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Ethnic Minorities Tour in Yunnan

7 Days Classic adventures in Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La

This tour will take you to walk along with the important ancient station in Tea and Horse Caravan Road. You can view the most remote minority cultures from this road.

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7 Days / 603 USD View Dates & Prices

ITINERARY

Day1 Depart from Kunming – Three Pagodas in Dali

Three Pagodas have a history of over a thousand years. It is the royal temple of the Dali Kingdom and the first largest ancient temple in Dali. The Three Pagodas are famous for their symbolic three towers. The biggest one stands in the middle, and the other two smaller towers stand by the sides. Therefore, the Three Pagodas are also reputable as “Dali Three Towers”, which is one of the famous Buddha towers. The Three Pagodas is regarded as the landmark of Dali city. It is historical evidence left by the population and the spreading of Buddhism in Dali. It is also one of the remarkable sights of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.

  • Private Car Transportation from Kunming (3.5 hours)
  • Comfortable/Boutique Hotel in Dali
  • Meals are not provided but local cuisine will be recommended
Day2 Xizhou Ancient Town – Erhai Lake

Xizhou in Dali is a charming, historical town in Yunnan, China, renowned for its well-preserved Bai ethnic minority architecture, vibrant local culture, and stunning natural landscapes.

Erhai in Dali is a breathtaking, crystal-clear alpine lake, surrounded by lush mountains and dotted with traditional fishing villages, offering a serene and picturesque view of Yunnan’s natural beauty.

  • Private car transportation
  • Comfortable/Boutique Hotel in Dali
  • Breakfast is provided; Lunch and Dinner are not provided but local cuisine will be recommended
Day3 Shaxi Ancient Town – Dali

Shaxi in Dali is a captivating ancient town, nestled in the heart of the stunning Jianchuan County in Yunnan Province, China. Known for its significant role as a trading hub on the historical Tea Horse Road, it boasts an array of well-preserved Bai architecture, ancient temples, and a bustling Friday market that offers a glimpse into its rich past. Its tranquil ambiance, lush surroundings, and friendly locals make Shaxi a perfect escape for those seeking an immersive cultural experience and a journey back in time.

  • Private car transportation
  • Comfortable/Boutique Hotel in Dali
  • Breakfast is provided; Lunch and Dinner are not provided but local cuisine will be recommended

TOUR MAP

Prices per person for the months of July and August (Chinese Summer Holiday):
Participants Luxury Comfort Plus Comfort Economy
1 person US $4,210 US $3,210 US $2,210 --
2 persons US $2,597 US $1,948 US $1,326 --
3 persons US $2,838 US $2,040 US $1,215 --
4 persons US $2,282 US $1,669 US $1,048 --
5 persons US $2,503 US $1,743 US $1,030 --
6 persons US $2,189 US $1,539 US $955 --
7 persons US $2,374 US $1,669 US $992 --
8 persons US $2,151 US $1,539 US $936 --
9 persons US $2,300 US $1,632 US $918 --
10 persons US $2,133 US $1,483 US $899 --
11 persons US $2,226 US $1,539 US $890 --
12 persons US $2,040 US $1,447 US $806 --
13 persons US $2,226 US $1,483 US $798 --
14 persons US $2,040 US $1,410 US $788 --
15 persons US $2,040 US $1,465 US $779 --
16 persons US $2,040 US $1,391 US $769 --

Please Note

1. The prices above only apply to the twin-bed room (One room for two persons to share, with two separate beds or a king bed alternatively). The extra expense will be charged if the extra room is required.

2. The prices above are for people to book together. For example, if you have 2 people booking together, you can have the price for 2 people. If you have 8 people booking together, you can have the price for 8 people, etc.

3. Luxury hotels include 5-star luxury hotels. Comfort Plus hotels include local top-scale 4-star hotels. Comfort hotels include local general hotels and Inns.

4. The list of recommended hotels will be presented to the clients for their reference before the order is placed, and the standard prices are made based on the average level of the boutique comfortable hotel.  In this itinerary, we will select and recommend hotels according to their locations, facilities, service, and previous customer feedback. Besides,  there are also chances that these hotels are all fully booked or have limited quantities of rooms that cannot match your demands. We will rearrange other hotels that in an equal standard for you if these recommended hotels are fully booked. If you have any accommodation preference in the equal standard, please feel free to contact us to adjust the arrangement.

