Yunnan Classic Tour
Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Zhongdian - Stone Forest - 8 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival - Kunming (D)

• Meet on arrival (either from Bangkok or Chiang Mai) at Kunming International airport and transfer to hotel
• Western dinner and overnight stay at Harbour Plaza Hotel (*****, RoH) or similar in Kunming.

Day 2 - Kunming - Dali (B/L/D)

Day 3 - Dali - Lijiang (B/L/D)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Overland drive from Dali to Xizhou visit the Market, continue to Shaxi, the only surviving example of a Southern Silk Road trade town which the World Monuments Fund has listed as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world.
• Walk through the cobblestone alleys and see the town square, Oyang House and the splendid entrance gates of many residences. Every Friday is market day when mountain folks meet the local villagers.
• Lunch box will be brought along
• Arrival Lijiang and transfer to hotel.
• Accommodation at the Wang Fu Hotel**** or similar in Lijiang.

Day 4 - Lijiang (B/L/D)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit the famous Black Dragon Pond Park with the Moon Embracing Pavillion. Enter through the main gate and exit north next to the museum.
• Visit the Dongba Cultural Museum which will give you an insight into the unique Naxi ethnic minority culture and their religious beliefs.
• Early afternoon, travel to Snow Mountain Valley to see the open air Impression Lijiang show orchestrated by the famous Hollywood movie director Zhong Yimou and performed by more than 700 actors.
• Lunch at local restaurant
• In the afternoon stroll through Lijiang's Old Town. The city was founded by the Ming Dynasty and up to today has remained a magical world of historical buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, picturesque canals and arched bridges. Unesco named Lijiang a World Heritage site in 1997.
• Dinner at a local restaurant in the Old Town followed by a Naxi orchestra performance of classical Chinese music.
• Accommodation at Wang Fu Hotel (****, RoH) or similar in Lijiang.

Day 5 - Lijiang - Zhongdian (B/L/D)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Overland drive via the Yunnan/Tibet road to Zhongdian.
• Drive to The Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs the Yangtze River is so narrow here, that according to a legend a hunted tiger made his escape to the other side of the river with a single leap.
• Continue drive through Lisu county and the land of the Yi people where horses roam freely, young men herd goats and wildflowers line the roadsides.
• Visit the White Water Terrace which is located atBaidi Village, Samba Township of Shangri-La country. The unique karst landscape is formed by calcium carbonate, which is formed up by water containing calcium bicarbonate through a decomposition reaction caused by exposure to the sun, after years of sedimentation on the ground. – White Water Terrace is called Baibuzhi in Naxi language, which means the growing-up flower. It is the largest sinter platform in China covering a total of area of 3 square kilometers. The White Water Terrace (or Platform) is not only a place with beautiful scenery; it is also one of the Dongba culture of Naxi people. - This place is to be believed the origin of the Dongba religion. Owing to this reason people say “Those who have not gone pilgrimage to Baishuitai cannot be deemed as true Dongba Buddhists”.
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Upon arrival Zhongdian, check in at the Songtsam Hotel***

Day 6 - Zhongdian (B/L/D)

• In the morning visit Ganden Sumsanling Monastery where over 700 Buddhist monks spend their time engrossed in Buddhist learning away from their families and homes. Built in the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama, the monastery with numerous chapels, woodcarving and paintings is like a living museum of Tibetan culture. Parts of the monastery are being reconstructed and there is a great regeneration of the religious spirit.
• Visit the old town which is the old heart of the Gyalthang town (now called Shangri-la) and in ancient times a bustling center for caravans arriving from the South laden with brick tea, copper, brass wares and the famous arak from the south, on their way to Lhasa and northern regions.
• Take a leisurely walk in the old town of Gyalthang, see the interesting old homes and stop for tea at an old house.
• Lunch in a Restaurant in old the town
• Around mid day , take a gentle walk to a farmer friends home.
• See the chalet like Adobe farm homes the Tibetan people of the region. Here cattle and sheep mingle with Yak in the grasslands. In springtime, the hills are covered with Azalea. Enjoy meeting with the family and learning about their way of life in this southern most and prosperous Tibetan region.
• Visit the temple of the 5 Wisdom Buddhas.
• Walk to the temple of Ringha. At this most important and quiet pilgrimage site local Tibetan people go to pray and leave their problems behind. If you wish you may take a gentle circumambulatory walk following the pilgrims path around the hill for an hour.
• Dinner and accommodation at Songtsam Hotel

Day 7 - Zhongdian – Kunming – Stone Forest (B/L/D)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to airport for morning flight Zhongdian/Kunming
• Upon arrival, visit of the Stone Forest, one of China’s most remarkable natural phenomena located 98 kms southwest of Kunming. It consists of 80 hectares of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 270 million years ago. The Stone Forest area is the home of the Sani minority, a branch of the Yi tribe (reputed for their diligence, valour, wisdom, exquisite embroidery and melodious songs and graceful dances) who also offer cultural performances nightly.
• Lunch at local restaurant
• After tour drive back to Kunming, visit night market
• Dinner at local restaurant
• Accommodation at the Harbour Plaza Hotel (*****, RoH) or similar in Kunming.

Day 8 - Kunming – departure (B/L)

Prices

USD p.p Booking Class A All prices are per person in USD, based on twin-sharing in double rooms. Children under 12 years old sharing room with 2 adults and requiring extra bed are granted 25% discount; children under 12 years old sharing room with 2 adults without extra bed are granted 30% discount. NOTE: The itinerary can slightly change according to the season, local conditions, climate, flight schedules and room availability. Hotel Class A According to the itinerary According to the itinerary ROH Please note that compulsory gala dinners and peak season surcharges may apply during peak periods surrounding the public holidays of Christmas and New Year - these surcharges will be confirmed at the time of booking. Included in the price: Accommodation and meals as described (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), food only (please note that some hotels provide only CBF). All transfers within the journey, including pick-up at airport. All entrance fees. Domestic air ticket Kunming-Dali & Zhongdian-Kunming. Domestic airport tax. English speaking guides (other languages available upon request). Not included in the price: International airtickets to/from Kunming. Visa fees. Airport taxes. Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, souvenirs. Personal insurance.

Customizing your tour

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