Yunnan · 7 days / 6 nights
7-Day Yunnan: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La
The same four cities as our eight-day loop, with one night fewer — for travellers who have a week and want Yunnan’s classics, not a sampler.
A tighter cut of the classic loop. You still sleep in all four cities, still climb to the glacier, still end on the Tibetan plateau. What you lose is a rest day in Kunming.
Day by dayExactly what happens, in order — nothing added for the brochure.
Arrive in Kunming
Upon arrival in Kunming, visit a local market to experience Yunnan's vibrant daily life and fresh produce. Or, head to Green Lake Park, a scenic urban park with willow trees, lotus ponds, and flocks of wintering seagulls (seasonal). A relaxing introduction to the city.
Train to Dali: tea garden, Erhai, old town
Take a bullet train from Kunming to Dali. Visit the Spring Tea Garden (Sishichun Tea Garden) to pick, roast, and press your own tea cake – a hands-on experience of Yunnan's tea culture. Then, enjoy a scenic walk along the Erhai Ecological Corridor, a lakeside path with mountain and lake views. End in Dali Ancient Town, with traditional Bai architecture and lively streets.
Yuhu village and the Naxi old house
Drive from Dali to Lijiang. Visit Yuhu Village, a peaceful Naxi village at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, known for its stone houses and Joseph Rock's former residence (Not Open). Then, go to the Naxi Century-Old House Ecological Park – here you can learn Dongba script (optional, extra cost), try making a sheepskin drum (optional, extra cost), and enjoy a bonfire party with a cozy fireside chat (if the group is large enough).
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley
Ascend Jade Dragon Snow Mountain via cable car to the Glacier Park, with stunning high-altitude views. Visit Blue Moon Valley (battery car included), a turquoise-colored lake at the mountain's foot. In the afternoon, watch the Impression Lijiang Show (regular seat), an open-air performance by local ethnic groups. End at Yundi'an Cafe, where you can relax with coffee, enjoy the scenery, and take photos (professional photo service optional, extra cost).
Tiger Leaping Gorge, on to Shangri-La
Drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest gorges, with dramatic views of the Jinsha River. Then, explore Dukezong Ancient Town, a Tibetan old town with cobbled streets and prayer flags – here you can try Tangka painting (included as an experience). End at Guishan Park, home to the world's largest prayer wheel.
Songzanlin Monastery, Napa lake, train to Kunming
Visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, often called the "Little Potala Palace." Then, enjoy a scenic drive around Napa Lake, a seasonal wetland with grazing yaks and stunning mountain views. In the afternoon, take a bullet train back to Kunming and check into your hotel.
Fly home
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Kunming. Your driver will transfer you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Safe travels!
What is in the priceAnd what is not. We would rather you knew now.
✓Included
- Private vehicle with a skilled driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Admission fee, cable car, sightseeing cars for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary
- English-speaking guides
- Daily accommodation mentioned above (4-star)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- High-speed train tickets, second class
- Driver and guide accommodation and meal allowance
- Service charge and government taxes
- Yunnan travel insurance
−Not included
- International flights to and from China
- Optional items (Teaching of Dongba script, Sheepskin drum making, and Fireside Chat)
- Daily meals not mentioned above
- Chinese visa fees
- Excess baggage charged by airlines
- Single room supplement
- Tips to guides and drivers(optional)
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Personal travel accident insurance
- Optional programs and personal expenses
Prices depend on dates, party size and the hotels you choose, so we quote per trip rather than publish a number that would be wrong. Send us your dates and we will come back with one figure — in writing, with the hotels named.
PracticalThe things people ask before booking.
Tell us the dates. We will send this route back priced, with the hotels named.
Everything here is a starting point — we cut days, add nights, swap hotels and change the order of cities all the time. Rebecca answers in English, usually within a few hours.
