Yunnan is one of the most requested regions we run, and one our local team knows in detail. Each trip is built around what you need: fully guided, hotels and transport only, or individual day trips.
From Kunming’s Stone Forest and Lijiang’s UNESCO old town to Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La’s Tibetan monasteries, and the trek into Yubeng Village at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain, our tours cover Yunnan’s full range.
Most travelers spend 7 to 10 days exploring Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Browse the sample itineraries below or get in touch and we’ll put together an itinerary for you. The most popular months are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is clear and comfortable.
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This is the route most travelers choose for a first trip to Yunnan, combining Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La with a good balance of scenery, ancient towns, and ethnic culture. The 8-day highlights tour is the most popular starting point, and most itineraries in this section run 7 to 12 days.
Explore Yunnan’s most iconic destinations on this 7-day private tour. From Kunming’s Stone Forest to Dali’s ancient towns and Lijiang’s Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with a stop at the lesser-known Shaxi on the Tea Horse Road.
Explore Yunnan on this 8-day tour from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. Visit the Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Village, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Sumtseling Monastery while experiencing rich local cultures.
Discover Yunnan’s highlights on this 10-day tour with Meili Snow Mountain, exploring Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. Enjoy ancient towns, minority culture, lakes, gorges and sunrise and glacier views at Meili.
Explore Jianshui Ancient Town and the UNESCO Yuanyang Rice Terraces on this 7-day Yunnan tour. Visit Confucian landmarks, Hani villages, and top sunrise and sunset viewpoints. Ideal for photography lovers and travelers seeking Yunnan’s most scenic landscapes.
If you want to go beyond the highlights, these are the tours to consider — hike Tiger Leaping Gorge, trek to Yubeng Village, or photograph the Yuanyang rice terraces in winter and Dongchuan Red Land in spring or autumn. Most run 8 to 12 days and cover the Yunnan most visitors never reach.
Experience one of China’s best treks on this 8-day Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking tour. Tackle the high trail, climb the 28 Bends, stay in local guesthouses, and enjoy nonstop views of the gorge, snow peaks, and the Jinsha River before reaching Shangri-La.
Join this 9 Day Yunnan Yubeng Village Hiking Tour to explore one of China’s most stunning hidden valleys beneath sacred Meili Snow Mountain. Trek through alpine forests, waterfalls, and meadows to Glacier Lake and the Sacred Waterfall for an unforgettable Yunnan trekking experience.
Explore the Yunnan highlands on this 12 day cultural tour from Lijiang to Lugu Lake, Shangri-La, Meili Snow Mountain, Cizhong, and Tacheng. Experience Mosuo, Naxi, and Tibetan culture amid lakes, monasteries, glaciers, and mountain villages.
Explore North Yunnan on this 9-day tour through Kunming, Dongchuan Red Land, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Capture Red Land’s vibrant terraces, explore ancient towns, and experience Tibetan culture and highland scenery.
Planning a longer trip? These itineraries connect Yunnan with the rest of China or continue overland into Tibet. The Lijiang to Lhasa route along the ancient Tea Horse Road is one of the most scenic overland routes in western China, but allow at least 10 days for any Yunnan to Tibet combination.
This Yunnan Tibet tour to Kathmandu is for travelers who want to see southwest China, Tibet and Everest in one trip, finishing overland in Nepal. It starts in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, which sit lower than Tibet and help you adjust before flying to Lhasa. From there, the Friendship Highway leads past Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse and Shigatse to Everest Base Camp and down to the Nepal border.
Travel across China in 21 days from Beijing and Xi’an to Chengdu, Yunnan, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, and Shanghai. This private journey highlights China’s top cities, historic towns, mountain scenery, and diverse cultures with well planned pacing and expert local guides.
Experience an excellent picturesque trip traveling from Chengdu to the real Shangri-la and ending in Lijiang. A tour that passes through the wonderful virgin forest and snow-capped mountains of Daocheng and Yading. So much more awaits.
