Short answer
Three full days is the minimum for the old towns, Baisha, and Jade Dragon with a weather buffer. Five days adds Tiger Leaping Gorge or a slower village loop; seven days adds Lugu Lake or Shangri-La.
The short answer
Three days is enough to see Dayan, Shuhe, Baisha, and Jade Dragon, provided the weather cooperates. The mountain needs a clear day and a buffer, so do not schedule it for your last morning. If you only have two days, choose either the mountain or the villages, not both.
Five days lets you add Tiger Leaping Gorge or spend a night in Baisha. Seven days opens up Lugu Lake or Shangri-La, both of which need at least two nights. The routes section has day-by-day plans for each length.
What eats time
Transfers are the main hidden cost: the airport is 45 minutes away, the station 30, and Lugu Lake five hours. Altitude also slows you down on the first day. Build in a slow arrival and at least one flexible day.
Crowds affect timing too. In peak season, a mountain day takes longer because of queues. The booking timeline explains the bottlenecks. A three-day trip in October is not the same as a three-day trip in November.
Related questions
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