Itinerary
- Day 1
Kunming
You'll arrive at Kunming International Airport where your driver meets you for the hotel transfer. If there's time before checking in, head to Green Lake for a walk around the water or check out the Birds and Flowers Market to see local vendors and plants.
- Start point
- Kunming Changshui International Airport, 官渡区机场高速东北端大板桥镇长水村, Kunming Shi, Yunnan, China (Arrival exit)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre), Hotel (Wyndham Garden KunMing PanLong)
Optional Activities
- Visit The Green Lake
- Visit the Birds and Flowers Market in Kunming
Landmarks Green Lake Birds and Flowers Market 
- Day 2
Kunming to Dongchuan Red Land
Your driver picks you up at 8:30 am for the drive to Dongchuan Red Land, which takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. Once there, you'll tour Music Hollow and the surrounding areas known for photography. Try to arrive around 4:30 pm to catch the best light, then photograph the sunset and the sunset glow in Wafang Liangzi or Music Hollow. Later, head to Luoxianggou Valley for more photo opportunities as evening comes on.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Music Hollow (Yuepuao)
- Photography at Wafang Liangzi area
- Sunset viewing and photography in Music Hollow
- Visit Luoxianggou Valley
Landmarks Dongchuan Red Land Music Hollow (Yuepuao) Flower Stone (Huashitou) Village Wafang Liangzi Luoxianggou Valley - Day 3
Dongchuan Red Land to Kunming
You'll need to wake early and leave the hotel at 5:30 am to catch the sunrise at Damakan, which is the best location for photographing the red fields. It's only about 30 minutes from where you're staying. After sunrise, drive to Seven-Color Slope near Embroidery Garden, then continue to Jinxiuyuan to see the rolling hills and red earth. Grab lunch before the drive back to Kunming, which takes 3 to 3.5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Kunming City Centre), Hotel (Wyndham Garden KunMing PanLong)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Damakan
- Visit Seven-Color Slope (Qicaipo)
- Visit Jinxiuyuan
Landmarks Damakan Seven-Color Slope (Qicaipo) Embroidery Garden Jinxiuyuan - Day 4
Kunming to Jianshui
Today you'll drive to Jianshui, a journey of 4 to 5 hours. Once you arrive, visit Shuanglong Bridge and walk through Tuanshan Village, including the Garden of Family Zhang. Then explore Jianshui Old City and the Chaoyang Gateway Tower, built in 1389 during the Ming Dynasty. The tower is called the 'Miniature Tian'anmen' because it resembles Beijing's famous Tian'anmen Square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Lin'an Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Shuanglong Bridge
- Visit Tuanshan Village
- Visit Garden of Family Zhang
- Tour Jianshui Old City
- Visit Chaoyang Gateway Tower
Landmarks Shuanglong Bridge Tuanshan Village Garden of Family Zhang Jianshui Old City Chaoyang Gateway Tower - Day 5
Jianshui to Yuanyang
In the morning, you'll tour the Confucius Temple, which has 700 years of history and ranks as the second largest Confucius temple in China. After that, check out the Zhu Family Garden. During the afternoon, you'll transfer to Yuanyang and head to Laohuzui, known as Tiger Mouth, to catch the sunset over the terraced rice fields below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Confucius Temple
- Visit Zhu Family Garden
- Sunset viewing at Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) terraced fields
Landmarks Confucius Temple Zhu Family Garden Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Rice Terraces - Day 6
Yuanyang
You'll wake very early to head to Duoyishu Village and watch the sunrise over the rice terraces with their layered patterns cascading down the hillsides. From there, visit Qingkou Village to see the Hani people's rice terraces, then tour Bada Hani Rice Terrace and check out Shengcun Market. In the late afternoon, head to Longshuba Rice Terraces, about 5 km from Xinjie Town, for sunset views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields
- Visit Duoyishu Village
- Visit Qingkou Village
- Visit Bada Hani Rice Terrace
- Visit Shengcun Market
- Sunset viewing at Longshuba Rice Terraces
Landmarks Duoyishu Village Duoyishu Rice Terrace Fields Qingkou Village Bada Hani Rice Terrace Shengcun Market Longshuba Rice Terraces - Day 7
Yuanyang - Stone Forest - Kunming
You'll leave early for Stone Forest, one of the world's major karst landscapes, located 5 to 6 hours away. Spend your time exploring the unique rock formations that have inspired the saying 'It is a waste of time not to visit the Stone Forest while visiting Kunming.' After touring, head back to Kunming in the late afternoon, a drive of about 1.5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour Stone Forest
Landmarks Stone Forest - Day 8
Kunming to Dali
Take a 2-hour speed train to Dali, a city known for its historical and cultural significance and its Bai ethnic heritage. Visit the Three Pagodas at Chongshen Monastery, which are over 1,800 years old and sit at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. Then cruise Erhai Lake by small boat to Jinsuo Islet, where about 200 Bai ethnic families live. You'll see Cangshan Mountain, the Three Pagodas, birds and seagulls from the water. After lunch, walk through Ancient Dali Town and Foreigner Street, then climb the City Wall for panoramic views of Erhai Lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Three Pagodas at Chongshen Monastery
