7 Days Yunnan Highlights Group Tour

Kunming, Dali, Shangri-la, Lijiang

Traveler Reviews

Tour Code: TCT-Yunnan-09

Tour Type: Group Tour

Tour Highlights:

  • Visit the best destinations of Yunnan: Kungming - Dali - Lijiang-Shangrila.
  • Discover the natural beauty of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Napahai Lake, etc.
  • Explore the ethnic groups in Yunnan: Yi, Bai, Naxi, Tibetan, etc.
  • Enjoy the real life of local people in the ancient towns and villages.
  • Experience bullet train from Kunming to Dali.

Best Travel Time: Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November.

From $ 969

Free Inquiry

Day 1Arrival, Kunming
Airport pick up and transfer to hotel

Meals: No meal
Accommodation: Landscape Hotel / Tang Royal Hotel or similar standard hotel

 

Upon arriving at Kunming airport, you will meet our local representative at the airport and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day. 

 

Note:
1. The free sharing transfer service from Kunming airport is offered 3 times a day at 11:30, 15:00,18:30
2. If your flight can not meet the free pick-up time, please wait a while in the airport. Should you prefer a private transfer, please inform us in advance to make the arrangement and quote the transfer suppliment to you. 

Green Lake
Green Lake

 

Day 2Kunming - Dali
Green Lake, Stone Forest, Take high speed train to Dali

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Landscape Hotel / Tang Royal Hotel or similar hotel

 

After breakfast, meet your tour guide at the hotel at 08:30 a.m. and drive to stroll around the Green Lake. With verdant islets, emerald lakes, and exquisite pavilions, Green Lake Park is an oasis in central Kunming. It is a tranquil land for people to escape from the bustling city, and a winter resort for red-beaked seagulls. 

 

Then drive about 85km to the Stone Forest. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers and included both large and small forest as well as many other scenic spots. It has been know since the Ming Dynasty as the First Wonder of the World.

 

In the late afternoon, take a bullet train to Dali. Meet your local guide and driver, then transfer to hotel for overnight.

Stone Forest
Stone Forest

 

Day 3Dali
Xizhou Old Town, Three-course Tea of Bai People, Zhoucheng, Tye-Dyeing, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Landscape Hotel / Tang Royal Hotel or similar hotel

 

In the morning, transfer to Xizhou Old Town. Walk around this old town to see Bai ethnic traditional archetecture. Taste local three-course tea in Xizhou.  It is the most popular among Bai people which is served for distinguished guests. Then, drive to Zhoucheng Village. Pay a visit to local Tie-Dyeing workshop, where you will learn and make one tie-dye by yourself. 

 

After lunch, drive to visit Erhai lake along the ecological corridor. Explore Dali Old Town including the Foreigners’ Street, the Ancient City Wall of Dali and The Gate Tower. Then transfer back to hotel. 

Dali Tour
Dali Tour

 

Day 4Dali - Shangri-la
Drive to Shangri-la, the First Bend of Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: E-outfitting Boutique Hotel/ Yicheng Hotel or similar hotel

 

Today, we will drive to Shangri-la. On the way, have a farview of the First Bend of Yangtze River. Then go on driving to vist maginificent Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, and visit Upper Gorge, enjoying the 2.6-kilometer along Jinsha River and the stone trail.

 

Upon arrival Shangrila, stroll around Dukezong Ancient Town and walk up to the top of Guishan Hill to see the Grand Prayer Wheel and have a panoramic view of Shangri-La city.

Tiger Leaping Gorge
Tiger Leaping Gorge

 

Day 5Shangri-la
Songzanlin Monastery, Napahai Lake, Tibetan family visit

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: E-outfitting Boutique Hotel/ Yicheng Hotel or similar hotel

 

Pick you up at the hotel, and then drive to visit Songzanlin Monastery which is the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan, whose castle-like complex is also known as Little Potala Palace. Experience the mystery and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism here.

 

Then transfer to visit Napahai Lake and pay a visit to a local Tibetan family and experience the highly-praised hospitality of Tibetan people.

