• great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
  • great rivers cycling tour
Cost from US$2800, 12 days 8 cycling days, 2 sightseeing days

Great Rivers of Asia E-bike tour

  • Introduction
  • Itinerary
  • Date & Pricing
  • Reviews
  • Map
    No where in the world you could travel through Asia’s great rivers, the Yangtse, the Mekong and the Salween river in one day.

    Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas. Here, three of Asia’s great rivers, the Salween, the Mekong, and the Yangtze, come tumbling down from their headwaters deep inside the Himalayas. They run in parallel gorges eroded deep into the earth’s mantle. Only 70 kilometers as the bird flies separate the three incredibly massive gorges at their narrowest point.

    The Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Area lies beyond the frantic urbanization of south China, this area was once a hidden from the tourists due to remoteness and unimproved roads. This area is now accessible to E-Bikes to reach the area thanks to massive road construction and electric powered hybrid bicycles. We start our trip in Baoshan and ride to our first big river the Salween River, we then ride over the watershed on a newly built dirt road to the Mekong River gorge, this trail is the original route taken by the French missionaries in the 1900s, will take you to meet the Catholic Tibetan, Nu and Lisu communities along the Salween and Mekong rivers. 


    The E-bike tour takes you to the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, the Kawakarpo Mountain. We then ride to Shangri_la before riding through the Tiger Leaping Gorge of the Yangtse. We will spend a night in the  gorge and reach Lijiang the world heritage town.  Our trip ends in Lijiang and you are free to extend your trip in Lijiang or other local attractions.


    Travelling with E-bikes you still need to pedal, it's still a proper bicycle but with a smooth and adjustable drive when you need it. You still experience the same fun as riding a traditional bicycle but you can go further, go faster with the electric drive.  You won't feel strange or uncomfortable with the additional drive. This is guaranteed to bring you extra fun. 


    Day 1 Kunming - Capital City Yunnan


    Arrive in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province. The city of eternal spring. Met byActiveChina staff and taken to your centrally located hotel. Welcome dinner.


    Day 2 Baoshan to Salween River

     

    Morning flight to Baoshan (flight is included),meet your E-bikesand support team. We shall do bike fitting and test rides.We ride north to Salween river, the first big river we would meet on this trip, The Salween starts her way high up from the Tibetan Plateau, runs to Myanmar and finally joins the Andaman Sea. We ride along the Salween and see minority villages not seen by foreigners. We reach tonight's town by the Salween.

    (Ride 140km)

     

     Day 3 Salween - Eastern Gorge

     

    We ride further north alone the Burmese border to Fugong . We will stop at the Stone Moon view point and possibly try a rope bridge sliding tour. Salween is the longest free flowing river in the world ( Un damed).

    (Ride 136km)


    Day 4   Grand Eastern Gorge


    We continue our ride in the deep gorge.The region is also home of many ethnic groups such  as Nu, Lisu, Bai, Pumi, Dulong. This is a rare chance to discover the hidden life of these minority groups. The Salween is tucked between Mt. Biluoxue and Mt. Gaolingong, named as the Grand Eastern Gorge. We reach Gonshan for overnight.

    (Ride 112km)

     

    Day 5   Tibet Border


    You'll ride through the lush valleys following the river upstream. This route is known as the most scenic in the region. This the ancient tea horse caravan trail that goes to Tibet. We will see the great bend of the Salween River. We will visit a Catholic church was built here 100 years ago.

    Ride 80km or 50km or 0km

     

    Day 6 Salween to Mekong


    We ride cross the Salween bridge and start our real adventure riding across the Biluoxue Mountain. We climb high up to 3900m peacock pass on a newly blazed road.  We rode across the watershed of two big rivers to Mekong River( Ch. Lan Cang Jiang River). A big achievement of the road construction which links the Salween and Mekong for the first time. We meet our second big river on this tour, the Mekong. Also a big achievement for the riders !  We ride north along the Mekong River to Deqin, hard on the Tibetan-Chinese border. Diqen sits at 3400 meters and is surrounded by snow capped, glaciated mountains. The scenery in this town, wherever one looks, is stunning. North we ride up the raw Mekong River gorge through an otherworldly landscape of raging wild rivers, near vertical cliffs, and towering, snow topped peaks that soar to over 5000 meters as we climb onto the Himalayan plateau proper. We ride  to the foot of Kawakarpo, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world at 6,740 meters. Buddhists from all over Tibet pay homage to Kawakarpo to begin a 240 km. pilgrimage around its base. For some it takes months to complete, because step by step by step they completely prostrate themselves on the ground. We spend a night in the small town facing this scared mountain. (Yunling 130km,  feilaisi 164km)

     

    Day 7   Mt. Kawagebo Rest Day

     

    We will not ride today !  You may choose to chill out in the hotel with a panorama view of Mt. Kawagebo or join a day hike that is arranged today to the magnificent Mingyong Glacier.  We take the electric cart to the glacier park. We will hike up to the beautiful Ming Yong Glacier. Return to Feilaisi for the night.