Follow the Ancient Tea Road to Tibet Lhasa from Yunnan Lijiang and discover the beautiful landscapes by driving through deep gorges, alpine forests, vast grasslands steppe.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most comfortable weather and clear skies across most of Yunnan. Winter is the best time for Yuanyang rice terraces if photography is your focus.
A 7-day private tour starts from USD 1,100 per person for a group of 2. The 8-day highlights tour (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La) starts from USD 1,400 per person. Longer tour like 10 days starts from range from USD 1,700 per person. Prices include your guide, private vehicle, accommodation (4 star hotels), internal train tickets, and entrance tickets. International flights and most meals are not included.
7 to 8 days covers the core circuit: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Add 2 days if you want Meili Snow Mountain or Yuanyang. Most of our clients underestimate the road distances — Lijiang to Shangri-La takes 3 to 4 hours, and Deqin (Meili) adds another 3 hours on mountain roads. We build that time into every itinerary.
Our Yunnan tours are mostly private — your group only, on your dates. We also offer limited small group departures not listed on this page. Get in touch and we’ll share available dates and itineraries.
Lijiang sits at 2,400m and Shangri-La at 3,200m — both high enough to cause mild symptoms like headache or fatigue on the first day. We recommend starting in Kunming (1,900m) and working your way up rather than flying directly to Shangri-La. Most travelers adjust well within 24 hours.
Welcome to Yunnan: China’s “South of the Clouds” Located in the far southwest of China, Yunnan borders Tibet, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, as well as neighboring countries like Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Known as the “Kingdom of Diversity,” it’s one of China’s most scenic and culturally rich provinces. From the stunning Yuanyang Rice Terraces and the vivid hues of Dongchuan Red Land to alpine lakes, limestone formations, snow-covered peaks like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Xishuangbanna’s tropical rainforest, Yunnan offers year-round beauty. Hiking trails like Tiger Leaping Gorge and Yubeng village at foot of Mount Meili promise unforgettable outdoor adventures….
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If you are thinking of traveling to China this year, and you don’t know where to start with your tour, or what to visit, we are here for you. We have the top Yunnan itineraries for you that you can choose from 5, 6 or 7, 8 and 9 days. We also can help you if you are looking for 10+ days to stay in Yunnan. Table of ContentsHow many days are enough in Yunnan?How Long to Stay in Each major Yunnan DestinationCore Destinations in Yunnan for First-Time VisitorsOther Travel Destinations in Yunnan5 Days Yunnan Itinerary6 Days Yunnan Itinerary7 Days…
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Planning a trip to Yunnan? These essential Yunnan travel maps will help you understand the region’s geography, visualize routes, and organize your journey across this culturally and geographically diverse province. From Yunnan’s location map to maps of major cities, attractions, transport routes, and sample itineraries, this guide gives you a clear visual overview of the region and helps you better understand how different destinations connect, so you can plan your Yunnan journey with more confidence and ease. Table of ContentsYunnan Location MapMap of Major Tourist Cities in YunnanYunnan Major Tourist Destinations MapYunnan Travel Maps by City and Top AttractionsYunnan Transportation…
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Looking for a travel destination to escape from the winter cold? Yunnan should definitely be on your list if you plan to tour China. After entering the winter, most northern areas and the east coast of China have encountered their cold weather, in some northeast regions, the temperature will drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius, together with heavy snow. However, Yunnan at this time is a completely different scene: blue sky and white clouds, sunny weather, lush mountains, clear and crystal lake, and the booming flowers. Apart from the spring-like climate all year round, there are several good reasons for…
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Yunnan is one of our most requested destinations, and one our local team knows in detail. We know the routes, the road conditions, and the experiences worth the extra effort.
From your first inquiry to the last day of your trip, one dedicated advisor handles everything — your itinerary, bookings, and any changes along the way.
Our guides are experienced, licensed locals with genuine knowledge of the routes, the cultures, and the places. Real insight from people who work the region year-round.
No surprise charges. Clear pricing from the start, with full transparency on what is included and what is not.
Start planning your China/Tibet holiday with 1-to-1 help from our travel advisors. Travel with joy!
