9 days Yunnan highlights tour

Kunming
⇀ Dali
⇀ Lijiang
⇀ Shangri-la
⇀ Kunming
Experience this Yunnan highlights tour with a walk though picturesque waterways and bridges in Lijiang. Explore nearby local villages to learn about the ethnic culture in Yunnan. Get lost and immerse yourself in the glorious Stone Forest.
Type
Private
Duration
9 days
Theme
Culture and Heritage, Natural scenery, Overland, Winter getaways
Trip code
YE-03
Price
From CN¥ 7,920 per person
CN¥ 7,200
you save CN¥ 720 (10%)

Explore Yunnan, the most southern province of China in depth. Visit several Yunnan highlights including Dali, Lijiang and the fairyland called Shangri-la. Enjoy a leisure time by roaming the poetic alleys and bridges of Lijiang ancient town. Next an overland trip to Shangri-la, where you will see the majestic gorge, breathtaking lakes and snow capped mountains. More awaits in this memorable trip as you will discover the Tibetan and some other ethnic culture in these two places.

Day 01 :
Arrive Kunming

Upon arrival at Kunming airport or railway station, to be met and assisted to your hotel by Kunming local tour guide. Rest of the day is on your own. you can choose to walk around this city or stay in the hotel for retire.

Day 02 :
Kunming City Tour

Spend the whole day to visit the Qiongzhu Temple and the Stone Forest in Lunan. Qiongzhu Temple is located in the western outskirt of Kunming, it is outstanding for its five hundred colorful statues of carats produced in the Qing dynasty. Nowadays these statues have become precious cultural heritage in Buddhism. In the whole afternoon, immerse yourself in the Stone Forest which covers an area of 400 sq. km. (98,842 ac.) in Lunan and is really the marvelous spectacle of nature. Consisting of six scenic spots like Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Qifeng Cave, Zhiyun Cave, Long Lake and Dadieshui Waterfall, the Stone Forest now is praised as one of the four most famous natural scenarios in China. 

In the evening, you may enjoy the grand dance musical ‘Dynamic Yunnan’ which has been an outstanding innovation on the Chinese stage in recent years directed by Yang Liping. Primitive, unsophisticated folk dances and a fresh artistic concept converge in the program, giving audiences a unique 'Yunnan Impression'. 62 drums and 120 masks of strong ethnic characteristics are incorporated in the performance. (Fee is on your own).

Day 03 :
Bullet train to Dali - Dali City Tour

Today you will take an early morning bullet train to Dali. Upon arrival, Your local guide will meet you at the Dali Railway Station and assist you to the hotel. Visit the Erhai Lake Park, the Three Pagoda Temple and the Dali Old Town. The Erhai Lake is a famous plateau lake in Dali with an altitude of 1,972 m. (6,470 ft.). Due to less pollution, the water is very blue and peaceful that it is long been known as Pearl at the Plateau. The Three Pagoda Temple is regarded as the cultural symbol of Dali Ancient town and is a typical architectural style of the Tang Dynasty. In the afternoon you will stroll around Dali Ancient town to feel the atmosphere of the town. Then return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 04 :
Drive to Lijiang - Lijiang Sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, drive about 3 hours to Lijiang, one of the most famous ancient town in China. On the way, visit a local market, the tie-dying in Zhoucheng and the Yan's Compound of Bai Minority in Xizhou. Upon arrival in Lijiang, you will be assisted to check in the local hotel in old town. Afternoon visit the Square Street of the Lijiang Old Town which is in the center of the town. Four streets stretch out in four directions and stores are standing one by one. You will find various kinds of goods or snacks on the street. 

Day 05 :
Lijiang Sightseeing Tour

Spend much of your time today on enjoying the natural scenery and rich local culture in Lijiang. First head to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a 5,596 m. (18,539 ft.) glacier made up of 13 magnificent peaks. Ride a cable car up to a high grassland meadow, where you can witness the 13 peaks lively in distance. As you descend the mountain, Every step will reveal a breath-taking view.
Afterward, head to Baisha Village, an ancient settlement of Naxi culture where you can explore the local architectures. The village is noted for the Mural painted during the Ming Dynasty, blending with the artistic styles of the Naxi, Tibet and Bai minority. Spend some time to visit one local family in the village, learn about their ancient culture that still in practice today. 

In the late afternoon, drive back to Lijiang ancient town to visit the Black Dragon Pools on the northern edge of town. Enjoy an amazing view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in distance and explore traditional stone buildings and bridges here, this park is also one of the best places to take photos in China. Next, drive back to the hotel and prepare for the next day.

