YUNNAN
One Province, Many Worlds.
Snow-capped mountains, ancient towns, tropical forests, quiet villages and some of China’s most diverse cultures. Yunnan feels less like a single destination and more like many different journeys woven together.
WHY YUNNAN
A different side of China around every corner.
Few places in China offer as much variety as Yunnan. Travel north and the landscape rises towards Tibetan mountains and highland villages. Head south and snow peaks give way to tropical forests, tea mountains and Dai communities. In between are ancient towns, lakes, rice terraces and cities shaped by centuries of cultural exchange.
You could come for the landscapes alone, but what makes Yunnan special is the people and cultures within them. With many ethnic communities calling the province home, food, architecture, festivals, languages and everyday traditions can change completely as you travel from one region to another.
8-12DAYS
Ideal stay
MAR–MAY · SEP–NOV
Best time to visit
NATURE · FOOD · HIKING
Best for
Mountains & Wild Landscapes
From deep river gorges to snow-covered peaks and highland trails, Yunnan is one of China’s most rewarding regions for travelers who love the outdoors.
Ancient Towns & Villages
Go beyond the busiest old towns and discover smaller villages, local markets and communities where traditional architecture and everyday life still exist side by side.
Cultures of Yunnan
Yunnan is home to many different ethnic communities, each with its own food, clothing, architecture, traditions and relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Taste Yunnan
Crossing Yunnan also means moving through completely different food cultures — from mushrooms and rice noodles to Tibetan-influenced dishes, Dai flavors and tea grown in the mountains of the south.
START WITH AN IDEA
Ten Days in Yunnan
A ten-day journey through ancient towns, lakes, mountain trails, local cultures and the dramatic landscapes of northwest Yunnan.
DAY 1 · Arrive in Kunming
Arrival → Hotel Check-in → Local Neighborhood → Yunnan Dinner
Arrive in Kunming and ease into your Yunnan journey with a relaxed first afternoon. After checking into your hotel, wander through a local neighborhood or market and get your first taste of the province through its food.
There’s no need to rush into sightseeing today. Settle in, try some local flavors and get ready for the journey ahead.
DAY 2 · Kunming to Dali
Kunming → Dali → Erhai Lake → Dali Old Town
Travel from Kunming to Dali, where the landscape opens up between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake.
After settling in, spend an easy afternoon by the lake before wandering through Dali Old Town in the evening. Take your time exploring its streets, small shops and local restaurants as the town comes alive after dark.
DAY 3 · Beyond Dali Old Town
Local Village → Market → Erhai Countryside → Bai Culture
Leave the busiest streets of Dali behind and spend the day exploring the villages and countryside around Erhai Lake.
Visit a local market, walk through Bai communities and discover traditional homes, local food and everyday life beneath the Cangshan Mountains.
Rather than rushing around the lake for photo stops, today is about slowing down and experiencing the quieter side of Dali.
DAY 4 · Dali to Lijiang
Dali → Lijiang → Old Town → Local Dinner
Continue north to Lijiang and settle into your hotel before exploring the old town at an easy pace.
Wander through stone lanes, canals and traditional houses, then find somewhere local for dinner. Stay into the evening, when the streets and rooftops take on a completely different atmosphere.
DAY 5 · Beyond the Crowds of Lijiang
Local Village → Naxi Culture → Countryside → Mountain Views
Step away from Lijiang’s busiest streets and discover the landscapes and communities beyond the old town.
Spend time in nearby villages, learn more about Naxi culture and explore the countryside beneath the mountains. This is a slower, more local side of Lijiang that many visitors miss.
DAY 6 · Tiger Leaping Gorge
Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Hiking → Mountain Stay
Leave the towns behind and enter one of Yunnan’s most dramatic landscapes.
Hike high above the Jinsha River as enormous mountains rise on either side of the gorge. Take your time on the trail, stop for the views and spend the night in the mountains rather than rushing back to the city.
Today is about the journey as much as the destination.
DAY 7 · Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangri-La
Morning Hike → Mountain Road → Shangri-La
Wake up in the mountains and enjoy another stretch of the trail before continuing north towards Shangri-La.
As the road climbs higher, watch the landscape gradually change. Deep valleys give way to highland scenery, and the architecture, food and culture begin to feel noticeably different.
Arrive in Shangri-La and enjoy a relaxed evening in the highlands.
DAY 8 · Discover Shangri-La
Monastery → Old Town → Tibetan Culture → Local Food
Spend the day discovering the Tibetan-influenced culture of Shangri-La.
Visit a monastery, wander through the old town and take time to learn about local traditions, architecture and everyday life on the plateau.
Finish the day with a local meal and experience a side of Yunnan that feels completely different from Dali and Lijiang.
DAY 9 · Into the Highlands
Highland Landscape → Local Village → Nature Walk → Slow Afternoon
Leave town behind for a day in the landscapes surrounding Shangri-La.
