Yunnan Exploration Tour With Authentic Experience

Itinerary

• 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 for about 1.5 hours, 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 ethnic-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 known for its exquisite embroidery works and intricate crafts.

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  • Dali

• Day 3: Nuodeng Village & Its Salt History

  From Dali, a 4-hour drive leads to the living ancient Nuodeng Village, a hidden gem famed for its millennium-old salt well and well-preserved folk dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

  Explore the village, witnessing residents boil salt, visiting temples, ancestral halls, and buildings with distinctive Bai architectural features, and listening to stories of caravans, salt stoves, cured ham, and more.

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  • Nuodeng Village

• Day 4: Nuodeng Village - Dali

  Today, you will leave Nodeng Village and return to Dali, which is approximately a 4-hour journey. Enjoy some leisure time in the afternoon, you may like to take a stroll in the nearby parks, or perhaps treat yourself to some desserts or coffee at a lakeside café.

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  • Dali

• Day 5: Dali - Lijiang, Shaxi Old Town

  The drive from Dali to Lijiang will take approximately 4 hours. Along the way, detour to Shaxi Old Town, an important market town on the ancient Tea Horse Road in China. Explore the tranquil Nangu Zongxiang Alley, surrounded by traditional Bai ethnic dwellings, and you can encounter residents dressed in traditional Bai attire here.

  After a brief rest, continue to the Old Town of Lijiang, where charming streets and local shops showcasing diverse products invite a leisurely stroll. A highlight not to be missed in Lijiang is the majestic Mufu Mansion - the former royal palace of the Naxi government in feudal times.

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  • Lijiang

• Day 6: Village Tour & Naxi 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.

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  • Shangri-La

• Day 10: Nampahai Gumbi Village Trekking & Tibetan Family Visit

  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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