I. The best time to travel
•May-October: It is a rainy season at this time, and the amount of water is large. The Napa Sea forms a vast lake with abundant water and grass. The grassland is in full bloom, with flocks of sheep, cattle and horses. The scenery is very beautiful.
• November - April of the following year: It is the dry season, and the lake shrinks or even dries up, turning into a large swampy meadow, that is, the Ila grassland. In winter, black-necked cranes are waiting for birds to perch and winter here, which is a good time for bird watching.
II. Traffic Guide
• Bus: You can take the No. 12 Huanhu bus in the Red Sun Square in Shangri-La city. The ticket price is 2 yuan. The number of trains is limited. Please pay attention to the last bus time.
• Car rental / chartered car: In the urban area of Shangri-La, you can rent an electric car or a bicycle around the lake. The rent of an electric car is about 60-80 yuan/day, and the bicycle rent is relatively cheap. You can also choose to charter a car, and the price is about 200 yuan.
• Taxi: It takes about 30 minutes to take a taxi from downtown Shangri-La to the Napa Sea, and the cost is 40-50 yuan.
III. Ticket information
As of January 2026, the single ticket price of Shangri-La Napahai (Yila Grassland) scenic spot is 40 yuan/person. In addition, there are different tickets and horse-riding combination packages to choose from.
• Ticket + horse riding route A (entry experience): 200 yuan, ride gently along the edge of the grassland from the horse farm, and do not enter the core wetlands. It is suitable for first-time horse riding or tourists who are worried about high opposition. With a high safety factor, you can quickly feel the riding atmosphere of the grassland, and it is suitable for punching in and taking photos.
• Ticket + Horse riding route B (deep grassland): 300 yuan, deep into the core area of the Yila grassland, passing through the edge of the wetland and the sea of flowers, you can see the swamp and migratory birds in the rainy season, and the meadow is open in the dry season. The landscape is richer, and you can tro for a short distance with the permission of the guide, and the experience is better than the A-line.
• Ticket + Horse Riding Route C (Panoramic Challenge): 420 yuan, including grassland + mountain section, you can reach the Napa Sea and Shika Snow Mountain from a high place, and pass through niche attractions such as Moon Lake in some seasons. The best view is suitable for tourists who want to take a panoramic view of snowy mountains and wetlands. They need to pay attention to the physical consumption of climbing the plateau.
Preferential treatment policy
•Free tickets: Children under 6 years old and people over 70 years old are free of charge with valid documents.
• Discount tickets: 7-18-year-old minors, 60-69-year-olds, full-time undergraduate students and below can enjoy discounts with valid certificates (the details are subject to the publicity of the scenic spot).
IV. Tour route
• Lake-tour route: The whole journey of the Napa Sea Lake Ring Highway is about 40 kilometers. It is recommended to ride clockwise or self-drive, so that the landscape belt of the West Lake Ring Road will be downhill and can be easily visited. Some sections of the road will form a unique "water highway" landscape during the rainy season, which is very suitable for taking photos.
V. Must-play experience
• Horse riding: There are local Tibetans providing horse riding services in the scenic area. The price ranges from 50-150 yuan per person. You can ride a horse to walk on the grassland and feel the vastness of the grassland.
• Bird watching: Winter is the best time to watch rare birds such as black-necked cranes and white-tailed sea eagles. Bring a telescope and a camera to capture many wonderful moments.
• Visit Tibetan villages: on the way, you can visit Kaila Village, experience Tibetan customs, drink butter tea, and feel the local atmosphere of life.
VI. Horse riding safety measures
Horse and harness protection
• Horse screening and management: Most of the docile old horses are domesticated by local Tibetans, familiar with the route around the lake, some horse farms code and file the horses, regular health checks, and avoid the participation of strong horses or sick horses in the service.
• Horse harness inspection and maintenance: Before departure, the saddle, stirrus, reins, etc. will be checked one by one to ensure a firm adaptation; helmets, leg protectors and other basic protective equipment will be provided, and some horse farms will adjust the equipment according to the situation of tourists.
Professional configuration of security officers
• Guide/Mafu accompanied the whole process: Each horse riding route is led by an experienced Tibetan guide. Beginners will teach basic riding skills hand in hand, and lead the horse to control the speed during the ride to avoid getting out of control.
• Personnel qualification and training: The staff of the horse farm have received safety training, mastered emergency handling skills, and can respond to emergencies such as horse shock and tourists falling off the horse in a timely manner.