Day 06 :
Lijiang Sightseeing - Drive to Shangri-la

Morning drive to Shangri-La (Zhongdian), one of the most beautiful fairylands in China. On the way to Shangri-la, visit the First Bend of the Yangtze River,  the Stone Drum Town and the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is located about 100 km. (62 mi.) northwest of Lijiang between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain and it is the deepest  gorge in the world with an height of 3,790 m. (12.434 ft.). As you arrive in Shangri-la, get settled into the hotel for retire.

Day 07 :
Shangri-la Sightseeing

Start the tour today by visiting the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. Also known as Guihua Monastery, it is the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Yunnan. The monastery is built imitating the layout of the Polata Palace in Lhasa and hence came the alias 'the little Potala Palace'. Afterwards visit the tranquil Shudu lake in Pudacuo National Park. The Shudu Lake is beautiful because the plants around the lake are lush and the wild animals are various.

Then you will pay a visit to one of the local Tibetan families to get close to the local people's lives and try some Tibetan home-made yak butter tea there.

Later afternoon visit Shangri-la Tibetan Ancient Town, climb up to the top of Guishan Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of Shangri-la county. After that, drive back to your hotel and prepare for the next day.

Day 08 :
Flight to Kunming - Kunming City Tour

Say farewell to Shangri-la as you will take the flight to Kunming this morning or noon. Upon arrival, get settled into the downtown hotel. After having lunch, visit the Golden Temple which is a famous Taoism temple. The highlight buildings of this temple are serious of Heavenly Gates, which are highly decorated with painted pillars and carved beams and rafters. Next with a visit to the Green Lake Park, which resembles a beautiful emerald in Kunming. 

At last but not least, head to the Flowers and Birds Market, where you will see lots of small shops for selling birds, flowers, and knick-knacks. Walk around here in search of some good bargains.

Day 09 :
Departure from Kunming

Today your guide and drive will pick you up from the hotel and drive to the airport or train station for departure. If you wish to continue your travels, we are experts in tailor made trips and ready to assist you in extending your stay in China.

Period
2 Persons
3 Persons
4-6 Persons
Nov. to Mar.
Regular price
Sale price
CN¥ 10,670
CN¥ 9,700
CN¥ 8,965
CN¥ 8,150
CN¥ 7,920
CN¥ 7,200
Apr. to Oct.
Regular price
Sale price
CN¥ 11,055
CN¥ 10,050
CN¥ 9,625
CN¥ 8,750
CN¥ 8,470
CN¥ 7,700

Tour notes:

Please note prices are based in CNY.

General inclusions:

2 bottles of mineral water provided daily.
All required government taxes and fees.
Your selection of 3, 4 or 5 Stars hotel (shared twin room, private bathroom and daily breakfast)
All entrance tickets as noted in the tour's itinerary.
Guide fluent in English, Chinese or Japanese that is certified by the state tourism build and from the local community. (If your native language is not listed please let us know, we are certain we can assist your needs.)
Airport and/or train station pick-up and drop-off.
All domestic flight and train tickets. Economy-class for flights and soft sleeper / seat for train tickets.
Transportation will we be provided via a comfortable and clean car, minivan or tourist bus depending upon the groups size.

General exclusions:

Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, internet access, fax, telephone calls etc.
Tips for your guide and driver.
Flight and/or railway ticket(s) to the first city of the tour and departure from the last city of the tour.
Meals not specified in the itinerary.

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Comments

Jennifer
Jennifer
Thu, 01/16/2020

Hi: We wish to do a group tour from Kunming to Shangi la, Lake Lugu, Dali, Lijiang for 9 days. WE DO NOT NEED A TOUR IN KUNMING, but we want to start from there.
We would like to leave Kunming on Saturday November 14th and return to Kunming on November 22nd.
We want to visit ethnic tribes & culture, scenic places, Tibetan villages & towns, etc.
Please give me prices for 3- 4 star hotels and the itinerary you suggest

Replied by
Hi, I'm Zoe,your trip advisor
Zoe Yu
Thu, 01/16/2020

In reply to by Jennifer (not verified)

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you for your inquiry. This is Zoe from Windhorse Tour responding to your email.

I have already sent you the email with a detailed itinerary and quotation based on your inquire. Please feel free to contact me if you need any other information for the tour, just want you to know that we can customize the tour based on your tour interests and requirement.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

With warm regards,

Zoe

Julia Ehlers
Julia Ehlers
Tue, 11/12/2019

I need a quotation for a 10 day trip to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La

Replied by
Hi, I'm Zoe,your trip advisor
Zoe Yu
Fri, 11/22/2019

In reply to by Julia Ehlers (not verified)

Dear Julia,

Thank you for your inquiry. This is Zoe from Windhorse Tour responding to your email.

