20 Days Yunnan (China)-Myanmar Overland Tour from Kunming to Yangon
Tour Overview
This Yunnan and Burma Old Road Tour takes you on a scenic journey starting in Kunming and covering iconic destinations such as Shangri-La, Dali, and Lijiang before heading to...
Code of Tour: YET0000063677
Length of Travel: 20 Day
Destinations of Tour: Kunming-Shangri La-Lijiang-Dali-Baoshan-Tengchong-Ruili-Muse-Lashio-Mandalay-Bagan-Inle Lake-Ynagon
Departure City: Kunming
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: Yunnan-indochina tours
This Yunnan and Burma Old Road Tour takes you on a scenic journey starting in Kunming and covering iconic destinations such as Shangri-La, Dali, and Lijiang before heading to the western Yunnan-Burma border. The tour explores Tengchong, Mangshi, and Ruili, ultimately crossing into Myanmar through the Ruili Border Gate. In Myanmar, you will meet your tour guide and continue to explore Mandalay and Yangon, with a beautiful cruise along the Irrawaddy River. The Yunnan-Burma Road, a historic route constructed during the Second Sino-Japanese War, serves as the backbone of this journey, linking China and Burma (Myanmar) through rugged mountainous terrain.
Tour Highlights
- Visit the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan at Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La.
- Explore the breathtaking Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world.
- Discover the unique cultural richness of Lijiang Old Town and its UNESCO-listed heritage.
- Travel along the historic Burma Road, built during World War II with manual labor.
- Cross the border into Myanmar and explore its highlights, including Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake.
- Experience a cruise on the Irrawaddy River, soaking in the natural beauty and river life.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: the Green Lake Park
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: No meals
Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China! Upon arrival at the Kunming airport/train station, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel.You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating province of Yunnan from the capital city, Kunming.
After a short rest, stroll in the most picturesque park in Kunming urban area – the Green Lake Park, a charming area of tea houses and small boutiques selling handicrafts and beautiful local paintings. Here you can share the happiness of local people’s doing tai chi, performing local opera, and other vibrant activities. If you visit the park in November or December, you will see the grandeur of huge flocks of red-beaked seagulls that migrate there from Siberia.
Day 2 Kunming – Stone Forest – Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities:The Stone Forest, Sani Village, the Flowers and Birds Market
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, you’ll be driven 86 km to the renowned Stone Forest, the ‘First Wonder of the World’. You’ll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations. You feel like come into a ‘stone world’. The Stone Forest is in Shilin Yi Nationality Autonomous County, which is about 120 kilometers from Kunming and requires only a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers (96,000 acres) and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. The Stone Forest has unique karst topography which is one of the best of its kind within China.
Afterwards, visit a minority village of Sani People, to admire their colorful minority costumes and exotic tradition cultures. You’ll have a nice chance to listen to the touching love story of Ashima told by local old people. The Sani minority people are one group of the branches of the Yi. The Sani Minority Villages around the Stone Forest cluster many small Yi ethnic villages.
After the tour, be transferred to Kunming and visit the Flowers and Birds Market in the downtown.
Day 3 Kunming-Shangri La
In the morning, take the flight to Shangri La.
Visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias – ‘the little Potala Palace ‘, so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.
Then drive to visit a Tibetan Village and a local family.
And afterwards you’ll visit the tranquil Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park. Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world. While the region comprises only 0.7 percent of China’s land area, but more than 20 percent of the country’s plant species, about one-third of its mammal and bird species and almost 100 endangered species.
Day 4 Shangri-la–Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang
From Shangri-la, drive to Qiaotou Town. Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha River in this area because you can find gold in the river.
Then drive to Shigu Town. Visit the Iron Chain Bridge, the Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road running through the Lijiang valley which is filled with wheat fields and drying haystacks.
Drive to Lijiang. On the way, you’ll have a stop to see the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery.
Day 5 Lijiang
Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning, drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around 1 hour in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).
After lunch, you will enjoy the Impression Lijiang Ethnic Show directed in Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M). A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou, Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, with a cast of over 500 people and a number of horses.
In the afternoon, you’ll stroll through Baisha Old Town, which is an enchanting traditional Yunnan town. Visit the Baisha Murals about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.
