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Guilin & Zhangjiajie — 9 days (Li River, Yangshuo, Xingping, Tianzi & Tianmen)

4.6(20 reviews)9 daysStart and end in the trailhead
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Nine days between two karst landscapes, by boat, bicycle and fast train. Nine days with the fast train, every park pass and lift, and a guesthouse in Yangshuo rather than Guilin.

Meridian Overland
Runs this trip
Trekking
Nine days between two karst landscapes, by boat, bicycle and fast train
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers

Top Highlights

  • Elephant Trunk HillNine days between two karst landscapes — the river towers of Guangxi and the sandstone pillars of Hunan.
  • Li riverThe view from Xingping is the one on the back of the twenty-yuan note, and people queue to hold the note up against it.
  • Yulong riverThe valley floor is flat and the towers are vertical, which makes for the easiest cycling anywhere with scenery this dramatic.
  • Chinese high-speed railFive hours at 300 km/h.
  • Tianzi MountainThe Bailong is a glass lift 326 m up the outside of a cliff, and it is the fastest passenger lift of its kind anywhere.
  • Golden Whip StreamFlat, shaded and mostly empty by mid-morning because the crowds are all on the rim.

Itinerary

What's included

Included in the price

Accommodation
  • 8 nights accommodation as listed: hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Transport
  • Airport pickup and drop, private vehicle
  • All internal transfers by private vehicle
  • Guilin-Zhangjiajie high-speed rail
  • Wulingyuan and Tianmen park passes with every cable car and lift
  • Bicycles and a guide in the Yulong valley
Meals
  • Breakfast daily plus the meals listed on each day
Guide
  • Trip leader throughout, 1 guide per 10
Activities
  • The Li river cruise with lunch
Permits & fees
  • All entry tickets and permits listed in the day-by-day

Not included

Insurance
  • Travel insurance
Optional
  • International or domestic flights to the start point
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Climbing gear, if you take the Moon Hill session
Additional Services
  • 5% GST and any applicable TCS
  • Lunches and dinners not listed on a day
  • International flights and the Chinese visa
  • Zhangjiajie during Golden Week, which both operators refuse to run
  • Most dinners

Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.

Where you'll stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Guilin Courtyard

Hotel

Day 1

Yangshuo Lodge

Lodge

Days 2–4

Zhangjiajie Inn

Hotel

Days 5–8

What you'll eat

8 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners across 9 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.

  • DinnerServed on days 1, 5, 6, 7
  • BreakfastServed on days 2–9
  • LunchServed on day 2

13 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking

Operator

Meridian Overland
4.6 (20)

Based in New Delhi

Profile
One other operator runs this trailThe same trail, at their own price, group size and refund window.Farthest Field Co.₹1,38,699See all 2Compare

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Customer reviews

Overall rating
4.6/5
Based on 20 reviews
Review summary
Food
4.5/5
Guide
4.3/5
Itinerary
4.1/5
Transport
4.3/5
Accommodation
4.4/5
Tour operator
4.5/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
P
Priya Nair – Mumbai2026-07-08 · Verified booking

Did this over 9 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Would book with them again.

Reply from Meridian Overland

Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.

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5
A
Ananya Gupta – Indore2026-07-08 · Verified booking

Did this over 9 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Would book with them again.

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4
D
Divya Reddy – Mumbai2026-07-08 · Verified booking

Guangxi and Hunan in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp.

Reply from Meridian Overland

Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.

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5
C
Carla Mendes – Dubai2026-07-08 · Verified booking

Did this over 9 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Solid operator.

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5
M
Marc Dubois – Melbourne2025-08-13 · Verified booking

Guangxi and Hunan in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time.

Reply from Meridian Overland

Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.

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4
K
Karan Shah – Pune2025-08-13 · Verified booking

The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. No hesitation recommending them.

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5
D
Daniel Okafor – Amsterdam2025-08-13 · Verified booking

The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Recommended.

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3
N
Nina Hoffmann – Stockholm2025-08-13 · Verified booking

Pace was set for the fastest people in the group and it made the middle days hard. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down.

Reply from Meridian Overland

Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.

Was this helpful?

Questions people ask

One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →

₹2,03,999per personNext 6 NovEMI from ₹17,000/mo