Depending on the season, explore grasslands, lakes, mountain scenery or local villages. Take a gentle walk, meet people along the way and leave enough time to simply enjoy the landscape without rushing from one attraction to another.
This is a day to slow down.
DAY 10 · A Slow Final Morning
Local Breakfast → Free Time → Departure
Enjoy one last slow morning in Yunnan.
Have a local breakfast, return to a favorite street or simply find somewhere quiet to sit and take in the highland atmosphere.
Then continue to the airport or railway station for your onward journey — hopefully leaving with more than just photos.
This is just one way to experience Yunnan. Want more hiking, more local culture, a slower pace, or a few days in Xishuangbanna? We can reshape the journey around you.
ONE PROVINCE, MANY JOURNEYS
EXPLORE MORE OF YUNNAN
Ten days is enough to begin discovering Yunnan — but hardly enough to see it all.
KUNMING
KUNMING
Markets, Food & the Gateway to Yunnan
Kunming is a natural place to begin or end a journey through Yunnan, but it’s worth giving the city a little time of its own.
Rather than rushing between attractions, explore local markets, old streets and neighborhood restaurants. Discover the ingredients that define Yunnan cooking — wild mushrooms, flowers, herbs and spices — and sit down for your first bowl of crossing-the-bridge rice noodles.
Kunming offers an easy introduction to the flavors, people and everyday rhythms of the province before you travel deeper into Yunnan.
1-2 DAYS
Ideal stay
Food · Markets · Local Life
Best for
DALI
Lakes, Villages & Slow Living
There is much more to Dali than its famous old town.
Between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, small villages, local markets and Bai communities reveal a quieter side of the region.
Cycle or walk through the countryside, stop in a village for lunch, explore local markets or simply spend an afternoon beside the lake. Dali is a place where leaving space in your itinerary often leads to the best moments.
Come here to slow down — and stay a little longer than you planned.
2-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
Villages · Nature · Culture · Slow Travel
Best for
DALI
LIJIANG
LIJIANG
Naxi Culture Beneath the Snow Mountains
Lijiang Old Town may be famous, but some of the most interesting experiences begin when you step beyond its busiest streets.
Explore nearby villages, discover Naxi culture and spend time in the countryside beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Traditional architecture, local markets and mountain landscapes offer a more complete picture of Lijiang — one that goes beyond the postcard views of the old town.
Stay for the history, but make time for the life happening around it.
2-3 DAYS
Ideal stay
Culture · Mountains · Villages · History
Best for
SHANGRI-LA
Tibetan Highlands & Mountain Roads
Continue north and Yunnan slowly transforms into another world.
The elevation rises, the air becomes cooler and the landscape opens into mountains, grasslands, lakes and highland villages.
Visit Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, explore local communities and travel along mountain roads surrounded by some of Yunnan’s most dramatic scenery.
For travelers who love nature, hiking and cultural encounters, Shangri-La is where the journey begins to feel truly remote.
2-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
Mountains · Tibetan Culture · Hiking · Road Trips
Best for
SHANGRI-LA
XISHUANGBANNA
XISHUANGBANNA
Tropical Forests, Dai Culture & Tea Country
Travel south and Yunnan changes completely once again.
Snow-capped mountains give way to tropical forests, Dai villages, warm weather and flavors influenced by the cultures of Southeast Asia.
Explore local markets and villages, taste Dai cuisine and travel deeper into the surrounding countryside to discover some of China’s most important Pu’er tea-growing regions.
Here, tea is more than something you drink. It is connected to the mountains, forests, communities and traditions that have shaped this part of Yunnan for generations.
Xishuangbanna shows just how many different worlds can exist within a single province.
3-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
Tropical Nature · Dai Culture · Tea · Food
Best for
WHAT WE CAN ARRANGE FOR YOU
AS MUCH — OR AS LITTLE — AS YOU NEED.
Private Car & Driver
From airport transfers to full-day private transportation and multi-city journeys, we can arrange reliable private vehicles and drivers based on your group size and itinerary.
Private Guides
Explore with experienced local guides. English- and Spanish-speaking guides can be arranged, with other languages available upon request.
Airport VIP Service
Make your arrival or departure easier with VIP airport assistance, including meet-and-assist services and support through airport procedures where available.
Tailor-Made Itinerary Planning
Tell us where you want to go—or simply what you love. We can connect destinations, transportation, experiences and free time into a journey designed around you.
Restaurant Reservations
From local neighborhood restaurants to fine dining and special-occasion meals, we can recommend and reserve restaurants that fit your tastes and itinerary.
High-Speed Rail VIP & Station Assistance
We can help arrange high-speed rail tickets, VIP station services where available, and private transfers between your hotel and the railway station.
Tickets & Experiences
We can arrange attraction tickets and selected local experiences, from cultural activities and food experiences to outdoor adventures.
Hotels & Special Stays
We can recommend and arrange hotels, boutique stays and characterful local accommodation based on your budget and travel style.
On-Trip Support
Plans sometimes change. If you need help during your journey, we can assist with arrangements, communication and unexpected changes along the way.