Yunnan Exploration Tour With Authentic Experience

/5 935 Latest reviews

Tour Code: ODY-CN-2416

Destination:Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La

Duration

11 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

Classic

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About This Trip

Enjoy an 11-day journey through Yunnan and indulge in the diverse land brimming with vibrant ethnic cultures. Starting from Dali, try the unique Three-Course Tea of the Bai people in Xizhou, explore the millenarian salt history in Nuodeng Village, and visit the Mufu Mansion in Lijiang, known as the Forbidden City of southern China. Additionally, hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge, travel to the sacred land of Shangri-La, engage in deep conversations with monks at Songzanlin Monastery, stroll along the circular trail of Nampahai Gumbi Village, and experience the unique Tibetan culture firsthand.

Itinerary Summary

DAY PLACE HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 3 Dali Erhai Lake Bike Tour, Xizhou Town, Nuodeng Village
4 - 6 Lijiang Lijiang Old Town, Naxi Family Visit, Shuhe Old Town, Mu Fu Mansion
7 - 8 Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking
9 - 11 Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery, Tibetan Family Visit, Dukezong Old Town, Nampahai Gumbi Village Hiking
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Itinerary

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Day 1: Dali, Arrival

Welcome to Dali, a charming and lively city in Yunnan Province! After arriving at the airport or train station, your guide and driver will be there to greet you and accompany you to your hotel.

Dali

Day 2: Erhai Lake Bike Tour & Xizhou Town

Today, you will ride along the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor, starting from Caicun and stopping at the S-curve next to the lake, covering approximately 12 kilometers.

Your next stop will be Xizhou Town, where many Bai-style buildings are preserved. Enter the Yan Family Courtyard and taste three types of tea, the highest courtesy of the hospitable Bai people. Further exploration will lead you to the Xi Embroidery Workshop, a nearly century-old establishment in the ancient town known for its exquisite embroidery works and intricate crafts.

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Dali

Day 3: Millenarian Nuodeng Village & Its Salt History

From Dali, it takes about a four-hour drive to reach the ancient Nuodeng Village, famed for its natural gas salt well that has been flowing for a millennium and well-preserved folk dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties dating up to the 14th century.

Explore the village, witnessing residents boiling salt, visiting temples, ancestral halls, and buildings with distinctive architectural features of the Bai people, and listening to stories of caravans, salt stoves, cured ham, etc, where all the tales and legends find their place in history.

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Nuodeng Village

Day 4: Nuodeng Village - Dali & Free Afternoon

Today, you will leave Nodeng Village and return to Dali, which is approximately a 4-hour journey. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon by strolling in the nearby parks, or perhaps treat yourself to some desserts or coffee at a lakeside café by Erhai Lake.

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Dali

Day 5: Dali - Lijiang

The drive from Dali to Lijiang will take approximately four hours.

Along the way, have a detour to Shaxi Old Town, an important station on the ancient Tea Horse Road in China. Explore the tranquil Nangu Zongxiang Alley, surrounded by traditional Bai ethnic dwellings, and occasionally spot residents dressed in traditional Bai attire passing by.

After a brief rest, continue to the bustling Old Town of Lijiang, where charming streets and an abundance of shops showcasing diverse products invite you to strolls around. A highlight not to be missed in Lijiang is the majestic Mufu Mansion – the palace of the Naxi government of Lijiang in feudal times.

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Lijiang

Day 6: Delve into the Naxi Culture with a Family Visit

Start the tour today by strolling Shuhe Town, which offers a contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lijiang Old Town. Then, nestled beneath the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Village rests in quiet serenity. Discover its precious Buddhist murals, whose colors may have faded over time but still exhibit a vibrant palette, precise layout, and meticulous brushwork.

Following that, be welcomed into a local Naxi family's home in Yuhu Village. The hosts dressed in traditional Naxi attire will greet you, introduce you to Naxi script and culture, display ancient artifacts, engage you in making soy milk and tofu pudding, and treat you with Naxi snacks.

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Lijiang

Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking

After a 2-hour drive from Lijiang, you will embark on a trek from Qiaotou to Tea Horse Inn (4.5-5 hours), where you will stay for the night.

During the trek, you will traverse along the profound corridor of the canyon, with majestic cliffs on both sides. In the deep recesses of the gorge, the river rushes vigorously, creating spectacular waterfalls and turbulent rapids, outlining a masterpiece crafted by the extraordinary hand of nature.

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Shangri-La

Day 8: Travel From Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangri-La

Today, you will continue your in-depth exploration of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Embark on a 4-hour picturesque hike from the Tea Horse Inn to Tina's House, where you can enjoy the refreshing air and lush vegetation, all while gazing down at the roaring Jinsha River below.

Afterward, travel by car to Shangri-La.

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Shangri-La

Day 9: Songzanlin Monastery & Dukezong Old Town

Today, explore the magnificent Songzanlin Monastery, where you will engage with the lama, gaining insights into Tibetan Buddhism and its practices. Listen to the lama recite scripture and savor some snacks and butter tea in the temple.

Following this enlightening experience, immerse yourself in the ancient charm of Dukezong Old Town, participating in a prayer session to embrace the spiritual ambiance. Conclude your day with leisure time to unwind and reflect on the cultural richness encountered during your journey.

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Shangri-La

Day 10: Nampahai Gumbi Village Circuit Trekking

Take a car from the hotel and travel 8 kilometers to the village of Nampahai, where today's hiking starts. The scenic route features streams, seasonal high-altitude flowers, pastures, and oak forests. During the appropriate seasons, you may even pick up wild mushrooms. It takes about 3.5 hours to reach the mouth of Cibulakaya, rewarding with the panoramic view of the Napahai Natural Reserve.

Afterward, continue with a visit to a hospitable Tibetan family, where you can indulge in genuine local snacks. On the return trip to Shangri La County, revel in the stunning vistas of Tibetan villages, verdant pastures, and pristine wilderness.

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Shangri-La

Day 11: Shangri-La, Farewell

Today, you will enjoy a leisurely morning and then bid farewell to Shangri-La. According to your itinerary, we will transport you to either the train station or the airport.

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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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