Legendary Yunnan

Arrive in Kunming on a morning flight. Meet your local guide and transfer for about 1.5 hours to the Stone Forest, a core area of the Southern China Karst World Nature Heritage. Explore the area for a couple of hours. Since the forest sits within the Yi ethnic group region, visit a local Yi family. Drive to Kunming city. In the evening, sample authentic Yunnan food and taste famous Pu’er tea.

Take the morning train to Dali. Upon arrival at the station, meet your local guide to begin the tour. Ride a chair lift up Cangshan Mountain and walk for about two hours along the Jade Trail. During May or June, spot blooming azaleas and wildflowers. Along the way, view Dali Old Town, Chongsheng Temple, and Erhai Lake. Take the cable car down the mountain. Visit Chongsheng Temple, a magnificent Buddhist shrine. In the evening, explore Dali Ancient Town.

Hiking length: 2 Hours

Have breakfast at the hotel and drive about 1 hour south to Weishan County. Explore the old village and Weibaoshan, one of China's 13 famous Daoist holy mountains. Discover Daoist temples built during the Nanzhao Kingdom era at this site, which serves as the birthplace of the legendary King Xinluo. After lunch, visit Dong Lianhua Village, a Hui Muslim community located by the Hong He River that features well-preserved traditional buildings. Afterward, drive back to Dali.

Camp altitude/ Elevation Gain: 2509 meters

After breakfast, drive to Xizhou Bai Village and its bustling market. Browse products ranging from groceries to handicrafts and observe the traditional dress of Bai minority women. Next, visit a local family house to watch the Tea Ceremony of Three Courses, followed by a ride along the Erhai ecology corridor. Drive 2-3 hours toward Shaxi Village, stopping en route at Shibaoshan to view grottos carved during the Nanzhao Kingdom era. Complete the drive to Shaxi Village, a historic station on the Tea & Horse Caravan route listed by the World Monuments Fund, where you stay for the night.

Explore Shaxi Village in the morning before driving 2.5 hours north to Lijiang. The 130 km route climbs in altitude and passes through rural landscapes. Stop at Stone Drum to view the First Bend of the Yangtze River, a famous geological site. Drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge where the river flows between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. See one of the deepest and narrowest gorges in the world before arriving in Gyalthang, now known as Shangri-la, in the late afternoon.

Driving distance: 130 kilometers / 2.5 Hours

Visit Songtsam Monastery, a spiritual center of Gelukpa Tibetan Buddhism. Explore the complex, known as "Little Potala" for its architectural style, where over 700 monks and lamas reside. Walk through the grounds to see colorful buildings and burning juniper. In the afternoon, travel to Nixi Village. Observe the creation of their famous black pottery, including fire pans and kettles. Watch locals use simple wooden tools like bats and hammers to maintain a complex pottery-making technique that has lasted thousands of years.

After breakfast, tour Pudacuo National Park, the first national park on the Chinese mainland. Visit Shudu Lake, Militang Pasture, and Bita Lake. Trek along the planked paths near the water to see centuries-old oak trees, spruces, and firs covered in usnea. Spot various species of azaleas during May. Enjoy a picnic lunch. If time permits, visit Dukezong, the Shangri-la ancient town, before returning to your hotel in Shangri-la.

Drive 2-2.5 hours south to Lijiang ancient town. Arrive after lunch and visit Black Dragon Pool Park to photograph Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the bridge, and the lake. Tour the nearby Museum of Naxi Culture. Explore the ancient town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site known for its unique canals. Climb Lion Hill for a panoramic view of the city.

Driving distance: 2-2.5 Hours

Head to Yuhu Village this morning. Visit Yuhe Lake, filled by melted mountain snow, and sense the mysterious aura created by the Naxi holy water. See the place chosen by biologist Joseph Rock in 1922, who lived here for 27 years and introduced Yunnan to the outside world. Next, drive to Baisha Town, one of Lijiang's oldest zones. View the Baisha Frescos to see 44 murals from the early Ming Dynasty. Observe how these paintings depict religious stories from Taoism and Buddhism while exemplifying the artistic styles of Naxi, Tibetan, Han, and Bai groups. Afterward, explore Shuhe Old Town. Visit this UNESCO-listed "hometown of springs" to see a well-preserved stop on the ancient tea route and one of the earliest Naxi settlements.

Return to the airport for a domestic flight to connect with your international flight home.