5. Sometimes, the service fee for a tour group with participants in an odd number will be higher than a tour group with participants in an even number. It’s mainly because based on different numbers of participants, the arrangement for transportation and accommodation will be different too. A tour group with an odd number of participants will have to afford more fees for a single room or more space on transportation.

Prices per person for the months of Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, and Dec:
Participants Luxury Comfort Plus Comfort Economy
1 person US $4,072 US $3,072 US $2,072 --
2 persons US $2,040 US $1,520 US $1,085 --
3 persons US $2,226 US $1,539 US $955 --
4 persons US $1,762 US $1,243 US $807 --
5 persons US $1,947 US $1,298 US $788 --
6 persons US $1,669 US $1,243 US $733 --
7 persons US $1,818 US $1,243 US $751 --
8 persons US $1,669 US $1,168 US $695 --
9 persons US $1,780 US $1,224 US $686 --
10 persons US $1,632 US $1,113 US $658 --
11 persons US $1,724 US $1,168 US $649 --
12 persons US $1,595 US $1,094 US $639 --
13 persons US $1,688 US $1,132 US $649 --
14 persons US $1,576 US $1,075 US $621 --
15 persons US $1,650 US $1,113 US $612 --
16 persons US $1,483 US $1,057 US $603 --

Please Note

1. The prices above only apply to the twin-bed room (One room for two persons to share, with two separate beds or a king bed alternatively). The extra expense will be charged if the extra room is required.

2. The prices above are for people to book together. For example, if you have 2 people booking together, you can have the price for 2 people. If you have 8 people booking together, you can have the price for 8 people, etc.

3. Luxury hotels include 5 Star international luxury hotels, such as Banyan Tree, Aman Resorts. Comfort Plus hotels include local top-scale 4 Star hotels, such as Hilton and Shangri-La. Comfort hotels include local general hotels and Inns.

4. The list of recommended hotels will be presented to the clients for their reference before the order is placed, and the standard prices are made based on the average level of the boutique comfortable hotel.  In this itinerary, we will select and recommend hotels according to their locations, facilities, service, and previous customer feedback. Besides,  there are also chances that these hotels are all fully booked or have limited quantities of rooms that cannot match your demands. We will rearrange other hotels that in an equal standard for you if these recommended hotels are fully booked. If you have any accommodation preference in the equal standard, please feel free to contact us to adjust the arrangement.

5. Sometimes, the service fee for a tour group with participants in an odd number will be higher than a tour group with participants in an even number. It’s mainly because that based on different numbers of participants, the arrangement for transportation and accommodation will be different too. A tour group with an odd number of participants will have to afford more fees for a single room or more space on transportation.

DEPARTURE DATES
  • Departure from Kunming on Any Sunday

ACCOMMENDATION ( RECOMMENDED)

Hotel Category Luxury Comfort Plus Comfort Economy
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【Personalized Consultant Service】To meet your very personal demands, we provide 1 to 1 professional consultant service to all travelers.

【Accommodation】We pick suitable and tasteful hotels based on your requirements.

【Transportation】We provide a private and comfortable vehicle during your whole journey.

【Tickets】Entrance tickets for the sightseeing places listed in this program.

【Activities】All the activities listed in this program.

【Breakfast】Breakfast for the whole trip.

【Tour Guide/Driving service】Professional driver and English-speaking guide.

【Insurance】Travel accident insurance.

  • Other personal expenses during the journey
  • Meals (lunch and dinner)

Review of Ancient Yunnan Travellers

We had three good days traveled with Ancient Yunnan. The tour guide picked us up from the airport and showed us around. We went to visit Heshun Old Town, Volcanic Park and Thermal sea park in Tengchong. We have been on the hot air balloon, which is really cool experience. Seeing the volcano from the top is really nice too. I like that village with a lot of Gingko trees. The whole village is totally yellow in the fall, which is amazing. The spa is really nice on the day of visiting the thermal sea. I feel really relaxed after enjoying the three days of hiking and sightseeing. The service of Ancient Yunnan has been great. The guide has been very friendly and very helpful.

Rients Visser | Netherlands - Classic Tour of the Border City in Yunnan (4 Days in Teng Chong)

I had three really wonderful days in Tengchong with Ancient Yunnan. When we visited the Heshun Old Town, I saw a lot of new things that I never see outside of Yunnan. We stay overnight in the old city which is a cool and good experience. The weather is beautiful, and the tour guide is good too. On the second day, we went to the Volcanic Park. In there I take the hot air balloon for the first time in my life. Gingko village is quite pretty in the autumn season. Thermal sea park is quite interesting too. I’m quite happy I could see all of these scenes of Tengchong, in Yunnan.

