This 13-day tour of Northern Yunnan invites you to delve into a region rich in cultural and natural diversity. Starting in Kunming, a city with many faces, you will discover the geological wonders of the Stone Forest, the well-preserved traditional villages of Dali, Weishan, and Xizhou, then explore the historical and natural sites around Shaxi, Shangri La, Benzilan, Lijiang, and Shuhe. From hiking, interacting with Tibetan minorities, visiting Buddhist monasteries, participating in artisan workshops, to relaxing by the Erhai Lake shores, this journey provides a sincere immersion into authentic Yunnan. You can tailor your comfort level by choosing between charming or luxury hotels for this bespoke experience. This itinerary combines nature, culture, and tradition for a comprehensive and enriching tour of Northern China.
Choice between superior charming hotels or luxury category
You can choose between 2 categories of hotels for this itinerary, always offering the charm of small characterful hotels in each destination. Some hotels are superior charming category, and optionally we offer luxury charming hotels, notably including an alternative at Weishan: The Dawn Luxury, as well as in Dali: the Taoxi Manor.
Daily program: Classic Northern Yunnan tour
Day 1: Arrival in Kunming ~ 1h transfer. Altitude: 1800m.
Arrival in Kunming during the day. Welcome by your driver, then transfer to Grand Park Hotel 5*, well located in the center of Kunming. Rest of the day free without guide or car. You can easily stroll to the emerald lake, where locals enjoy walking, singing, dancing and playing music in the evening and the weekends. Possibility to extend on foot to Yuantong Temple not far from there. In the evening, watch the beautiful Yunnan minority dance and song show entitled ” Dynamic Yunnan ” (7.30pm-9:10pm / no shows on sundays), dinner at your expense.
Overnight at Grand Park 5*
Day 2: Kunming - Stone Forest - Golden Temple (B) ~ 3h30min drive. Altitude: 1900m.
Meet your English-speaking guide at 8am. Road to Shilin, to discover the site of the Stone Forest. We suggest you a walk of about 2 hours inside the site, between rocky peaks and through sometimes narrow paths, away from the trails walked by the many Chinese tourists. Lunch at your expense. One the way back to Kunming, visit the Golden Temple and its gardens. In the evening, stroll on the flowers and birds market and dinner at your expense in one of the numerous restaurants.
Overnight at Grand Park Hotel
Day 3: Kunming - Weibaoshan - Weishan (B) ~ 2h drive. Altitude: 2500m.
Transfer to Kunming railway station for train C4302, departing at 08:30 and arriving at 11:05 (first-class seats). Meet your new English-speaking driver-guide and set out to explore Weibaoshan Mountain, located at an altitude of 2,500m. Part of one of the 13 sacred Taoist mountains of China, the site is quiet, exudes a certain serenity, and it is good to walk there to discover its small temples where Taoist monks reside. Transfer to your hotel, well located in Weishan. Still preserved from tourism, this city hosts a population quite charming, and smiling, for a very pleasant free walk in its small alleys. Dinner at your expense.
Overnight at Weishan Laoguan
Day 4: Weishan – Weibaoshan – Dali (B) ~ 2h drive. Altitude: 1900m.
After breakfast, drive towards the Dali region with a stop at the Hui (Muslim minority) village of Donglianhua to visit the small museum and the mosque. Continuation to Dali, quick visit of the city center, including its church built in the traditional Bai style. Dinner at your expense in the old city, then transfer to the great temple of the Three Pagodas and its many altars dedicated to the deities of Han Buddhism. Dinner at your expense. Before going up to Cangshan Mountain next to Wuwei Temple (Wuwei : Non action).
Overnight at Wuweishanju.
Day 5: Tea making - Wuwei Temple - Xizhou (PDJ) altitude: 1900m.
After breakfast, head to the tea fields next to the hotel to pick up some leaves that you can dry yourself and bring back with you. You can also drink some tea and discover the processes of making the different teas. Next, visit the Wuwei Temple located right next to the hotel. Afterwards, transfer to Xizhou. Once you have settled into your hotel, set out for a walk, a bike ride, or an electric scooter ride along the shores of Erhai Lake (bicycles are available at the hotel, and electric scooters can be rented for 50 RMB per scooter). Dinner at your expense.
