Discover the southwest Chinese provinces with distinct minority ethnic groups. Until today the Miao ethnic minority’s life and culture remain unchanged. Unspoiled by tourism development in the surrounding provinces has made the region one of the best kept secrets in China. Its stunning landscape, characterized by limestone karst hills, jagged peaks and terraced rice fields and its colorful ethnic minority cultures have made it a paradise for anthropologists, photographers and adventurous travelers.
Length: 15 Days
Kunming – Lijiang – Shangri La – Dali – Kunming – Guiyang – Kaili – Guiyang – Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin
Type: Private Tour
Kunming Changshui International Airport
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Arrive in Kunming. Pick up by our local guide and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner with local flavour in hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Intercontinental Kunming
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit the famous Bamboo Temple which dates back to the Tang dynasty with 500 colorful clay Buddhas. Next stop to the Stone Forest, a typical karst formation. After which travel to the Heisongyan Scenic Spot (also named as the Naigu Stone Forest)8 kilometers from the Stone Forest. Take a night sleeper train to Lijiang.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Train
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit the Dongba Culture Museum. Follow by Black Dragon Pool, whose name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are as clear as spring water. In the afternoon a visit to Baisha Naxi Village named as it has a large amount of white sand on the earths surface. Last visit Shuhe Old Town means “the village at the foot of the high hill”, ranked as an important part of the Ancient City of Lijiang.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa Lijiang
Breakfast at Hotel. Free and easy.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa Lijiang
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Shangri-la. En route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. Walk in the ancient Shugu Town and view the First Bend of Yangtze River. In the evening visit Zhongdian Old Town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local Tibetan people dancing in the middle square of old town.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Hylandia by Shangri La
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery, it is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it “Gedan Songzanlin Monastery”. Next to the local market and make a Tibetan family visit. In the afternoon, visit Giant Prayer Wheel.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Hylandia by Shangri La
Breakfast at Hotel. Short rest at hotel. Drive to Dali. A stroll around the Dali Old Town.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: The Linden Centre Dali
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit the morning market in Xizhou Bai village and Zhoucheng Village for the Bai traditional batik Tie-dye family workshop, Drive next to Kunming. Take a night sleeper train to Guiyang.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Train
After arrival, drive to Kaili to visit Qingman Short-skirt Miao Village which is one of the most typical short-skirt Miao villages near Kaili. Next visit to the traditional Paper-making in Shiqiao Village
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Zhong Heng Hotel Kaili
After breakfast, take a visit to Jidao Long-skirt Miao Village, a branch of the Miao minority women of which do wear long-skirts. Get to see the Making of Lusheng in Paika Village & Water Wheel. Next to the Datang Mini Skirt Miao Village which is famous for its distinctive style short skirt wore by Miao Female. Last visit will be Matang Gejia Village.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Zhong Heng Hotel Kaili
After breakfast, a visit Xijiang Thousand Families Village. Hidden in the folds of the Leigong Hills, it is thought to be the largest Miao village. Drive back to Guiyang to take a flight to Guilin.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Shangri la Guilin
After breakfast, travel to Elephant Trunk Hill, located at the conjunction of the Li River & the Peach Blosom River, the whole hill looks very much like a giant elephant with a long trunk – a symbol of Guilin city. Next Fubo Hill, where you can see lots of rock stone carvings & Buddha statues dating from the Tang Dynasty. Last visit Reed Flute Cave.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Shangri la Guilin
After breakfast, drive to Longji Area located in the mountainous region on the northeastern part of Guilin. After 2.5 hours drive you will get to the Longji area, Helping Township of Longsheng County. Visit Zhuang and Yao Minority tribes villages and some families if you like. Drive back to Guilin in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
Overnight: Shangri la Guilin
After breakfast, take a transfer to the Zhujiang Pier for a 4.5 hours wonderful Li River cruise.Disembark at the one-thousand-year-old town Yangshuo in the afternoon. Free and easy to explore the old town after check-in at hotel or optional biking via country road through the countryside with rice paddies. Visit the Moon Hill and climb 890 steps up to the moon hill to see the beautiful scenery. Farewell dinner will be served at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Overnight: XY Yunhouse Yangshuo
After breakfast, drive back to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: NA