How to Plan Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Tour Itinerary

Yunnan classic tours are recommendable for travelers who are keen to see the major sites of the Yunnan Province. You will get a glimpse of the traditional Chinese city life, experience the rich and unique ethnic folk custom, stroll around the ancient towns to discover more Chinese traditional culture, follow our step into Yuanyang Rice Terraces with Hani Culture, enjoy the fascinating rice terraces and take nice photos there, and visit the impressive and amazing scenic areas, such as Stone Forest, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc. Yunnan Classic Tours offer you a journey with the highlights of Yunnan and help you to discover a different “Yunnan”.

About Yunnan Classic Tour

Yunnan classic tours usually involve the top destinations of Yunnan, including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la, or even Xishuangbanna, Jianshui, Yuanyang. You can choose at least two or all of them to customize your own Yunnan classic tour or choose an itinerary we provide. Our Yunnan classic tour packages range from 1 day to 12 days. For a 1-2 days tour, Dali-Lijiang tour is recommended; For a 4-6 days tour, Kunming-Dali-Lijiang tour is recommended; And if you are planning a tour to Yunnan for more than 6 days, Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la Classic Tour is recommended. 

Classic Tours in Yunnan

Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour

This is a classic tour for people to come to Yunnan. It includes all highlights of Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. It is not only a tour about natural scenic spots, but also a tour on ethnic cultures and history.

Things to Do During the Tour

Note: According to the travel duration, the above mentioned scenic spots can be increased or decreased accordingly. 

4 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Group Tour
6 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang Tour

Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Tour

This kind of Yunnan classic tour takes at least 7 days. You can start your classic tour by high-speed bullet train or by flight. During the tour, you will:

  • Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
  • Step into ethnic villages to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
  • Be shocked by the ruggedness and magnificence of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
  • Discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan.
  • Visit the famous attractions of Yunnan: Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake, Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Monastery and Pudacuo National Park and the like.

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
8 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La Overland Tour
8 Days Yunnan Tour from Hong Kong
8 Days Best Yunnan Small Group Tour-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train
9 Days Yunnan Tour From Chengdu
9 Days Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La High Speed Train Tour

Note: According to the travel duration or tourists’ requirements, the mentioned scenic spots in the itinerary can be increased or decreased accordingly, and the order of destinations can be changed. In addition, our classic tour can combine with other tours like tea culture tour, hiking tour, Muslim tour, photography tour, pilgrimage tour and climbing tour, etc. 

Yunnan Classic Tour with Tea Culture Tour

Dianhong Black Tea and Pu’er Tea are two famous tea in Yunnan Province and China. Discovering Pu’er Tea and Dianhong Black Tea culture is an unique and special activity in Yunnan. For this tour, you can step into some famous tea plantations in Fengqing, tea factories like Nanjian Tulin Tea Factory, Dianhong Black Tea Factory, and learn more about the history, development and tea-making process of Dianhong Black tea and Pu’er tea. At the same time, you will also visit must-see attractions in Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. For a 10 days tour, you will also visit the highlights of Shangri-la.

7 Days Kunming, Dali and Lijiang Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour
10 Days Best Yunnan Classic Tour with Dianhong Black Tea Culture Tour

Yunnan Classic Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure

For this 9 days Yunnan classic tour, you will visit the famous attractions of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, and discover the ethnic culture of Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan. Moreover, the Tiger Leaping Gorge hiking(totally about one day) will be the most impressive part of your trip, you could be shocked by the ruggedness and magnificence of Tiger Leaping Gorge and its surrounding mountains when you are hiking. This part can not be missed by hikers.

9 Days Kunming Dali Lijiang and Shangri-La Classic Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Adventure

Yunnan Classic Tour with Muslim Culture Exploration

This tour is designed for those who want to visit the classic attractions in Yunnan and those who are interested in Muslim culture. In addition to the classic attractions of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la, on route, you will have a exploration of Muslim Culture at Nancheng Mosque and Donglianhua Mosque.

9 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Muslim Culture Exploration

Yunnan Classic Tour with Dongchuan Red Land Photography

This tour combines the 8 days Yunnan classic tour with 2 days Dongchuan red Land photography tour, which is an absolutely amazing itinerary. The fantastic soil which colored by red is an amazing scene for people who love to take photos about the marvelous things in the world. Different like many other scenery in China, Dongchuan is more like a palette held by the hand of nature. You will enjoy the Sunrise of Damakan and the sunset of the beautiful red land of Luoxianggou Valley. 

