Take off towards China ! Diner and overnight on board.

Breakfast in the plane and arrival in China, transit flight to Kunming. Arrival at Kunming International Airport.

Welcoming by your driver (with a board at your name) in the arrival hall after going through the immigration office and taking back your luggage, then drive to the charming Lost Garden Guest House, well located in the very heart of Kunming City.

Rest of the day free to explore at your own pace. Easy stroll towards the Emerald Lake where local people like to wander around, sing, dance or play music, alone or together with their lover, friends or family; the park is full of life from dusk to dawn and especially on the weekends; sceneries of happy and quiet lives will give you a very good first impression of Yunnan, its people and their culture.

Welcome to Yunnan ! Not far away from there you can go further and walk to Yuantong Temple (6 rmb/person), two steps from which you will be able to withdraw money from an ICBC or Bank of China ATM, if you haven’t done so yet. Then you can go towards the dynamic commercial center with its old districts nesting the old birds and flower market. It will not be further than 1 or 2 km from your hotel.

Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight in Kunming.

Optional suggestion : Transfer around 19.00 with your local driver to assist to a very beautiful show of Yunnan minorities songs and dances called ” Dynamic Yunnan ” (20.00-21.40). Back to the hotel afterwards.  Extra Charge : 250 RMB per person (32 EUR) on a 2 travelers basis / 200 RMB per person (25 EUR) on a 4 or 6 travelers basis.

Quiet breakfast and meeting with your english-speaking driver and guide at 09.00 am.

You will take the road to the picturesque village of Tuanshan (entrance : 35 RMB per person), kept out of time and of which most buildings date back from the Qing Dynasty.

Check in at the charming Jielu Inn, in the heart of the old city.

End of the day free to stroll into the small streets.

Dinner at your expense and overnight in Tuanshan.

Breakfast at your guest house and road to Jianshui, one of the most remarkable cities in Southern Yunnan, located around 15km from Tuanshan.

Stop at the Double Dragon bridge. In Jianshui,  you will explore the local Confucius Temple (entrance : 40 rmb/ person), which is the second largest in China after the Qufu Temple, the master’s native city. The temple consists in a big park with a pond, many courtyards, magnificient gantries, temples and pavillions. Stroll through Jianshui Old Town. Don’t miss the Zhu Family’s garden (entrance : 50 RMB/person), and the Chaoyang Arch, hosting a small birds market.

Then you will have some free time before your way back to Tuanshan this evening.

Dinner at your expense and overnight in Tuanshan.

Breakfast, some free time, and follow the road towards Yuanyang region.

On the road you will get to a checkpoint where you will need to settle the entrance fee for the region (70rmb/person).

Check in at the superb Twelve Manor Hotel where you will have great views on the terrace fields from your room. Terraces have been set up with sunbeds on the hotel’s rooftop so you can enjoy a moment of contemplation and serenity, especially at sunset !

Rest of the day free.

Dinner at your expense and overnight in Yuanyang.

Enjoy your breakfast watching the rice fields, those are often flanked by the morning mist, a mystical and relaxing atmosphere.

Today’s market will take place in Niujiaozhai (the market place might however change according to the day). Short drive to the market. You will be able to meet with Yi and Hani minority people still wearing their traditional outfit. First overview of different viewpoints over the amazing terrace rice fields, such as the Bada Viewpoint. 2 to 3h walk through beautiful terrace rice fields, going through some picturesque villages.

Back to the hotel at the end of the day.

Dinner at your expense and overnight at Twelve Manor.

Breakfast, then discovery of Shengcun Market (The village can however change according to the day of the lunar calendar). This will be an occasion to meet with local farmers from all around. Don’t be surprised if local people eating together amongst friends invite you spontaneously for a cup of rice wine !

Free time this afternoon, feel free to walk through the surrounding villages and rice fields. Or you can also ask your guide to drive you to Duoyishu or Laohuzui village to get to a different viewpoint over the rice fields.

Dinner at your expense and overnight at Twelve Manor.

This morning, discovery of Yuanyang Xinjie’s Market (The village can however change according to the day of the lunar calendar).

Then you will take the road to Mile’s railway station to take the high speed train to Dali. Say goodbye to your English Speaking driver.

Arrival in Dali, welcoming by your Chinese speaking driver and transfer towards Dali Old Town to take some free time. Possible dinner on site (at your expense), in one of the numerous restaurants offering the local specialty : the barbecue on a marble stone ! Then road to Xizhou Bai village. Late check in at the very comfortable Linden Commons charming hotel, built in a beautiful traditional Bai courtyard.

Overnight in Xizhou.

Free day in Xizhou. You can explore the morning market and the village on foot, then on bike or on foot the surroundings of the village accross the rice fields (bikes available at your hotel).

