Arrival in Kunming during the day (flight reference to be precised). Welcome by your driver, then transfer to your well-located accommodation 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 or to the flower and bird market. In the evening, watch the beautiful Yunnan minority dance and song show entitled ” Dynamic Yunnan ” (19.30pm-21.30pm / No show on Sundays) Dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at Grand Park Hotel.

Meet your driver at 8:00 am at your hotel, for transfer to the Stone Forest site. Visit the site without a guide (entrance:  175RMB per person). Continuation of the road to Yuanyang then the small village of Dovish. You will have to pay an entrance fee to the area of 100RMB per person along the way. Meals at your expense.

Overnight at 12 Manor Terraces, located directly opposite the rice terraces.

This morning, go catch some fishes with the locals for a while. Next, you will go to a small village where lunch will be served at one of the local families, followed by some traditional songs and dances. In the afternoon, 2h to 3h hike through beautiful landscapes of rice terraces, and small villages. Dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at 12 Manor Terraces.

Meet your driver. Head towards Niujiaozhai Market, where you will walk freely, you will most probably meet different minorities, such as the Yi, the Hani, the Dai. Then, you will move forward with the visit of the typical Hani village of Azheke and discovery of the thatched-roof houses called ‘mushrooms’. Meeting with the inhabitants of the village and visit the small museum of Hani culture (entrance: 20 RMB). In the afternoon, 2h to 3h hike through beautiful landscapes of rice terraces, and small villages, until the must go to viewpoint of the tiger’s mouth: Laohuzui. Dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at 12 Manor Terraces.

Breakfast at the hotel. Possible visit of another market in the vicinity of Yuanyang, before taking the road to Jianshui. Lunch at your expense along the way. Check-in at Hanlinyuan. Rest of the day free to visit the famous Confucius Temple (entrance: 60RMB per person), and Jianshui old town. Lunch and dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at Hanlinyuan

On the road to Kunming, stop at Tuanshan Village (entrance:  50RMB per person) and take a nice walk in this very typical village. Discovery also of the nearby Double Dragon Bridge. Return to Kunming, transfer to Kunming Station for the D8114 train departing at 18:10, arrival in Weishan at 20:37 (first class seats) and transfer to your conveniently located hotel 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

Meet your new driver and discover this morning the Weibaoshan mountain (entrance: 40 RMB) located at 2500m altitude. 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. Then drive towards Dali and its region. On the way, stop at Hui village (Muslim minority) of Donglianhua (entrance: 20 RMB) and visit the mosque and the small museum. Lunch at your expense in the small village. Then drive to the Dali region and the picturesque village of Xizhou. Accommodation at the superb and comfortable boutique hotel Linden Center, built in a beautiful traditional Bai mansion, and equipped with all modern comforts. In the afternoon, you can relax at the hotel, discover by bike or electric scooter, the surrounding countryside to Lake Erhai, or walk through the village of Xizhou, home to beautiful old houses. Note that a tour of the hotel is organized by the Linden Center every day at 5pm, in English, presenting the history and architecture of the place. Dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at Linden Center.

Visit Xizhou’s morning market before a short transfer toward the Three Pagodas Temple (entrance:  120RMB per person). Quick visit of Dali old town center if you would like to, featuring its church built in the traditional Bai style, then transfer towards Cangshan Mountain and Wuwei temple, that you will be able to visit freely. Then, take a short drive towards the north of Erhai lake and Putuoquan hot springs, where you can relax and cool down after all these walks, and recharge your energy for what’s next to happen. Dinner at your expense (the resort offers an all you can eat buffet for a very attractive price).

Overnight at Putuoquan Hot Spring Resort.

Meeting at 9h with your driver for transfer by private vehicle to the great valley of Shaxi. Also, before arrival in Shaxi, discover Shibaoshan Buddhist mountain (entrance: 65RMB per person + Shuttle: 40RMB per person), beautiful 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 Landscape Hotel.

Meeting at 9h with your driver for transfer by private vehicle to the Tibetan region of Tacheng. Stop on the way at Shigu Village (first curve of the Yangtse River), then follow on along the Yangtse river towards Tacheng, through a few small villages, arrival in the afternoon and check-in at Habuda Hotel. Rest of the day free to wander around. Dinner at your expense.

Overnight at Habuda Hotel.

