villages. Arriving in Shaxi, where time seems to have stopped in the 19th century, we walk on Sideng Square—once a bustling tea market—and imagine the bells of ancient horse caravans.

By the end of the day, the group enters the Balagezong Canyon, a place that realizes the dream of "immortality" through the will of Snadingzhu, who carved a road into the cliffs. Here, you can touch the 3,000-year-old Bodhi Tree growing from the rock before conquering the 35km road along the Gangqu River and hundreds of hairpin turns up to Bala village on the steep slopes of the Gezong snow mountain.

This leg carries the true spirit of exploration as we leave Balagezong and enter Sichuan via Benzilan to admire the Moon Bend, where the Jinsha River embraces the Pyramid Mountain. The landscape transforms dramatically as we reach Xiangcheng, famous for its square "White Tibetan Houses" made of "Gatu" clay, shining brilliantly under the spring sun—a symbol of purity distinct from the dark stone houses of Kham.

After lunch, we drive along the beautiful S217 provincial road, crossing the Wuming Snow Mountain Pass at over 4,700m amidst fluttering five-colored prayer flags, then pass the Sangdui intersection with its "Red Grassland" scenery.

Turning towards Daocheng, we visit the massive Daocheng White Stupa (Zunsheng Talin) to perform the Kora ritual in the sunset of Losar, before potentially relaxing in the pure waters of Rubuchaka Hot Springs and resting in Daocheng to acclimatize.

After breakfast, we drive a short 70km South past Bowa Mountain to Yading Town, check in, and prepare for the heart of the journey in Yading Nature Reserve—the "Last Pure Land" that stunned Joseph Rock.

We spend the day beholding the Three Holy Mountains (Chenrezig, Jambeyang, and Chanadorje) rising majestically from Luorong Pasture. We will travel to Luorong Pasture, and if weather and health permit, trek to the Milk Lake; yet even standing at the foot of the mountains performing the Kora ritual allows you to touch the "Land that never dies" and find absolute peace.

We travels back to Yunnan over snowy mountain passes, arriving in Shangri-La in the afternoon. We will have an early dinner and spend time wandering through Dukezong Ancient Town (City of Moonlight), where, despite the damage from the 2014 fire, spinning the world's largest Prayer Wheel remains a sacred ritual to pray for peace and contemplate impermanence.

In the morning, we visit Songzanlin Monastery (Little Potala), the largest Tibetan Buddhist site in Yunnan with its golden roofs shining in the highland sun, to feel the spirit of Shangri-La amidst chanting and flying ravens. In the afternoon, the group returns to Lijiang for lunch and a brief exploration before dropping off the vehicles and heading to the airport for the flight back to Vietnam.