 

Notes: Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

Napahai Lake
Napahai Lake

 

Day 6Shangri-la - Lijiang
Drive to Lijiang, Lijiang Old Town, Black Dragon Pool

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Wangfu Hotel/ Duofu Hotel or similar

 

In the morning, drive about 3 hours to Lijiang. Upon arrival, visit Lijiang Old Town and Black Dragon Pool. As one of the best preserved ancient towns, Lijiang (Dayan) Old Town, along with Shuhe Old Town and Baisha Old Town was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Black Dragon Pool (Chinese Name: 黑龙潭) is the landmark of Lijiang. The pool is listed in the Collections of Famous Pools of China because of its exquisite beauty. Its surroundings are all green with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. 

Lijiang Ancient Town
Lijiang Ancient Town

 

Day 7Lijiang, Departure
Baisha Old Town, Baisha Murals, Yuhu Village, Former Residence of Joseph Rock, Shuhe Old Town, Sharing transfer to the airport

Meals: breakfast

 

In the morning at 09:00 am, visit Baisha Old Town and Baisha Murals. Stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Naxi style old town. Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. 

 

Afterwards, drive to visit Yuhu Village and Former Residence of Joseph Rock. In the afternoon, transfer to visit Shuhe Old Town.  Shuhe has a long history. It had become the distributing center of Naxi foremen in as early as the Tang and Song Dynasties, and it is also an important market town still remained complete on the Ancient Tea-horse Road. 

 

After the tour, the group is dismissed and free sharing transfer together to the airport for departure. 

 

Note:
1. The free sharing transfer service to Lijiang airport is arranged together.
2. If your flight can not meet the transfer time and prefer a separate private transfer, please inform us in advance to make the arrangement and quote the transfer suppliment to you. 

Baisha Murals
Baisha Murals

 

Service ends

Tailor-made Free Inquiry

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Travel Dates

Adult
on sharing basis

Single

Supplement

Shoulder Season
(Mar - Jun, Sep - Dec)

US$969/P.P US$189/P.P
High Season 
(Jul - Aug)
US$1059/P.P US$238/P.P

Note:
1.  The tour departs when at least 2 travelers join the group.
2.  For a group of 2-4 travelers, English speaking guide cum driver will be arranged.  For a group of 5-10 travelers, separate driver and guide services will be offered. 
3. The vehicle used for the tour depends on how many travelers join the group. 
4.  Child traveling must be escorted by the adults.
5.  Child aged from 4 to 6  sharing a bed with a parent during the tour is charged 50% of the adult's price. 
6.  Child aged from 7 to 11 occupying a bed during the tour is charged 70% of the adult's price.
7.  Child over 11 years old is charged the same price as an adult. 
8.  The above prices are not valid during national holidays (i.e. Labor Day Holiday from April 29 to May 3; National Day Holiday from September 29 to October 6 ) 

 

Price Includes

  • 6 nights accommodation with breakfast.
  • Sharing-vehicle with air conditioning
  • Excellent English-speaking guide.
  • Entrance tickets mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Bullet train ticket from Kunming to Dali (2nd-class ticket)
  • Two bottles of water each day each person.

 

Price Excludes

  • Lunches and dinners.
  • Any train/flight arriving to or departing from Yunnan
  • Personal travel insurance.
  • Any optional programs/activities.
  • Chinese visa fees.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Any separate pick-up or drop-off service between airport and hotel.
  • Single room supplement;
  • Gratuities - Tipping suggestion: USD 5-10/day/tourist to guide; USD 5-10/day/tourist to driver

 

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos >>Feedbacks

5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though
Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great - they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this. The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely "Chinese style" hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable. Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back - Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,
N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Top China Travel to everybody.
Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Top China travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.
Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Top China Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect. My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly. Thank you Vicky and all at TCT and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.
lakazdi

5.0

I went on a Top China Travel group tour. Everything was so well organised that I never had to worry about anything. I really liked that the group was small and it felt like we were a big group of old-friends all travelling together, not just a passenger on the bus. Every hotel, guide, driver and restaurant was very well picked. I was very happy with how well-informed each guide was, how flexible they were to ensure we all had a great time, and their English was all very good. At every step of the way, guides had us fill in a Top China Travel feedback form which I am certain the company take very seriously since their service was so good. I will be passing on their details to all my friends and family who want to travel in China.
DEBORAH O

