Boarding your flight to Kunming 

Arrival at Kunming airport and welcome by your driver (holding a sign with your name) as you exit your flight, then transfer to the 5-star Grand Park Hotel, set in a pleasant central Kunming neighbourhood. The rest of the day is free to recover from your long flight and take in a few first sights on foot from the hotel at your own pace. You can stroll to Green Lake, where locals love to walk, sing, dance and play music. You may also extend your walk to the Buddhist temple of Yuantong, a 5–10 minute walk away. Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at the Grand Park Hotel 5*.

Included services: private transfers,

Meet your English-speaking guide at 8:00 am. Long day’s drive to Yuanyang. Halfway there, stop at Tuanshan village and a walk through its heart, with its protected architecture. Discover the pretty old Double Dragon Bridge, before continuing towards the Yuanyang rice-terrace region. Settle in at the very comfortable Twelve Manor Terraces lodge, set opposite the terraced rice fields. Dinner at your own expense at the inn’s restaurant.

Overnight at the Twelve Manor Terraces.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

After breakfast, departure for Yuanyang Xinjie to attend the morning market (timed according to the day in the Chinese lunar calendar). Meet different minorities, including the Yi, Hani and Dai. Continue to a small village where lunch will be served at a local family’s home. In the afternoon, a 2–3h hike through superb terraced rice-field scenery and small villages.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the Twelve Manor Terraces.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, lunch with a local family

Note: the Yuanyang terraces hold water from early November to mid-April each year. In late March, rice is sown to start the young shoots, fields are ploughed and prepared for transplanting, which runs from mid-April to mid-May. In June, the rice fields turn green and stay that way until the September harvest. From October to mid-November, the terraces lie empty, without colour or crops. In November, the dykes are repaired, the fields weeded and ploughed before being flooded again, perpetuating traditions handed down from generation to generation.

Breakfast at the hotel. Optional visit to another market in the Yuanyang area, before taking the road to Jianshui. Lunch en route. In the afternoon, visit the Confucius Temple, the second largest in China after the one in Qufu, the master’s hometown. The complex comprises a large park with a pond, several inner courtyards, superb gateways, temples and pavilions. Visit a local tofu workshop, time permitting. Settle in at the Hanlinyuan Boutique Hotel, with a possible visit to the superb Zhu family residence, one of the best preserved in Yunnan, made up of a series of inner courtyards, pavilions and gardens. Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at Hanlinyuan.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

In the morning, walk through the old town of Jianshui, notably around Chaoyang Arch, inside which stands a charming permanent exhibition of old photographs of everyday and street scenes from the late 19th/early 20th century, taken in Yunnanfu (present-day Kunming) by Auguste François, ethnographer, photographer and former French Consul in Yunnan. On the way back to Kunming, visit the small town of Tonghai and Xiushan mountain. Dinner at your own expense. In the evening, enjoy the beautiful show of Yunnan minority dances and songs entitled “Dynamic Yunnan” (8:00–9:30 pm), return to your hotel after the show, and say goodbye to your South Yunnan guide-driver.

Overnight at the Grand Park Hotel.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, Dynamic Yunnan show.

Transfer to Kunming station to take train D8864 to Dali, departing at 08:40, arriving at 10:50. Meet your new English-speaking guide and transfer to the old town of Dali for lunch, then wander its old lanes, which are just beginning to come alive at this time of day. Continue to the pleasant Bai minority village of Zhoucheng, to meet its residents (learn more about the batik-dyeing process, practised here for generations) and its small, weathered but charming temples. Then transfer to Xizhou. Settle in at the superb and comfortable boutique Linden Center, built in a beautiful traditional Bai residence with every modern comfort. In the afternoon, relax at the hotel, explore the surrounding countryside by bicycle (available at the hotel) as far as Erhai Lake, or wander on foot through Xizhou village, home to a number of fine old residences. Note that a tour of the hotel is held daily at 5:00 pm by the Linden Center, in English, presenting the history and architecture of the place. Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at the Linden Center.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, fast train from Kunming to Dali

Visit the Xizhou morning market, on foot from your hotel. Then drive to Shaxi. Lunch at your own expense en route. In the afternoon, discover the Shibaoshan Mountains, a superb collection of Buddhist sculptures carved into the rock and very Zen temples. After the visit, a short walk down a small path to the old town of Shaxi is possible, or by vehicle. Discover Shaxi, once a major trading hub on the Tea Horse caravan route. Stay in the heart of the old town at the Landscape Hotel, a former traditional courtyard beautifully renovated with every comfort. Dinner at your own expense at the hotel restaurant.