Day 6 Lijiang-Dali by Private Car
In the morning, you’ll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture.
Then explore Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Old Town has a history of more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.
Afternoon, drive to Dali. You will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. Visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.
Day 7 Dali
In the morning, visit the Three Pagodas in Chongsheng Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years and located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle.
After lunch, you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island. In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy a view of the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.
At last, you will visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have a panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.
Day 8 Dali-Tengchong
In the morning, you travel along the Burma Road through wonderful landscapes to Tengchong.
The Old Burma Road was built during the Second World War when advancing Japanese forces cut off the supply routes of southern Burma. With an enormous effort the American army built, under the command of General Joseph Stillwell, a road from Ledo in India right through the north of Burma to Kunming in China.
Visit to the idyllic Wo Fo Si Temple with a recumbent jade Buddha that came from Burma.
Through glorious landscapes along the winding section we reach first the impressive and fertile Nujiang Valley. Nujiang River (in Burma Thanlwin or Salween) flows from Tibet through China and Myanmar, where it empties into Lake Andaman after flowing 2,800 km.
We cross over Nujiang River and go on through the impressive Gaoligong Massif to Tengchong.
Overnight stay in Tengchong.
Day 9 Tengchong-Ruili
The area around Tengchong is known for its seismological activity. The city is surrounded by more than 90 extinct volcanoes, and the many hot water springs are popular destinations for the Chinese. Early in the morning you travel to the nearby hot water springs.
After a walkabout through the many bubbling and steaming pools we travel on to the Tengchong Museum, which is waiting for you with an informative exhibition on the Old Burma Road.
After that the trip continues through the diverse mountain landscapes of south-west China to Ruili. If you still feel energetic you can have a look at the busy night market of Ruili in the evening.
You stay overnight at the border town of Ruili, Yunnan Province.
Day 10 RUILI – MUSE BORDER CROSSING – LASHIO
The border, located about 12km from Ruili. Border formalities and crossing the border around 8h00 (6h30 in Myanmar) to Muse.
Welcome by our local guide at the border check point,
After a short stop in a quite dusty atmosphere continuation drive for 4 hours to Lashio, once a Shan dominated city, but nowadays a Chinese stronghold. Visit around to Sasana Pagoda and the huge Chinese Temple. Overnight at rather basic, and hopefully clean Lashio Motel.
Day 11 LASHIO – HSIPAW (140 KM 4 HOURS)
Early morning, visit of the vegetable market at Lashio Lay.
After visiting we say farewell to the town and start touring a sloppy road downhill to a small city called Hsipaw. En route timeless villages on their route to China.
Hsipaw itself is a pictures village on the footstep of the northeast Shan hills, represented former days the centre of a small Shan State of its own and has become a popular hang-out for travellers, thanks to its cool climate.
Hsipaw made history in the 50/60tes when an Austrian woman married the Shan Sawbwa (King) and became the popular Mahadevi from Hsipaw. The story ended sadly because he disappeared in prison in the 60es.
Overnight at famous “Charles Guesthous” and enjoy the quite unique atmosphere of the town.
Day 12 HSIPAW – GOKTEIK BRIDGE – PYIN OO LWIN
Today we bring you close to Myanmar railway experience
Transfer to Naungcho and from there then by an old train over the famous Gokteik Bridge and viaduct (over 100 meter high). It will take 2 hours until Naung Bin where we will take you off the train and bring you by coach to pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
Day 13 PYIN OO LWIN – MANDALAY
Visit to Pwe Kauk Waterfall; visit and enjoy the countryside. Explore the town center by horse -drawn carriages Kandawgyi National Botanical Gardens; The beautiful botanical garden of Pyin Oo Lwin. The cooler weather condition allows many flowers and fruits, commonly found in temperate climates, to thrive here.
Continuation drive to Mandalay, where the Konbaung kings resided and eventually capitulated to the British, more than 100 years ago. Visit to Amarapura (Sanscrit for „Beautiful town“). There you can take a sunset by walking over the world´s longest teakwood bridge U Bein.
