Find below the details of our program “South East Yunnan tour”
Daily program: South East Yunnan tour
Day 1 : Your place - China
Take off towards China !
Diner and overnight on board.
Day 2 : Arrival in Kunming ~ 50mn drive. Altitude : 1800m
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 your hotel, 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.
Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight in Kunming.
Day 3 : Kunming – Lexiaguo's Red Soil (B) ~ 4h drive. Altitude : 2400m .
Breakfast and meeting with your English Speaking driver at your hotel at 8.30 am.
Road to Dongchuan, then towards Lexiaguo “Red Soil” Region, close to the Sichuan Province border.
This afternoon, you will discover the region’s terrace fields landscapes, particularly Huashitou and Lexiaguo village (5 to 10 rmb to access the fields).
Check in at your hotel.
Diner at your own expense and overnight at New Red Soil Hotel 4*.
Day 4 : Lexiaguo Red Soil - Shilin (Stone Forest) (B) ~ 4h30 drive
Breakfast before going on with your discovery of the surroundings, which are of the best effect for the photographers eyes! All year long, the hills offer a unique and colourful show, although you have to be lucky enough to get the best lighting conditions. You will see another nice viewpoint close to Damakan village.
Then, road to Shilin which is located about 1 hour drive from Kunming. This site is known for its Stone Forest, funny karstic shapings all over a surface about 500Km².
Check in at Yinruilin International Hotel 5*.
Dinner at your expense and overnight in Shilin.
Day 5 : Shilin – Puzhehei (B) ~ 3h drive.
Early breakfast and way to the Stone Forest (155 rmb / person). Take your time to stroll amongst the site’s small paths, those are quieter than the main roads and the park’s entry where Chinese tourist groups stay most of the time. Your guide will guide you on the walk.
Around the middle of the day, road to Puzhehei region .
Arrival in Puzhehei late afternoon (entry fee : 180 rmb/person) and check in in the charming hotel U House Lake View Boutique Inn 4*.
Rest of the day free. Stroll in the heart of the village, along the river and its lotus (blooming majestically especially from June to September).
Dinner at your expense and overnight in Puzhehei.
Day 6 : Puzhehei - Mengzi (B) ~ 2h drive. Altitude 1400m.
Breakfast before discovering Puzhehei’s magnificient site, simply also called “the small Guilin” in reference to Guilin’s very famous karstic reliefs. The countryside is very bucolic. Roam in the village and its small streets, surrounded by breadths of lotus plants, a must do is the ride on a small boat to see the local caves. You will also have the possibility to climb up a hill with a panoramic view over the reliefs, the villages and the surrounding countryside.
Just for the story, Puzhehei has become very famous and in a way a symbol of romantism after a tv show was shot there and now followed by every chinese families !
Road to Mengzi after the visit. If time allows in the late afternoon (or otherwise the following morning), discover Bisehai old French colonial railway station on the way to the Hanoi – Kunming railroad.
Check in at Guanfang Hotel 4*, diner at your expense and overnight in Mengzi.
Day 7 : Mengzi - Jinping (B) ~ 5h drive. Altitude 1000m.
Breakfast and discovery of a nice district close to the Nanhu lake. Discover a few French and Italian colonial buidings.
After lunch we will take the road to the Jinping Region.
Check In downtown at the Kai Jing Hotel 2*.
Dinner at your expense and overnight in Jinping.
Day 8 : Jinping – Mengla (B) ~ 1h30 drive.
The hotel doesn’t serve breakfast, this will be the opportunity to go in a local restaurant with your guide and try the local style breakfast !
Today, take part in Jinping’s great market, held in the city streets, close to your hotel. Numerous minorities from all around come to this market.
Lunch at your expense and road to Mengla where you will check in at the Yaxitai Hotel, equivalent 3*. Visits in small Dai villages where you can enjoy very local style hotsprings !
Dinner at your own expense.
Overnight in Mengla.
Day 9 : Mengla (B)
This morning after breakfast, drive towards Napa market. Meeting with more ethnic minorities, still wearing traditional costumes in a picturesque atmosphere! After lunch (at your expense), you will discover more villages in the area where minorities.
Back to the hotel late afternoon.
Diner at your expense and overnight in Mengla, at the Yaxitai Hotel.
Day 10 : Mengla – Yuanyang (B) ~ 6h drive. Altitude : 1800m.
This morning is the day of the great Mengla market, close to your hotel. Meet more colorful people. Keep on your route 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). First overview of different viewpointsover the amazing terrace rice fields, such as the Bada Viewpoint.
Check in at the nice Jacky’s Guest house, in the heart of Duoyishu village which rice fields all around.
Dinner at your own expense.
Day 11 : Yuanyang (B)
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 Shengcun (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.
This afternoon if you wish you can go for a small 2 to 3 hours hike across beautiful rice fields landscapes, going through some very scenic villages.
Back to the hotel at the end of the day.
Dinner at your expense and overnight in Jacky’s guest house.
Day 12 : Yuanyang – Jianshui – Tuanshan (B) ~ 4h drive. Altitude : 1400m.
Breakfast, then discovery of Yuanyang Xinjie’s 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 !
Then you will take the road to Jianshui, one of the oldest and most remarkable city in Southern Yunnan. 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 city up to the Chaoyang Arch, where locals hold a small bird market.
Then, take the direction to the picturesque village of Tuanshan (entrance : 35 rmb / person), located about 15km from Jianshui. The village has stayed like out of time and most of the buildings date back from the Qing Dynasty.
Check in at the charming Jielu Inn, in the heart of the old city.
Dinner at your expense and overnight in Tuanshan.
Day 13 : Tuanshan – Kunming (B) ~ 4h drive. Altitude : 1800m.
Quiet breakfast at your inn before strolling through Tuanshan small streets. Keep on towards the Double Dragon Bridge, stunning architecture above a beautiful pond.
Then it will be time to take back the road to Kunming.
Arrival in Kunming and Check In at Home Inn Plus 3*.
Take some time to refresh yourself, dinner at your expense (rather early) before going to watch a very touching show of local minorities, called “Dynamic Yunnan” (20.00 – 21.40).
Transfer around 19.00 with your guide.
Back to the hotel and overnight in Kunming.
Say goodbye to your English Speaking driver.
Day 14 : Kunming / Departure (B) ~ 40mn drive.
Breakfast and free time without guide or driver to enjoy Kunming. 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.
Then transfer to the airport for the return flight.
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.
Day 15 : China – Your place (B)
Breakfast in the plane and arrival in your country.
End of our services. Our team wishes you an enjoyable way back home !