Overnight at the Landscape Hotel.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Drive to the Tibetan region of Shangri La. First stop of the day at the site of the First Bend of the Yangtze, and a walk through the small village of Shigu. Continue to Tiger Leaping Gorge, among the deepest gorges in the world, through which flows the Yangtze River, between Haba Mountain (peak at 5,400 m) and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (peak at 5,600 m). A short 40-minute round-trip walk down to the bottom of the gorge (many Chinese tourists here, but there is little alternative for taking in the site). Continue along a beautiful mountain road to Shangri La. On arrival, settle in at the Shangrila Resort, located right next to the old town of Shangri La and the small square where locals dance at the end of the day. First stroll through the old town of Shangri La.

Overnight at the Shangrila Resort.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

A day exploring Shangri La and its surroundings, starting with the superb Tibetan monastery of Songzanlin. Stroll through the local market, then walk through the old town, notably up to Bai Ji Si temple, offering fine views over the Shangri La area and the Shika mountains. Note that the central part of the old town was ravaged by fire on 11 January 2014. Lunch at your own expense. In the afternoon, an on-foot discovery of the Tibetan countryside in Ringha valley. Back in town, you may wish to sample yak-butter tea, tsampa and yak-butter cheese, local specialities that form the basis of the daily diet. Watch, and join in if you like, the spontaneous evening dances of the locals on the old town square. Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at the Shangrila Resort.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Morning drive to Lijiang. Lunch at your own expense in the heart of Lijiang’s old town, and a walk through its lanes, today very touristy and commercial, then on to Black Dragon Pool park. Rejoin your car for the short transfer to the Naxi village of Shuhe, in the heart of the Lijiang valley. Settle in at the very comfortable The Bivou hotel. Dinner at your own expense in one of the many Shuhe restaurants within walking distance of your hotel.

Overnight at The Bivou.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Walk through the Lijiang valley, passing notably through the Naxi minority villages of Baisha and then Yuhu, at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Many opportunities to stop and visit along the way, discovering rural life around Lijiang. Don’t miss the Mu family silk embroidery school in Baisha. Back in Shuhe, an easy stroll through its bucolic and lively old town. Around 5:00 pm, transfer to Lijiang station to take fast train D8768 to Kunming, departing at 18:42, arriving at 22:19 (first-class seats). Catering will be available on the train. Then transfer to your hotel in Kunming.

Overnight at the Grand Park Hotel.

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, fast train from Lijiang to Kunming

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Shilin to discover the Stone Forest. We offer you an approximately 2-hour walk within the site, between rocky peaks and sometimes through narrow paths, away from the trails trodden by the many Chinese tourists. You will have the choice between visiting the Stone Forest or the Black Stone Forest. Back in Kunming, discover the Golden Temple and its magnificent gardens, then a walk through the city centre if time permits. Dinner at your own expense.

Overnight at the Grand Park Hotel 5*

Included services: private transfers, English-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Kunming – Guiyang → Matang → Langde → Kaili – Duration: ~3h (160 km) • Altitude: 900 m

Departure from your hotel around 7:30 am and transfer to Kunming South station to take train G910, departing at 09:13, arriving at 11:39. Welcome on arrival in Guiyang by your French-speaking guide and your driver, then immediate departure for the Qiandongnan region, a long-isolated territory home to numerous minorities. Maize fields and rice paddies roll past along the road. First stop at the Gejia village of Matang, north of Kaili: this singular people, nicknamed the Sun Tribe, opens the doors of its rural daily life and reveals its remarkable batiks and embroidery. Continue to the small village of Langde, nestled on a mountainside in the Thunder Mountains, where wooden houses rise in tiers above the valley.

Overnight in Kaili at the Grand Dragon Hotel 4*.

Optional: continue to the Miao hamlet of Baiyan and overnight at the charming Xunmei Inn (supplement of 600 RMB/room, approx. €77).

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Kaili → Jidao → Shiqiao → Gaoyao → Zenlei – Duration: ~3h (130 km) • Altitude: 700 m

Morning walk to Jidao village, in the Thunder Mountains, where two Miao hamlets stretch along either side of the Bala River. Lunch with a Miao family to share an authentic, warm meal. In the afternoon, a stop at Shiqiao village, where wood-pulp papermaking endures using centuries-old techniques. The road continues to Gaoyao, whose terraced rice fields carve the hills with striking precision. You then enter Shui territory, the people of the water, to reach Zenlei village. Depending on the timing, a lively market may punctuate the journey, a chance to meet Shui and Miao people in traditional dress.

