Arrival in Kunming

Kunming Changshui International Airport - Upon arrival at Kunming airport, guests will be greeted by their guide and transferred to their hotel. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is renowned as one of China’s historical and cultural cities. Situated in central Yunnan at an elevation of 1,894 meters above sea level, it is affectionately known as the “City of Eternal Spring.”

Explore Stone Forest & Green Lake Park, Train to Dali

Stone Forest - Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel. The tour begins at 8:00 am with a drive along the new expressway to Stone Forest. Located 75 kilometers from Kunming, it is a 70-minute bus ride away. The Stone Forest is a classic example of Karst geomorphology, featuring countless uniquely shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks formed by wind and water erosion over 200 million years ago. This area is celebrated as the “First Wonder Under Heaven.”

Green Lake (Cui Hu) - Return to Kunming to visit Green Lake Park in the afternoon. As the largest park in Kunming’s city center, visitors can observe locals enjoying their leisure time. Weather permitting, guests can learn Chinese calligraphy using water and oversized brushes on the ground in Green Lake Park (2:00-4:00 pm). In case of rain, the itinerary will adjust to include a visit to the Yunnan Army Military School (Jiangwutang).

Dali - At 4:00 pm, guests will be driven to Kunming Train Station to catch a late afternoon high-speed/bullet train to Dali. Upon arrival, they will be met by a local guide and driver and transferred to their hotel.

Full Day Sightseeing in Dali

Cangshan Mountain - The tour starts at 8:30 am with a cable car ride up Cangshan Mountain, followed by a two-hour trek on Yudai Road. Guests will then enjoy a vegetarian lunch at Jizhaoan Monastery, known for its beautiful gardens and vegetarian cuisine.

Zhoucheng Village - Next, guests will transfer to Zhoucheng Village to learn the art of making the famous local tie-dye cloth. The tour continues with a visit to the old town of Dali, where weathered gray granite stands at 2,100 meters on a narrow rice plain between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake. This natural setting seems perfectly designed for a prosperous life. The old town’s layout resembles a chessboard with four gates guarding the east, south, west, and north, a design commonly used in ancient Chinese towns.

Xizhou Morning Market & Lijiang Old Town (180 km, 2-3 hrs)

Xizhou Town - The tour begins at 8:30 am with a 180-kilometer, 2.5-hour drive along the new highway to Lijiang. Along the way, guests will visit the Bai village of Xizhou and the Xizhou Morning Market. A horse-cart ride in Xizhou Old Town (half an hour for photos) is included. Located 23 kilometers north of Dali, Xizhou Village has a diverse population and cosmopolitan background. It thrived during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) alongside the fortunes of Dali’s renowned tea merchants trading with Tibet. Family Yan’s courtyard is a prime example of traditional Bai houses. Each morning, villagers in Bai attire gather at a small market to buy and sell produce and daily goods. Guests will enjoy the Bai People’s three teas accompanied by songs and dances.

Old Town of Lijiang - China - After lunch, the journey continues to Lijiang. Upon arrival, guests will check into their hotel and then visit the Old Town of Lijiang, including Zhongyi Local Market and Black Dragon Pond with Dongba Museum. Lijiang, a small mountain town of stone and tile with swift canals, is predominantly inhabited by the Naxi people. It was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1999.

Lijiang Baisha Village & Cooking Class in Naxi Family

Lijiang Mural in Baisha Village - The tour starts at 8:30 am with a visit to the outskirts of Lijiang. Guests will explore Baisha Village and its frescoes, learn embroidery at a local institution, and visit a local Naxi family to learn cooking skills and enjoy a homemade lunch.

Hiking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Drive to Shangri-La (200 km/4-5 hrs)

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) - After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, guests will drive to Zhongdian, also known as Shangri-La, with a stop to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge. A two-hour hike from Halfway Guesthouse to Tina’s Guesthouse is included. The gorge is flanked by towering cliffs, and legend has it that a hunted tiger leaped across the river in a single bound. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and Haba Snow Mountains converge here, with a large torrent cutting deeper into the gorge. In some areas, there is a 3,000-meter drop to the water. Guests will switch to a local van to reach Halfway Guesthouse and begin their two-hour hike to Tina’s. Afterward, they will meet their driver and continue to Shangri-La, with a brief stop at Xiaohzongdian for photos and to enjoy the high-altitude grassland scenery. Arrival in Zhongdian is expected in the late afternoon, followed by hotel check-in.

Visit Local Tibetan Family, Thangka Painting & Hand-Paint Mani Stone

Songzanlin Scenic Area - After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, guests will visit Ganden Songzanlin Monastery in the morning. As the largest monastery in Zhongdian, it is built on a hill resembling the Potala Palace in Lhasa, housing over 500 lamas. The tour continues with a visit to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum to experience Thangka painting. Guests will also visit a Tibetan family, where they will see traditional wooden houses with large sitting rooms and Buddhist halls, and sample homemade buttered tea and yak cheese.

Napa Hai Nature Reserve - After lunch, guests will visit Napa Lake, Napa Wetlands, or Lake Napa Nature Reserve, located in a high mountain plateau valley at about 3,270 meters above sea level. Lake Napa is a Ramsar site under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The area is primarily marshy wetland that dries from late fall through winter but becomes an expansive wetland attracting numerous bird species, such as the bar-headed goose, common mallard, Himalayan griffon, egret, and white-tailed eagle, from spring through summer.

Dukezong Ancient Town - The tour concludes with a drive back to Du Ke Zong Romantic Village, where guests will learn to hand-paint Mani Stone. In addition to the “six-character truth” and Tibetan scriptures “卍” symbols, Mani stone carvings feature various Buddha statues, dragons, frogs, fish, birds, lions, elephants, pagodas, flowers, and other patterns. While decoration is important, Mani stone carvings also incorporate elements of worldly life into the sculpture. Today, Mani stone is no longer solely a religious symbol but has become a life-oriented art form. People use Mani stone for decoration in their homes.

Departure from Shangri-La

Shangri-La County - Guests will be transferred to the airport for their journey home, with best wishes for a pleasant trip back.

• Private transportation
• Entrance fees included
• Complimentary bottled water and paper napkins
• Professional English-speaking guide
• Included meals: daily breakfast, one lunch with a local Tibetan family, one lunch with a local Naxi family
• Allowances for guide and driver
• 7 nights in a 4-star hotel, double occupancy
• Train travel in 2nd class from Kunming to Dali

• Lunch and dinner not listed in the itinerary
• Personal expenses and tips to the guide and driver
• Some activities such as boating, camel riding, culture show etc.
• Flight arrive in Kunming and leave from Shangri-La

Discover the mysterious Karst landform in Stone Forest, Visit the landmark temple and monastery: Jizhaoan Monastery and Songzanlin Monastery. With our 8-day tour, You will enjoy the magnificent sceneries of Shangri-la and Kunming and experience the lives of different minorities in the ancient towns of Dali and Lijiang.

• Learn to make Tie-dye in Zhoucheng
• Make Naxi Food in a local Naxi Family
• Thangka Painting, Hand-paint Mani Stone etc.
• Taste the famous vegetarian food of Jizhao Monastery

• Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.