12 Days Discovery Yunnan & Tibet Tour

• Day1

  Arrival in Kunming

  • No Meals
  Arrival in Kunming airport, your guide will wait for you at the exit lobby of airport on time and then transfer your hotel located in a pleasant area in the centre of Kunming.
  
• Day2

  Kunming: Stone Forest, Green Lake Park

  Today we will drive to Shilin to discover the site of the Stone Forest, a 350-square-km topographical turmoil wrought by a jungle of 100 or so groups of monoliths in shapes ranging from overhanging cliffs to grotesque boulders. "Number One Bizarre Spectacle Under Heaven," as the Stone Forest is nicknamed. The natural spectacle is made all the more alluring by its inhabitants, the Sani people, whose peculiar habits and customs never fail to keep the visitors mesmerized. 

  Then stroll through the most picturesque park in the northwest of the city of Kunming - Green Lake Park. This park is home to pavilions and bridges, and its lotus-filled ponds are visited by red-billed gulls in winter. You can share the happiness of local people who perform local opera, tai chi and other vibrant activities
• Day3

  Kunming to Dali by High Speed Train, Xizhou, Ancient City of Dali

  Today you will take high speed train to Dali in the early morning. Your guide will pick you up at railway station.
  At first we will drive to Xizhou Village. Xizhou is not only a famous historical village, but also a typical commercial village of the Bai ethnic group. You will see traditions and typical dresses of Bai.
  Walking in the ancient city of checkerboard layout, you can draw old Dali hundreds of years ago with picturesquely disordered old-style dwellings.
• Day4

  Lake Erhai, Three Pagodas, Dali to Lijiang

  Lake Erhai is a symbol of fecundity for the bai and is so called because of the shape of its contour. A cruise on Lake Erhai allows you to enjoy the breathtaking views.
  Three Pagodas are arranged in a triangle on the slope of Cangshan Mountain to the northwest of Dali. The largest of the three, Qianxun Pagoda, was built when the area was ruled by the State of Nanzhao during the Tang Dynasty(618-907).It has sixteen levels and is sixty-nine metres high. The two smaller pagodas on the north and 'south were built during the Five Dynasties (907-960). These are solid brick octagonal structures with ten levels, measuring forty-two metres high.
  Then we will go to Lijiang. Stroll through its narrow streets of the old town of Lijiang. The civil residences are tile-roofed houses of antique flavors structured with wood and earth, and enjoy the reputation as ''Highland Gusu City" and "Orient Venice".
  
• Day5

  Lijiang: Yuhu Village, Joseph Rock Old Residence, Mural in Baisha and Shuhe Ancient Town

  Today, we will visit the villages around Lijiang. The village of Baisha was the cradle of the Naxi ethnic culture. Baisha's frescoes have a history of more than 500 years. They show us the local life and religious elements.
  Yuhu village is located at the foot of the snow-covered mountain, about ten kilometres north of Lijiang. There is an artificial lake in the village. The reflection of the mountain on the lake is one of the most famous landscapes in Lijiang. The village houses are built of stone. It's special. In the village, you can also visit the former residence of Joseph Rock, a famous American photographer.
  Ancient Town of Shuhe, a miniature of the old town of Lijiang, is a well-preserved village. You can see the water flow, old houses, small alleys and local ethnic groups
• Day6

  Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang to Shangri-la, Songzanlin Monastery, Potatso Park

  Today we will drive from Lijiang to Shangri-La. On the way, we will explore the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Tiger Leap Gorge, on the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, snakes 25 kilometers from Qiaotou Village in Zhongdian to Daju Village in Lijiang, which consists of three sections: Shanghutiao, Zhonghutiao and Xiahutiao. It faces Yulong Snow Mountain in the east and Haba Snow Mountain in the west. The canyon is 3,790 meters deep, and its narrowest section is only 30 meters wide. Inside the canyon are numerous reefs, 10 waterfalls and 21 dangerous shoals, as well as seven subsided sections that abruptly drop a dozen meters. Known as one of the world's deepest canyons, it is one of the most famous hiking destinations in China.

  Upon arrival in Shangri-la, we will visit Songzanlin Monastery. Being the largest and most famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Songzanlin Monastery is also known as the "Little Potala Palace" because of its architectural similarity. We're going to have knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism. 

  Potatso Park is the first national park in China, covering an area of 601.1 square kilometers and its maximum altitude is 4159 meters. We will visit Shudu Lake, Bita Lake and a Tibetan village.
• Day7

  Shangri-la to Lhasa by Flight

  Today you will fly to Lhasa from Shangri-la. Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, your local guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. After check-in, it is better to rest at your hotel to adjust to the altitude.
  