5.0

Thanks to Ms Raylene He we had a wonderful and well organised trip to 5 destinations which all went off without a hitch including being met by guides and drivers in each city and looked after very well. This all included several domestic flights a train trip and permits. I have no qualms in recommending this company to other travellers.
EBTraveler

5.0

With forty years of travel to the far corners of our world we have encountered many guides. Like most travelers some have not been very good, some decent and the rare few that are outstanding. During our three weeks in China last month we encountered just such a rare individual. Our guide in Guilin was a young women named Ping (I'll provide her email later). Ping demonstrated knowledge and command of the history, stories and culture all along the way. Beyond that, Ping exuded infectious enthusiasm not only for our touring, but for us personally as well. We had a serious medical issue occur suddenly, in fact one of us went into diabetic shock. It was four in the morning but no matter, after calling Ping she took command and arranged for the hotel to send us, with a car, driver, and assistant to a hospital. Upon our arrival there was Ping who obviously thru on some clothes, got on her motorbike and rushed to meet us. There she not only served as translator but as though a family member, she became invested in our proper care and recovery. Truly remarkable to have such a person supporting you. In small ways she flavored her guiding with a sense of our interests and preferences, like the day we mentioned our love of pomegranates and the next morning there she is smiling and with samples for us as a treat. When we left a jacket behind, once again was on it as Ping arranged for its shipment to out next stop and tracked it until it was in our hands. Beyond that, Ping was in frequent contact to make certain of our full medical recovery and to offer her help where or whenever it might be needed while in China. Amazing! Ping can be contacted at bellakanas@163.com Sheila Hertz, Howard Entin
ourview_11

5.0

From the first email to Top China Travel with Joyce to our wonderful Tour Guide Linda and our driver I can not say more happily what a wonderful trip we have had. Linda was very Kind and very informative with all your tours. The vehicle used was at very high standard and the Driver very safe. We had a private Tour for myself and my Husband we would totally recommend this company.
Geonannie

5.0

Top China Travel is the the tops! I booked an 21 day tour of China for my husband and I and from the very first contact with Lily Lui I was totally impressed. We communicated via e-mail and Lily was very quick and helpful with her responses. Because this was not our first trip to China, I wanted an itinerary that was different from the norm. Lily's recommendations were top notch. The hotels she used were top shelf as we requested. Our guides and drivers were fantastic. What impressed me the most was that when we were in China, Lily called to speak to me and make sure everything was going well. When I ran into some issues due to altitude sickness, I contacted her and she had the itinerary changes done and finalized within an hour. This was a private tour with guide and driver and I honestly can say there was not one thing I wished we had done differently. Thanks to Top China Travel and Lily our trip to China was perfect. I will definitely be contacting Lily when we return to China for yet another visit.
Allessandr0

5.0

I am a tour leader from Italy and this was my first cooperation with Janet and how lucky we met her!! We followed the trip with her to remote areas in China including some ethnic group area in Guizhou province and Sanjiang, Longsheng and Guilin, we enjoyed completely throughout the whole trip and some arrangement even out of our surprise, like we went to Janet’s home to learn how to pack Chinese Ravioli, she invited a Taichi teacher and we had a 1 hour Taichi class inside her home community. Everything was fine and our group members are all like her very much. We strongly recommend Janet Chan (janet@topchinatravel.com) as your China trip consultant! She is so considerate and carefully planned each detail of our trip. Guizhou is a very interesting and primitive place for visiting, you should include in your China trip as well! Thank you Janet! You are very professional!!
Salim A

5.0

When I planning our private trip to china I have read many trip adviser reviews and I have noticed Janet Chan’s name came up a number of times so i sent her an e-mail asked for the best two weeks private tour in China for 6 persons , whiten two days she replied me recommending 5 cities ( Zhangjiajie, hangzhuo , shanghai, Beijing , Guilin ) we went through the program which she sent to us it was excellent so we asked her to go ahead to arrange our journey . it was a great choice we made, The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. The hotels which reserved for us by TCT were excellent We can only say thanks for TCT and especially Janet Chan
Karan J

