Yunnan Journey

Yunnan is one of China's most spectacular regions, with unique local cultures, Buddhist Monasteries and magnificent mountain scenery.

This comprehensive journey through Yunnan is best undertaken between April and October and uncovers one of China's most fascinating and intriguing destinations.

Begin in the eternal spring city of Kunming and tour the city before heading to arguably the most beautiful rice terraces in China at Yuanyang.

See local minority groups and enjoy a half-day walk through the rice terraces.

Experience something of Imperial China at Jianshui before visiting a quiet part of the spectacular stone forest close to Kunming.

Head to Dali town, famous for it's 3 Pagodas, and explore some local Bai homes before heading along the Tea Horse Road to Shaxi town.

Spend 2 nights in Lijiang and discover the local Naxi culture and spectacular views of Jade Dragon Mountain.

In Lijiang enjoy a morning visit to the Yak Meadow of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with a cable car trip included before discovering Naxi culture in Naxi minority village.

Take a short walk in Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way to Shangri-la, where ruddy-faced Tibetans stand out from the Han Chinese, as does their architecture.

Visit Gedan Songzanlin, the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan and enjoy the spectacular scenery at Napa Lake.

Ascend further, cross the Mekong River and admire the mountain range separating Tibet from China.

This Yunnan tour finishes in Shangri-la from where you will fly back to the UK or on to your next destination.

As with all of our China holidays, this one is entirely amendable to suit your interests, time and budget. So just let us know your preferences.

Day 1: Fly UK - Kunming

Overnight flight from the UK to Kunming in Yunnan.

Day 2: Kunming

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in, with the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight Kunming. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Kunming

Begin the day with a short walk through Green Lake Park, where local people enjoy tai chi, qigong or Mahjong.

Visit Yuantong Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in Kunming and is known for its unique location.

Visit the pine and cypress-surrounded Golden Temple, dedicated to Taoism, and providing a unique glimpse into another fundamental pillar of traditional Chinese belief.

Visit the Yunnan Provincial museum, an essential stop for anyone wishing to truly understand the multi-ethnic nature of this region.

Overnight Kunming. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Kunming - Yuanyang

Set off in the morning for the rice terraces at Yuanyang, with lunch en-route.

The Yuanyang rice terraces are a major highlight and are, without a doubt, the most beautiful in China.

Cascading down the mountainside through bamboo canals, the water transforms the mountain face into a truly wonderful sight.

Stop at the hotel and head to Laohuzui, literally “The Tiger’s Mouth”, to enjoy the sunset.

Here rice terraces continue as far as the eye can see, and the panorama is breath-taking.

Overnight Yuanyang. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 5: Yuanyang

Make a very early start to admire the sunrise at Duoyishu before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

Visit a local market in a Hani Minority Village. The Hani, otherwise known as the Akha in Southeast Asia, number around 1.5 million and are mainly to be found in Yunnan and are well known for their  art of rice terrace sculpting and drainage systems.

The busy market is to be savoured for its traditional hustle and bustle and its bright and vivid colors.

Continue with a 4-5 hour walk through the rice terraces, starting at Duoyishu and finishing at Bada in time for a stunning sunset over the terraces.

Overnight Yuanyang. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 6: Jianshui

Begin with a visit to Jianshui's Confucius Temple, which, despite its remoteness from the heart of 'Classical China', is still considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

The surrounding Chinese parks are usually filled with the elderly chatting and playing Mahjong.

Visit 2 19th century residences; The Zhang Family Estate and The Zhu Family Estate.

The Zhu Estate is located at the heart of the old town and is one of the most stunning examples of traditional housing in the entire country.

The Zhang Estate is located at Tuanshan, around 15km from Jianshui. This seemingly timeless village is an interweaving lattice of avenues that hide the stunning former residences of merchants, who made their money in the salt trade.

Before returning to Jianshui, visit the Twin Dragon Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in all of China.

Overnight Jianshui. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 7: Kunming

Visit to the county of Lunan, to discover one of the major attractions of the region: Shilin or The Stone Forest.

Due to its proximity to Kunming, Shilin can become a bit of a tourist trap. However, only a small part of the 26,000 hectare site is crowded and it is easy to escape the hordes of package holidaymakers.

Head to the quieter and less frequented Black Stone Forest, which is roughly 10km away from the main site but just as impressive.

Overnight Kunming. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 8: Dali

Home to the Bai minority, Dali was once the epicenter of the Dali Kingdom (937-1253).

The region (more specifically, Erhai Lake) is famous for its discovery of bronze artifacts dating back to 1000 BC. The Bai are  distinguishable by their clothing, predominantly white, and by their homes, which are very particular to this region.

Visit the Three Pagodas at the Chongsheng temple, a mystical emblem of the town, standing proud at the foot of the Changshan Mountains.

The three pagodas were once part of a vast monastic centre and the site is particularly impressive when the sun sets behind the mountains and illuminates the ochre color of the pagodas.

After the pagoda visit, head back to the old town of Dali and explore some typical Bai homes.

A relaxed and warm atmosphere seems to ooze from these white walled homes, which are often decorated by paintings representing mountains, running water, birds and flowers.

Overnight Dali. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 9: Shaxi

Start the day with a drive along the shores of Erhai lake, getting acquainted the daily life of the Bai fishermen.

The pace of life for most local people hasn’t changed much in decades and the local culture here is quite different than that found in Dali.

Pay a visit to a local market that’s held every day in various villages around the lake.

Continue on to Shaxi. once a major stop on the Tea-Horse Road that ran through the region, forming a major part of its heritage and history.

While less well known than the Silk Road, it still remains a key trade route between the most remote areas of Xishuangbanna (in the far south of Yunnan), Tibet and, by extension, Nepal, Laos, Burma and India.

Nowadays Shaxi is a subtle blend of an oasis, a kind of western cowboy town, a backpackers’ haunt and a typical Chinese village that is unlike anything else in China.

Ancient stables have been perfectly renovated and transformed into charming hotels, whilst traditional wooden homes have been changed into restaurants and cafés.

Overnight Shaxi. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 10: Shaxi

Enjoy a free morning in Shaxi exploring the old town’s maze of avenues or discovering the surrounding countryside known for its ochre earth.

If the itinerary falls on a Friday, there will be a chance to visit a weekly market held by the local Bai and Yi peoples.

They often come down from remote corners of neighboring mountains to exchange all types of food products and day-to-day necessities.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

All of our China tours are private tailor made itineraries, customised for you - we can amend things to entirely suit you.

You will have your own private car, driver and English-speaking guide on excursions.

What are the departure dates?

Let us know your preferred dates of travel and we will find the best and most suitable flights to fit your itinerary.

As this is a private tour, there are no set departure dates. We can advise you on the best times of your to travel, and some times to avoid.

Which Airlines do you use?

We work with all the major airlines flying to China.

Typically for China, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and Air China would be airlines we often use.

However, just let us know your preferred airline if you have one. We can organise flights from any regional destination in the UK.

There are direct flights from the UK to a few destinations in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and of course Hong Kong.

Which Hotels do you use?

We're careful with our choice of hotels, but we're guided by our customers also. If you have some preferred hotels, just let us know.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller hotels where we think these will be suitable.

China is a destination where large hotels predominate. These are geared for business and group travellers as the Chinese usually travel in groups. We try to suggest smaller more personal hotels where we can.