9Days Minority Culture Tours Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila

Tour Highlights:                                                                       

  The most classic Yunnan tour package
  Enjoy the stunning highland natural view from Kunming to Shangri-la
  Discover the amazing ethnic cuture and costoms in southwest China
  Escape from the hustling and bustling cities to explore the beauty of nature in Shangri-la
 

Best Travel Time:                                                                      

 Suitable for the whole year, best from March to December

Travel Overview                                                                         

Why Travel with us?                                                          

• Budget Price
• Free Inquiry
• Better Hotels
• Delicious Chinese Style Food
• Comfortable Coach with Air Conditioner
• Experienced Driver
• Skilled Guide with Few Languages
• No Hidden Charges
• No Compulsive Shopping Package

Details Itinerary Day By Day                                                   

Day 1Arrival Kunming

Transfer service to hotel

Meals:NO

Upon arrival in Kunming, your Kunming tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 Kunming

Green Lake, Flowers and Birds Market, Stone Forest

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

[08:30-09:00]Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and visit the Spring City.Enjoy morning leisure tour to Green Lake which is peaceful and a public park for local people. You will see musicians singing and playing and you can also take a paddle boat out and relax on the lake.

[10:00-11:00]After that, go directly to Dounan Flower Market , which is the biggest and most exciting market in Kunming where antiques, jewelry, and other handmade crafts can be found. This is a perfect place for entertainment and observing local lifestyle

[11:30-14:00] Lunch will be arranged as local special food, Yunnan Rice Noodles. And drive to Stone Forest about 2 hours

[14:00-16:00] Visit to the Stone Forest which is known as the First Wonder of the World and typical karst landform. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature stones in various formations. Animals, plants, and even human figures can be found here

[16:00-18:00] Drive back to Kunming city. For evening activity, we highly recommend the Yunnan Impression Show - Dynamic Yunnan as an option

Day 3Kunming - Dali

West Hill & Dragon Gate, Take Bus to Dali

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy half day tour to West Hill & Dragon Gate. Located at the west bank of the Dianchi Lake of Kunming, it is set in mountains well covered by evergreen woods and filled with sweet songs by lovely birds. We will arrange cable car services up & down as well as sightseeing car in the scenic spot. When you get on the mountain, you will have a breathtaking view of the panoramic Dianchi Lake. There are also some interesting places waiting for you to explore on the mountain, especially the Dragon Gate. After lunch, transfer to Dali, check in hotel, about 4.5h on the way.

Western Hill & Dragon Gate

Day 4 Dali

Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake Boat, Zhoucheng Village, Dali Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and get ready for today’s exploration of Dali city.

[09:30-12:30] Enjoy leisure tour to Three Pagodas . The elegant, balanced and stately style is unique in China's ancient Buddhist architectures, which makes it a must-see in the tour of Dali. Hiking to the top is highly recommended where you can get full view of Dali old town and Erhai Lake. The reflection park is also a nice place to capture the classical photo with three Pagodas’ reflection. After that, get on a small boat for Erhai Lake tour. Erhai Lake was formed by the subsidence of geological fault. It is reputed as the pearl on plateau for its beautiful scenery

[12:30-13:30] Lunch time, you can have a try of the Bai Minority food, especially the Boiled Fish with Pickled Cabbage and Chili.

[13:30-16:30] After lunch, Then we will have a visit to Zhoucheng, where you can enjoy the typical Bai architectures and you have chance to learn tie-dyeing. Back to hotel and enjoy your free time at ali Ancient Town . Unlike any other Chinese town, the traditional Bai ethnic folk houses give the town distinctive feeling

[16:30-17:30] Go back to hotel and relax in the room. We would suggest you go to the night bar in the old town and highly recommend Bad Monkey Bar for the House music.

Day 5Dali - Lijiang

Drive to Lijiang, Lijiang Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy your peaceful time in the morning at the ancient town and then check out. You will be transferred to train station to take train (duration: around 2 hours) to Lijiang, where the local guide is waiting for you.  Check in at the hotel in Lijiang old town after lunch and take a rest in the room. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time at Lijiang Ancient town, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site. We will give you a map of Lijiang old town. We would suggest you Sifang Street for the vivid nights and Lion Mountain for the panoramic view of Lijiang old town.

