Eleanor Hayes
April 18, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 10-day adventure tour explores the most stunning natural and cultural highlights of China’s Yunnan Province, taking you from the mild, vibrant capital Kunming through the colorful layered Red Land, ancient lakeside Dali, historic old town Lijiang, and the misty, mystical highland gem Shangri-la. Curated as a handpicked selection of Yunnan’s top must-visit spots, this trip delivers unbeatable value with its competitive best price and secure, trusted payment options, letting you focus fully on enjoying your unforgettable highland adventure.
This 10-day immersive adventure winds through the dramatic, diverse landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. We start our journey in the lush, year-round pleasant provincial capital Kunming, head out to photograph the rainbow-hued rolling hills of Dongchuan Red Land, then travel north to the ancient lakeside city of Dali. From Dali, we journey past the mighty First Bend of the Yangtze and through the dramatic cliffs of Tiger Leaping Gorge to the misty highland paradise of Shangri-La, before wrapping up our trip exploring the snowy mountain enclaves of ancient Lijiang. The route blends iconic natural sights, intimate cultural encounters, and postcard-perfect photo opportunities at every turn.
Today you’ll arrive in Kunming, Yunnan’s vibrant “City of Eternal Spring”, and check into your comfortable accommodation for the night: Howard Johnson Life GUANDU KUNMING 🏨. With no scheduled activities today, you’re free to wander nearby local night markets, sample Kunming’s famous cross-bridge rice noodles, and rest up for the adventure ahead.
Start your day with a filling included breakfast 🍽️, then depart Kunming for the world-famous painterly landscape of Dongchuan Red Land. We’ll explore the quiet, scenic Music Hollow (Yuepuao) tucked near Flower Stone Village, then head to Wafang Liangzi to capture the dreamy golden sunset glow that turns the iron-rich red soil into a patchwork of vivid color. We end the day at Luoxianggou Valley, another prime spot to photograph the dramatic sunset light over the rolling hills.
Wake up early to catch the soft golden sunrise over the dramatic red hills at Damakan, where morning light brings out the deepest, most saturated hues of the landscape. After sunrise, we wander through the rolling, multicolored red fields of Jinxiuyuan, soaking in panoramic views before heading back to Kunming. Today’s breakfast is included 🍽️, and you’ll check back into Howard Johnson Life GUANDU KUNMING 🏨 for the night.
After your included breakfast 🍽️, we kick off the day with a leisurely stroll around the lush, tree-lined Green Lake in central Kunming, then head out to the otherworldly karst landscape of the Stone Forest, where you can wander among towering limestone formations shaped by millions of years of erosion. After exploring, we board a comfortable second-class bullet train from Kunming to Dali, and check into Hawthorn By Wyndham Dali Erhai Park 🏨 for the night.
Wake up to lake views, then after your included breakfast 🍽️, we head to the historic Bai town of Xizhou to experience the traditional Bai three-course tea ceremony, learning about local tea culture while sipping fragrant, specialty brews. Next we travel to Zhoucheng, Yunnan’s famous tie-dye hub, where we visit a local family-run tie-dye workshop to learn about this centuries-old craft. We end the day with a leisurely visit to the scenic shores of Erhai Lake, where you can breathe in fresh lake air and admire views of the distant Cang Mountains. You’ll stay another night at Hawthorn By Wyndham Dali Erhai Park 🏨.
After a hearty included breakfast 🍽️, we depart Dali for the misty highlands of Shangri-La, stopping first to take in sweeping views of the dramatic First Bend of the Yangtze River, where the mighty river makes its iconic turn through steep mountain slopes. Next we explore world-famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest river gorges on Earth, with thundering rapids and towering cliff walls. When we arrive in Shangri-La, we stroll through the historic Dukezong Ancient Town, then climb Guishan Hill to see the massive Grand Prayer Wheel, one of the largest functioning prayer wheels in the world. You’ll stay overnight at Holiday Inn Express Shangri-La (Dukezong Ancient Town) 🏨.
After your included breakfast 🍽️, we start the day with a visit to magnificent Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, with gilded golden roofs perched on a hillside overlooking the town. Next we head to the scenic highland wetland of Napahai Lake, where you can spot migratory birds and take in panoramic views of surrounding snow-capped peaks. In the afternoon, we visit a local Tibetan family for an intimate cultural experience, learning about traditional highland life and homemade local treats. You’ll stay another night at Holiday Inn Express Shangri-La (Dukezong Ancient Town) 🏨.
After your included breakfast 🍽️, we depart Shangri-La and travel to the ancient snowy mountain town of Lijiang. Once we arrive, we wander the winding cobblestone lanes of UNESCO-listed Lijiang Old Town, then visit the serene Black Dragon Pool Park, where you can catch postcard-perfect reflected views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on clear days. We stop next at the Dongba Culture Museum to learn about the unique ancient Dongba script and Naxi ethnic culture of the region. You’ll check into Laifeng Lijiang Ancient City Branch 🏨 for the night.
Start your day after an included breakfast 🍽️ with a visit to the vast alpine meadow of Ganhaizi at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, then head to the stunning turquoise waters of Baishui River (also called Blue Moon Valley), where glacier-fed water glows bright blue against red rock banks. You’ll take a scenic chairlift up to either Glacier Park or Spruce Meadow, depending on your preference, to get up close to the snow-capped peak of Jade Dragon. In the afternoon, we watch the famous open-air Impression Lijiang show, a massive outdoor performance celebrating Naxi culture set against the backdrop of the snow mountain. You’ll stay another night at Laifeng Lijiang Ancient City Branch 🏨.
Your 10-day Yunnan adventure comes to an end today after a final included breakfast 🍽️. We’ll help arrange transfers to the airport or station for your onward journey.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 18, 2026
The contrast between Kunming’s lively city energy, Dali’s quiet Erhai Lake views, and Lijiang’s ancient mountain culture was unforgettable. I came away with hundreds of photos and a new appreciation for how diverse Yunnan’s landscapes and people really are.
February 14, 2026
I was a little nervous about booking a group adventure tour to Yunnan as a solo traveler, but my consultant Sunny from HelloChinaTrip made the whole process totally seamless from start to finish. Our guide knew all the best hidden photo spots in the Red Land that most casual tourists miss, and the local food stops in Dali were incredible. I loved getting to experience such a mix of ethnic cultures and dramatic landscapes across the province, and the 10-day timeline felt just right. I’d absolutely recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the very best of Yunnan.
May 2, 2025
I traveled during the Golden Week holiday, so popular spots like Lijiang Old Town and the Red Land viewing platforms were a lot more wonderful than I expected. The views across all the stops were still absolutely incredible, from Kunming's lively flower markets to the misty snow-capped mountains of Shangri-la. Our route was perfectly planned to hit the best highlights of Yunnan in 10 days without too much time spent driving between towns. I still had a fantastic trip, just wish I'd booked for a less busy time of year to enjoy the sights more peacefully.
April 30, 2025
This is hands down the best organized adventure tour I’ve ever joined in China.
March 12, 2025
This 10-day Yunnan adventure exceeded every one of my travel expectations.
January 20, 2025
Hiking through the pine forest trails around Shangri-la was the absolute highlight of my whole adventure. Every day brought a new, stunning landscape that I’d only ever seen in travel photos before.
December 18, 2024
The layered, vibrant colors of the Dongchuan Red Land took my breath away. Every stop was perfectly balanced between natural exploration and cultural immersion, and I never felt rushed between destinations.
