Tibet is a paradise with rich culture, scenic landscapes, and untainted natural beauty. This magical wonderland is synonymous with the mythical Shangri-La, globally renowned as the home of yetis and mystic monks. Both northwest Yunnan and southeast Tibet offer outdoor adventures, learning opportunities, and fun activities for the whole family. They are ideal tourist destinations for families. Parents and kids can explore both regions guided by nature experts and teachers.

You’ll need a comprehensive family travel itinerary to get the most out of your family tour of northwest and southeast Yunnan. Whether you and your child want to learn about rare species, experience scenic landscapes, or explore Tibet in all its glory, Songstam has the right tour itinerary to meet your needs.

Songstam currently offers two types of family travel itineraries customized for different age groups. You can join the Songtsam Northwest Yunnan Family Tour for 6 nights and 7 days or Songtsam Southeast Tibet Geography Exploration Tour for 7 days and 8 nights. Both provide learning opportunities for children of all ages. 

The natural scenery of northwest Yunnan

Songtsam Northwest Yunnan Family Tour

Northwest Yunnan is a naturalists' paradise and home to majestic rivers and ecological hotspots with rare flora and fauna. This fascinating region is a real-life classroom, offering a peek into geological changes and the traditional way of life. You can visit the Three Parallel River, a World Natural Heritage Site with rare plants and animals such as the Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkey and the black-necked crane. Here, children can watch these rare animals in their natural habitat and understand the value of environmental and wildlife conservation. Visit Meili Snow Mountain and the Jinsha and Lancang River valleys to explore geological features, scenic landscapes, ecological diversity, and snowy peaks. You can join Songtsam’s Northwest Yunnan family tour to experience this wildlife paradise.

Here are three attractions and activities to include in your Northwest Yunnan family tour:

Your family tour will start in Shangri-La, the "Utopia of the East." This earthly paradise at an altitude of 10,000ft has captivated the human imagination since ancient times. Also known as Zhongdian, Shangri-La is home to Ramyangtso Lake and Napa Lake. Both lakes are ideal locations for children to learn about wetland ecosystems through observation. Visit Ramyangtso Lake with your children to watch plateau birds in their natural habitat. You’ll be guided by a professional wildlife teacher along the plank road to explore the animals and plants around the lake. Then, visit Napa Lake, the largest seasonal wetland in Shangri-La. It is the wintering home of migratory birds, including black storks, egrets, spotted geese, and graceful black-necked cranes. Watching the spotted geese swimming across the lake in flocks with your children can instill in them the value of environmental protection.

Your Shangri-La family tour itinerary should include immersive cultural experiences. You can paint Thangkas and prayer flags and spin prayer wheels with your children to help them learn these components of Tibetan culture. Don’t forget to hang your prayer flags to convey your good wishes to the world via the wind. After an eventful day, bond as a family by joining an outdoor barbecue or engaging in folk singing and dancing. You and your children can also read, paint, and learn to arrange flowers. Stay in the luxurious Songtsam Shangri-la Linka to engage in fun-filled family activities.

Migratory birds feeding in the Napa Lake

Watching Yunnan golden snub-nosed monkeys in the wild can help your children understand the importance of environmental and animal conservation. Visiting Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park in Tacheng supplements children's first-hand experience with Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys in the wild. They’ll learn more about the monkeys’ survival status and different strategies to protect rare or endangered animals and plants.

Lessons learned in the park can help children appreciate animal conservation and harmonious human-wildlife coexistence. After visiting the park, participate in family-friendly activities like plant awareness held in Songtsam Tacheng Lodge. You can also go on a picnic with your children to help them understand nature’s benefits, such as fresh air and green grass. These parent-child activities instill the values of environmental protection and nurture the conservationists of the future.

Yunnan Golden Monkey

During your family tour, explore the ecological diversity in the Three Parallel Rivers area. This region has dramatic landscapes carved by natural forces for centuries. You'll learn about unique vegetation and landforms in the dry and hot river valleys from experts and teachers. How was the "Ω" shaped Jinsha River Bend formed? Take a guided hike on the slopes of Meili Snow Mountain to observe the Lancang River Valley from an altitude of about 6561ft. You can see the difference in the environment due to elevation changes. Exposed layers of sediments deposited by the meandering rivers can help you understand the region’s geological characteristics.

In the river valleys, spend some time on the pasture to learn the lifestyle of Tibetan herders. Hike or walk around lush green pastoral lands with your tour guide to interact with the herders. River valleys in this region are rich in minerals, including brine water. For over 1000 years, locals have been extracting salt from mineral-rich brine water harvested on the banks of the Lancang River. Here, children can learn traditional salt-making methods handed down for generations. You can stay at Songtsam Lodge Rumei to explore the Lancang River Valley in luxury. Then, check out Meili Snow Mountain, with its 13 snow-capped peaks rising over 20,000ft. These snowy peaks contrast the deep river valleys below, creating a surreal visual experience.

At 22,110ft, Kawagebo Peak is the highest Meili peak. Look out for the beautiful Mingyong Glacier flowing through this majestic peak. You can see these snowy peaks from your room at Songtsam Meili Lodge. In the morning, wake up early with your kids to watch the sunrise over Meili Snow Mountain. Watching the sun-kissed Meili peaks while enjoying a warm cup of tea is an experience of a lifetime. During the day, engage in kid-friendly activities like mushroom picking and hand-grinding soybeans around the lodge. Spending time in the woods hunting for mushrooms with your kids will expose them to what nature has to offer, reinforcing the value of environmental protection. These activities provide a unique opportunity for children to experience locals’ daily life and learn the symbiotic relationship between human life and nature.

