Amazing Yunnan - 12 Days | 9 Nights

What makes this tour different?

• 100% individual tours: private guide speaking your language and car with chauffeur during the whole trip!
• We have selected 60 charming & luxury hotels amongst over 11000 hotels in China.
• A 24/7 hotline by ChinaVeo's western team based in China to offer you local assistance.
• International flights are included and negociated for you.

Day 1: Departure

Departure from Paris airport (please contact us if you wish to depart from another city to confirm availability and price)

Day 2: Kunming – The Flowers and Birds Market and Yuantong Temple

• The flowers and birds market occupies a set of alleys lined with plane trees and old wooden houses, and sells birds, fishes, antiques, jade, tobacco and plants.
• Yuantong temple. This is one of oldest Buddhist temples of the city. It was built under the Tang in 618.

Lodging: Expo Garden (****), Kunming

Day 3: Kunming / Dali - The Shilin Stone Forest and the oldest Pharmacy of Kunming

• The Shilin stone forest. According to the legend, the Immortals cut a mountain into a labyrinth to offer a hiding place to the lovers. The rocks raise themselves towards the sky such as trees, hence the naming of "stone forest".
• The oldest pharmacy of Kunming is an ancient house with Chinese red wood walls, and it sell every sorts of spices and healing plants, while offering free consultations to the customers.

Night in the train from Kunming to Dali (1st Class – Soft Sleeper)

Day 4: Dali – The Chongsheng Three Pagodas

The city of Dali is at the crossroads of the Yunnan-Tibet and Yunnan-Burma roads. It is the administrative center of the autonomous department of Bai, on the banks of the lake Erhai.

• The Chongsheng three pagodas are the oldest Buddhist buildings of Dali. Among these three pagodas, the most important one, named Qianxun, dates back from the Tang dynasty.

Lodging: Jim's Tibetan Hotel (***), Dali

Day 5: Dali – Erhai lake, the Stone village of Xizhou, the Zhoucheng village, the Three Teas Ceremony and Batik factory

• The Erhai lake is the 7th fresh water lake of China. Its name comes from its ear like shape.
• The stone village of Xizhou. Wander through its bustling market, where a crowd of colored Bai costumes gathers and discover the traditional houses with sculptured canopies gates.
• Zhoucheng village. With its beautiful traditional houses, this village is one of the most important among the Bai community. It is also famous for its blue tinted clothes.
• The three teas ceremony. Preparing and drinking tea is a real art which became popular under the Tang dynasty (618-907) It is always linked with meditation.
• Batik factory. The batik (Javanese term) is a dyeing technique, with a wax reserve allowing the obtaining of a pattern in negative.

Lodging: Jim's Tibetan Hotel (***), Dali

Day 6: Dali / Lijiang - The Black Dragon Pond and the Dongba Institute

Lijiang is in the North of Dali and close to the Tibet, snuggled up in the heart of a magnificent valley. Lijiang constitutes a pleasant stopping place, a magnificent maze of paved alleys, old wooden buildings, canals and markets.

• The Black Dragon pond offers a splendid view of the Jade Dragon Mount which reflects in the pond. It's a beautiful Chinese garden where pagodas alternate with white marble bridges.
• The Dongba Institute is specialized in Naxi culture, which is a religious blend based on animism, Lamaism, Buddhism and Taoism.

Lodging: Zen Garden Hotel (****), Lijiang

Day 7: Lijiang - The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit of Baisha village and the Yufeng Si lamasery

• The Jade Dragon Snow mountain looks like a dragon playing with the clouds. The mountain is recognized as a botanic paradise, a "kingdom of healing plants".
• The Baisha village was the historic capital of the Naxi kingdom and remains the best place to discover the Naxi culture.
• The Yufeng Si lamasery was built in 1756, around the 500 years-old 10,000 blossoms camellia tree. The lamasery is bound to the red-hats sect.

Lodging: Zen Garden Hotel (****), Lijiang

Day 8: Lijiang - Dayan old town

Dayan. This Naxi town was founded eight centuries ago under the Song dynasty. In 1987, it was listed as a "world major cultural heritage" by the UNESCO.

Lodging: Zen Garden Hotel (****), Lijiang

Day 9: Lijiang / Zhongdian – The Tiger leaping Gorges

• The Tiger Leaping Gorges offer a splendid view of the swift turbulent stream of the Golden River. A place not to be missed !

Lodging: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel (Boutique Hotel****), Zhongdian

Day 10: Zhongdian – The Dabao Si Temple, the Songzalin Temple, Bitahai lake and Shudu lake

Zhongdian is a foretaste of Tibet. It is the home of Kampas (traditionally bandits or Dalai-Lama's troops of elite ). The region is rich in medicinal herbs and the environment is typically Tibetan.

• The Dabao Si temple is situated at the bottom of a small valley. Two monks live permanently in this charming place perched on a small hill.
• The Songzalin temple is the heart of Sichuan and Yunnan yellow-hats' sect. It hosts eight golden platted statues of Sakyamuni, sculptures, tankas and books.
• Bitahai lake. The lake is at 3539 meters above sea level and extends on 160 hectares. A little island in the middle of the lake is home to numerous rare birds.
• Shudu lake. It is the biggest lake of the Diqing prefecture surrounded by a forest, where animals like bears, leopards, pheasants and stags live...

Lodging: Gyalthang Dzong Hotel (****), Zhongdian

Day 11: Zhongdian / Shanghai

Free day.

Breakfast - Transfer to Shanghai International airport

Day 12: Arrival in Paris

Arrival in Paris (please contact us if you wish to arrive in another city to confirm availability and price).

