Classic Yunnan Tour: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la

/5 935 Latest reviews

Tour Code: ODY-CN-2412

Destination:Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La

Duration

9 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Take the Classic Yunnan tour and discover the diverse ethnic groups and colorful plateau landscapes in the southwest land of China. Be amazed by the bizarre Stone Forest, experience the traditional charm of Lijiang through visits to the Mu Mansion and authentic encounters in Naxi households, marvel at the breathtaking beauty of Tiger Leaping Gorge, discover the mysterious old town of Shangri-la, and interact with the esteemed lama at Songzanlin Monastery.

Itinerary Summary

DAY PLACE HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2 Kunming Stone Forest, Jingxing Flower and Bird Market
3 - 4 Dali Erhai Lake, The Folk House of Bai People in Xizhou
5 - 6 Lijiang Lijiang Old Town, Naxi Family Visit, Baisha Town, Mu's Mansion
7 Lijiang - Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge
8 - 9 Shangri-La Gedan Songzanlin Monastery, Tibetan Home Visit, Dukezong Old Town
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Itinerary

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Day 1: Kunming, Arrival

Begin your expedition in Kunming. Upon arrival at the airport, your guide and driver will be there to greet you and accompany you to your hotel.

Kunming

Day 2: Kunming, Stone Forest

Drive from Kunming for about 1.5 hours to the Stone Forest, a breathtaking nature wonder shaped over millions of years by erosion. Here, you'll find bizarre rocks in different sizes and shapes, some resembling an elderly man or a gallant horse, each bearing its evocative name.

Returning to the urban area and arriving at the Jingxing Flower and Bird Market, you will be greeted by a myriad of stalls and sheds. The dazzling array of peculiar knick-knacks captivates your eyes, while numerous Yunnan specialty snacks beckon you to linger and indulge.

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Kunming

Day 3: Kunming - Dali, Roaming in Dali Old Town
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Dali

Day 4: Erhai Lake Bike Tour

In the morning, initiate your day with a visit to the bustling local market. Following this, take a leisurely bike ride along the picturesque Erhai Lake, passing through quaint villages.

Stop at Xizhou Town, where a multitude of Bai-style architecture has been meticulously preserved. Step into the Yan Family Courtyard and taste the three-course tea—an esteemed gesture of hospitality extended by the Bai people. Visit the nearly century-old Xi Embroidery Workshop and observe skilled embroiderers at work.

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Lijiang

Day 5: Dali - Lijiang, Shaxi Old Town

Following breakfast, delight in a picturesque journey to Lijiang. Along the way, take a break at the historic Shaxi, a millennium-old town witnessing the past prosperity of the ancient Tea Horse Road between Yunnan and Tibet.

Upon arrival at Lijiang, check into your accommodation and immerse yourself in the captivating allure of this ancient city. Visit the magnificent Mu's Mansion, the official residence of the Mu clan – a Naxi family who had ruled Lijiang for over five centuries. Then, ascend the Wangu Tower and behold a panoramic view of Lijiang's old town.

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Lijiang

Day 6: Discover Naxi Culture through a Home Visit

After breakfast, explore the less tourist Shuhe town a couple of miles away and continue to Baisha Village to admire the ancient mural surviving the cultural revolution in the mid-twentieth century.

Then, step into the Jade Lake Village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and pay a visit to a traditional Naxi family. The gracious host in traditional Naxi attire will warmly welcome you, offer insights into Naxi words and culture, and treat you with Naxi delicacies.

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Lijiang

Day 7: Lijiang - Shangri-la

Today, you will depart from Lijiang and arrive at Tiger Leaping Gorge in about 1.5 hours. As you descend along the steep steps, you can feel the rapid river rushing beneath the gorge, crashing against the shore with magnificent force.

Following that, proceed on the journey towards the otherworldly Shangri-La.

