Enchanting Yunnan: Unveiling Southwest China's Treasures

8 days
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Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
Cancellation Policy
Private Guided
From notable limestone "forest" formations to one of the world's deepest canyons, from ancient towns to snowy mountains, from colorful minority cultures to delicious food. The most magnificent scenery and cultures of Yunnan are waiting to be explored. In this 8-day classic Yunnan tour, we will help you go beyond the popular sights to see what few people see...
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$1,870
From$1,520
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Lose the crowds in less-visited dark karst landscapes of the Stone Forest
    • Take a cable car to the snow-capped zone of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
    • Hop in a horse-drawn carriage going through quaint Xizhou Village to gorgeous Erhai Lake
    • Check out the power of water below the towering mountains in nerve-tingling Tiger Leaping Gorge
    • Learn to make a Naxi pancake in a local restaurant
    • Visit a shaman, a local wise man of Baisha Village, and learn some mysterious Dongba characters
    • Visit a lamas' dormitory in Songzanlin Lamasery, and talk with a lama seeking enlightenment from Tibetan Buddhism

What's this trip about?

    From notable limestone "forest" formations to one of the world's deepest canyons, from ancient towns to snowy mountains, from colorful minority cultures to delicious food. The most magnificent scenery and cultures of Yunnan are waiting to be explored. In this 8-day classic Yunnan tour, we will help you go beyond the popular sights to see what few people see and to get a real encounter with the local culture and people.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityKunming
End CityShangri-La

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Photography

Destinations

  • Asia
  • China

Attractions

  • Dali
  • Kunming
  • Lijiang
  • Shangri-La

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Guided Group

Trip includes

    • Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
    • English-speaking local guide
    • Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
    • 24/7 helpline while you are traveling

Itinerary

Travel Map
DAY 1: Kunming Arrival

After your flight lands at the airport, your tour guide will wait for you with a welcoming smile at the arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel by a private car and driver. The rest of the day is for you to acclimatize and explore the city, or relax and recoup ready for the tour tomorrow.

Hotel options: Kunming New Era Hotel (4-star) Green Lake Hotel (5-star)

DAY 2: Stone Forest and Yuantong Temple Tour

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

After a 1½-hour drive, visit a fantastic natural phenomenon located 90 kilometers southeast of Kunming - the Stone Forest. The various shapes of limestone were formed due to millions of years of movement of the Earth. The S...

DAY 3: Bullet Train to Dali and Dali Ancient Town Tour

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Take a 2-hour bullet train ride to Dali in the morning. Upon arrival, your Dali guide will be waiting to start a colorful day with you. First, visit the houses of the Bai minority people> in Xizhou Village. You will see ...

DAY 4: Dali to Lijiang Transfer and Lijiang Ancient Town Tour

Your personal guide and driver will transfer you directly from Dali to Lijiang. Enjoy lunch and start the tour in Lijiang. Lijiang Ancient Town is the best-preserved minority ancient city. Most of the people living there belong to the Naxi minority, some of whom still...

DAY 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Murals Tour

Welcome to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the holy mountain of the Naxi people. Use the cable car and find yourself in a real paradise as you overlook stunning and variant natural beauty, including spruces, meadows, pines, and clouds.

On your way back to Lijian...

DAY 6: Tiger Leaping Gorge Tour and Lijiang to Shangri-La Transfer

Your guide and driver will escort you from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Along the way, visit one of the world's deepest and most marvelous gorges - Tiger Leaping Gorge. The dashing water from the magnificent Jinsha River flows into the narrow valley with a stone in the cent...

DAY 7: Songzanlin Lamasery and Pudacuo National Park Tour

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty and holy religious atmosphere of the unspoiled Shangri-La. Visit the largest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Yunnan Province - Songzanlin Lamasery - which was built in the style of Potala Palace in Lhasa and represents ...

DAY 8: Shangri-La Departure

As your journey concludes, your tour guide, driver, and car will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport. They will assist you with your luggage and check-in, and accompany you until the security checkpoint to wave goodbye.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,520
Price per day$190
Last Updated: 4/9/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with China Highlights.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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China Highlights Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
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Other China Highlights Reviews

A

Alex

Jul 2023

Provided byChina Highlights

Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!

