17 days China Ethnic Minority Discovery Tour
- Trip Highlights: This is an in-depth tour in the culturally rich minority regions of Southwest China including Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Join this tour, you will not only witness the colorful minority culture and their admirable lifestyle, but also be amazed by the incredible natural beauties and cultural heritages in the region.
- Tour Route: Kunming (Spring City)
Dali (Ancient Ethnic Minority Town)Lijiang (Preserved Ancient Town)Shangri-la (Zhongdian)Lhasa (Holy Tibetan City)Chengdu (Home of the Giant Panda)Guiyang (Home of Ethnic Minority Groups)KailiGuiyang (Home of Ethnic Minority Groups)
- Tour Code: COT-K-017
- Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
- Starts/Ends: Kunming/Guiyang
- Trip Type: Special-themed Tours, Ethnic Culture and Folk Arts, Landscape and Nature
- Activity Level: Regular itinerary, Moderate walking
- Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
- Special Experiences:
- Visit ethic minority villages where possess not only beautiful landscapes but also unique lifestyle you could envy about
- Get down to the deepest gorge in the world with picturesque snowy mountains lining the two sides
- Unique boating experience on the underground river through an incredibel Karst cave
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive / Kunming
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel 
Upon arriving in Kunming, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, or step out onto the city for a little adventure of your own.
Day 2 Kunming (B,L)
Accommodations: Kunming Hotel
Sites visited: Stone Forest
On this day you will visit Kunming's famous Stone Forest, a bizarre rock formation created over millennia of rain and weather. A must-see! In the afternoon you will be free to check out all that Kunming has to offer.
Day 3 Kunming / Dali (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Asia Star hotel Dali
Sites visited: Erhai Lake, The Old Dali Town, Three Pagodas, Xizhou Bai Minority Village
This morning you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to Dali. Upon arriving in Dali, your tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. You will then take a cruise on the picturesque Erhai Lake, followed by a visit to a Bai ethnic minority village. In the late afternoon you will visit Dali Ancient Town, and its ancient Three Pagodas.
Day 4 Dali / Lijiang (B,L)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Zhoucheng Village, Lijiang Ancient Town, Lion Hill
Be driven to Lijiang from Dali without your tour guide (about 3 hours drive with your personal driver only). Along the way, you will stop by the Zhoucheng Village and see the process of tie-dye. Visit Ancient Town and the Lion Hill in Lijiang County.
Day 5 Lijiang (B,L)
Accommodations: Wang fu Hotel
Sites visited: Baisha Mural Paintings, Black Dragon Pool Park, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
You will be driven to the picturesque Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, followed by a visit to the ancient Baisha Mural Paintings. You will then be driven back to Lijiang where you will visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture inside the park.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture
Day 6 Lijiang / Zhongdian (Shangri-la) (B,L)
Accommodations: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel
Sites visited: First Bend of the Yangtze River, Shigu (Stone Drum) Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge
In the morning you will be driven to the town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to view the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and Iron Chain Bridge. After, you will visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. In the late afternoon, you will be driven to Shangri-La (2 to 3 hours drive).
Day 7 Zhongdian (Shangri-la) (B,L)
Accommodations: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel
Sites visited: Bita Lake, Shudu Lake, The Songzanlin Lamasery, Zhongdian
This day will be a wonderfully full one. In the morning you will visit Bitahai and Shudu Lakes, followed by a visit to the Gedan Songzanlin Monastery. In the evening, be introduced to the famous hospitality of the Tibetan people as you visit a Tibetan family in their home.
Day 8 Zhongdian / Lhasa (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Tibet Hotel
On this day you will be free until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination-Lhasa. Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel in Lhasa city (2-hour drive), you will view the Stone Giant Buddha engraved in the mountain face en route. After checking in the hotel, rest in the afternoon to get adapted to the high altitude.
Bita Lake
Barkhor Street
Day 9 Lhasa (B,L)
Accommodations: Tibet Hotel
Sites visited: Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace
Your sightseeing today will include the Lhasa's cardinal landmark - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and flourishing Barkhor Street.
Day 10 Lhasa (B,L)
Accommodations: Tibet Hotel
Sites visited: Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka Park, Sera Monastery
Today we will bring you to the Norbulingka Park, the Drepung Monastery and the Sera Monastery.
Day 11 Lhasa / Chengdu (B,L,D)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Tianfu Sunshine hotel
Special Dinner: Chuan Food
Free in the day until our local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to your next destination-Chengdu. Upon arriving in Chengdu, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel for a rest before you are taken out for a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine at a local restaurant.
Sera Monastery
Chuan Food
Day 12 Chengdu (B,L)
Accommodations: Tianfu Sunshine hotel
Sites visited: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Jinli Old Street, Tea houses, Wenshu Temple
On this day, you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple where you can spend some time sitting in its tea house enjoying a cup of traditional Chinese tea and absorb the special atmosphere of Chengdu and Jili Old Street.
Day 13 Chengdu / Guiyang (B,L)
Transfer via: Domestic flight arranged by China Odyssey Tours
Accommodations: Hawn Mandarin Inn
You will be free until your local guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination - Guiyang. Upon your arrival at the Guiyang Airport, you will be met by your guide, who will escort you to your hotel. Guizhou is nicknamed 'The Kingdom of Mountains', because 87% of its land is comprised of mountains and plateaus. In the evening you will have a welcoming banquet to get acquainted. Stay overnight in Guiyang.