Viktor Gerosa | Switzerland  - Classic Tour of the Border City in Yunnan (4 Days in Teng Chong)

Our trip started from Stone forest, an amazing place. This is the number one attraction in Yunnan. The next station is Yuanyang, the Rice Terrace. It has beautiful and amazing scenery. There is really rich in local culture. One thing that needs to be noted is that the weather here is not very unstable.  So you would have to catch the moment of taking your picture. In Jianshui, there are lots of local places and activities for you to go and join so you could have a real feeling of an ancient Chinese town, not as other fake ancient town.    I would highly recommend Ancient Yunnan Travel to you. It’s a professional team that can help you organize your trip in Yunnan very well.

Ancient Yunnan is your best choice to travel in Yunnan!

Ксюша | Ukraine - Photography Tour of Yunnan (7-Day in Stone Forest, Yuanyang, Jianshui and Fuxian Lake)

We travelled with Ancient Yunnan. They provide everything. We visited three of the big cities. Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. And also a lot of little villages. These villages we saw, they are all parts of the Tea and Horse Caravan Road. I personally think I traveled a lot in China, and Yunnan is actually my favorite area. It’s the best destination for the geographical location is perfect. It’s never too cold or too hot. When you’re going to visit Shangri-La, it’s very interesting. The beautiful fact is that you can enjoy the Tibetan view without going to Tibet. It was a very beautiful experience. Ancient Yunnan booked awesome boutique hotels for us. Both accommodation and food are amazing.

Yunnan is the best area to visit in China.  But China is too vast to travel easily. So you can just rely on a professional guide who can take you around and help you with the language, which is very important.

Matteo | Italy - Classic Ethnic Minorities Tour of Yunnan (2 Days in Lijiang)

We had 6 days of travelling time through Yunnan. We went to Shilin, the Stone Forest, Yuanyang, Jianshui and Fuxian Lake. Yuanyang counts half of the trip and also the most beautiful part you will ever see in Yunnan. You need to wake up very early to see the sunrise, which is really worth it. And I really like Jianshui for two reasons. The first one is tofu. I love tofu. You can see how it’s done in the local workshop. The second one is the old town of Jianshui. You have a good feeling when you go there because it’s kind of like an open area of a museum.  You can see real people’s daily life, not just tea shops. It’s pretty interesting. I think this trip is pretty good. You can practice your Chinese a lot, which is what we always need to do as a Chinese language learner.

You really need to come over to Yunnan!

Joe | France - Photography Tour of Yunnan (7-Day in Stone Forest, Yuanyang, Jianshui and Fuxian Lake)

I have been visiting the region of Xishuangbanna for five days. I visited the Wildelephant Valley, where I could see an elephant performance. We also visit a small village on the same day, where Dai group lives here. We went to see the tropical rainforest too, which presents you with a very tropical climate. You would sweat a lot if you can’t get used to it. We visited Jinghong city, the capital city of Xishuangbanna the other night. There was a huge night market. I’m not used to seeing such a big market in Spain. There are some special dishes. I tried insect dishes for the first time in my life in this market. I also recommend it because it’s some kind of new experience. What I love most about this journey is the facility of the hotel and the multiple categories of hotels for my choice. Ancient Yunnan provided me with the best hotel in this region. Ancient Yunnan also provided me with a personal driver and a tour guide. They helped a lot during the journey.I really enjoyed this trip and strongly recommended this trip to the region of Xishuangbanna in Yunnan!

John | Spain - Tropical Adventure in South of Yunnan (5 Days in Xishuangbanna)

Haven’t visited many places in China. I was looking for a place that combines both traditional Chinese culture and some unique features.  After visiting Ancient Yunnan, I decided that Yunnan is the best choice that I could make . Due to its location and historical background, Yunnan is the most diverse province in China. There are 26 minorities, 15 of which are unique to this area. Ancient Yunnan helped me to organize the trip, to explore the whole Yunnan province .

So, if you want to combine both historical experiences and enjoy the natural scenic spots, you should definitely go to Yunnan!

Oksana | Ukraine - Ethnic Minorities Tour (7-Day Classic Adventures in Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La)