5.0

From the 1st point of contact till the end Joyce was great and helped plan a perfect trip which I was for a short time in Beijing. I was traveling alone and was recommended to join a small group of fellow travelers which was perfect. Great tour guide with a clean bus. Pick up on time and overall a great experience.
Ms Masha B

5.0

My husband and I booked a two week private tour of China with Top China Travel. It was an excellent experience. Vicky, a tour consultant, offered us a very good program visiting Beijing, Xian, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai and Nanjing. We really enjoyed every location. The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. In Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing me made our own hotel reservation and in Xian an Zhangjiajie TCT made the reservations for us. Lunch was included in the tour and the selection of the restaurants was excellent in most locations (except Xian). Overall great tour!
Chris W

5.0

When planning our China trip we read many trip advisor reviews and noticed Janet Chan’s name came up a number of times so we asked for her to arrange our journey across this fascinating land. What a great choice we made, she listened and responded to our questions and arranged all our trip that went off without any problems. We didn’t want shopping nor group travel and she responded brilliantly. Two days hiking on the wall with fabulous guide Miko, in fact all our guides and drivers were just excellent. High speed train meant we saw lots of China’s varied countryside and went to some out of the way places. We can only say great things about TCT and especially Janet Chan if you are planning a trip. Thank you Janet for an exciting and memorable trip! Chris n Jools Winstanley
Raghavan A

5.0

We signed up with TCT after reading reviews of Tibet tour agencies. Our trip included 4 days in Lhasa, two in Shigatse and one at the base camp. TCT made all the arrangements including the Tibet permit, hotels, tour guide, car and the driver for the entire trip. The arrangements were superb. The guide and the driver were very accommodating to our needs and made the entire trip very convenient. At the base camp, the guide even arranged for extra oxygen in case we need it. She was also very helpful in advising us as how to get acclimated to the altitude. The entire trip was smooth and enjoyable and we would highly recommend TCT for travel to Tibet.
karenilena

5.0

wonderful visit and wonderful guide Li. Li showed us all the charms of this great city together with our Li river tour. We fell in love with this place and Yangshou. Great place to visit and it was a favourite city in all the cities we visited. great guide
Natasha J

5.0

I can't recommend this company enough!! I started talking to Yocky via the chat system on their website, as we wanted to do a 2.5 week trip around China. Our itinerary was: Shenzhen-Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Dongchuan-Chengdu-Guilin-Sanya Here's how things went: 1) She was instant in her replies and responded to subsequent emails within the hour (and trust me, I sent A LOT of emails). She was always so thorough and efficient. 2) She made us a tailor made trip that covered everything we wanted, including some slightly more off the beaten track attractions. 3) She helped us keep to our budget and suggested reasonable things we could cut out when things were too expensive (not something many companies would do as they are trying to make a quick buck). 4) She listened to all of our requests for things such as early morning flights, vegetarian food, and readjusting itineraries. 5) All our drivers and guides were EXCELLENT; they were prompt, kind, spoke excellent English and had a wealth of knowledge about all the sites we saw. All the cars on our private tours were nice and comfortable and had water. 6) Despite asking for 3* hotels, all 7 hotels we stayed in seemed like 4* to us and all included breakfast. 7) With such a large and complicated trip there were bound to be a few hiccups (e.g. there was a marathon in Xian one day which meant a lot of roads were closed, so we couldn't access sites). Yocky was in touch with us the entire time and helped us rearrange our plans quickly and ordered complimentary tickets to a show to make up for the inconvenience. We were so nervous about our first trip to China as we speak no mandarin and are strict vegetarian but honestly this was one of the best trips of our life; this company made it so easy for us and I really can't imagine having been able to do it myself any better!
JrnyJunkie

5.0

The views are stunning and the boat that we were on had VIP seating for just our group with a private balcony to view the river.
Candi S

5.0

Raylene did a wonderful job organizing our tour to meet our time constraints. She answered all questions very efficiently. Our tour guide Rocco met us at the airport and the Driver was waiting near by. I have specific dietary restrictions and the guide was extremely helpful communicating that with the restaurants. The trip was so easy and we always felt safe. My husband and I are looking forward to booking a more extended trip in the future. There is so much to see and the food is wonderful!
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