Process and rule control
• Pre-risk screening: It is clearly not recommended for hypertension, heart disease, pregnant women, drunk people, etc. to participate; children under 1.2 meters need to be accompanied by a guardian and evaluated by a coach.
• Safety notice and agreement: explain the safety notice before departure, such as prohibiting sudden screaming, waving of arms, and not leaving the team or running without authorization. Some horse farms will require the signing of safety agreements.
• Route safety planning: The route avoids dangerous sections, and the rainy season will be adjusted to avoid water and muddy areas to ensure the safety of the riding road.
Insurance and emergency support
• Basic insurance coverage: The horse riding package of the regular horse farm usually includes accident insurance, and some of them can purchase additional special insurance.
• Emergency facilities and rescue: There are first-aid points around the scenic spot, equipped with first-aid kits. The guide can deal with minor abrasions and sprains on the spot. In serious cases, they will be sent to the hospital in time and link with the local emergency rescue force.
Management and supervision
• Government supervision: regular inspection of local horse farms, requiring public prices, safety tips, and eliminating illegal operations.
• Hidden danger investigation: regularly check the health of the horse, the integrity of the harness and the safety of the site, and eliminate the risks in time.
Suggestions for self-protection for tourists
• Take the initiative to confirm the qualification of the horse farm, choose a formal business point, and refuse the unsecured private horse-to-horse service.
• Wear a helmet throughout the whole process, follow the instructions of the guide, and do not make dangerous actions, such as using a selfie stick, suddenly changing directions, etc.
• Avoid strenuous exercise when you first arrive at the plateau, maintain a steady rhythm when riding, and prevent the risk of high reversal and superimposed accidents.
VII. Food Recommendation
• Tibetan pork barbecue: crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it is a special delicacy in the Napa Sea.
• Barley cake, butter tea: barley cake is burnt and strong, with butter tea (salty/sweet optional) to warm up and resist high reaction, Tibetans are the best
• Yak yogurt: sweet and sour, with a strong plateau flavor, which is greasy and appetizing.
• Yak beef hot pot / kebab, Tibetan-flavored pork barbecue: yak beef is soft and tasty, hot pot with fungi; roasted Tibetan-flavored pig is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, roasted over charcoal fire
• Stir-fried matsutake and water fern: matsutake in the rainy season is served with Tibetan ham, and the water fern is crispy, tender and appetizing, natural wild vegetables
VIII. Precautions
High altitude sickness and health protection
• The altitude is about 3260 meters. Avoid strenuous exercises such as running and jumping at the beginning, prepare glucose and oxygen cylinders, drink more water, and try not to take a shower on the first day.
• High blood pressure, heart disease, pregnant women, etc. should be cautious in horse riding and other projects, and listen to the risk tips of the horse farm.
Weather and equipment preparation
• The temperature difference between day and night on the plateau is large, and the ultraviolet rays are strong. Regardless of the season, you need to bring a windproof jacket / thin down, sunglasses, sun hat, SPF50 + sunscreen, rainproof equipment in the rainy season.
• Some sections of the rainy season (May-October) may accumulate water, so pay attention to the height of the chassis for self-driving; in the dry season (November-April), the meadow is open, suitable for bird watching but it needs to be cold-proof.
Cultural and ecological respect
• Get consent before shooting Tibetans, cattle and sheep, and sutra flags, do not enter Tibetan villages or temples at will, and do not step on the sutras.
• Napa Sea is a wetland reserve. It takes the plank road or hardens the road, does not crush the meadow, does not drive away migratory birds, and does not litter.
• Most of the grasslands are the collective property of Tibetans. Do not enter or pick pastures without permission.
Traffic and consumption pitfalls
• The Huanhu Highway (navigation "Napa Sea Huanhu Road") is mostly a free scenic area. Be wary of the guidance of "fake scenic spots" and "toll-paying horse farms". Clarify the route, duration and price before riding a horse, so as to avoid price increase in the middle.
• When taking photos on the water highway, the car passes at a low speed and uniformly, does not occupy the road and stops. Do not start again after turning off the engine.
• Car rental / chartered car, negotiate the price and mileage in advance, pay attention to the last bus time, and it is easier to ride clockwise.
Horse riding and emergency safety
• Choose a regular horse course, make sure that the horse is meek and the harness is intact, wear a helmet all the way, follow the guide's command, and do not suddenly scream or wave your arms.
• Bring a first aid kit with you. Minor abrasions can be dealt with on the spot. In serious cases, please contact the first aid point or send them to the hospital in time.