Yunnan to Laos

This exciting journey from Yunnan in China to the north of Laos will take you across a region few people get to.

Begin in the eternal spring city of Kunming and tour the city before taking the short flight to Jinghong, in China's semi-tropical South West.

Spend two days exploring this area including pagodas, minority villages and Wild Elephant Valley.

Visit the largest botanical garden in China before reaching the border with Laos.

Once into Laos we have included a kayaking excursion on the Nam Tha River and a half-day trek around Luang Namtha.

This will give you a great taste for the wild and beautiful mountains of northern Laos.

Take a private longtail boat for a cruise down one of the most scenically beautiful stretches of river in Laos along the Nam Ou.

Near Nong Khiaw, visit a cave used as a war shelter during the 'Secret War', to shelter people from bombs dropped in the region.

Enjoy 3 nights in Luang Parabang at the culmination of this journey to enjoy this charming culturally rich town.

As with all of our Laos and 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

Visit 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's easy to escape the hordes of visitors.

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

Enjoy a picnic lunch amongst the stone forest.

On the way back to the hotel, visit Yuantong Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in Kunming and known for its stunning location.

Overnight Kunming. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 4: Kunming - Jinghong

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna, one of the most significant rice granaries of Yunnan.

On arrival in Jinghong you'll be met and transferred to Sanchahe Nature Reserve for a visit to Wild Elephant Valley, where a small hotel has been built on top of trees, providing the perfect vantage point for observing wild elephants who usually come out at night.

A 2 km-long cable way in the park enables guests to enjoy rainforest views from the air. With a bit of luck it’s possible to spot wild oxen, green peacocks and monkeys from here.

Afterwards, admire the Mange Buddhist Temple, which was built in the 15th century and is a perfect example of Dai architecture.

Wrap the evening up with a Dai barbecue dinner on Menghai Street in Jinghong.

Overnight Jinghong. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Day 5: Jinghong

Start the day with a visit to colourful Dongfeng Market where different ethnic groups come daily to sell their goods.

Afterwards, head to the neighbouring village of Xiaojie and meet with the Lahu and Bulang ethnic groups.

Then head to Damenglong for a visit to two pagodas: Manfeilong Pagoda, located in the middle of the jungle, and Black Pagoda, located at the top of the hill overlooking Damenglong.

After taking in the stunning views here, head back to Jinghong

Overnight Jinghong. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 6: Jinghong - Mengla

After breakfast in the morning, leave Jinghong for Mengla, the last stop in China.

On the way, stop in Jinuo, named after the Jinuo minority, one of China's rarest minority tribes.

The next stop is Menglun for a visit to Tropical Botanical Garden, the largest tropical botanical garden in China, boasting more than 3,000 species of tropical plants.

Arrive in Mengla in the late afternoon and spend the rest of the day exploring the sprawling grounds of this garden.

Overnight Mengla. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 7: Mengla - Luang Namtha

Head to Mohan to cross the border to Laos!

After clearing border formalities receive the visa on arrival for Laos (2 passport photos and up to $40 in cash are required).

Be met by the Lao guide and transfer by road to the town of Luang Namtha, taking approximately 1 hour.

Arrive in Luang Namtha and check in to the accommodation on the banks of the Nam Tha River.

A short orientation tour will introduce the peaceful town before dinner at the hotel.

Overnight Luang Namtha. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 8: Luang Namtha

After breakfast drive off into the beautiful countryside of northern Laos for some time on the water.

The day begins with a basic paddling brief and familiarisation of safety before entering the river in single or double kayaks.

The Nam Tha River meanders through changing forest types, inhabited by animals such as tiger and barking deer and a great variety of birds.

The border of the Nam Ha Protected Area is reached in the Lanten village of Ban Sope Dute.

A few sets of exciting but safe rapids lead up to a lunch break on banana leaves near the riverside.

This river is suitable for kayaking year-round, with rapids being gentle during the dry season (Nov – May) and more challenging in the wet season (Jun – Oct).

After a typical Lao picnic, there is time for relaxation and a refreshing swim.

The next paddling stretch leads to the Khmu village of Ban Sop Sim Noy.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

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

You will have your own private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide on this journey.

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 and Laos.

For this trip, Thai Airways would be our normal preferred airline as they fly to Kunming and Luang Prabang.

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

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.

On this particular journey, accommodation options are fairly restricted outside of Kunming, Jinghong and Luang Prabang.

Xishuangbanna & Jinghong

Located near the border with Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, Xishuangbanna is the most tropical region in China.

With its forests, lush jungle, fields of sugarcane, and dense bamboo groves, this is one of China’s most biologically rich areas.

The region is inhabited by unique ethnic minorities including the Dai, Hani, Lahu and Yao Blang which, together, comprise two-thirds of the local population.

Xishuangbanna also has a long and rich history of tea production, dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) including Pu’Er tea, one of the most famous in China.

Hilltribe People

You will encounter a number of different hilltribe minorities on this journey.

From Jinghong you'll visit Lahu and Bulang villages.

The Lahu number around 500,000 people. Men usually wear a black turban while women wear different clothes to show which branch of Lahu family they belong to (Black Lahu, Yellow Lahu or White Lahu).