Southwest China: Yunnan's mountains & minorities
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Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Kunming.
Upon arrival into Kunming you're met at the airport by your private guide and driver, and driven to your city hotel by private transfer. You have the evening at leisure to explore the city, if you wish, or simply relax in your hotel after your journey. You may like to take a stroll to Green Park Lake, ringed with teahouses and criss-crossed by traditional bridges.
This morning you're driven by private transfer, with your private guide accompanying you, to Dali. The drive takes around five hours. The town of Dali is the starting point for exploring the mountains of the northwest of the province. After checking into your hotel, y...
Today spend the day exploring Dali's old town with your private guide and driver. Walk around its willow-lined waterways and visit the markets that cluster round the gate towers on the old city walls. You could also visit the Buddhist site of the Three Pagodas. Your g...
You have today at leisure to further explore Dali's cobbled streets. You may wish to take the 20 minute walk from Dali's central hub to Erhai Lake. This crescent of alpine lake is one of the biggest freshwater lakes in China.
Today you leave Dali. Your private driver takes you to the village of Shaxi, a two hour journey. Drive through deep countryside, weaving through villages and rice paddies en route. Once there, you have the rest of the day at leisure to explore this sleepy rural villag...
After another morning spent exploring Shaxi independently, your private driver and guide take you further north today to Lijiang, a town in the shadow of a huge mountain. The drive takes several hours, as you stop off en route at the holy Buddhist mountain of Shibaosh...
Lijiang has a very well-preserved old town where many Naxi minority people live. Today potter around under your own steam, exploring streets tightly packed with slate-tiled houses and latticed with mountain streams and waterways. You're likely to see Naxi minority cul...
Another day at leisure in Lijiang. You may wish to stroll around Black Dragon Pond Park for some of the best views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the peak that dominates the skyline of the town.
Today take a private transfer to Zhongdian, two hours' drive away from Lijiang. Accompanied by your private guide, en route you stop at the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest gorges. You'll admire the gorge from a viewing platform. If you wish...
Today your guide accompanies you to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in China. It's a 15 minute private transfer from the town of Zhongdian, unless you choose to stay at a hotel nearer the monastery. Your guide leads you around this functioning 300-year-old monastery which has great views over a valley, and give you an insight into the day-to-day life of its monks.
You have today at leisure to explore the town of Zhongdian and its surrounding landscape independently. We recommend meandering around the old town with its prayer flags and small hill with a revolving prayer wheel. Wandering around, you see that Tibetan culture is pr...
Today you're driven by private transfer to Zhongdian Airport, around 40 minutes away, to catch your flight to Kunming. From Kunming you can catch your onwards flight.
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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