The hotel has a very decent restaurant however we would also advise you to get tempted by some simple restaurants on the village’s main square which will be the ideal spot to observe the local evening life.

Families get together on the square, kids are playing, the elderly drink some tea and chat together. The small street are not lit after the night as fallen, don’t forget to bring the flashlight that you will find in your room, or use the one on your mobile phone !

Overnight in Linden Commons.

Meeting with your new English-speaking driver and guide at 09.00 am before hitting the road towards Shaxi. On the way, stop at Bai Minority’s big village Zhoucheng, notably known for their craftsmen producing the Batik clothes.

Check in at your guest house, in the heart of Shaxi Old Town. Discover the village. Stride through the picturesque small streets of this old city, which used to be an important waypoint on the Tea and Horses Road.

Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at the charming Aoding Courtyard 3* guest house.

We recommend your guest house’s restaurant.

Breakfast before going to Shibaoshan’s majestic site (entrance : 45 RMB + shuttle : 40 RMB), a nice set of buddhist sculptures engraved in the rocks and very zen temples.

You will go down the mountain on foot, this will take you about 90 minutes, with sumptuous clear views amidst the pine trees and with an invigorating and pure air.

End of the day free to enjoy at your pace the quiet atmosphere of Shaxi village. Lots of small cafes or bars with a terrace will be available close to the main square. Relax and immerse yourself in the local life.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight in Aoding Courtyard 3*.

Breakfast then road towards Shangrila Tibetan Region. At your arrival, check in at Red Hill Lodge, at Nathan’s, the american owner who will welcome you warmly with his family from Minnesota. Possible stroll in the sourroundings, on Nathan’s recommendation.

Dinner at your expense and overnight at the Lodge, far from everything in the heart of Ringha Green Valley, about 12km from the city.

One day of visiting Shangrila and its surroundings, to begin with the impressive Songzanlin tibetan monastery (Entrance : 75 RMB per person).

Stroll around the lake in front of the monastery, then head towards the market with local products such as yak cheese and many freshly harvested mushrooms.

Stroll through the old town, including up to Baijisi temple, with nice views over Shangrila’s surrounding and the Shika Mountain. You will also see the small Da Gui Shang temple, in front of a giant tibetan prayer wheel dominating the city. In the afternoon, discover the tibetan countryside.

You will have the opportunity to visit a tibetan family, discover the place where they live, try some yak butter tea, tsampa and of course the famous yak butter cheese, all of which are local specialties and the basis of daily food.

Go and explore the nice Ringha Temple. This Temple is considered as one of the 5 most important tibetan temples in Yunnan. The places are peaceful and not so busy, a perfect time for meditation.

Back to the lodge for dinner (at your own expense) and overnight at Red Hill Lodge.

Optional suggestion : 3 days / 3 nights hike in the Shangrila Region. Extra fee 2795 RMB per person on a 2 travelers basis (358 EUR) / 1930 RMB per person on a 4 travelers basis (247 EUR) / 1715 RMB per person on a 6 travelers basis (219 EUR).

• Day 1 : Shangri La – Niru (B / L / D) ~ 6h walk. Drop +400m / -400m.

Breakfast then 3 to 4 hours drive this morning to get to the beautiful Niru Tibetan Village (2700m). Hike this afternoon to the Qicai Waterfall and back. Dinner in Niru and overnight in a local tibetan guest house. 

• Day 2 : Niru – Nanbao (B / L / D) ~ 7h walk. Drop +1400m / -200m.

From the Niru village, walk towards the Selie grasslands and lakes, or even up to the Nanbao grasslands and lake a little further (both of them are around 4000m). Camping in a nice natural environment and dinner close to the fire in a peasant hut.

• Day 3 : Nanbao – Shangri La (B / L) ~ 7h walk. Drop +200m / -1400m.

Back to Niru by another trail, through a big day hiking. Then road to Shangrila where you will get in the evening to check in at the Red Hill Lodge. Dinner at your own expense and overnight in Shangrila, at Nathan’s at the Red Hill Lodge.

Today, early start towards the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the old road that used to link Shangrila and Lijiang together. The road is picturesque and now less used by most travelers who prefer the comfort and the speed of the new express road. The road is narrow and sinuous, and will provide you with beautiful view points at every turn.

You will make a first stop to discover Potatso National Park (entrance : 180 RMB per person). The park is reputed for its water that are particularly clear with majestuous hills in the background and the forests hosting a rare fauna and a flora. You will make another stop in Baishuitai (entrance : 30 RMB per person) to admire the beautiful limestone pools with turquoise water that contrast with the intense green of the surrounding reliefs. A stunning universe that wwe don’t expect to find here, another hidden treasure of Yunnan…

Arrival to the not to be missed Tiger Leaping Gorge (entrance : 45 rmb / person), amongst the deepest in the world, at the bottom of which flows the majestic Yangtse River, particularly powerful and noisy at this very spot, strangled between Haba Mountain (summit at 5400m) and the Jade Dragon Mountain (Summit at 5600m).