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

Activities included in your Amazing Yunnan tour

Our China tour specialists have carefully selected unique activities (here under) which are all included in your tour. Each of these activities is proposed to you in a totally privatized way, far from the groups and the tourist attractions.

This selection was made in order to help you discover a more authentic China, to meet with its inhabitants and to discover its culture & history with the best quality/price ratio!

You may get a glance at those activities by watching the video screeners and photo galleries. We wish you to fully experience them in reality with ChinaVeo’s team!

Unique Activities :
		Mandarin lesson When you will arrive in China, you will have the opportunity to benefit from one hour Mandarin lesson. Thanks to this fun introduction, you will learn the basis to practice a bit of Chinese during your journey !
		Ride in the Maglev
		Take the Maglev, or magnetically levitating train, the fastest of the world ! With a speed of more than 400km per hour, you will reach the Shanghai airport in about 10 minutes ! A performance not to be missed !
		Visit of an old pharmacy In Kunming, you will have the opportunity to discover Chinese medicine and the different medicinal herbs. Visit an ancient pharmacy and be introduced to Chinese traditionnal medicine !
		Meet the Yunnan ethnic minorities Yunnan is home to several minority ethnic groups; get to know them and learn more about their way of life, thanks to this Yunnan Tour. Indeed, we offer you the opportunity to be closer to this population, their culture, their habits and their traditions.

Traditional Activities :
		Tea ceremony Tea plays a main part in Chinese people's life and its tasting require a unique ceremony. This it what you will discover during the visit of an authentic tea house where you will attend a tea ceremony and a tasting.
		The Flowers and Birds market Kunming is often called the Spring City in China for its famous 12 months of mild climate which is the very reason why it serves as a good place to cultivate flowers and raise feathered creatures like birds. The Kunming Birds and Flowers market has become a destination for shopping, leisure and trading. In these stunning markets, you’ll find the characteristics of spring all year round!

(Please note that this tour includes many more activities and visits which are listed within the “Itinerary” tab).

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

Hotels of Amazing Yunnan

ChinaVeo presents a unique selection of luxury and character hotels destined for travelers who are looking for distinct and original hotels.

		Expo Garden - Kunming *** The Yunnan Expo Garden Hotel is a four star hotel in Kunming, which is built according to international standards.
		Jim's Tibetan - Dali Boutique Hotel The Jim’s Tibetan Hotel is highly recommended by travelers notably for its beautiful building in the colorful Tibetan and Bai Styles. Enjoy this relaxing place, the garden and the rooftop terrace with a magnificent view over the Erhai lake and the mountains. You’ll appreciate the warm atmosphere of this lovely hotel!
		Zen Garden - Lijiang**** Discover this charming hotel with style, located in a very peaceful area. The house and the courtyard are built in traditional Naxi style, decorated with Ming and Qing dynasties antiques. From the terrace you can enjoy a very nice view of the old city.
		Gyalthang Dzong - Zhongdian****Boutique Hotel In a picturesque landscape, this boutique hotel offers very comfortable rooms and suites decorated in an ethnic and elegant style. Also equipped with different restaurants and a spa, Gyalthang Dzong is known to be the most luxurious hotel close to town. Discover a remote paradise on earth where harmony reigns, where the gods walk among the people, and where man and nature embrace!

Beyond a question of mere style, our aim is to combine luxury and comfort with architecture and ambience.
A perfect match of lifestyle and travel.

Nowadays, finding a tour in China with classic hotels, is within everyone's reach, but unlike the rest ChinaVeo offers unique and memorable hotels:  a traditional Courtyard in Beijing (offered by Mao to his third concubine), a boutique hotel designed by Philippe Stark in Shanghai, a Modern Art Hotel in Guilin …

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

Tour sum up:

• Day 1: Departure from Paris (or other city, please contact us)
• Day 2: Kunming – The Flowers and Birds Market and Yuantong Temple
• Day 3: Kunming / Dali - The Shilin Stone Forest and the oldest Pharmacy of Kunming
• Day 4: Dali – The Chongsheng Three Pagodas
• Day 5: Dali – Erhai lake, the Stone village of Xizhou, the Zhoucheng village, the Three Teas Ceremony and Batik factory
• Day 6: Dali / Lijiang - The Black Dragon Pond and the Dongba Institute
• Day 7: Lijiang - The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visit of Baisha village, Yufeng Si lamasery
• Day 8: Lijiang - Dayan old town
• Day 9: Lijiang / Zhongdian – The Tiger leaping Gorges
• Day 10: Zhongdian – The Dabao Si Temple, the Songzalin Temple, Bitahai lake and Shudu lake
• Day 11: Zhongdian / Shanghai
• Day 12: Arrival in Paris (or other city, please contact us)

Unique Activities included in this tour:

• Meet the Yunnan ethnic minorities
• Mandarin lesson
• The Flowers and Birds market
• Visit of an old pharmacy
• Tea ceremony
• Ride in the Maglev
  

(A full description and illustration of these activities can be found by clicking on the « Unique Activities (Video) » tab).

Included Features:

• A private guide speaking your language (English, French, German or Spanish) accompanying you daily
• A private car with chauffeur at your disposal every day
• Accommodations in charming 3 and 4 stars hotels with private bathroom, air-conditioning, television and telephone
• The International flight*
• Domestic flights as listed in the itinerary : Train  : Kunming / Dali     –     Flights : Diqing / Kunming- Kunming /Shanghai
• Sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary
• Meals which are listed in the itinerary (those not listed are not included)
• The Breakfasts
• Tourist accident / Casualty insurance
• Service charges and government taxes

Not Included Features:

• The visa expenses are not included in the price. However, according to your city of departure, we can take care of the formalities for you.
• Personal Expenses & Tips

* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking

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* price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking