yunnan experience - 8 days

Lake Erhai, Dali Tour Information
Starts in: Kunming
Ends in: Kunming
Prices from: USD $1249
Departs: Any day
Local Payment Required: No
Breakfast: Daily, Lunch: 5, Dinner: 6
Hotel rating: 3
Guide: Yes (during included sightseeing)

Day 1: Kunming - Start any day
Welcome to China and the start of your holiday! Enjoy an arrival transfer to our hotel. The capital of Yunnan Province, Kunming rests at 2000m above sea level! Its gentle weather and floral wealth have earned it the nickname ‘City of Eternal Spring’. Later today, you’ll visit the picturesque Western Hills and the Dragon Gate Grotto. Dinner and overnight - Kunming.

Day 2: Kunming
Kunming - Dali - breakfast. Excursion to Stone Forest. Celebrated as a natural wonder, it’s Yunnan’s most visited sight. As you stroll along the winding paths and lookout points, you’ll be in awe of the bizaare, tightly packed formations of almost ‘petrified’ stone that forms this unusual attraction 120 km from Kunming. Lunch, dinner and overnight - train to Dali.

Day 3: Dali
Dali - breakfast. Picturesquely situated on Lake Erhai with a backdrop formed by the peaks of the 50km long Cang Shang range, Dali is a great place for some gentle-paced exploration and a little relaxation. Covering only about 4 sq km, much of Dali is contained by the remains of its Mingdynasty walls. Sightseeing in Dali and surrounds includes a cruise on Lake Erhai, some orientation stops at some ancient temples and villages, a visit to Butterfly Spring - a popular spot surrounded by a marble ballustrade and overhung by an ancient tree that produces butterfly-like flowers and the famous Three Pagodas. Built when the region was a major Buddhist centre, Dali’s distinctively tall pagodas remain upright, despite wars and earthquakes. The largest of them - Qianxun tower dates back to 824 AD, some hundred years older than the two smaller octagonal pagodas behind, is 64m high, and is embellished with Buddhas made from local richly veined marble on each of its 16 levels. Whilst sealed (preventing entrance inside), in any case the pagodas are best seen from a distance to take in their sheer size. Back in Dali,enjoy some free time exploring the old section of the town. All meals and overnight - Dali

Days 4 & 5: Tiger leaping gorge
Dali - breakfast. Continuing to UNESCO-listed Lijiang - a Naxi stronghold, enjoy free time in the labyrinthine streets of Dayan Old Town. Evening Naxi music show. On day 5 we head to the thrillingly named Tiger leaping gorge on the Yangtze River, where there is time to walk and take in the scenery. Some 16km long and up to 3000m deep, it is the worlds deepest canyon. The gorge is so narrow at various points that legend has it a tiger once escaped pursuit by leaping across. Visiting the gorge, you’ll have a chance to walk a section and take in the dramatic, yet stark scenery. All meals and overnight - Lijiang.

Day 6: Jade dragon snow mountain
Lijing - breakfast. Enjoy an excursion to the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain; its landscape includes one of the southernmost glaciers in the world. Access to the mountain is provided by a cable lift to Dragon Spruce Meadow, halfway to the glacier peak. Visit also Yufeng Si Monastery. Return to Kunming via Dali - Overnight sleeper train.

Day 7: Kunming
Breakfast. Excursion to Kunming Flower and Bird market. Remainder of the day at leisure. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Kunming.

Day 8: Kunming
Hotel check-out and included onward transfer to airport.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural and adventure tours in China. Fun and informative group tours of China offering frequent departures at realistic prices starting in Beijing or Shanghai include highlights such as the Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, Yangtze River Three Gorges cruising, Suzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo. Specialist individual China touring itineraries including highlights such as the Silk Road, Yunnan Province, Confucius’ birthplace in Qufu, city stays in Beijing or Shanghai, Christmas tour departures and a range of regional bolt ons are also a hallmark. We can also arrange for you to conclude arrangements at Hong Kong.