7 Days Yunnan | Dali+Lijiang+Shangri-La Best Highlights Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Dali arrival

   Welcome to Yunnan. Upon your arrival at the Dali Airport, meet your driver who'll drive you to the hotel by private vehicle. Enjoy your leisure time in Dali.

   Accommodation: Boutique Hotel in Dali

2. Day 2: Dali Tour

   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, and 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: Boutique Hotel in Dali

   

3. Day 3: Dali - Lijiang

   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). Your guide will meet you in Lijiang Ancient Town and lead you to Zhongyi Market. At this largest food and vegetable market in Lijiang, you will find fresh produce, dry goods, 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 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 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 drives you to Lijiang Ancient Town.

   Accommodation: Boutique Hotel in Lijiang

   

4. Day 4: Lijiang

   Get up early and drive to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at 8:30 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. A cableway will take you to the Spruce Meadow which is surrounded by lofty spruces, offering awesome meadow and forest views.

   Then, drive back to Lijiang Old Town and enjoy your free time there.

   Accommodation: Boutique Hotel in Lijiang

   

5. Day 5: Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangri-La

   After breakfast, you will 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 hours 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.

   

   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: Boutique Hotel in Shangri-La

   

6. Day 6: Shangri-La

   After breakfast, head 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 another 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, transfer to Shangri-La’s High Mountain Resort to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee (or a pot of Yak Butter Tea if you are those who like trying new foods ) and a bird-view of Pudacuo National Park. The first national park in China, Pudacuo National Park features primitive landscapes with verdant forests, meadows, streams, wetlands, rare flora and fauna, plus minority villages.

   Accommodation: Boutique Hotel in Shangri-La

   

7. Day 7: Shangri-La Departure

   After breakfast in your hotel, your driver will transfer you to Shangri-La Airport or the bus terminal for departure. End of your 7 days Yunnan highlights tour.

   Long press the following QR code for a detailed quotation. Thanks very much for your inquiry. We will answer your questions immediately.