Classic Yunnan Tour (8 nights/9 days)
Destination included: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Xishuangbanna.
Attractions features: cultures of ethnic groups of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Dai; alpine scenery; tropical fauna and flora; cultural relics, etc.
Day 01: arrive in Kunming which is reputed as "Spring City" because of the pleasant climate all year round and big variety of flowers, city tour, visit the East and West Temple Pagodas which were built during the 9th century, Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways which are among the landmarks of Kunming city, Flower & Bird Market and Nanping Pedestrian Commercial Street. (O/N: Kunming)
Day 02: one day tour to Stone Forest (90 km, 1.5 hrs) which is a world natural heritage site and world geological park with amazing karst limestone landform, in the meantime, meet the local Yi ethnic minority people there. (O/N: Kunming)
Day 03: take early morning flight to Dali (30 minutes), on arrival, drive to Xizhou which is a typical Bai-populated town 18 kilometers away from the old town of Dali, visit Shacun Village which has thousands of years of history of cormorant-fishing and take a boat ride (1 hour) on Erhai Lake which is 40 kilometers long with crystal clear waters and isles, meanwhile, watch cormorant-fishing show, then visit the Bai ethnic minority's traditional residences there, after lunch, drive back to the old town of Dali, on the way, visit Three-Pagoda Park which is made up of a large complex of Buddhist temples and it is famous for the 3 imposing pagodas, then visit the old town of Dali, feel the laidback atmosphere on the "Foreigners' Street", relax for the rest of the day. (O/N: Dali)
Day 04: travel overland by car to Lijiang (3.5 hrs), on the way, visit the Bai-inhabited Xinhua Village of Heqing county where "every villager is a craftsman and every family has a workshop" and it is famous for silver handicrafts which date back to more than one thousand years ago, after arrival in Lijiang, visit Black Dragon Pool where you can pay a visit to the Dongba priest and get blessings from him, then take a walk in the old town of Lijiang which is a world cultural heritage site, experience the local Naxi ethnic minority people's life. (O/N: Lijiang)
Day 05: visit Spruce Meadow (3208 meters above sea level) which is located on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and it is an ideal place to enjoy a spectacular view of the mountain, the meadow is tucked away in a dense primeval forest of spruce, hence the name, take a 20-minute ride of chairlift and it brings you up to a wooden path that leads to Spruce Meadow, then walk along the path through the forest until the Meadow is in sight and it unfolds a grand view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain before your eyes, after that, visit the murals in the small town of Baisha, then drive back to Lijiang and take evening flight to Jinghong (1 hr). (O/N: Lijiang)
Day 06: visit Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park which is one of the most comprehensive tourist attractions of Xishuangbanna and it features primeval forest, wildlife and ethnic minority customs, then visit Manting Park which is situated in downtown Jinghong and it was the imperial garden of the former Dai people's king, you can also find Hinayana Buddhist temples built inside the park. (O/N: Jinghong)
Day 07: drive to Menglun (75 km, 2 hrs) via Ganlanba, visit Tropical Botanical Garden, on the way back, stop off at Ganlanba, visit local market there and Dai Ethnic Minority Garden which is made up of local Dai ethnic minority villages and Hinayana Buddhist temples. (O/N: Jinghong)
Day 08: take morning flight to Kunming (50 minutes), visit Western Hills which is a forest park and as the outline of the hills looks like a lady lying down and trailing her hair in Dianchi Lake, it is nicknamed "Sleeping Beauty", ascending the hills, you can pay pilgrimages to Taoist gods and Buddhas and enjoy a bird's eye view of Kunming city and the lake, then visit Golden Temple which is a Taoist temple and it is famous for a 250-ton bronze temple (the heaviest in China) and a 14-ton bronze bell (the third heaviest in China), on the bell tower there, you can also overlook Kunming city and see "Sleeping Beauty" clearly in the distance. (O/N: Kunming)
Day 09: depart
Quotations:
US$1,280 per person (on 2 persons and 3-star hotel basis)
US$1,384 per person (on 2 persons and 4-star hotel basis)
US$1,536 per person (on 2 persons and 5-star hotel basis)
Tour Inclusions:
1. Entrance fees to scenic spots
2. Twin room based on double occupancy in hotels
3. Buffet for breakfasts, Chinese food for involved lunches
4. Air-conditioned vehicles
5. Air tickets for flights inside Yunnan
6. English-speaking guides
Tour Exclusions:
1. Visa fees
2. Dinners
3. International or domestic air tickets for flights to and from Yunnan
4. Excess baggage charges
5. Tips and personal expenses
6. Single room supplement
7. Travel insurance