10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Dongchuan Red Land Photography

Yunnan Classic Tour with Lugu Lake

This tour focuses on the most famous cities and classic attractions in Yunnan Province. It also provides a chance to cruise in Lugu Lake, and to discover the mysterious Mosuo minority, which combines matrilineal society with matrilocal society.

10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Holy Lugu Lake (Departure from Lugu Lake Airport)
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Holy Lugu Lake and Mosuo Matriarchal Society (Departure from Shangrila)

Yunnan Classic Tour with Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage

During this 11 days Yunnan classic tour, you will visit the must-see attractions like Kunming Stone Forest, Dali Old Town, Lijiang Old Town, Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery, Meili Snow Mountain(Kawa Karpo Kora) and Feilaisi Monastery in Deqin. The Tiger Leaping Gorge, the First Bend of the Yangtze River and the Meili Snow Mountain will be the most impressive part of your trip in Yunnan Province. 

11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage
12 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Meili Snow Mountain and Lugu Lake Pilgrimage

Yunnan Classic Tour with Haba Snow Mountain (5396 meters) Climbing Adventure

Haba snow mountain climbing tour is added in the Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la classic tour. The climbing tour starts from Lijiang. Haba Snow Mountain is about 3 hours from Lijiang. Due to the broad slopes & well-established climbing routes, it is an ideal place for beginners who want to experience climbing a over 5000 meters snow mountain. Haba Snow Mountain allows you to experience the typical process of climbing a snow mountain. From trekking to base camp, acclimatization climb, putting on crampons, using ice-axe, and the final summit push, you will be thrilled by the scenery on this mountain.

11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Haba Snow Mountain (5396M) Climbing Adventure

Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

This Yunnan classic tour will lead you to visit most part of Yunnan Province. Two popular destinations, Jianshui and Yuanyang, are also included in this classic tour, the route is Kunming-Shilin-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la. You will have a tour of Jianshui Old Town, Zhu Family Garden, Tuanshan Village and Jianshui Confucius Temple, and also have the chance to see the sunrise and sunset of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces. 

11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour with Jianshui Old Town and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la-Xishuangbanna

This tour is one of the most classic tours in Yunnan. It will take you to visit the best of Yunnan, covering all the highlights in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La and Xishuangbanna. 

Things to Do During the Tour

10 Days Yunnan Classic Tour With Xishuangbanna Tropical Forest
11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour: XishuangBanna-Shangrila-Lijiang-Dali-Kunming

Dali-Lijiang Tour

Since the transportation between Dali and Lijiang is convenient, especially the high-speed train reduces the distance between them to 1 hour and 21 minutes. 1-2 days Dali-Lijiang tours are provided. This tour combines ancient history with modern tourist attractions, and the journey usually starts from Dali and ends in Lijiang. 

Highlights of Dali-Lijiang Tour

  • Experience the ethnic cuture of Bai minority in Xizhou Town – visit Bai-style morning market.
  • Explore the religious culture at Shibaoshan Mountain.
  • Discover the important ancient town of silk road, Shaxi Old Town.
  • Take a walk at Lijiang Ancient Town.

1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour with Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain
1 Day Dali to Lijiang Tour
2 Days Shaxi Old Town and Shibaoshan Mountain Tour from Dali to Lijiang

Lijiang-Shangri-la Tour

A sightseeing tour between Lijiang and Shangri-la usually includes the First Bend of the Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge. The first bend of Yangtze River, as its name denotes, is the spot where the south running river suddenly turns northward due to changes in the shape of the nearby mountain ranges which form a mammoth V shape at this spot. Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges on earth with spectacular views. On these kinds of trips, you will enjoy the spectacular views along the road: First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge, and also visit the popular attractions in Lijiang and Shangri-La: Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Dukezong Old Town, Guishan Park, Napa Lake, Songzanlin Monastery and so on. According to your travel duration and requirements, attractions will increase or decrease accordingly. 

1 Day Lijiang to Shangri-la Tour with The First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge
2 Days Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La Group Tour
5 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Tour
9 Days Shangri-La and Lijiang Cycling Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking Adventure
9 Days Lijiang and Shangrila Adventure Tour with Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking and Haba Snow Mountain(5396M) Climbing
9 Days Shangri-La Circle Tour and Three Parallel Rivers Adventure (Depart from Lijiang)
10 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Adventure and Meili Snow Mountain Pilgrimage Tour
10 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Exploration Tour with Meili Snow Mountain and Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve
12 Days Lijiang and Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour with Haba Snow Mountain Climbing and Baoshan Stone Town