Check in at Sean’s Guest House. Enjoy the light of dusk with the sun going down progressively over the heights that are sometimes submerged into the clouds. A whole atmosphere to relish on the guest house terrace with a hot tea or a fresh beer !

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at Sean’s Guest house.

Take your breakfast on the terrace with a breathtaking view over the high summit all around you. Then for the most courageous, many hiking options are available for today, 2 to 3 hours way below in the gorge to get to the river’s shore, or 4 to 5 hours on the heights of the gorge with breathtaking views. You can also do both or walk the full day on the heights nearly on the whole length of the gorge. The way up is quite rough, you can count with a dozen hours walking in total.

Then for the non athletes, you can also lay down and enjoy this exceptional natural environment. You can also drive in the gorge to enjoy the beautiful landscapes. Easy walk from the Tea Horse Guest house to the Halfway Guest House (1 hour, flat ground), where you can relax on the panoramic terrace.

This day is flexible and can be arranged according to your wishes and capacities. You can define the program together with your guide !

Dinner at your own expense at Sean’s Guest House where the only noise will be the rumbling waters from the river.

Today after breakfast you will cross the Yangtse River on a bark up to Daju Village. Road towards Wumu Region. You will go through narrow small roads with beautiful landscapes ! The most ancient center of Wumu village is built on a rock, now well hidden between the houses. The road was built in 2014 and with Suming and Mingwei villages in the same valley, there are still nine active dongba shamans.

Visit the village and the fields all around, meet the locals and understand their rythm of life. From any corner of the village, you will have beautiful views on the mountains and the Yangtse River.

Accomodation at Huahuasei Lodge, the only Inn in the valley, opened in 2013 by a Naxi/Belgian couple. Family welcome and excellent meals!

Overnight in Wumu.

A delicious breakfast one the lodge’s terrace above the Yangtse Valley, then start a very impressive hike that will lead you to Baoshan, the “Stone village”.

Trust your local guide, go on the slopes and go down the mountain to get to the shores of Yangtse River where a boat will wait for you and take you to a 40 minutes sailing. It will be then time to go the way up to the Baoshan village to enjoy a very delicious lunch (the way up is quite steep, but you can take your time and enjoy the landscapes!). Baoshan is built on a big rock. In some houses you will see tools, furniture or even a full kitchen dug into the rocks.

Back to the lodge by car (about 1 hour 15 minutes drive).

End of the day at the lodge to enjoy a well deserved rest !

Overnight in Wumu.

Early road to Lijiang. Passage through the Yulong National Park (entrance : 100 RMB per person). Arrival at mid day. Discover Lijiang Old Town by foot (entrance : 50 RMB per person) and venture up to the very beautiful Black Dragon Pond (access 50 RMB per person) with the mountains on the background reflecting into the clear waters.

Then if you feel like to and if you have enough time, you can visit the Dongba Museum and immerse yourself in the Dongba Naxi culture, with about 2500 exhibits and relics, directly coming from that ethnic minority (free entrance if you have already settled 50RMB to access Lijiang old town).

Transfer and check in at the Bivou 4* hotel, which is located in Shuhe, a quiet old village away from the sometimes over-frequented streets of Lijiang, without being too far from there though (6km). Say goodbye to your English Speaking driver.

Dinner at your expense and overnight in Shuhe. 

Today, the day will be entirely free. You can go on a bicycle, on an electric scooter or with a taxi to discover the surrounding Naxi villages like Baisha and Yuhu from where you will have a beautiful view over the snowed summits from the Jade Dragon mountain. Yuhu is also the village chosen by the explorer Joseph Rock to settle down, you can visit his house (entrance : 25 RMB / person).

Rest of the day free in Shuhe. We suggest you keep some free time to stroll in the heart of Shuhe old village. Don’t be afraid to get away from the center and go discover the hillside small streets with their vegetable gardens and the shady park (just behind the hotel) where the small rivers mingle with ponds, the water is particularly clear there.

Dinner at your expense and overnight in the Bivou in Shuhe. 

Quiet breakfast and last few moments in Shuhe until the time of your transfer towards the airport for your flight back.

Transit in China and board on long flight back to your place.

Diner and overnight on board. 

Note : Your room will have to be freed before noon. Your luggage can be kept at the hotel.

Breakfast in the plane and arrival in your country.

End of our services. Our team wishes you an enjoyable way back home !