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Shangri-La

Day 8: Visiting a Tibetan Family

After breakfast, visit Dukezong Old Town, exploring the ancient streets lined by traditional Tibetan houses. Then, at Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, discover the routine life of monks, communicate with a revered Lama, and appreciate the mystical atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism.

Continue to Napa Lake, enjoying its natural beauty and visiting a Tibetan household. Welcomed by the unsophisticated host, engage in authentic interactions, learn about Tibetan customs, and savor butter tea, a traditional Tibetan beverage.

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Shangri-La

Day 9: Shangri-la, Departure

On your final day in Yunnan, take the convenience of a private transfer from your accommodation to the airport and embark on the new journey to your next destination.

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What Our Clients Say

"Great Customized Service", "Trip of A Lifetime", "Exceed All Expectations"

Richee Family Adventures

05 Aug 2025

Second Honeymoon My wife and I celebrated our 20th anniversary by spending a few weeks touring around Asia. We loved how Odynovo worked with us to craft a tour of what we wanted to see and how we wanted to see it. This was our first time traveling with a private tour guide, and it was truly amazing. they took care of all transportation, tickets, and everywhere we went we had someone who not only spoke our language, but was also very well-versed in the places we were visiting. We saw Beijing and then took a bullet train to Xi'an. In both cities we had tour guides who had done this "a thousand times," and as a result knew all the tricks on where to take the best pictures, what lines to stand in, where to eat, and what not to waste your time seeing. At one point our guide pulled out ponchos from her backpack when it started to rain, while another helped us haggle for a good price on a new suitcase. We were surprised by how much we loved China, and it is safe to say that is because of the quality of service we got from Odynovo. Oh, and the hotels were great, too! In our first hotel my wife fell in love with her breakfast soup that she had to have every morning, while in Xi'an we were right around the corner from the Muslim Night Market and were able to get to it in less than 5 minutes of walking.We are already looking to see what tours we will be doing next through Odynovo, as the service was amazing, the quality was remarkable, and the cost was very worth it for what we received.
Shannon V

05 Aug 2025

Fabulous! We had a fabulous experience with our guide and Odynovo walking the Great Wall of China, and all other sites in Beijing. We loved our Peking duck dinner. It was fabulous. Thank you, Sammie/Jing for a great experience.
domotic d

05 Aug 2025

Beijing Beauty It started off with a friendly face at the airport, with Roy, our tour guide.The week has been such a pleasure and a treat. From adventures to The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, to local markets, delicious Beijing food and roof top tea houses.Roy and our driver, Mr. Zhou, were prompt in picking us up and driving us around safely.The knowledge and fact about history and Beijing that Roy knows and explains is amazing and the fact he could answer my weird and inquisitive history questionsnwoth ease was a treat.He made it so easy to enjoy ourselves and absorb all that was around us, he even takes great photos too! 😊Polite, kind and thoughtful and ever patient in letting us take our time with things that interested us.I would highly recommend this tour and Roy again and again.
Zarah B

05 Aug 2025

Amazing travel experience My name is Zarah M. Babangida a Nigerian and i visited Beijing with my colleagues from the office. During our 5 day stay in Beijing, Ms. Eva Ma, was our Tour guide and from the minute we came through the Arrival Gate of the Airport, we were embraced by her alluring smile and warm welcome. She remained consistent with her warmth, a kind and intelligent professional who exuded unique passion not just for her job as a tour guide but, even more so as a proud Chinese woman. Her outstanding insight and knowledge of the sweet Chinese history and heritage left us in awe. I couldn't be more proud and thankful that she was assigned to our group and she made our stay exciting, fun-filled effortless and knowledge packed. I absolutely commend her dedication to work which she depicted throughout our stay. I recommend her to every visiting tourist because to know Eva, is to love her. If it were up to me, i will increase her bonuses or upgrade her salary as i am sure most tourists would want or revisit for her sake first and then perhaps other reasons.Thank you Eva and keep the passion up🙌.

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