Overnight at Linden Center.
Day 6: Xizhou - Shaxi (B) ~ 2h30 drive. Altitude: 2050m.
Meet at 9h with your driver for the transfer by private vehicle to the great Shaxi Valley, with a stop on the way to a nice Bai mansion, to experiment the making of batik fabrik. Before arriving in Shaxi, discover the Shibaoshan Mountains, a superb set of Buddhist sculptures engraved in the rock and very zen temples. Continuation to Shaxi. Accommodation in the heart of the old town of Shaxi in an old traditional courtyard beautifully refurbished with all the necessary comforts, having once served to house traders using the great route of caravans of tea and horses of which Shaxi was one of the major commercial centers. The hotel has a good restaurant.
Overnight at the Aoding Courtyard.
Day 7: Shaxi – Tiger Leap Gorges - Shangri La (B) ~ 4h drive. Altitude: 3200m.
Meeting at 9h with your driver for transfer by private vehicle to the Naxi region of Lijiang. Stop on the way to the village of Shigu (site of the first curve of the Yangtze) and to the Tiger Leap Gorge. You will make a short walk of about 40 minutes down the gorges and the famous rock of the Tiger jump on which the waters of the Yangtse burst in impressive sheaves. Great views of the gorges from the balcony road. Then drive to the Tibetan plateau and arrive in the afternoon at Shangri La. First walk in the streets of the old town. Meals at your expense.
Overnight at Khimtsang Hotel.
Day 8: Shangri La (B) Altitude : 3200m.
Start around 9am and go for a tour of Shangri La and its region, starting with the beautiful Tibetan monastery of Songzanlin. Walk to the local market, then walk through the Old Town, including Bai Ji Si Temple with beautiful views of the surroundings of Shangri La and Shika Mountains. Note that the central part of the Old Town was ravaged by fire on January 11, 2014, it is already nearly fully rebuilt. Lunch at your expense. In the afternoon, discover the Tibetan countryside in the Ringha Valley. Return to Shangrila at the end of the day. If you would like to, you can attend and participate to spontaneous dances on the evening of the locals in the Old Town Square. Dinner at your expense.
Overnight at Khimtsang Hotel.
Day 9: Benzilan (B) ~ 2h30 drive. Altitude: 2200m.
Meet your guide at 9am and route to the Benzilan area. Stop at the village of Nixi, known for its potters using the black earth of the region which is known for its qualities. New stop at the village of Gonjo, where you can visit a craftsman making traditional lacquered wooden containers. Visit the Tibetan monastery of Dongzhulin, located in line with the Yangtze. It is a popular place for locals, known for hosting several “living Buddhas”. Discover a small local nunnery not very far from there. Return to Shangrila at the end of the day.
Overnight at Khimtsang Hotel.
Day 10: Shangri La - Lijiang - Shuhe (B) ~ 3h drive. Altitude: 2400m.
Meet at 9am with your driver for transfer by private vehicle to Lijiang. Lunch at your expense. Arrive for around noon at Lijiang Old Town, which you can explore on foot throughout the afternoon, including Black Dragon Pond Park. Continuation to the small village of Shuhe, and installation at the amazing hotel the Bivou. Dinner at your expense.
Overnight at the Bivou.
Day 11: Lijiang Valley (PDJ)
This morning, discover the small village of Lunagu, still preserved from mass tourism and retaining its authenticity. Visit a traditional Naxi house to experience the local way of life, then continue with a visit to Zhiyun Temple and a walk along the shores of Lashihai Lake. (Alternatively, you can hike to the “ milk lake ” from Yuhu village, or alternatively a via ferrata followed by a visit to Yuhu village, or a day in a traditional Dongba house in Wenhai (rates on request, consult us). Meals at your expense.
Overnight at the Bivou hotel.
Day 12: Shuhe - Train pour Kunming (B) ~ 40min transfer
Free day in Shuhe, without a guide or driver, rent bicycles or electric scooters (about RMB 50 per scooter) to explore the area at your own pace. Transfer around 5pm to Lijiang Station to take the C88 train to Kunming, departure at 18:41 and arrival at 22:04 in Kunming (first class seats). Transfer to your hotel.
