Traversing the Ancient Tea Horse Road with Jeff Fuchs

About the Ancient Tea Horse Road

The world drinks over 2 billion cups of tea every day. But beyond our obsession and the fine china, how much do you know about the beverage’s 3,000 years of history?

Follow the trail back to its roots on this journey, led by tea expert Jeff Fuchs, along tea’s most ancient trade roads. Hike through the forests of the first tea trees and step into the homes of descendants of the first tea cultivators on this thirst-quenching National Geographic ‘Tour of a Lifetime’.

Jeff Fuchs is an explorer, author, and tea expert who was recently voted one of Canada’s ‘Greatest Explorers’ by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. Fuchs was the first documented westerner to have traveled the legendary Tea Horse Road, the nomadic Route of Salt ‘Tsa-Lam’, and the ‘Hor-Lam’, the Route of Pashmina through Ladakh. He has led or been a part of over 30 expeditions in the Himalayas, chronicling both the fading oral narratives and the declining ‘Himalayan Water Towers’, the glaciers.

Fuchs is the author of The Ancient Tea Horse Road, a chronicle of his journey along the Himalayan trade route and he’s the inspiration for, and host of, the recent award-winning documentary ‘The Tea Explorer’.

Tour Highlights

• Sitting down to a pot of tea with the descendants of the first tea cultivators
• Hiking through Aini minority areas and into the Ancient Tea Tree Forests
• Following the narrow, winding lanes of Shangri-La Old Town and joining the locals for a cup of Tibetan butter tea

Learn more about this ancient trade route during our Conversation with Lisa See, author of “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane”.

Itinerary

Hotels

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Yourantai, Jinghong Local Boutique Guest House Gazing out over the Mekong, experience a local kind of tropical splendor in the heart of Xishuangbanna at this authentic guest house inspired by traditional Dai architecture.

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Shaxi Aoding Courtyard Local Boutique Boasting only 17 spacious and well-equipped guest rooms, Shaxi Aoding Courtyard offers a quiet retreat for travelers looking to immerse in local culture.

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Banyan Tree Lijiang Luxury Boutique Blending traditional Naxi ethnic minority architecture with modern elegance and luxurious amenities, Banyan Tree Lijiang is a refuge of calm amidst the city’s hustle and bustle.

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Songtsam Shangri-La Luxury Boutique Located right next to the Songzanlin Monastery and housed in a traditional Tibetan dwelling, Songtsam Shangri-La has made world travelers at home for ten years.

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Photos Xishuangbanna Tea Culture Picking Leaves in Ancient Tea Tree Forests Tibetan Butter Tea Leaves Share this journey

Details

Arrival

This journey starts in Jinhong, China, in the south of Yunnan Province. The regional airport, Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport (JHG), has daily flights from Kunming and other Chinese cities, as well as flights from some cities in Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Flights from Beijing to Jinghong: China Eastern and Sichuan Airlines fly at least once per day to Jinghong (4 hours)

Flights from Shanghai to Jinghong: China Eastern and Kunming Airlines both fly daily to Jinghong (4 hours)

Flights from Xi’an to Jinghong: China Eastern and Lucky Air fly daily to Jinghong (2 hours, 40 minutes).

Departure

This journey ends in Shangri-La, in northern Yunnan. The airport, Diqing Shangri-La Airport (DIG), only serves short domestic routes.

If you’d like to fly out from Shangri-la, we recommend flying to a larger airport nearby, such as Chengdu (CTE) or Kunming (KMG), and transferring onwards. Diqing Airport has daily flights to both Chengdu and Kunming.

Flights to the US, Europe, Australia, and other international destinations are best served by airports such as Beijing (PEK or PKX), Shanghai (PVG), Hong Kong (HKG), or Chengdu (CTU).

What’s Included

• Services of China Adventure Club expert Jeff Fuchs
• All accommodations based on double-occupancy including breakfasts, as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals, as indicated in the itinerary, and drinking water
• All admission fees and activity expenses, as indicated in the itinerar
• Ground transportation, including airport transfers
• Services of an English-speaking local guide

What’s Excluded

• International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
• Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
• Travel and medical insurance
• Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
• Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Domestic Air Travel

The land costs above do not include domestic flights and trains.

Economy Domestic Air from Xishuangbanna to Dali: From USD $260 per person (economy).

What to expect

Trip Difficulty: Moderate Adventure

Your journey is considered a moderate adventure. Moderate adventure includes full days outside the hotel, with drives up to 3 or 3 ½ hours on mainly well-maintained, paved roads. We may spend up to 4-5 hours walking and hiking.

Your Guides & Expert

Your guide will arrange the logistics of your trip, including meals, hotel reservations, sites, and activities, as well as providing you with information about the local region. You will also be traveling with a China Adventure Club expert, who will serve as an in-depth source of knowledge covering your trip as a whole. Your local guide is specific to each local region, but your China Adventure Club expert will accompany you throughout your journey, escorting you to all locations. Your local guides will be confirmed during booking.

Meals and Water

Meals are included, as listed in your itinerary. We strive to arrange meals that highlight authentic local cuisine in clean, local establishments.

It is safe to drink bottled mineral water, but tap water, even in 5-star hotels, is not safe for drinking. We will provide bottled water, tea, and snacks throughout your journey.

We request guests with severe allergies to consult their physicians prior to traveling and to bring all necessary medicines with them. Inform us ahead of time of specific allergies, such as peanuts or shellfish, or sensitivities to MSG, so that we can do our best to ensure these items are not used in your meals.