9-day Yunnan Essence Tour

  • Day 1 Arrival in Kunming

    Upon arrival in Kunming, you will meet your local tour guide and transfer to check in the hotel for a rest.

  • Day 2 Kunming
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Kunming Flowers & Birds Market, Stone Forest,

    After breakfast, today your tour starts with Kunming Flowers & Birds Market. Then drive 1.5 hours (90 KM) to visit the Stone Forest. The Stone Forest covers 26,000-hectare and from a distance, it does indeed look like a forest of stones with its peaks and odd-shaped rocks standing straight up from the ground. You can walk around the forest on paths that have been built and there are some stairs for climbing if you want to walk around it.

  • Day 3 Kunming/Dali
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Zhoucheng Village, Chongshengsi Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town,

    Take morning flight from Kunming to Dali. Upon arrival in Dali, you will be transferred to visit Zhoucheng Village for local Bai people's traditional Tie-dye cloth art workshop. Then visit Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. Standing on the city wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.

  • Day 4 Dali/Lijiang
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Xizhou Village, Lijiang Old City,

    After a morning visit to local market at Xizhou Town and Yan Family Mansion full Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Then drive about 180 km (3 hours) to Lijiang. Walk around for a relax the Lijiang Old City.

  • Day 5 Lijiang
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Baisha Old Town, Naxi Dongba Ancient Music, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain,

    After having breakfast in your hotel, your guide will meet you and you will be driven (50 munites ) to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area. Here you will visit the Yufeng Temple and Yuhu Village, the largest village with Naxi minority located on the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Also you will see the old house here of Joseph Rock. Then to you will then be driven (30 munites) to visit the Baisha Mural Paintings. The murals are unique ancient religious murals which blend Buddhist, Daoist, and Muslim religious themes. You will then (30 munites ) visit the Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture located inside.

     

  • Day 6 Lijiang/Tiger Leaping Gorge
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:First Bend of the Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge,

    After breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven to Tiger Leaping Gorge. On the way you will see the First Bend of the Yangtze River. The views are spectacular. Then you will arrive the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The gorge, known for its stunning rock formations and white water rapids, is one of the deepest gorges in the world. You will start your hiking journey. Hiking along the High Trail from the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, along the gorge's 28 bends until you get to the Tea Horse Guest House. This will take 5 to 6 hours. (Your hiking destination is about 2600 meters above sea level)

    Note and Suggestion: Due to the fact that there are no roads leading to your hiking destination, Tea Horse Guest House, most of your luggage will be left on your car with your driver and they will be safely waiting for your arrival the next day. Or you can choose to rent a horse to carry all your luggage with you to your destination. The hiking track is mainly little paths, and Unpaved Road.

  • Day 7 Tiger Leaping Gorge/Shangri-La
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Tiger Leaping Gorge,

    After you have had your breakfast, you will continue hiking. You will hike from the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, where you will stop at Tina's Guesthouse to have break and lunch. Also your car and driver and luggage will waiting for you here. After lunch you will take your car and drive to Zhongdian. (about 3 hours)

  • Day 8 Shangri-La
    Meals: B, L
    Visited:Songzanlin Monastery,

    In the morning, after having breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven (1 hours) to Pudacuo National Park. Here you will see the gorgeous scenery. Lakes, hills, herds of yaks. After visiting the lake you will be driven ( 40 munites) to the Songzanlin Lamasery. The monastery, often referred to as the “Little Potala Palace” due to its similar appearance, combines Tibetan and Chinese architectural styles. This beautiful monastery houses many priceless treasures.

  • Day 9 Shangri-La/Kunming/Departure
    Meals: B

    After breakfast in your hotel, your local guide will meet you and you will be driven (30 munites) to the airport for your flight (55 munites) to Kunming, where you will take another flight from Kunming to your next destination.

Price Includes:

Transportation & Private Transfers:

Transportation cost covers all the domestic airfare of economy class with airport tax, train tickets between the cities as the itinerary specified.


Transfer between airports, railway station, hotels and scenic spots for sightseeing around the cities that are specified by the itinerary with private air conditioned vehicle with driver and English-speaking guide. Separate arrivals and departures will incur extra charges.


Entrance Fees:

All entrance fees to the scenic spots listed in the itinerary. The final arrangement will be determined by private tour guides depends on the real-time local circumstances wheather are beyond the control of Access China Travel. We will adhere to the original itinerary as accurately as possible.


Normal Meals:

All normal meals as the itinerary specified: B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = dinner in local restaurant. Breakfasts are served in hotel, breakfasts have Chinese or Western style for your option; Lunches are served in carefully selected quality local Chinese restaurants with best service, your lunches will be ordered by your guide catering to your preferences within normal standard. Dinners as the itinerary specified will be also served in local Chinese restaurants. The meal quotation is normalized. If you have any special request about meals, like vegetarian, famous rare dishes, Indian food or more, please inform us in advance. For the unspecified dinners, you will have dinner on your own. Feel free to ask your local guide for suggestions or recommendation.


Private Sightseeing Escort:

Normal sightseeing activities as the itinerary listed will be escorted with English-speaking guide. The English-speaking guide and driver in each city are with you throughout the entire itinerary around that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.


Hotel Accommodation:

Hotel service criterion: two adults share on one standard twin/double-bed room; solo traveler who want to occupy one twin/double-bed room assigned is required for extra single supplement rate. A single room is available on prior request at an additional cost; if a recommended hotel unavailable, it will be replaced by one of the same class. All hotels as the itinerary listed serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.


Tour Arrangements:

The tour cost includes the planning, handling, booking, operation and communication charges.

Service Charge & Government Taxes

Price Excludes:

International airfare or train tickets for entry or exit China, unless that is noted or required otherwise.

Visa Fees, passport application or renewal fee.

Excess Baggage Charges.
Personal Expenses:
Expenses of a purely personal nature such as excess luggage fees, laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities (shows) and meals, beverages...

Meals:
Any meal are not specified in the itinerary with "B", "L" or "D".
Any extra cost caused by the changes of natural disasters, fires, weather, government and local authority orders, politics, strikes, war, riots, quarantine, custom regulations; as well as tourist law violation, accident damages or injury incurred out of Access China Travel control.

Gratuities:
Tips to guides, escort, drivers bellman, etc.