Leave your hotel around 8.00 and go towards Baima Mountain Natural reserve (entrance:  100RMB + shuttle bus: 50 RMB), to observe the Yunnan Golden Monkey, a protected species. Drive back, possible visit along the way to Naxi minority villages, as well as the village near the hotel, beautifully surrounded by vineyards, which also produces very good traditional honey! After lunch, drive to the amazing village of Cizhong, populated by Catholic Tibetans. Dinner at your expense.

Overnight at the kawakajiu Guest House.

This morning, head towards Meili Mountain. Road towards Mingyong village. Discover the Mingyong Glacier using a local shuttle to get there (entrance:  55RMB, shuttle bus: 75 RMB), you can take the occasion to visit the Lotus Temple. Continuation to Feilaisi village. Accommodation at the superb Xuelong Meili Yiju offering a magnificent view of the Meili mountain range. Dinner at your expense on site. 

Overnight at Xuelong Meili Yiju Hotel (superior panoramic Queen Room).

Superb sunrise over the Meili Mountains. Road to Benzilan. On the way, very nice view on a curve of the Yangtze. Visit of Dongzhulin monastery (entrance:  30RMB), located just above the Yangtse river. It is a popular place for locals, known for hosting several ” living Buddhas “. Discover a small local nunnery not very far from there. Another few stops are possible along the way, including the village of Gonjo where you can visit a craftsman making traditional lacquered wooden containers, as well as among the potters in the village of Nixi, the black earth of the region is well known for its qualities. Dinner at your expense. 

Overnight at Khimtsang Hotel.

Meet your driver at 9am. Day tour of Shangri La and its region, starting with the beautiful Tibetan monastery of Songzanlin (entrance: 90 RMB). Leisurely walk on the local market, then through the old town, including Baijisi Temple (entrance:  20RMB) featuring nice views on the surroundings and Shika Mountain. 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. Try Yak butter tea, Tsampa and Yak butter cheese, local specialties and bases of their daily food. In the afternoon, discover the Tibetan countryside in the Ringha Valley. Return to Shangri La. 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

Meet at 9am with your driver for transfer by private vehicle to Lijiang. Stop one the way at the tiger Leap Gorge (entrance:  45RMB per person + 75 RMB for the electric stairs). Arrive for lunch (at your expense) at Lijiang Old Town, which you can explore on foot throughout the afternoon, including Black Dragon Pond Park (entrance: 80 RMB). Continuation to the small village of Shuhe, and installation at the amazing hotel the Bivou. Rest of the day free.

Overnight at the Bivou

Discovery this morning of the small village of Wenbi, still preserved from the tourist masses and which keeps its authenticity, then visit the Zhiyun temple and walk on the shores of Lake Lashihai. (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.

Free start of the day in Shuhe before heading to Lijiang Airport for flight CA2568 to Chengdu, taking off at 15.50 and landing at 17.20 (included in our services). Welcome at Chengdu airport and transfer towards Qingcheng Shan (1h30). Check-in at your hotel. 

Overnight at Z Hotel (Qingcheng Mountain)

Visit of Dujiangyan Panda Park (entrance:  55RMB) close to the Qingcheng Mountain, then transfer towards Dujiangyan (40 minutes), and visit the irrigation system (entrance:  80 RMB). Continuation to Emeishan (3h). 

Overnight at Leling Nianhuaxi Guest House.

Take the shuttle bus to Mount Emeishan tourist center to go to Wanniansi station (40 minutes). Visit the Wannian temple (cable car ride). Go down on foot (2h30) along the mountain path down to Wuxiangang station (entrance on the site:  160RMB, shuttle bus: 40RMB, cable-car: 65RMB (way up), Wannian temple: 10RMB). 

Overnight at Leling Nianhuaxi Guest House.

Road to Leshan (1h). River cruise to enjoy the view on the Giant Buddha (entrance:  70 RMB). Walk up to the head of the Buddha (entrance:  80 RMB). Visit Lingyun Temple. Continuation to Huanglongxi (1h30), stroll through the old town. Drive back to Chengdu (1h). 

Overnight at the charming Buddha Zen Hotel.

Transfer to Chengdu Airport for flight to your next destination (reference to be precised).

End of our services, we wish you a pleasant return home, beautiful memories in mind!