A hundred years ago, French missionaries traveled over land to Sichuan into the capital city of Chengdu. Further in front of them was a gateway to the vast heartland of Tibetan Buddhism. Unfazed by the awaiting challenges and eager to spread the gospel, they ventured into landlocked valleys in western Sichuan and Yunnan province, spreading their religion. A century since, the churches in these regions are still thriving.

This hike, the original route taken by 19th century French missionaries, will take you to meet the Catholic Tibetan communities along the Salween and Mekong Rivers--two of Asia's mightiest rivers. The hike starts from the Salween River valley, close to the Yunnan / Myanmar (Burma) border and winds up and down the mountains that separate the Salween and Mekong. Eventually, after days of hiking and camping, the journey ends in Shangri-La, the Tibetan town named after the mythical paradise in James Hilton's Lost Horizon. The roads are long and the hikes can at times be demanding, but this trip provides the rare chance of exploring the unknown face of China.

Learn how to offset your carbon footprint on this trip.