7 Days Best Yunnan Tour to Dali Lijiang Shangri-La

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Dali Arrival

   Welcome to Yunnan for a private tour in China. Upon your arrival at the Dali Airport, meet your driver who'll drive you to the well-selected hotel by private vehicle. Enjoy your leisure time in Dali.

   Accommodation: in Dali

2. Day 2: Dali Highlights Tour
   Experience the Culture of the Bai Ethnic Group; Enjoy the Erhai Lake Cruise

   After breakfast, your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel at 9 o’clock, then head to Xizhou Old Town. Much less touristy than Dali Old Town, Xizhou Old Town is small yet with a strong cultural atmosphere of Bai Minority. The bustling morning market is a bonus for you to meet locals in traditional minority clothing when they stroll around stalls selling local fruits, fresh meat, piles of spices, livestock, etc.

   Wander more of the town to observe the exquisite architecture and enjoy the pleasant countryside view. Have a stop at the Zhoucheng Village in Xizhou, where your eyes will be excited by many fascinating handmade tie-dye products and embroideries.

   

   Then, relax on a cruise to Jinsuo Islet of Erhai Lake. It is a small fishing village with more than 200 Bai households. Wandering through the Bai minority houses here will bring you into fertile fields, lush green trees, and the beautiful scenery of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.

   Accommodation: in Dali

   

3. Day 3: Dali to Lijiang Tour by Van
   Have a Glimpse into the Old Lijiang from Market to Museum

   You will be picked up from your hotel at 8 am and driven 3 hours to Lijiang (no English-speaking tour guide until you arrive in Lijiang). The Lijiang tour guide will meet you in Lijiang Ancient Town and begin your Yunnan tour in Lijiang at the Zhongyi Market. At this largest food and vegetable market in Lijiang, you will find fresh produce, dry goods, and street food and have a glimpse into the old Lijiang.

   Next, visit the Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park which is an iconic site in Lijiang. Sit beside the pool bank are arbors, pavilions, swaying willow trees, a white marble bridge, and ancient temples. Reflected in the water is the marvelous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

   

   Next to the park, you will see the Dongba Museum. The relics and heritages displayed in the museum will give you a great insight into Naxi minority culture which is mainly about the language, sculpture, and architecture.

   Follow your private guide to the Shuhe Ancient Town which boasts an as long history as Lijiang Ancient Town but sees fewer tourists. Combining beautiful natural scenery and unsophisticated Naxi folk customs, it is a world cultural heritage site in China. Another local market can be visited before your driver transfers you back to Lijiang Ancient Town.

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

   

4. Day 4: Lijiang to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour
   Marvel at the Magnificent View of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

   Get up early and drive 1 hour to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at 8:30 am for the magnificent snow view on this always-snow-capped mountain. It is a sacred mountain of Naxi people highlighting varied and beautiful natural scenery. One of the highest-elevation cable cars will take you to Glacier Park to experience glacier and thrilling panoramic views.

   Then, take a battery car to Blue Moon Valley where you will see pearl-like lakes scattering on the land and marvel at the great scenery here.

   After the tour, drive back to Lijiang Old Town and enjoy your free time there.

   Accommodation: in Lijiang

   

5. Day 5: Lijiang to Shangri-La Tour by Van
   Hike One of the Deepest Gorges in the World; Experience Making Thangka

   After breakfast, we will start our Shangri-La tour! Drive about 60 km to marvel at the First Bend of the Yangtze River. Then move on to the Tiger Leaping Gorge where you will enjoy imposing gorge scenery during a 1.5-hour drive (part highway, part country road). One of the deepest gorges in the world, it measures 3900 meters from the waters of the Jinsha River to the Haba Mountain.

   

   After that, drive 2.5 hours to Shangri-La, a holy land rich in Tibet culture where you can encounter the grand monastery, snow-capped mountains, barley fields, yaks, and ancient Tibetan dwellings. You will get a chance to experience the process of making Thangka. A dedicated teacher will be arranged to teach you how to make a Thangka from the basics.

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

   

6. Day 6: Shangri-La Tibetan Tour
   Visit Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and Capture Primitive Landscapes

   After breakfast, take a guided Shangri-La tour to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Being built by imitating the layout of the Potala Palace in Tibet, the Songzanlin Monastery is in the traditional Tibetan style with a magnificent atmosphere, hence its other name "Little Potala Palace". The halls and inner walls are filled with spectacular murals, Buddha josses, golden lamps, silver censers, etc. narrating Buddhist history, legends, and former glory.

   

   Then, be transferred to the first national park in China, Pudacuo National Park, which features primitive landscapes with verdant forests, meadows, streams, wetlands, rare flora and fauna, plus minority villages.

   Walk along the plank road and meander through meadows, you will arrive at Shudu Lake. Here you will find herds of cattle, yaks, and sheep grazing around the lake. The lush forests surrounding the lake are home to many rare animals such as musk deer, bears, leopards, and golden cats.

   Keep exploring by visiting Bita Lake, which is famous for its gorgeous emerald waters. It is surrounded by lush forests, century-old pines and cypress, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Autumn is one of the best time to visit the park.

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

   

7. Day 7: Departure from Shangri-La

   After breakfast in your hotel, your driver will transfer you to Shangri-La Airport or the bus terminal for departure. This is the end of your 7-day Yunnan tour.

   If you would like to visit more cities in Yunnan like Kunming and Xishuangbanna, we will be happy to tailor-make a private tour based on your preferences.