Yunnan Ethnic Exploration

Day 1 Arrival in Kunming

Be met at the airport and transferred to hotel check in.

Day 2 Kunming (B, L)

A full day trip to the Stone Forest, and visit a minority village on the way. Then have a stroll around Green Lake.

Amazing Stone Forest

Day 3 Kunming – Dali (B, L)

Pick up at the hotel and transferred to airport. Be met at the airport and transferred to hotel check in. Then visit The Three Pagodas and Dali Ancient Town.

-The Three Pagodas: An ensemble of three independent pagodas arranged on the corners of a equilateral triangle, near the town of Dali, dating from the time of the Nanzhao kingdom and Kingdom of Dali (937-1253). It has been a landmark of Dali City and selected as a national treasure meriting preservation in China.

Day 4 Dali (B, L)

Enjoy boating in Erhai Lake, then visit the fishing village nearby. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Visit the fishing village nearby and enjoy the leisure day in Dali.

Day 5 Dali – Shaxi (B, L, D)

Drive to Shaxi by private car. Check into the hotle and then visit Shaxi ancient town.

-Shaxi ancient town (aka Sideng Street): A well kept Bai Minority village. Situated midway between Dali and Lijiang, Shaxi was one of the important trading centers on the Tea-Horse Caravan Road since several hundred years.

Day 6 Shaxi – Lijiang (B, L)

Transfer to visit Shibao Mountain and Shizhong Temple of Jianchuan. Continue to drive to Lijiang.

Day 7 Lijiang (B, L)

After breakfast, visit Lijiang Old Town and Black Dragon Pool Park. The rest of the day is for your independent exploration.

-Lijiang Old Town: Originally called Dayan, Lijiang is a very well preserved old town built by Naxi people with unique cultural background. It was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997.

Day 8 Lijiang (B, L)

Drive to see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, where you’ll take a cable car to its picturesque Cloud Fir Meadowm (including eco-friendly bus). On the way back to Lijiang, watch Baisha Mural.

-Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: The holy mountain of local Naxi People, the soul of Lijiang.

-Baisha Mural: It was painted in Baisha Town in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an interesting co-existence of Buddhism, Taoism and Lamaism in the artworks.

Day 9 Lijiang -Lugu Lake (B, L, D)

Spend the whole day exploring the beautiful Lugu Lake and the mysterious Mosuo people.

-Lugu Lake: 2690 meters above sea level, Lugu Lake is a gem located at the mountainous area on the border of Sichuan and Yunnan Province. Mosuo people live around it. The lake area is an absolutely an undisturbed from the bustling outside world.

Exploring the beautiful Lugu Lake

Day 10 Lugu Lake (B)

Full day free at leisure.

Day 11 Lugu Lake- Lijiang (B, L)

Drive back to Lijiang by our private car.

Day 12 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge (B, L, D)

Drive to the Tiger Leaping Gorge and enjoy your exciting hiking trip in the gorge.

-Tiger Leaping Gorge: Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the upper reach of the Yangtze River, legend says a tiger could jump across the river at the narrowest point (still 25 meters wide), hence the name. Tiger Leaping Gorge offers a pleasant walk through spectacular scenery.

Enjoy a exciting hiking trip in the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Day 13 Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangrila (B, L, D)

Transfer to Shangrila by private vehicle prior to finishing the hiking trip.

Day 14 Shangrila (B, L, D)

Today’s sighseeing cruise takes you to the Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Shudu Lake and Bita Lake.

Day 15 Shangrila – Kunming (B, L)

After breakfast, pay a visit to a Tibetan family. Then transfer to the airport and fly to Kunming. Be met and transferred to the hotel.

Day 16 Kunming exit (B)

Your own arrangement to the airport, and fly to your next destination.

Trip ends.