10-Day Yunnan Tour: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La

Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la

Traveler Reviews

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and alpine valley

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Yunnan-02

Tour Highlights:

Follow a classic private Yunnan route from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
See Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Learn about Bai, Naxi and Tibetan traditions in towns and villages along the way.
Move from busy regional centers into the highland landscapes around Shangri-La.

Best Travel Time:
The itinerary operates year-round, with April through November recommended for the most comfortable overall conditions.

From $ 1568

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival Kunming

Transfer service to hotel

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: Jinjiang Hotel ★★★★

Arrive in Kunming, meet your local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Kunming City View- Green Lake Park

Day 2Kunming

Green Lake, Flowers and Birds Market, Stone Forest

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jinjiang Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin exploring Kunming, known as the Spring City.

[09:30-11:30] Walk beside Green Lake, where residents gather for music and recreation, then browse Flower and Bird Market for antiques, jewelry and handicrafts.

[11:30-14:00] Have the included Yunnan rice-noodle lunch, then drive about two hours to Stone Forest.

[14:00-16:00] Explore the Stone Forest, following paths among its varied limestone pillars and narrow passages.

[16:00-18:00] Return to Kunming. The Yunnan Impression Show – Dynamic Yunnan is recommended as an optional evening activity.

Stone Forest, Kunming

Day 3Kunming – Dali

West Hill & Dragon Gate, Take bullet train to Dali

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Gurong Hotel ★★★★

After breakfast, visit West Hill & Dragon Gate beside Dianchi Lake. Cable-car and sightseeing-car services are arranged, with time at Dragon Gate and broad lake views. After lunch, transfer to Kunming South Railway Station for the 2.5-hour D-train to Dali.

Western Hill & Dragon Gate

Day 4Dali

Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Gurong Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the day's Dali sightseeing.

[09:30-12:30] Visit the Three Pagodas and its reflection park, then take the scheduled bicycle ride beside Erhai Lake.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at Duan Shi Restaurant, where the listed Bai dishes include fish with pickled cabbage and chili.

[13:30-15:30] Return to town and keep the afternoon free in Dali Ancient Town among its traditional Bai homes.

[15:30-16:30] Return to the hotel. An independent evening visit to the old town's bars is suggested.

Dali Ancient Town

Day 5Dali

Xizhou Bai's House, Zhoucheng Village, Cangshan Mountain

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Gurong Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the day's Dali sightseeing.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Xizhou Bai's Houses to see preserved Bai houses and streets, then continue to Zhoucheng for traditional architecture and a tie-dyeing experience.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at Duan Shi Restaurant, where the listed Bai dishes include fish with pickled cabbage and chili.

[13:30-16:30] Spend the afternoon on Cangshan Mountain, using the cable car to reach Jade Belt Road before walking among the mountain vegetation and Taoist sites.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. An independent bicycle ride beside Erhai Lake is another option for the free time.

Erhai Lake

Day 6Dali – Lijiang

Drive(2.5hrs) to Lijiang, Baisha Old Town, Baisha Mural, Black Draon Pond Park, Dongba Culture Museum, Lijiang Ancient Town

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Lijiang Wangfu Hotel ★★★★

Drive approximately 2.5 hours from Dali to Lijiang. Visit Baisha Old Town and the 600-year-old Baisha Murals, then stop at Black Dragon Pond Park for mountain reflections and spend about 30 minutes at the Dongba Culture Museum.

Check in after lunch and keep the afternoon free in Lijiang Ancient town. A map is provided; Sifang Street and Lion Mountain are suggested for independent exploration.

Meals: Break
Lijiang Ancient Town

Day 7Lijiang

Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show, Blue Moon Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Lijiang Wangfu Hotel ★★★★
Sightseeing: Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show, Blue Moon Valley

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the mountain excursion.

[09:30-12:30] Travel to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. From November to next March, Glacier Park is the recommended cable-car option; from April to October, Spruce Meadow is recommended because the mountain has less snow and receives more visitors. Yak Meadow remains closed for the stated 1–2-year expansion period.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local restaurant near the snow mountain.

[13:30-17:30] Attend the Impression Lijiang Show at Ganhaizi Meadow, then continue to Blue Moon Valley and its clear blue water below the mountain.

[17:30-18:30] Return to the hotel. The evening is free in Lijiang Ancient Town, or you may visit Shuhe Old Town independently for its bonfire party.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Day 8Lijiang – Shangri-La

Drive to Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Tang-ga Painting

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jinsha International Hotel ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Meet your guide and leave for Shangri-La.

[10:00-13:00] Stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge, walk down for about half an hour to the upper-gorge viewing deck and see the narrow section of this 25 km canyon.

[13:00-14:30] Have lunch, then continue by road to Shangri-La.

[14:30-16:30] Check in and explore Dukezong Ancient Town. Join a local artist to learn about Tang-ga painting and its place in Tibetan culture.

[16:30-17:30] Return independently to Dukezong in the evening for the bonfire gathering at Moonlight Square, dancing or the local bars.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Day 9Shangri-La

Sumtsaling Monastery, Potatso National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jinsha International Hotel Hotel ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Meet your guide and begin the full-day Shangri-La program.

[10:00-12:00] Visit Sumtsaling Monastery, Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, then meet a local family to learn about their history and daily life.

[12:00-13:00] Share lunch in the family home or eat Tibetan food at a nearby restaurant.

[13:30-16:30] Continue to Potatso National Park, walking the paths between lakes, forest, marshland, valleys and alpine meadows.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. The Dream Shangri-La folk performance is suggested as an evening option.

Potatso National ParkSumtsaling Monastery

Day 10Shangri-La – Kunming, Departure

Transfer service to airport, Fly to Kunming for departure

Meals: Breakfast

Keep the day free until your transfer to the airport. Fly to Kunming and continue to your next destination.

Service Ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 1994	$ 2052
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1568	$ 1625
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2126	$ 2160
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1700	$ 1733
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2233	$ 2406
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1826	$ 1999

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Useful Information

Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

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 Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Kaltham G

5.0

we are a family from UAE who have hired Yun Sky Travel in 2012 then hired them again in 2012 to arrange my brother's honeymoon trip in China. then hired them again in 2017 to go to Tibet. and now we are looking to hire them again for another trip my dad and sister are planning to do to discover some other parts of china. our agent is Janet, a sweet and a polite lady who wouldn't say no to any request and wouldn't mind revising the itinerary so many times just to meet your requirements. I have traveled to more than 70 countries and I was never this happy with my tour planner as much as I did wiith Yun Sky Travel.

Simmons A

5.0

We had been to China three years ago and had seen the usual tourist sites. This time we wanted a different experience and could not find an Australian company which met our needs. I found YUNSKY on the internet, clicked the boxes for the places we wanted to visit and received a reply the very next day. Raylene organised the most brilliant holiday for the two of us. We were met at every airport or train station by a guide fluent in English. Our hotels were all excellent and we loved every moment of this trip. We would like to thank Raylene and our fantastic guides: Lee in Datong, Doris in Huangshan, David in Zhangiajie, Evan in Kunming, Aaron in Lijiang and Jeremy in Guilin. We will never forget you all.

tvschidambaram

5.0

Ms.Joyce of Yun Sky Travel ( YUNSKY ) made a wonderful program for my family in a short notice. Highly committed and tour operators are excellent and good in communication. Shown us all beautiful places and were amazing. Commitment to time was so good and we never had any problems anywhere.

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