Group Tour D3: 5 Days to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La

Day 1 – Kunming – Dali

Today, we meet you in the lobby of your Kunming hotel (downtown, within Second Ring Road) at 08:30am. Afterwards, we will drive you to visit Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Caves. You will be driven to the Stone Forest Scenic Area (about 1.5 hours). Enjoy your time in the so called First Wonder of Yunnan for about 2 hours.

In the early afternoon have a short lunch break and get driven to Jiuxiang Caves (about 45 minutes). Visiting time at the caves is about 2 hours as well. The driver brings you back to Kunming downtown afterwards (about 1.5 hours) and drops you at Kunming Train Station to catch the high speed train (second class) to Dali later.

Meals: L

Overnight in Dali Landscape Hotel or similar

Day 2 – Dali

Today, get picked up at Dali Train Station, from where you are driven to the Xizhou Morning Market to experience some traditional local life and have breakfast on the way. Visit Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste the typical fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore the Bai's distinctive culture. Xizhou is 19 kilometers north of Dali Old town and lies between Erhai Lake and the Cangshan Mountain Range. It is famous for Bai culture with its old and well-preserved folk houses. It's not only a historically famous city but also a typical commercial center of Bai Ethnic Nationality. The Bai minority are very present at Xizhou. With a more mixed population and cosmopolitan background, it is considered a must for travelers nowadays. Here, you can enjoy lovely local clothes, decorative architectures and wonderful handicrafts.

After Lunch, we will join a cruise on close Erhai Lake to Jinsuo Island – a local fishing village. Enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain Range and the Three Pagodas from far as well as lots of birds flying over the lake. Then go to Zhoucheng Village which called the “Hometown of Bai’s Tie- Dye Culture” and experience the tie- dye culture in the Tie- Dye factory.

After that, the guide will take you to check in your hotel and enjoy your free and easy evening after a long day.

Meals: B/L

Overnight in Dali Landscape Hotel or similar

Day 3 - Dali – Lijiang

In the morning, we drive you from Dali to Lijiang. Upon arrived Lijiang, we will visit Zhongyi Morning Market, then visit the Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture. Afterwards, take a visit to close Jade Lake Village: from here, you can enjoy a fantastic view over the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After the lunch break, get driven to Shuhe Ancient Town including a visit to a local market.

Lijiang became known in the 'western countries' through a book written by an American commissioner who traveled in and out of Yunnan province in the late 19th century. And then it was the earthquake in 1996 that brought Lijiang back to the world's attention.

The Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to the uneven topography of this key commercial and strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. Its architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. Lijiang also possesses an ancient water-supply system of great complexity and ingenuity that still functions effectively today. It is an exceptional ancient town set in a dramatic landscape which represents the harmonious fusion of different cultural traditions to produce an urban landscape of outstanding quality.

Meals: B/L

Overnight in Lijiang Wangfu Hotel or similar

Day 4 - Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La

Today after breakfast, get driven about 60 km to the First Bend of the Yangtze River, which is close to the town of Shigu and can be marveled at before heading further north to the Tiger Leaping Gorge with an imposing gorge scenery (about 88 km, 1.5 hours). It's one of the deepest gorges in the world with 34 rapids. The gorge measures 16 km long and a steep 3900m from the waters of Jinsha River to the snow-capped mountain tops of Haba Snow Mountain to the north-west and Yulong (or Jade Dragon) Snow Mountain to the south-east. The inhabitants of the gorge are primarily the indigenous Naxi people, who live in a handful of small hamlets. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is another top attraction of Yunnan!

After having lunch near Qiaotou Village, the tour proceeds to Shangri-La (100 km, 2.5 hours), the former Zhongdian which is well-known as the paradise destination for every traveler. Upon arrival in Shangri-La, you will have entered the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields with yaks scattered across the valleys.  On the way to Shangri-La, we will visit a Yi Minority Village.

Meals: B/L

Overnight in Shangri-La Zhaxidele Hotel or similar

Day 5 - Shangri-La

After breakfast, head for Ganden Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Visit a local family afterwards to get close to the real life of Tibetans.

After lunch, have a closer look at Baiji Temple which is very close to west of Dukezong Ancient Town, from where a great view over the city can be enjoyed.

Afterwards, we invite you to a relaxed break in Shangri-La’s High Mountain Resort to enjoy a cup of coffee, facing beautiful Napa Lake and enjoy great views into the local nature. Spend your free and easy evening around Dukezong Ancient Town.

Shangri-La County is administered by Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The average altitude is more than 3,000 meters (about 9,843 feet). In the past, it was called Zhongdian or Jiantang in Tibetan. In 2002, Zhongdian changed its name to Shangri-La. The region is inhabited by many different ethnic groups, with the Tibetans comprising the majority of the population. You will have an opportunity to experience Tibetan life and learn about their lifestyle, religion and cuisine. The unique scenery, highlighted by plateaus, together with the fascinating ethnic culture makes the land very attractive and charming to visit.

Shangri-La is the "Eden in dream". Since it first appeared in British novelist James Hilton's Lost Horizon in the 1939, it has been associated with the mystique of a place which could not possibly exist here on Earth. In Tibetan, Shangri-La means the "sun and moon in heart", an ideal home only found in heaven. The lofty and continuous snowy mountains, endless grasslands, steep and grand gorges, azure lakes and the idyllic villages always leave a deep impression on its visitors.

Meals: B/L

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