Authentic Yunnan Discovery

• Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime
• None

Upon your arrival at Kunming Airport, our professional English-speaking guide and private driver will warmly welcome you at the arrivals hall. They will assist with your luggage and provide a comfortable transfer directly to your hotel

Good to Know

• This tour does not include international flights. However, we would be more than happy to assist you in booking flights if you contact us.

• Cachet Boutique Kunming Artime
• Breakfast, Lunch

Start the day with a visit to the Stone Forest. This 350-million-year-old karst wonderland features towering stone pillars, some of which are up to 40 meters tall and are shaped like animals or trees. Follow the scenic path to spot iconic formations such as the 'Ashima Stone', which is a symbol of a local folk legend. Afterward, enjoy a Yunnan-style lunch and try the steamed chicken and wild mushroom hotpot, both of which use fresh local ingredients.

In the afternoon, head to Yuantong Temple, Kunming's oldest Buddhist temple, built during the Tang dynasty, features a tranquil fish pond, ancient ginkgo trees, and a grand main hall housing golden Buddha statues.

Finish your day at Cuihu Park, also known as 'Kunming's Green Lung'. In winter, it is a haven for migrating red-billed gulls. Walk along the lakeshore or rent a paddle boat to enjoy the peaceful scenery.

• Dali Landscape Hotel
• Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, take a high-speed train to Dali (about 2 hours). Upon arrival in Dali, your guide and driver will take you to drive along the east bank of Erhai Lake (3 hours). You will drive along the east bank of Erhai Lake, offering views of Cangshan Mountain and the lake itself from a different perspective. Along the way, you can stop at Shuanglang Village, Wase Village, the Little Puto Temple, and Wenbi Village to enjoy the scenery.

You can stop anywhere you would like to take a picture, as long as it is safe. Erhai Lake is quite big. The road around the lake is about 140 km (84 miles) long, and the whole tour takes about 3–4 hours.

In the afternoon, explore Dali Ancient City: A walled town with 1,200 years of history, lined with cobblestone streets, Bai-style tile-roofed shops (selling tie-dye fabrics and silver jewelry), and small cafes. Don’t miss “South Gate” (the city’s iconic entrance) for photos.

• Sedona Sanhe Hall
• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, head to Xizhou Ancient Town, a quieter alternative to Dali Ancient City. It is known for its well-preserved courtyard houses belonging to the Bai ethnic group, which feature carved wooden windows and stone gates. Here, you can visit the impressive Zhang Family Garden, a grand Bai-style mansion that showcases local architecture.

Then, transfer to Dali Railway Station, take a high-speed train to Lijiang. In the afternoon, take a wander around Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting winding lanes, small streams running alongside every street, and ancient wooden buildings.

• Sedona Sanhe Hall
• Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, head to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The sublime Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a highlight of any Yunnan tour. Our local tour guide will take you to this wonderful site by cable car up and down, and you will definitely make a day of it.

Enjoy Lijiang-style lunch, trying bold-flavored Naxi braised pork and sour bamboo shoot fish soup.

Afternoon, Visit quiet Naxi Village—see Naxi women weave traditional hemp cloth, chat with villagers over roasted barley tea to learn about their life and Dongba culture. Return to Duolana. Sanhe Inn in the evening.

• Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La
• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive to Shangri-La from Lijiang, the trip takes about 3.5 hours. Stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest gorges, which was carved by the Yangtze River. Hike the 'Middle Gorge Trail' (an easy 1.5-hour hike) to see the river rushing through narrow rocks — the 'Tiger Leaping Stone' is the highlight — and hear the roar of the water.

Upon arrival in Shangri-La, check into the Hotel, and your guide will accompany you to explore the Shangri-La Ancient Town, with its wide streets lined with Tibetan-style shops selling Tibetan carpets and prayer beads. In the central square, locals often perform the lively group dance known as the “Guozhuang” (a lively group dance) in the evening.

• Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La
• Breakfast

Start with Songzanlin Monastery, known as the Little Potala Palace of the South, Yunnan’s largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Explore the main hall (silk-draped Buddha statues) and red-brick lanes (monks chanting); its hilltop offers Shangri-La grassland views.

Stroll Pudacuo National Park (4 hours), it covers a total area of nearly 2,000 square kilometers. This park has an average altitude of 3,500 meters and retains a well-preserved ecosystem within the virgin forests.

The must-see scenery in this park includes Lake Bita and Lake Shudu. "Bita" means "a place with a dense oak forest" in the Tibetan language, and "Bitahai" means a quiet lake. The Bitahai Lake is surrounded by mountains covered with ancient pines, oak, and rhododendrons, and appears like an emerald in the heart of the mountains.

Shudu Lake is located in the northeast of Shangri-la, and it is one of the largest freshwater lakes on the Diqing plateau. The lake is surrounded by a forest of fir, spruce, and silver birch, and is home to lots of wild animals such as bears, golden cats, deer, and pheasants.

Then enjoy a 30-minute visit to a local Tibetan family—you’ll be welcomed with Tibetan tea and snacks, getting a close look at their daily life.

• Breakfast

Your driver will meet you in the hotel lobby at your appointed time and take you to Shangri-La Airport.