"Ω" shaped Jinsha River Bend

Songtsam Southeast Tibet Geography Exploration Tour

Southeast Tibet offers outdoor adventures, geological wonders, and cultural experiences. This region features a deep canyon, snowy peaks, ancient glaciers, and centuries-old monasteries. Here, visitors can explore dramatic landscapes and learn about unique landforms, environmental issues, and Tibetan culture and way of life. How do glaciers shape other landforms? Are glaciers impacted by global warming? Is there a link between geography, climate, and vegetation? Take a family tour covering Laigu Glacier and Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon to answer all these questions. Songtsam’s 8-day geography exploration tour of southeast Tibet is curated to build children’s geological knowledge. Children on this tour can learn Tibetan culture and the relationship between nature, humanistic traditions, climate, and geography.

Here are must-have attractions and activities in your southeast Tibet family tour:

According to National Geographic China, Bomi is the most beautiful glacier country. Also known as the “Switzerland of Tibet,” Bomi is scenic with blessed weather and more than 2,000 glaciers. Its unique landscape blends glaciers and coniferous forests like Gangyun Forest, one of the most beautiful forests in China. A picnic in this secret garden with sweet aromas from peach blossoms can induce deep relaxation. After outdoor parent-child activities, bond as a family at Songtsam Bomi Lodge while watching documentaries on wildlife in the Tibetan region. Your parent-child itinerary won’t be complete without the enchanting Bomi.  

Glaciers and coniferous forests of Bomi

Laigu is a snowy paradise located in Chamdo and home to the magnificent Laigu Glacier. Here, you’ll get to learn about glacial landforms and their role as water towers. The ancient Laigu Glacier is one of the widest ‘frozen rivers’ in Tibet and the birthplace of several rivers. This bluish glacier sits on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "Water Tower of Asia." At 13,000ft, Songtsam Laigu Lodge is only a walking distance from Laigu Glacier. The property is also close to Ranwu Lake, the source of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Visit these natural attractions with your child to learn about the impact of global warming on glaciers, lakes, and rivers. Laigu’s altitude and location entice stargazers and sky watchers. Stargazing with your kids is a fun way to nurture their love for science. The night sky can hold kids’ attention long enough for their minds to wander and ache for more. Your Laigu parent-child tour won’t be complete without stargazing. Book your stay at Songtsam Bomi Laigu Lodge to engage in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Laigu Glacier view at night

Dalin Village is located in one of the most dramatically shifting terrain areas in the world on the edges of human civilization. You can see the snowy Namcha Barwa peak rising 25,531ft. This dominating triangular peak is the most beautiful mountain in China. One thing that sets the Nanga Barwa peak apart from other mountains is its detailed features.

Your family tour guide can highlight specific aspects such as horn peaks, edge ridges, and ice buckets. Children can understand the different types of glacial landforms and appreciate the beauty of snowy mountains from a geoscience perspective. Dalin Village is an exciting tourist destination in its own right as the last stop to “no man’s land.” This village is close to the world’s famous Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon.  

Namcha Barwa peak

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is one of the largest and deepest canyons globally. This world-famous canyon stands out due to its ecological diversity, natural beauty, and dramatic landscapes. During your family tour, you’ll feel the magic of natural geography with the rising mountains contrasting deep valleys. The canyon’s unique tectonic features provide a visual aid for geological activities that can unlock Earth's geological history and mysteries. Children can experience the mountainous snowfields of Gawalong on one side and the turquoise dense forest landscape of Motuo on the other side. They’ll learn about different ecological environments on the leeward and windward sides of the mountains.

The canyon’s plant population changes from the valley floor to the top of the mountain. So, children can learn about plants found in different altitudes. Walk the forest in the canyon with wildlife and environmental educators to help your children understand the relationship between altitude and biodiversity. After touring this canyon, engage in relaxing activities at the luxurious Songtsam Namcha Barwa Lodge. You can bond and relax with your kids while watching science documentaries about snow-capped mountains and glaciers.

Two different sides view of Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon

Communities globally are more diverse today than ever before. As a parent, educate your kids on the values of diversity, inclusion, and religious tolerance. A guided family tour of southeastern Tibet can help your children understand and celebrate racial and religious differences in society. In Bomi and Laigu, visit traditional Tibetan villages and monasteries scattered in the valleys to understand the influence of the nature on human traditions. The region’s unique geography has shaped local’s way of life and economic activities for centuries, such as paper making. You and your child can join a Tibetan paper workshop to learn traditional paper-making processes. This activity provides immersive cultural experience.

During your family tour, visit Dodong and Shugden temples, two of the three major temples in this region. Built in 1643, Dodong Temple provides a unique opportunity to learn about faith and the link between monasteries and nature. Take some time to experience the rich wildlife around Dodong Temple, including macaques, star crows, and orange-bellied long-nosed squirrels. In Shugden Temple, explore Tibetan Buddhism and its influence on daily life over the past 1300 years. Both temples are perfectly integrated into the surrounding environment, showcasing the beauty of the balance between humanity and nature.

Join both Family Tours to enhance Learning

Northwest Yunnan and southeast Tibet provide real-life classrooms for children to learn geological changes, environmental issues, and Tibetan culture. Touring both regions with nature experts and teachers can help instill the value of environmental protection and wildlife conservation. You can rely on Songtsam’s family tours to explore geological wonders and ecological hotspots in northwest Yunnan and southeast Tibet. Engage in cultural and nature-related family activities throughout your tour to reinforce lessons learned in the wild.