• Day8

  Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street

  Your today’s visit begins with the Potala Palace, which is a world-famous ancient complex of palaces, whose construction started in the seventh century. The palace takes up an area of 130.000 square meters and is the winter palace for all the Dalai Lamas of various times.
  Later you enter into the sacred Jokhang Temple, the cradle of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo built the Jokhang Temple at the heart of the old city of Lhasa in the middle of the seventh century, for saluting his brideg Princess Wencheng.
  Then take a walk along the Barkhor Street, which is an ancient circular street with strong Tibetan flavor.
  
• Day9

  Lhasa: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka

  After breakfast, you will visit the Norbulingka, which was originally built in the middle period of the 18th century as the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas. It was also the place where they handled political affairs and held religious activities. Covering a total area of 360,000square meters, it is the largest artificial park possessing the best scenery and the most relics in Tibet. Norbulingka has been made People's Park, which preserves buildings like halls, pavilions, booths, shrines, etc.
  Then come to the Drepung Monastery, home to numerous renowned lamas, and the First to Fifth Dalai Lamas all ever lived there. Each year, during the Shotun Festival, the grand Buddha Unfolding Ceremony is held at the monastery, at which lamas hang a huge portrait of Sakyamuni, 30 meters in height and 20 meters in width, on the nearby hill for people to worship.
  Your visit of Lhasa ends with Sera Monastery. The monastery was built up in 1419. After the extensions made by later dynasties, the Sera Monastery became a large-scale monastery, one of the three major monasteries of Gelug Sect of Buddhism in Lhasa.
• Day10

  Lhasa to Shigatse, Yamdrok Lake and Palcho Monastery

  The impressive scenic journey from Lhasa to Shigatse takes approximately 7 hours by car. On the way, you can see Lake Yamdrok, which is 100 km southwest of Lhasa and is one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet.
  Then we will visit Palcho Monastery in Gyantse, which is a monastery with the architectural features of Han, Tibet and Nepal. It enjoys a high status in the history of Tibetan Buddhism because it is home to three sects - Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelugpa.
  After tour we will drive to Shigatse and accommodate at Shigatse.
• Day11

  Tashilunpo Monastery, Shigaste to Lhasa

  Today, we visit Tashilunpo Monastery, which is the largest monastery in the Western Tibetan region, where the Panches of successive generations carry out religious and political activities. Then we return to Lhasa. The road runs along the Brahmaputra River. Enjoy the landscape of turbulent water, canyon and high mountains.
  After that our private guide and driver will transfer you back to Lhasa.
• Day12

  Departure from Lhasa

  Transfer you to the airport or train station to your next destination.
  

•     Meals
In your itinerary, it normally offers two meals each day: breakfast and lunch. You will have the freedom to choose your own dinner. If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, please let us know in advance. We will try our best to satisfy your special needs.
Breakfast
Normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, breakfast is Western style, Chinese style or a combination.
Lunch - A la Carte 
In order to have our customers to taste authentic Chinese food and avoid tourist menus, we take food quality, dining environment and travel convenience into consideration when planning your lunch. Therefore , we will arrange a la carte lunch at a local restaurant whenever possible. Lunch a la carte is varied with different recommended restaurants and different cities. You could order the dishes according to your taste under the instructions of your guide. However, in some remote regions where it is difficult to find a non-tourist restaurant, you could have lunch at a local tourist restaurant or in a local family.
Your Own Dinner Option
Dinner is not included in our China travel package, unless you have this requirement. Looking for food by yourself could also be one of your best experiences in China. Therefore we offer you this flexibility of food choice. You can ask for your private guide to gain good suggestions.

•   Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private guide, private driver and an air-conditioned vehicle to accompany you at each destination of your trip, which will provide you with maximum personal care, security and flexibility.
All our guides are qualified and responsible professionals. All our vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, crewed with licensed drivers.
Private Tour Guide
In each city, we have a professional local guide. Our guide picks you up punctually at your arrival from the airport/railway station/spring of each destination. On your way out of that city, your guide will stay by your side until you have checked in and passed through security. All our travel guides in each destination are local and responsible, who know this area well. They accompany you visiting this city during 8 working hours of each day and they will tell background stories of the tourist places, and show you the secret places to take your best pictures.
When it is necessary to change your itinerary for unexpected reasons, your private travel guide will suggest alternatives to ensure that you still have an excellent experience.

Private Transfer
With our comfortable and safe private transfer, your trip will be more relaxing and less tiring, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most of your experience in China. In all destinations visited, your vehicle is air-conditioned, clean and expertly maintained. Your private driver is licensed, insured and experienced.
Normally we will arrange vehicles with more space for you and your luggages. Depending on the number of passengers, we generally use sedans or minivans (7 seats) for 4 people or less, large vans or small buses (12-22 seats) for 5 to 12 people, medium cars (33-37 seats) for 13 - 25 people and large buses (more than 45 seats) for more than 25 people.

•     Remarks 
We reserve the right to modify the price due to exchange rate fluctuation
If you have special requirements, please tell us in advance.
We reserve the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.