8-Day Private Yunnan Tour: Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La & Lijiang
Overview
Travel from Kunming through Dali, Shangri-La and Lijiang before returning to Kunming. This eight-day private route includes the Stone Forest, Three Pagodas, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Tell us your travel dates, hotel preferences and walking needs so we can prepare the arrangements for your party.
Route: Kunming → Dali → Shangri-La → Lijiang → Kunming. Duration: 8 days and 7 nights. This is a fuller circuit with several transfer days and one night in Shangri-La.
Your Route Map
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Main plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunming | Arrival, transfer and hotel check-in | Kunming |
| 2 | Kunming → Dali | Visit the Stone Forest before continuing to Dali | Dali |
| 3 | Dali | Three Pagodas and Dali Ancient Town | Dali |
| 4 | Dali → Shangri-La | Tiger Leaping Gorge sightseeing stop | Shangri-La |
| 5 | Shangri-La → Lijiang | Transfer to Lijiang | Lijiang |
| 6 | Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Lijiang |
| 7 | Lijiang → Kunming | Return to Kunming | Kunming |
| 8 | Kunming | West Hill (Xishan) Forest Park | No overnight included |
Is This the Right Yunnan Tour for You?
Choose this route if the named sights and a return to Kunming are your priorities. The Stone Forest visit comes before the onward journey to Dali on day 2, so that day needs an early start and careful transfer planning. Day 8 includes West Hill sightseeing: share your departure time before booking so the visit and onward connection can be arranged together.
For fewer hotel changes and more rest time, compare the 9-day Yunnan family and slow travel tour. It stays in Kunming, Dali and Lijiang and ends in Lijiang.
Transport, Hotels and Mountain Visits
The proposal will identify the vehicle and any rail arrangements for each transfer, hotel names and room types. Old-town lanes and attraction paths can include steps or uneven paving. Tell us about luggage and mobility needs before hotels are selected.
For Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, check the cable-car or visiting area named in your quote and the arrangements if weather or access affects the mountain day. The Tiger Leaping Gorge stop is a sightseeing visit within a transfer day; it is different from a two-day high-trail trek.
Request Your Private Tour Quote
Send your dates, number of travellers, room requirements, arrival and departure details, and preferred hotel level. We will confirm the daily services, optional items and total price before booking.
Request an 8-Day Yunnan Tour Quote
Plan the rest of your trip: Yunnan private tours · compare itineraries by length · Yunnan tour costs · best time to visit Yunnan.
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Kunming and transfer to your hotel. Keep the rest of the day free to settle in before the Stone Forest visit and onward journey on day 2.
Photo credit
Photograph by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for web use.Visit the Stone Forest before travelling onward to Dali. The Stone Forest is a separate excursion from Kunming, so the day includes both sightseeing and an intercity transfer. Your proposal will specify the transport and departure time. Overnight in Dali.
Visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, then explore Dali Ancient Town. Look for Bai-style courtyards and local street life as you walk through the town. Stay in Dali for a second night.
Photo credit
Photograph by jm whalen; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY 2.0. Cropped and resized for web use.Travel from Dali towards Shangri-La, stopping at Tiger Leaping Gorge for the sightseeing visit listed in your proposal. This is a transfer-day stop, rather than a high-trail trek. Continue to Shangri-La for the night.
Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang. Allow time for luggage and hotel check-in; any additional visits should be agreed in the proposal. Overnight in Lijiang.
Photo credit
Photograph by Ding Ding; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for web use.Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area from Lijiang. The proposal will name the visiting area, cable-car arrangements and included tickets. Mountain access and views depend on conditions on the day. Return to Lijiang for a second night.
Travel from Lijiang back to Kunming. The quote will specify road or rail arrangements and the associated station or hotel transfers. Stay in Kunming before the final sightseeing day.
Visit West Hill (Xishan) Forest Park in Kunming. Agree the visiting area and ticket or cableway arrangements before booking. If you depart today, share your flight or train time so the visit and final transfer can fit your connection.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Guide and transport services scheduled in the confirmed private itinerary
- Accommodation for 7 nights in the listed overnight cities
- Admission and activity arrangements named in your quote, including the agreed Stone Forest and Three Pagodas visits
- Local and intercity transport listed for the Kunming round trip
Your dated proposal will name the hotels, room types, transport and included tickets. Review that service list before booking.
Not Included
- Flights, trains or other services outside the route for the round trip from Kunming
- Travel documents, visa costs and travel insurance
- Unlisted meals, optional activities and hotel upgrades
- Personal spending and costs following a missed or changed connection
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