Overnight at Grand Park 5*
Day 13: Departure from Kunming
Free start of the day in Kunming to go for example to the flower and bird market, then transfer to Kunming airport for the flight to your next destination. End of our services, we wish you a pleasant return home, beautiful memories in mind!
Feedback groupe Sofy 13 personnes – Yunnan – Octobre 2026
Sofy et ses amis, 13 personnes –
Hello David,
I share Brigitte’s view of this trip: exceptional, timeless and truly incredible. I had not been back to China since 2018, and this trip let me rediscover it from a different angle.
Pivoine, Lili and Mr Liang, our driver, took wonderful care of us. We really appreciated their professionalism, their attention to detail, their kindness and how quickly they responded to every situation. I want to thank them. They built a warm, friendly bond with the group, and it was hard to say goodbye.
They had surprises in store for us, joyful moments and “wow” moments that kept building.
11 days of happiness.
Thank you for choosing such charming and beautiful hotels for us; their comfort left nothing to be desired. I especially loved the Bivou in Shuhe, with its large vegetable garden in front.
I really enjoyed the programme, the visits and the activities.
Since my first visit to Yunnan in 1996, everything has changed enormously. It’s astonishing. I’m delighted to have discovered another Yunnan 30 years later.
As for meals, free lunches with dinners included was a good combination. Thank you for choosing such a wide variety of dinners. I particularly loved the dinner at the Timeless Inn in Shangri-La and the dinner with a Tibetan family. (But we enjoyed every dinner!)
The cooking class with Fancy was simple, instructive and meditative, all in an enchanting setting. Fancy is a remarkable person and teacher.
I would gladly have stayed a few days at the tea plantation, where we were given a superb welcome.
For me, the only small downside of the trip was Dali’s “Old Street”. It is very long, packed with far too many shops and so noisy that walking there is quite unpleasant. I remembered a different Dali, with simple, quiet little lanes, small shops and inns, all on a human scale.
A big thank you to you, David, for our easy and constructive exchanges, your kindness and your ideas, which contributed greatly to the success of this trip to Yunnan.
It was too short. I would have loved to stay longer, as there is so much to discover in this region of China.
We are already thinking about another trip in 2027 for the All Saints’ school holidays (dates: Sunday 24 October to Friday 6 November 2027), and we are considering Taiwan. I’ve just noticed Taiwan Roads in your signature, so it could well be our next destination.
A thousand thanks, David, and all the best to you.
Kind regards,
Sofy
Feedback from Doug & Janet – Yunnan, 2026, avec leur guide Jeff
Doug & Janet, États-Unis –
Janet and I want to express our gratitude to you and your organization for a truly excellent visit to China this month. We especially appreciate the excellent job done by “Jeff”, our primary guide for the visit. Besides handling all the basic aspects of the trip extremely well, he went out of his way to address our particular interests (e.g. stopping at a marble factory, staying in his home village and meeting people there, and simply talking about a wide range of subjects of interest to us regarding China and how it is evolving).
Retour voyage de Marine dans le Nord Yunnan
Marine –
Hello David,
Our stay in Yunnan was extremely well organised and professional.
Hotels
All the hotels had charm and attentive service.
In Lijiang, the hotel put us right in the heart of the old town, with a family that has run this boutique hotel for several generations. You feel at home.
Arro Kampa in Shangri-La was also very charming, with a magnificent view.
The highlight for us was Sunyata Meili, which is absolutely extraordinary. There’s a special atmosphere as everyone gets up to watch the sunrise over Kawagebo. The meals there are incredible, as are the décor, the service, the location and the kindness of the staff.
The LUX* Tea Horse Road Shangri-La was the only chain hotel on the trip. A very beautiful hotel, but with no personal welcome. The hotel is magnificent but could use a warmer atmosphere. To be fair, we stayed there only a very short time.
Ya Cha Jiao Manor at Tiger Leaping Gorge: incredible. Keeping it for the end was a great idea. An amazing welcome, and you don’t expect villas like these. The food was very good, and the local staff were very welcoming.