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
Jinli Old Street
Day 14 Guiyang (B,L)
Accommodations: Hawn Mandarin Inn
Sites visited: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Dragon Palace Cave
On this morning you will be driven to Anshun 157km (2.5hours) for a full day tour. You will visit the Huangguoshu Waterfall and in the afternoon you will take a boat ride through the Dragon Palace Cave. In the evening you will be driven back to Guiyang. Stay overnight in Guiyang.
Day 15 Guiyang / Kaili (B,L)
Accommodations: Heaven-sent Dragon hotel
Sites visited: Kaili Museum
You will be driven from Guiyang to Kaili 220 kilometers (2.5 hours). In Kaili you will visit the Kaili Museum, which will give you an excellent introduction to the clothing of Guizhou's ethnic minority groups. In the afternoon you will be driven to Shiqiao, to see how the famous local paper is hand-made as it has been for centuries. On the way back to Kaili, you will stop at the Qingman Miao minority village. The village is famous for its folded silk felting. Stay overnight in Kaili.
Huangguoshu Waterfall
miao people
Day 16 Kaili (B,L)
Accommodations: Heaven-sent Dragon hotel
In the morning, you will be driven from Kaili along the Bala River to the village of Jidao 65 kilometers (1 hour), a beautiful village filled with traditional wooden houses and waterwheels. After lunch you will continue your journey to Datang, a Miao village well known for its aquatic granary and the traditional ethnic miniskirts worn by the Miao women. Later in the afternoon you will visit the village of Paika to learn about the Lusheng, a traditional Miao ethnic musical instrument made from a gourd. In the evening, you will be driven back to Kaili. Stay overnight in Kaili.
Day 17 Kaili / Guiyang / Departure (B)
Transfer via: International flight arranged by you
On this day you will be free to relax, or explore the city before being escorted to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Price & Included Features
- China domestic flights as specified in the itinerary
- Accommodations: for 16 nights at four star hotels in comfortable twin-bedded rooms with a private bath, air-conditioning, television, telephone and minibar.
- 32 meals: 16 full breakfasts, 15 lunches and 1 dinners(included )
- Round-trip transfers between airports, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers
- A local English-speaking guide in each city
- Entrance fees to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels
- China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance
- Government taxes and service charges except tips for tour guides and drivers
Accommodation
Founded in May 1956, Kunming Hotel started business in October 1958. The European style architecture of the Hotel looked so serene that it was a very eye-catching building in Kunming in the mid-twentieth century.In 1982, the main building was constructed. The futuristic design of the towering building is still attractive. It was redecorated in 1992. With its well-appointed equipment and first-rate service, Kunming Hotel became the first four-star hotel in Yunnan. Detail
The hotel has 300 deluxe rooms with mountain and Lake View, 10 luxury suites. The Asia star has the following facilities: more than 300 tastefully furnished double or single bedrooms with in-suite bathrooms, standard or deluxe suites and rooms for the handicapped. All our rooms have a view of ERHAI Lake and CHANGSHAN Mountain. Detail
Lijiang Wangfu Hotel is a charming and unique four star hotel in Lijiang.The hotel has 2 floors and 92 guest rooms. Complete with small courtyards, gates, and waterside pavilions, the peaceful surroundings resemble a traditional Chinese landscape painting.
Shangri-la - Gyalthang Dzong Hotel
It is a comfortable 4 star hotel in Shangri-la.
Tibet Hotel is an enterprise under the administration of Tourism Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region, which is a luxurious three-star hotel with traditional Tibetan style. The hotel is constructed in granite in shape of the Potala Palace. The hotel is near to the Potala Palace and Norbulinka with comfortable environment and convenient transportation. After finish the Building for the Honored Guests of Tibet Hotel which is built with the standard of four-star hotel and invested 50 million Yuan, Tibet Hotel will welcome you with a new appearance. Tibet Hotel has 258 super-decorated guest rooms and suites including 2 luxurious presidential suites, 8 luxurious suites, 5 economic suites, 220 standard rooms, 20 single rooms, 8 triple rooms and 3 special rooms for the disabled. All these rooms are equipped with sanitary ware from U.S.A., coded safe, central heating system, in-room safe, hair dryer, private bathroom, weight, color TV, refrigerator, mini-bar and etc. Besides these, there are also living-room, office, chess-room and sona-bath. Detail
Chengdu - Tianfu Sunshine hotel
Chengdu's Tianfu Sunshine Hotel is a four-star hotel, located in the city center, only 20 minutes by car from the airport.The interior of the hotel, designed by internationally renowned design firm Hirsch, provides an aesthetic appeal of the highest order. Detail
It is a standard 4 star hotel in Guiyang.
Kaili - Heaven-sent Dragon hotel
It is a standard 4 star hotel in Kaili which is a small town.
Meals
Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Breakfast - Each breakfast will be served in your hotel. Breakfast selections include both Chinese and Western dishes to meet every diner's taste.
Lunch - Lunches are normally arranged at the Chinese restaurants near the scenic spots. Your tour guides will order food according to your appetite. Most are Chinese dishes, and some are modified to fit westerners' tastes. A complimentary glass of beer or soft drink is served with lunch.
Dinner - Same as lunch. If you prefer to not eat Chinese food, China Odyssey Tours suggests you have dinner on your own. Your local tour guide can recommend some good western restaurants in the area.
Transfer and Transport Service
China Odyssey Tours has received wide recognition for its transfer service. With our on-time service, you will never feel alone while traveling through China. We work hard to live up to the slogan's promise "You are not alone in China".
With our private small group tours, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will enjoy flexible tour arrangements and you will have your own tour guide, car and driver in each destination, exclusive to your own group of friends or family.