- Erhai Lake cruise to Jinsuo Islet
- Walk through Ancient Dali Town
- Explore Foreigner Street
- Climb Dali City Wall
Landmarks Three Pagodas Chongshen Monastery Cangshan Mountain Erhai Lake Jinsuo Islet Ancient Dali Town Foreigner Street Dali City Wall - Day 9
Dali to Shaxi
Head to Xizhou Town to walk through traditional Bai-style architectural courtyards. Then transfer to Jianchuan County, a drive of 2 to 2.5 hours, and visit Shibaoshan Mountain, built during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Continue to Shaxi Old Town, an ancient market town and former Silk Road trading post that connected Tibet, China, Southeast Asia and Europe. This southern route is at least 300 years older than the famous northern Silk Road.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Xizhou Town
- Visit Shibaoshan Mountain
- Visit Shaxi Old Town
Landmarks Xizhou Town Jianchuan County Shibaoshan Mountain Shizhong (Stone Bell) Hills Shaxi Old Town - Day 10
Shaxi to Lijiang
You'll drive to Lijiang along the express way. Once there, visit Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to learn about Naxi minority culture. Tour Lijiang Ancient Town, also called Dayan Ancient Town, and walk through the Ming-dynasty style Mufu Palace, which people call the 'Forbidden City' of Lijiang. Spend time in the old alleys, cross the bridges, shop at local stores and bars, ending up at Sifang Street Square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Black Dragon Pool
- Visit Dongba Museum
- Tour Lijiang Ancient Town (Dayan Ancient Town)
- Visit Mufu Palace
- Explore old alleys and bridges
- Visit Sifang Street Square
Landmarks Black Dragon Pool Dongba Museum Lijiang Ancient Town Dayan Ancient Town Mufu Palace Sifang Street Square - Day 11
Lijiang - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
You'll drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow at 3,100m elevation and take a sightseeing bus through Baishuihe River valley. Use the chairlift to reach Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and hike for about 1 hour through the original forest at Spruce Meadow, which sits at 3,200m. After lunch, watch the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show at Ganhaizi Meadow, a cultural performance held in an outdoor theater at 3,500m. In the afternoon, stroll through Baisha Village, a traditional Yunnan village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sightseeing bus through Baishuihe River
- Chairlift to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Hiking in Spruce Meadow (approximately 1 hour)
- Watch Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show
- Visit Baisha Village
Landmarks Ganhaizi Meadow Baishuihe River Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Spruce Meadow Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park Baisha Village - Day 12
Lijiang to Shangri-La
Drive about 60 km to the First Bend on the Yangtze River to see the impressive gorge scenery. Visit the Iron Chain Bridge and the Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument in Shigu Town, also called Stone Drum. Continue to Tiger Leaping Gorge, the world's deepest gorge with 34 rapids on the Yangtze River, called the Jinsha in this area. In the afternoon, head to Shangri-La and explore Dukezong Ancient Town, an important stop on the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan route that ran from Yunnan to Tibet and India.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit First Bend on the Yangtze River
- Visit Iron Chain Bridge
- Visit Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument
- Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Explore Dukezong Ancient Town
Landmarks First Bend on the Yangtze River Iron Chain Bridge Shigu Town Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument Tiger Leaping Gorge Dukezong Ancient Town - Day 13
Shangri-La
In the morning, visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan, sometimes called the 'little Potala Palace' for its traditional architectural style and mysterious feel. Check out Bita Lake and Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park, one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. In the late afternoon, return to Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town, climb Guishan Hill, also called Tortoise Hill, to see the world's largest prayer wheel and get panoramic views of Shangri-La county and the ancient town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (Songzanlin Monastery)
- Visit Bita Lake
- Visit Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park
- Visit Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town
- Climb Guishan Hill (Tortoise Hill)
- View world's largest prayer wheel
Landmarks Ganden Sumtseling Monastery Songzanlin Monastery Pudacuo National Park Bita Lake Shudu Lake Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town Guishan Hill World's Largest Prayer Wheel - Day 14
Shangri-La Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure. Your tour concludes.
- End point
- Xianggelila xian, Diqing Zangzu Zizhizhou, Yunnan, China (Main entrance)
- Meals
- Breakfast