Lijiang Ancient Town

Day 6 Lijiang

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Mural, Black Dragon Pond Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sightseeing: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yufeng Temple, Baisha Mural, Black Dragon Pond Park

[09:00-09:30] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start today’s tour.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take cable car up to the Mountain. We will arrange the visit to Glacier Park at 4506 meters above sea level and get real close to the Snow Mountain. You can choose to hike on the mountain and get to the top at 4680 meters or just stroll around at Glacier Park and appreciate the holy Mountain peacefully.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch time at local restaurant in Baisha village nearby the Snow Mountain.

[13:30-16:30] In the afternoon, visit Yufeng Temple . The whole temple shows a distinctive and conjunct architecture style of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religion. The temple also has three courtyards and the famous great Camellia tree here had been more than 500 years old. Afterwards, pay a visit to Baisha Mural, which is the cradle of the Naxi culture and ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. Go back to Lijiang, on the way, have a short visit to Black Dragon Pond Park where is the perfect place to take photo of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with reflection in the Pond.

[16:30-17:30] Drive back to the hotel and enjoy your free time in Lijiang old town or go to Suhe old town on your own for the evening bonfire party.

Day 7Lijiang - Shangri-La

Drive to Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

[09:30-10:00] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and leave for Shangri-La, the lost horizon

[10:00-13:00] Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge en route. Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the Yangtze River which can be divided in to upper, middle and lower sections, winding 25 km and it is one of the deepest valleys in the world. The narrowest part of the gorge was just 30 m, which is so narrow that a tiger can jump over the gorge, hence the name. We will drop you at upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and you hike down to the viewing deck about half an hour

[13:00-14:30] After lunch, continue driving to Shangri-La

[14:30-16:30] Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel and explore the Dukezong Ancient Town, which is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan city among China 147 Tibetan counties. It is also site of the largest ancient Tibetan community. As one of the oldest towns in the region, it is also known as the 'footstep of Shangri-La'. After the tour, be transferred to the hotel and check-in. In the evening, you can go back to Dukezong Ancient Town, and enjoy the bonfire night at Moonlight square. You can join in the dancing party with local resident or go to the night bar as you wish.

[16:30-17:30] Enjoy your leisure time and have buffet breakfast in hotel. Meet at the hotel lobby

Day 8 Shangri-La

Sumtsaling Monastery, Potatso National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

[09:30-10:00] Our guide will meet you up at the hotel lobby and start to find out the lost horizon, Shangri-La

[10:00-12:00] You will reach the Sumtsaling Monastery, which is the largest Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Yunnan Province. Covering an area of 30 hectares, it looks like a mini Kumbum Monastery. It is located on a mountain slope 5km from the county town of Shangri-La. Today Songzanlin once again houses more than 700 monks and lamas. Take a family visit to local resident home and with help from our guide, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life

[12:00-13:00] Share lunch with the local resident in their home or go to the restaurant nearby for Tibetan food

[13:30-16:30] In-depth visit to today’s highlight: Potatso National Park which is the first national park in mainland China. Bitahai Lake and Shuduhu Lake are two major parts of the park. Besides these two lakes, forest, marsh, valley, alpine meadow and so on can be seen in the park. All major spots are connected by footpath which offers a closer distance for travelers to experience the natural environment. You will walk in the picture and enjoy the peaceful time.

[16:30-17:30] Drive Back Lijiang, Fast Train back Kunming, Check in hotel

Potatso National Park

Day 9 Kunming -Departure 

Transfer service to airport  for departure

Price includes:                                                                  
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food.

♦ Fast train Second Class Lijiang to Kunming.

Price excludes:                                                                 

* Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified to Kunming
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services

Safety Policy:                                                                  

By signing up for a trip you ensure to provide travel history transparency and certify to inform us if you have been to any medium or high-risk area (including abroad) in the past 90 days.

Please make sure to prepare your Green Health QR Code and surgical face masks (especially for the bus drive)

If you have any symptoms such as fever, coughing, or other illness prior to the trip, please inform us right away. 

*We monitor the situation on a daily basis and would inform you in case of any changes. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Cancellation Policy:                                                           

-- 14 days prior to departure: 1000 CNY

-- 14 to 5 days prior to departure: 2000 CNY

-- 4 to 1 days prior to departure: 3000 CNY

-- On departure day: 3000CNY

If it is due to the weather, coronavirus or government restriction, we could cancel this trip up to 2 days in advance. The deposit will be fully refund.

Note: We are not responsible for the cost of flight cancellation, please negotiate with the airline directly.