10 Days Yunnan Tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri La

In the 10 day “Classic Journey to South of the Clouds Yunnan” tour, you will visit the following must see destinations including: Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang and Shangri La. Yunnan, which literally means South of the Clouds, lies to the south of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau. Here you will visit villages and meet the Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan ethnic minority communities, as well as an ancient trading post along the Tea & Horse Caravan Trail. A diversity of culture and many breathtaking landscape offer a deep impression!

Trip Highlights

  • Visit villages and meet ethnic minority communities
  • Stopover at number of ancient trading hub on Tea-Horse Road
  • Diverse of culture and breath-taking landscape alongside

Customizable Tour Itinerary

upon your arrival in Kunming, meet your personal guide at the arrival hall at the airport. The guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. After check-in, take a stroll in the Flower and Bird Market.

  • Hotels: Intercontinental Kunming, Crowne Plaza Kunming City Centre, Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime
Lijiang Old Town with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the backdropLijiang Old Town with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the backdrop

Rise early for the 1.5 hours ride to the Stone Forest, a large forest of black limestone standing through winds and rains for millions of years. After lunch nearby, head back to the city to take a leisurely walk around Cuihu Park (Green Lake Park). A free park for the public and it also attract tens of thousands of black-headed galls in winter. Walk a few minutes to the Yuantong Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Kunming city.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Local flower marketLocal flower market

Morning flight to Dali, meet your guide and driver into Dali upon arrival. Together you will visit the ancient city, take a relaxing cruise on Erhai Lake and stop at Xizhou to see the featured Bai People’s houses.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
  • Hotels: Dali Landscape Hotel, Hilton Dali Resort & SPA, The Linden Centre
Stone ForestStone Forest

after breakfast, visit the local bustling market and watch the people bargain, then visit the Chongsheng Temple and the Three Pagodas, the imperial pagodas with the longest history in southern China. Lunch is arranged in a local fine restaurant; take the cable car up to Cangshan Mountain to have a bird’s eye view of the ancient city and Erhai Lake.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Xizhou Ancient TownXizhou Ancient Town

Drive about 3 hours from Dali to Lijiang, en route, visit Shaxi Ancient Town for its market and temples. When you get to Lijiang, feel free to have a rest or look around on your own.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
  • Hotels: Banyan Tree Lijiang, Grand Hyatt Lijiang, Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town
Three PagodasThree Pagodas

Deep visit to see Lijiang ancient town. The bustling market offers the chance to see different cooking materials and fresh fruits. Dragon Pool’s pond provides great photo opportunities to shoot Jade Dragon Snow Mountain’s reflection. Wangu Wooden Building on Lion Hill promises a bird’s eye view of the ancient town and Mu’s Mansion, a luxurious palace for the late head officer Mu’s family.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Lijiang Old TownLijiang Old Town

Drive about an hour to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Yak’s plateau is chosen to view the face of the highest peak – Shanzidou. Two way shuttle bus and cable car are included. After a late lunch, explore the small but interesting Baisha Village for its beautiful murals.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Jade Dragon Snow MountainJade Dragon Snow Mountain

Drive about 3 hours to Shangri-la, en route you will take great pictures of Yangtze’s first bend near Shigu Town. After lunch keep driving to get to Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the most magnificent valleys in the world with a vertical drop of 3790 meters.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
  • Hotels: Songtsam Shangri-La (Lvgu) Lodge, Shangri-La Resort, Songtsam Linka Shangri-La
Tiger Leaping GorgeTiger Leaping Gorge

The whole morning is for the visit to Pudacuo National Park for its two fresh water highland lakes – Shudu Lake and Bita Lake, the pastures and wetlands are great for photos too. After a late lunch, visit Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in the province, constructed in the year 1681. At night, attend the bonfire party held in the ancient town with the local people in colorful traditional costumes.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Songzanlin MonasterySongzanlin Monastery

Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your next destination.

  • Meals: Breakfast,
Stone ForestStone Forest

Price Includes

  • In-country transportationas noted in the itinerary.
  • Admission fees and activity expenses as noted in the itinerary.
  • Luxury or boutique hotels centrally located.
  • Meals in local restaurants as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water.
  • Your own English-speaking guide service.
  • Your own chauffeur and vehicle service.

Price Excludes

  • International transportation.
  • Chinese tourist visa. (which enquired for most foreign passport holders)
  • Travel and medical insurance.
  • Meals, snacks, alcohol, etc. apart from those included in the itinerary.
  • Excess baggage charges.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Sights, excursions and activities not included in the itinerary.
  • Gratuities to guide and driver.

ANY QUESTIONS?

This tour is tailor-made and we can tailor to meet your reqeusts. Your personal travel consultant will contact you within 24 working hours!

GREAT FAMILY CHINA TOUR

JULY 2024 We wanted to thank Grace at China Culture tour for organizing a great tour of China. We enjoyed our Beijing - Xian-Chengdu -Guilin -Yangshuo - Shanghai trip. Our local guides Bruce in Beijing, Susan in Xian, Jane in Chengdu, Mike in Guilin and Mary in Shanghai took care of us…read more details »

Teng Han L from SINGAPORE

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