Guide: Daniel
Daniel is extremely professional. We talked a lot about China, Japan and Yunnan. He is very well educated and interesting, giving us explanations when we wanted them and also letting us enjoy the scenery. I think he enjoyed the trip with us too. He was always on time and a very good driver, which matters because northern Yunnan sometimes has winding roads with lots of lorries. Very comfortable car. He is really very pleasant and flexible.
Itinerary
It was exactly what I wanted: a mix of old villages, monasteries, landscapes and mountains. Perhaps an activity other than walking could have been included for the teenagers. My daughters loved the calligraphy and the tofu. We could perhaps have done some horse riding, as there are horses everywhere in the villages near Shangri-La.
Yunnan/China Roads met my expectations, and this stay will remain a wonderful family memory.
We’d be delighted to travel with you again to another destination, such as Tibet.
A huge thank you,
Marine
Anne-Sophie and family – Classic Northern Yunnan tour – july 2025
Anne-Sophie –
I traveled to China this summer with my children, and it was a truly wonderful experience.
The itinerary was full and unique, with a great variety and richness of discoveries: we especially fell in love with Weishan, Shaxi, and Erhai Lake. Shangri-La was also very charming, though we enjoyed the hot springs and the city of Kunming a bit less.
The trip was sometimes tiring because of the long drives, but it was well worth it, as each stage brought us rich encounters. We often had spontaneous conversations with locals, who were always warm, welcoming, and curious to share.
A big thank you to our guide Daniel, who accompanied us with great care while sticking closely to the planned itinerary—perhaps a little too closely at times! And thanks as well to the whole team for the excellent organization and support, both before and during the trip.
Anne-Sophie and family
Arlette and Thierry – Beijing, Xi’an, Yunnan and Tibet – October/November 2024
Arlette et Thierry –
Hello Paul,
We are getting back to you to give you an update on our trip to BEIJING, XI’AN, YUNNAN, TIBET last October and November.
I am not sure I can find the right words, powerful enough to tell you how much we were and still are delighted with this trip that you offered us.
The organization was perfect. The guides Lucien and Philippe were outstanding guides!
Their knowledge was rich, their mastery of French perfect as well as their responsiveness, their kindness and their attention to the well-being of each person and to the smooth running of the group were remarkable. They managed the planned activities as best they could, the schedules adapted to the sites to avoid the crowds, the choice of restaurants. They love China and it shows.
Philippe, whom we have known the longest, is an exceptional guide! Always in an even mood, considerate, dynamic, responsive and very attentive, responding to all our requests, all our questions, anticipating our curiosities!
Joka was also charming, very present, very attentive to our requests, full of little attentions to make our stay pleasant.
No negative point is to be reported on this month of rich and unforgettable discoveries. The high quality of the hotels, drivers, transport, transfers (Super Rémi in Chengdu!!), the balance in the activities, visits to markets, museums, the discovery of the most famous sites but also the meal at the locals’, the cultural approach to ethnic differences, the well-balanced alternation between cities and countryside, the exciting shows that you had chosen for us made this trip a wonderful discovery of this so Great and beautiful Country.
We also thank you for offering us Tibet to complete and end our stay in splendor at a very advantageous price for us.
We do not frequent any social network but we give and will give your contact details each time we talk about this splendid trip that you offered us.
If we return to China, it will be by asking you to possibly discover Sichuan or other dazzling regions.
It is therefore by thanking you warmly that I wish you a happy end of the year.
ARLETTE
Charlotte & Arnaud – Voyage Nord Yunnan – Août 2024
Charlotte & Arnaud –
Hello David,
We had a wonderful stay in Yunnan and are very satisfied with Yunnan Roads’ organisation and services.
Having a guide with us throughout the trip meant we could simply relax and rest while discovering the region.
Our guide, Jeff, was perfect throughout the trip: happy to share, attentive and discreet. He adapted some activities and the choice of restaurants to suit our wishes.
