8-Day Tea Horse Road Tour: Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang

Arrive in Kunming, meet your local contact and transfer to the hotel. If the arrival time and your energy allow, take a light central-city walk followed by a Yunnan meal. There is no fixed museum or attraction reservation on the first day, leaving room to recover before the journey into Dali and the old trading towns.

Take the confirmed train to Dali and continue to a hotel selected with practical vehicle access in mind. Later, walk through the old town to begin exploring its street plan and Bai cultural setting. This is a transfer day, so the walk remains optional and flexible rather than competing with a fixed arrival deadline.

Visit Xizhou for Bai architecture and continue to Zhoucheng for a pre-arranged tie-dye workshop. Your guide explains the craft and confirms what participation is available with the host. Add a walk beside one selected section of Erhai Lake, leaving time to engage with the villages instead of attempting a full circuit of the lake.

Travel directly north from Dali toward Shaxi by private vehicle, with comfort stops along the way. Arrive in time to settle into the hotel and walk around Sideng's historic centre. Weishan lies on a different extension south of Dali; it is not treated as a quick stop on this northbound transfer and would require a revised route.

Use the morning for Shibaoshan's temple and mountain setting, selecting a route that suits the group's walking level. Return to Shaxi for time in Sideng and the surrounding countryside. The two-night stay gives room to understand the town beyond a brief transfer stop; market activity and hosted visits depend on the travel date.

Continue from Shaxi to Lijiang by road, stopping at Baisha for Naxi heritage and the mural visit included in your confirmed itinerary. Then transfer to the hotel and settle in before any evening walk. Check luggage access in advance because old-town accommodation may require a final walk from the vehicle drop-off point.

Explore Dayan early and continue to Black Dragon Pool for another perspective on Lijiang's setting. A Dongba paper or music experience can be included when the host and programme are confirmed. The guide's interpretation connects the activity to Naxi culture; this is not a guarantee of a particular performance or workshop every day.

Transfer to Lijiang Airport or the railway station for your onward journey. If Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a priority, add time through a separately planned extension rather than trying to fit it before departure. The final pickup time and any assistance with luggage are agreed around the hotel location and ticket schedule.