Day 14 Mandalay
Mahamuni Pagoda; century-old and legendary Arakan Buddha, made of pure gold. It was the capital of the last, independent Burmese kingdom, which in 1886 was finally conquered by British colonial forces. Shwenandaw Monastery, a Golden Palace Monastery. This monastery is famous for its beautiful wood-carvings and carved all over with motifs and mythical creatures. Kuthodaw Pagoda: It is a large walled complex situated at the base of the southeast stairway to Mandalay Hill and was built by King Mindon.
The Fifth Buddhist Synod, which King Mindon called in 1872, in the development of the Kuthodaw. Visit Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda: a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. In the afternoon, visit to Zegyo market (if open) and some of Mandalay’s cottage industries, such as weaving and tapestry making. (If still feel fresh) Enjoy spectacular views at sunset from Mandalay Hill, its 790 ft (240 m) Mandalay Hill which towers above the city and the flat plain below.where there are interesting glass-studded temples.
Day 15 MANDALAY – BAGAN BY BOAT
A day leisurely and full relaxation. On a exclusively chartered river vessel we will sail down the “Golden River” the Ayearwady. Experience river life, as old Dschunks and Bambu raffs, and watch villages of bygone times along the shore. In Bagan then the golden Bupaya Pagoda will welcome you. Transfer to hotel.
Day 16 BAGAN
Arrive at Bagan, the first and most beautiful capitals of the Burmese. It can be marked to have started with King Anawrahta. Start to see from the golden stupa Shwezigon Pagoda, A great gold stupa in Bagan. One of King Anawrahta’sdonation during his time Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi In village), another ‘cave’ temple, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes.
Taungphi village: to see old monasteries, which have beautiful Khone Baung dynasty frescoes? Then, pass through Tharaba Gateway into Old Bagan. Ananda Temple, a great temples and remians one of the fines and most beautiful. Thatbyinnyu Temple: the tallest temple measuring 61 meters –
It was one of King Sithu (or Alaungsiyhu, 1113-1167) finest legacies to the Bagan region. Dhammayangyi temple: One of the five-sided temples in Bagan. It has five-sided temples, each containing a Buddha image. Visit to Lacquer ware factory to watch craftsmen skillfully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts. The evening tour will end one of the Pagodas to see the sunset over Bagan.
Day 17 Flight to Heho, Inle Lake
Transfer to airport for onward flight to Heho where you will be picked up and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake.
Inle Lake locates in the highland of Myanmar in an altitude of around 3,000 feet above sea level. Here you will enjoy different atmosphere and ambience from middle part of Myanmar.
After check in hotel, enjoy your day at leisure to relax.
Day 18 Full Day Inle Lake Excursion
Your Excursion today will be made by long tail boat to see life of In-tha (name of local ethnic people live on the lake), to discover their unique floating farms and life on floating village. You will also see how the local fisher to fish with only one leg paddling the boat and the Long Neck Ladies who were relocated from the Myanmar and Thailand border.
Rest of the day is at leisure to relax.
Day 19 Inle Lake-Yongon by Flight
In the morning, you will fly from Heho to Yangon, meet your local guide and start Yangon city tour.
Our guide will take you to Sule Pagoda, located in the heart of Yangon City. It is surrounded by a group of impressive statues, the most notable ones being the sculptures of eight zodiacs. You can find your own zodiac sign according to the date of your birth and take pictures with it. Then we proceed to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, where you can view a giant reclining Buddha with 108 totems carved on his soles, each representing a different image in the six reincarnations.
In the afternoon, we will have a leisurely walk around the picturesque Kandawgyi Lake. After that, you will be escorted to Scott Market, which has more than 1,100 stores selling dazzling products, especially the renowned Burmese jade, ruby and other kinds of gemstones. Then we will end today’s tour with the Shwedagon Pagoda, highly revered for enshrining a hair relic of Buddha.
Day 20 YANGON – DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport for international departure flight.
Service Included:
- Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
- Private English-speaking tour guide;
- Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
- Service charge & government taxes;
- Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
- Service charge and all government taxes;
- Travel Agency’s Responsibility Insurance coverage.
Service Excluded:
- Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
- Chinese visa fees;
- Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
- Single room supplement;
- Tips to guides and drivers;
- Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
- Personal travel accident insurance;
- All optional programs.