I have already sent you the email with detailed itinerary and quotation based on your inquiry, please kindly go through it and feel free to let me know any question you may have.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Zoe

AMNON
AMNON
Wed, 08/21/2019

hi i like to sing up for trip for me one man if you have a group will be good to,here what i get from the web what i need , -- 9 to 12 Days Rice Terrace -China Photography Tour | Yunnan Rice Terrace & The Red Land, !!!! Available: 2020 thank you .
Accommodation at a 4 star hotel in Kunming, the best hotel in Red Land, and a 4 star hotel in Yuanyang.
arrive at Kunming (KMG) International Airport in China
On day two, we'll rise early and begin our journey towards Yuanyang County, where we'll be based for the next 4 days.

This area is famous for its gorgeous UNESCO Honghe Hani rice terraces, which we'll take our time to capture in different lighting and conditions as the days progress. Here, colourful rice paddies cascade from the slopes of the mountains towards the farming villages and forests at their base. Apart from the Honghe Hani terrace, there are many other rice terraces in the surrounding region and we'll take our time to get to know them all.

Aside from nature, there will be amazing opportunities to photograph the culture and local way of life of the Hani people as they tend to the rice terraces within the spectacular mountainous landscape. Their ancient settlement is located at an elevation of around 1570 metres, on a ridge above the clouds in the breathtaking Ailao mountain range.

Our itinerary over the next few days will be flexible in order to make the most of the prevailing weather and conditions. Please note that our time in Yuanyang may be extended or even shortened to accommodate for this. Our guides will stay informed about the conditions throughout this workshop and will communicate with you so that you will be well-aware of the plan throughout this photography and travel experience.
On day 6, we will continue our journey onwards to Jianshui County – an important historical centre of Yunnan which has been at the heart of Confucian studies for many decades. Along the way, we will photograph the 1200 year old Jianshui Ancient Town, with its peaceful Confucian temple and unique folk houses.

For the next 2 days, we will be based in this area to capture the magical sights of the Red Land. The views over the picturesque Dongchuan district are mindboggling, seeming like paintings within nature itself. Sprawling for as far as the eye can see, the area resembles an artist's palette with earthy iron-rich red soil, breathtaking golden barley terraces and charming white flower gardens undulating in unison. The result is striking and it is sure to keep you occupied with its incredible scenery, which offers up a myriad of enchanting compositions. We'll spend our days exploring the Red Land beneath the wonderful light of sunrises and sunsets. Our photographic opportunities here will be endless and among the more memorable will be the chance to photograph local villagers and farmers going about their everyday lives.
This will be our final day of shooting. We will rise early for our last sunrise shoot in the Red Land, before packing our belongings and making our way back to Kunming Airport, arriving by around 4:30pm in the afternoon.

All in-tour ground transportation and driver.

Meals, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Airport transfers in China.

Two professional photo guides.

Entrance tickets to attractions and model fee.

Replied by
personal picture
Anita Fan
Wed, 08/21/2019

In reply to by AMNON (not verified)

Hi Amnon,

Thanks for your inquiry. This is Anita from WindhorseTour.

We can definitely make your photography tour to Yuanyang and Dongchuan happen. However, we regret we don't offer group tours in Yunnan, so it can only be a private tour for yourself.

If you don't mind, could you kindly advise when/which month you prefer to travel to Yunnan? So I can work out a quotation details for you to review.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,

Anita

Chong
Chong
Mon, 10/16/2017

Please quote us 4-6 pax in mid march 2018 tour

Replied by
Victoria Zhu
Victoria Zhu
Mon, 10/16/2017

In reply to by Chong (not verified)

Dear Chong,

Nice to hear from you and thank you for your inquiry. This is Victoria, one of the trip advisor of WindhorseTour, responding to you. I am very glad to assist you on your Yunnan tour planning.
Based on your information, I have drafted out a detailed proposal with quotation and sent it to you by email. Please go through the details and kindly share me your comments. With your replies, we can offer you some further assistance.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Victoria

Rosmeili
Rosmeili
Sun, 02/28/2016

Please let me know the price for 10 - 20 pax on JULY 14, 2016

Replied by
Tagong grassland by July Yuki
Yuki Yi
Mon, 02/29/2016

In reply to by Rosmeili (not verified)

Hi Rosemili,

Thanks for your comments. I have sent you the quotation based on your requirements, please go through the details and kinly let me know for any further question on it!

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,
Yuki