     

    Day 8  Kawagebo to Yangtse River


    We will be seeing sun rise above this holy mountain this morning.  We turn south to Benzilan. The ride to Benzilan takes us through some of the most stunning scenery on this tour. We hit our highest elevation point on the tour the white horse pass - just shy of 4,300 meters. We stop for visit to a well hidden Tibetan Lamasery and drop down to a valley where we meet our second big river, the Yangtse. We spend a night in this lovely little town by  the Yangtse.

    (Ride 90km)

     

    Day 9    Shangri_la

     

    We ride to Shangri_la,  even the name sounds exotic. Its named after James Hilton’s novel “ Lost Horizon” Shangri_la has both yaks grazing in the high mountain pastures and modern hotels. Houses are built in the traditional Tibetan style, and the cuisine is decidedly different. Yak steak with barley bread and Yak butter tea anyone.  A dozen different ethnic minorities wearing their traditional clothing can be seen on the streets of Shangri-La, sprinkled throughout with saffron robed monks of the Mahayana Buddhist sect.  Then an afternoon walk through the old quarters will easily fill up the remainder of that day. At night there is always something going on in the Old Quarter’s town square lined with antique stores and shops of all kinds. We found some great restaurants around town that we promise to share with everyone. 

    (Ride 80km)

     

    Day 10  Tiger Leaping Gorge


    We will ride aback road through forest and some nice villages. Thisfantastic road follows a contour line along the third-deepest gorge in the world. Tiger Leaping Gorge is formed by the fierce and young (at this point) Yangtze River, which slices a path through towering, snow-clad mountains. By now we have met our third big river on this tour. Impossible not to jump off of your bike every few minutes to snap a few pics. This could be the #1 road in Asia for sure.

    (Ride 167KM)


    Day 11  Lijiang UNESCO World Heritage


    We ride over the Jade Dragon Mountain pass to Lijing, our destination tonight, it is the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site we visit. It is the most popular tourist destination in China, even surpassing Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden Palace. A real party atmosphere permeates Lijiang and it is a great place to meet and mix with the local population. Lijiang's charming Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. You are free to explore this ancient city at your leisure. Lijiang is a shop till you drop type place and all sorts of interesting items are for sale.

    (Ride103km)

     

    Day 12     Lijiang


    Trip ends after breakfast



        Apr.17 (Sunday) – Apr.28 (Thursday),2022


        Oct.09 (Sunday) - Oct.20 (Thursday),2022


        Apr.16 (Sunday) – Apr.27 (Thursday),2023


        Oct.08 (Sunday) - Oct.19 (Thursday),2023



        Tour Prices in USD


        $2800/person for 6+ riders

        -----------------------------------------------

        3 - 5 riders add $400/person 

        -----------------------------------------------

        2 - 2 riders add $700/person 

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        1 rider add $1800/person

        -----------------------------------------------

        Singleroom Supplement: $400/person


        Passenger: $1600/person



        INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE:


        --All meals


        --Transfers


        --Kunming Baoshan flight


        --E-bike rental


        --Charging and extra batteries


        --Water bottle and helmet


        --All overnights in hotels twin sharing 


        --Entry fee to parks and monasteries


        --Tour guide on E-bike


        --Support Vehicle


        --Bike Mechanic


         
        SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:


        --Bottled drinks


        --All services not mentioned


        --Tipping or gratuities to guides


        --Mandatory intl. travel insurance


        --Excursions other than those specified


        --Extra cost if tour is delayed or changed

        --------------------------------------

        E mountain bike




        Lightweight aluminium frame

        Lockable Front Shocks

        Hydraulic Disk Brakes

        One bottle cage

        SyncDrive Core, 50Nm

        5-Level Smooth Drives

        Digital display panel with mode controls

        Shimano Alivio 9-Speed gears

        Go Further, Go Faster with 100km range

        26'/27.5'/29' wheels available



    Trip reviews coming soon

GROUP SIZE

Maximum 10 bikes

START/FINISH

Kunming/Lijiang

DURATION

12 days, 9 riding days, 1 sightseeing day

TRIP GRADE

Intermediate Level, pedaling with drive assist, tarmac roads with some switchbacks, high altitude (1250 - 4200 m) in remote areas,5 - 7 hours riding per day with short gravel and unpaved sections. Total distance 1000 KM. Daily rides 80 - 140 Km. Mostly on asphalt roads, highest pass at 4290m, highest overnight at 3300m.

ROUTE

Dali - Gongshan - Fugong - Sawleen - High pass - Mekong - Mt. Kawakarpo 6740m - White Horse Pass - Yangtse River - Lijiang

LODGING

Hotels and guesthouses

HIGHLIGHTS
✥Ride across Mekong Salween Yangtse
✥3900m Biluoxue Mountain Pass
✥Highest unclimbed mountain Kawakarpo 6740m
✥4290m White Horse Pass
✥Tibetan Monastery
✥Third Deepest Gorge
✥800 year old Stone Village
✥Lijiang world heritage old city
✥Great Rivers National Park of China
✥Excellent Yunnan Cuisines

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