Kind regards,
Charlotte and Arnaud
Stéphanie et sa famille – Nord Yunnan – Juillet 2024
Stéphanie et sa famille –
Hello David,
We’re at our last hotel, with a splendid room! We had a wonderful and very varied stay. Jeff is a great guide who adapted the trip to what we wanted. He’s also very friendly and very pleasant. We didn’t have any problems at any of the hotels. We were always warmly welcomed, and the rooms were clean.
We really liked the room in Shangri-La and, of course, tonight’s room near Lijiang. In short, we’re very satisfied. Perhaps two small areas for improvement: in Xizhou, we only did a bike ride near the lake, because we didn’t really have a route to go further into the countryside (which we would certainly have enjoyed). And in Shangri-La, we would have liked more information about Tibetan culture, but that’s really not very important.
Thanks again to the whole team.
Warm regards,
Stéphanie
Katia et sa famille – Nord Yunnan, Mars 2024
Katia et sa famille –
A huge thank you for this trip to Yunnan, which we loved so much!
Jeff is an incredible guide. Everything is easy with him, and he’s very caring and always smiling. His hotel in Wumu is truly incredible.
We loved all your hotels except the one in Shaxi, which has changed owners and isn’t very welcoming.
In Shangri-La, the guesthouse is really great. Rose is lovely and a very good cook.
In short, a great trip. Thank you so much, it was fantastic!
We hope to discover the south one day, or another region of China if you have any to recommend!
Thank you
Sophie et Mathieu – Nord Yunnan – Avril 2023
Sophie et Mathieu –
Hello David,
As agreed, here are a few debrief notes on our recent trip to Yunnan. Overall, we were delighted with the trip and with your services! You were incredibly quick to prepare a proposal for us and very flexible about the content of the trip and the types of hotels. You can tell the team really knows the region well. The result matched our expectations.
In a little more detail:
Those are my notes!
See you soon!
Sophie
Jean-François – Découverte du Nord Yunnan en liberté (9 jours)
Jean-François –
Programme: Kunming – Dali – Weishan – Xizhou – Shaxi – Shangri-La – Lijiang – Shuhe
Hello,
We’re now back in Shanghai after a very good trip. We had an excellent driver-guide. He gave us lots of information and was very proactive. His English was very good. He often tried speaking Chinese with my wife and daughter to help them practise (they’re learning the language), which was very kind. He was also a very good driver.
And finally, a very good choice of hotels.
We want to thank you for the birthday cake you gave our daughter yesterday. That was really very kind.
See you soon for another trip,
Jean-François
François et Jean-Jacques – Nord Yunnan en liberté (10 jours)
François et Jean-Jacques –
Tour completed: Kunming – Dali – Xizhou – Shaxi – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La – Lijiang – Shuhe – Kunming
We’re very glad we chose Yunnan Roads.
The tone was set from the very first exchanges: friendly and responsive, even to the oddest requests. I’ll admit to this one: how to get a stubborn printer to print the Chinese characters needed for the visa…
The programme is detailed and personalised, with the contact details of everyone we would deal with on the ground.
The tour may be a classic one, but it is well paced.
The hotels met our criteria and let us travel through a China where heritage is still respected, away from some overly commercial places.
As for our driver, just 30 years old, he was caring and attentive to our well-being.
Yunnan is a beautiful province to discover for its heritage and landscapes.
But what we’ll remember most is the kindness of its people, their hospitality, their courage, their curiosity and, above all, their determination to preserve their identity and culture while always keeping an interest in the wider world.
François and Jean-Jacques
Famille Dec… – Voyage Nord Yunnan (10 jours)
Famille Dec... –
Family tour of Yunnan: Kunming – Lexiaguo – Shilin – Dali – Xizhou – Lijiang – Shuhe – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La
Hello Antoine,
Sorry for getting back to you so late. We had an excellent stay in Yunnan.
We found the right balance between sightseeing, meeting ethnic minorities and walks through wonderful landscapes.
We also really liked all the hotels.
Thank you as well for being available during our visit to Weishan and Weibaoshan mountain.
We’ll certainly enjoy visiting southern Yunnan next time.
Finally, thanks again for your sound advice about the Dynamic Yunnan show. We nearly cancelled it, which would have been a mistake. It was a truly extraordinary show.
See you soon,
The Dec… family