I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days tr...

Z

Zee

Jul 2023

Provided byChina Highlights

We would highly recommend your services to anyone looking to travel and explore China.

Hi Whitney, Let me start by letting you know what a pleasure it was to meet with you and have dinner together. Thank you for taking time of your busy schedule to mee...

S

Sim

Jul 2023

Provided byChina Highlights

Highly recommend China Highlights to people who intend to travel to China need a English speaking guide.

Had a personal tour designed for me and my wife to Shanghai. Ryan was an awesome guide who explained about interesting things we can't see with our own eyes. Highly ...

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Tour Operator

China Highlights

Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
View Profile

China Highlights is the online travel service platform operated by the team of professional travel consultants at CITS Guilin. Started in early 1998, it was one of the earliest "China Travel" web sites. The brand name "China Highlights" has come to mean a reliable company. We have provided thousands of customers their unforgettable "China Experience".

With this dream, China Highlights was established in 1998: one man, one computer. With years of development, we now have English, Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Russian language teams. Each year 100+ colleagues in Guilin's head office help 10,000+ visitors discover China.

We provide Private Tour packages to all parts of China, and specialize in customizing and tailor-making tours for individuals, families and groups to specific requirements at great value for money. Hotels and restaurants are carefully selected to provide comfort and the best local food. Our English speaking guides are knowledgeable and experienced. We take you to the best attractions and sights in comfortable cars with safe drivers.

"Discovery Your Way!" means China Highlights specialize in 'discovery', that is finding out new and exciting things about China, and "customizing:, which means tailoring a tour to "your way". It has been our slogan since 2006 and it sums up key areas of our service: providing a genuine China experience with unbeatable flexibility.

Why Choose Us

Our company has been operating as a full service travel agency in China since 1959, and we've been online for over a decade. That’s a long time in Internet terms. Here are several reasons why more than 10,000 clients per year put their faith in us, as their China tour provider.

Freedom and flexibility:

"Discovery your way" is our motto and it is something that we are passionate about. We express this passion by giving our clients the tools to discover China in the way that best suits them.

--Small private groups: See China in the luxury in your own private vehicle with your own guide and driver.

--Tailor-made and customized tours: We specialize in tailor-made and customized travel.

Unique and Authentic China Experience:

We put together an itinerary based on your needs ensuring that you see the real China, eat authentic local food, and feel like you have been a participant not just an observer.

--Authentic food and dining experiences

--Great China destinations

--We try to use local guides that belong to a local ethnic group in areas like Tibet and the Silk Road.

Quality, Integrity and Honesty:

In our business, attention to detail is the key to quality. Every tour that we book is meticulously planned to try to ensure that it runs seamlessly.

--Relaxed and fair cancellation policy

--Real value for money

--No hidden costs

--Full disclosure of information including detailed flight information on the itinerary

--Fairness and equity to customers, staff and suppliers.

Money Back Guarantee:

We believe in ourselves, so that’s why we offer our unique money back Value and Service Guarantee. We keep our promises. Just ask our past customers. If something does go wrong, we fix it.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International travel expenses to enter or leave Asia.
    • Visa Fees
    • Excess Baggage Charges.
    • Personal Expenses
    • Meals: Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.
    • Insurance
    • Single Room Supplement
    • Gratuities, Tips to Guides or Drivers
Cancellation policy

Cancellation Refunds

We would deeply regret your decision to cancel your trip to China, however, we realize that there are many valid reasons that this can happen.

In the event of a cancellation, you enjoy a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure. The cancellation fee will be calculated as follows except as specified by your travel advisor:

  • Cancellation received prior to 22 days before departure: 100 % refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 15 to 21 days before departure: 70% refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 8 to 14 days before departure: 50% refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 0 to 7 days before departure: no refund.
  • No-show travelers will be charged 100% of the payment.
  • After the trip has commenced, no refund for unused services due to your unwillingness/inability to participate, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.

Special Notes:

The terms for cancellation for tours of more than 10 people may vary from case to case. Please ask your travel advisor regarding the cancellation policy for a group of over 10 people.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

Breakfast & Lunch 

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
chinah-chinah-EnYuUnSoChTr

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