Hello David,
As promised, here’s my feedback on my trip to Yunnan in December.
A magical trip, with exceptional weather and so few tourists that I felt alone in the world, and the best of every season: cherry blossoms in Lijiang, snow in Shangri-La, maples in the Shilin Stone Forest and summer temperatures in the rice terraces. I was lucky to have Lili with me in southern Yunnan and Jeff for the rest of my stay.
All the hotels were well chosen, with a special mention for the view over the rice terraces in Yuanyang, the charm of Linden Commons and the kindness of the hosts at the Timeless Inn in Shangri-La.
In the end, I walked a lot during my stay, which was a big plus. I found the whole trip very well balanced between hiking, culture, nature visits and days on my own. If I had to change just one thing, I’d have liked to spend a little more time in Shaxi (we arrived just before sunset), as I really enjoyed the atmosphere there.
I loved the hikes through the water-filled rice terraces, and I was lucky to have exceptional weather to admire them (thanks to Lili for her sunset photo spots).
As a vegetarian, I ate very well during my stay, especially thanks to Jeff, who introduced me to dishes and ordered food to suit my tastes!
A big thank you to you, David, for your responsiveness, your advice and your flawless organisation.
I’ll travel with Asian Roads again without hesitation!