Overnight in Zenlei village at the Meitu Fengsu Inn.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets, lunch with a local family

Zenlei → Zengchong → Zaidang (Rongjiang) – Duration: ~3h (120 km) • Altitude: 640 m

Drive to the Dong village of Zengchong, nestled in a bend of the river at 640 m altitude. Surrounded by terraced hills, it is home to China’s oldest Drum Tower, built in 1672 under the Qing dynasty. Continue to Zaidang, a small village renowned for its Dong polyphonic singing. You are welcomed by the village’s master musician, who shares his talent with the community’s children in a vibrant demonstration. Share the evening meal with the family, then overnight with a local family in simple but warm comfort.

(Optional: overnight at the charming Well House Inn in the neighbouring village of Dali (supplement of 1100 RMB, without the evening meal).

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets, dinner with a local family

Zaidang → Jiabang – Duration: ~2h30 (90 km) • Altitude: 800 m

Departure for the Moon Mountains, around the villages of Jiajiu and Jiabang, to discover some of the most unspoilt terraced rice fields in China. Still little visited, they never fail to amaze visitors — judge for yourself whether they deserve their reputation as the most beautiful in the country. A short hike between hamlets and terraced fields, in the heart of Black Miao, Green Miao and Red Miao territory, whose colourful dress dots the landscape.

Overnight in Jiaju at the Tianzhiyuan Hotel 2/3*.

Optional: overnight at the upgraded Yunhuan Mijing inn.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Jiabang → Zhanli → Huanggang – Duration: ~2h (80 km) • Altitude: 600 m

Continued exploration around Jiabang, with a possible hike between two villages or through the rice terraces. Rejoin your vehicle and take the road towards the Dong village region. Stop at Zhanli village, whose stilted perches lined along the riverbank form a striking picture, and where each family upholds the remarkable tradition of raising one boy and one girl. Continue to Huanggang, a Dong village of rare authenticity, then discover the neighbouring hamlet of Gaozhen. As evening falls, a stillness settles over the village while the last light of sunset gilds the wooden roofs.

Overnight in Huanggang at the Hecang Suji Hotel 3*.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Huanggang → Zhaoxing → Tang’an → Zhaoxing – Duration: ~1h drive + hike • Altitude: 500 m

Morning drive to Zhaoxing, the largest and most authentic Dong village in China, threaded through by small canals and streams. Discover its emblematic wooden architecture: traditional Dong Opera theatres, five Drum Towers built by each of the five clans, and the splendid Wind and Rain Bridges. In the afternoon, drive to the hamlet of Tang’an, the starting point of a walk that brings you back to Zhaoxing through the terraced rice fields, offering a sweeping panorama over the whole valley.

Overnight in Zhaoxing at the Creekside Inn 3*.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets

Zhaoxing → Congjiang → Guilin → Cuiping → Yangshuo ~1h30 drive + 50 min high-speed train • Altitude: 150 m

Drive to Congjiang station where you board the high-speed train. After a 50-minute journey, arrival in Guilin, where a new French-speaking guide and driver await you. Drive south of Guilin, passing Cuiping Hill, a still little-known spot favoured by photographers for its delicate karst formations. Continue to the lively town of Yangshuo, nestled among sugarloaf peaks. In the evening, watch a traditional lantern-lit fishing demonstration with trained cormorants — a timeless spectacle.

Overnight at the Moondance Boutique Hotel, set in the Yangshuo countryside on the banks of a small river.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, 2nd-class high-speed train Congjiang–Guilin

Yangshuo → Xianggong → Xingping → Yangshuo – Duration: ~1h + 0h40 drive + hike + cruise • Altitude: 120 m

Departure for the Xianggong viewpoint and the Seven Stars tea plantation. From the summit, an open panorama over the karst peaks listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Back in the vehicle, then follow a footpath through citrus orchards and small hamlets to Xingping village (1h30 to 2h walk), with lovely views over the river. Visit a small temple nestled on the riverbank at the entrance to Snail Cave, still home to a few monks. Cross the river on the local ferry and explore Xingping’s old street for lunch. In the afternoon, a short bamboo-raft cruise along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Li River between Xingping and Nine Horses Hill — the very scenery that inspired the illustration on the 20-RMB note.

Overnight at the Moondance Boutique Hotel.

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, entrance tickets, raft cruise

Yangshuo → Yulong River → Guilin (airport or station)

After breakfast, a bike ride through the Yangshuo countryside, off the beaten track. Follow small paths along the Yulong River, through sleepy hamlets, rice paddies, peanut fields and fish ponds, to the well-preserved old village of Jiuxian with its traditional houses. Continue to the 400-year-old Dragon Bridge, where you can have lunch on the jetty near the bridge. Return to Yangshuo along the other bank, then transfer to Guilin airport or station to board your flight to your next destination (flight reference to be confirmed).

End of our services. We wish you a pleasant journey home, with wonderful memories to treasure!

Included services: private transfers, French-speaking guide, bicycle rental