8-Day Classic Yunnan Small Group Tour: Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La & Lijiang
Overview
Travel through Kunming, Dali and Shangri-La before finishing in Lijiang on this eight-day Yunnan small group itinerary. The route combines old towns and village visits with the Stone Forest, Pudacuo, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Your Route Map
Start: Kunming. Finish: Lijiang. Duration: 8 days and 7 nights. Ask about confirmed departure dates, available places and the group arrangements for your chosen trip.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Main plan | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunming | Arrival and transfer | Kunming |
| 2 | Kunming | Stone Forest, Yuantong Temple and Green Lake | Kunming |
| 3 | Kunming → Dali | Train to Dali; Three Pagodas, Erhai and Ancient Town | Dali |
| 4 | Dali → Shangri-La | Xizhou Market and Bai tie-dye before the transfer | Shangri-La |
| 5 | Shangri-La | Pudacuo, Songzanlin Monastery and Dukezong | Shangri-La |
| 6 | Shangri-La → Lijiang | Tiger Leaping Gorge stop during the transfer | Lijiang |
| 7 | Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley and Baisha | Lijiang |
| 8 | Lijiang | Departure transfer | No overnight included |
Who This Small Group Tour Suits
Choose this route if you enjoy sharing a scheduled sightseeing journey with other travellers. Several days combine transfers and visits, particularly the move to Dali and the road journey to Shangri-La. The mountain days need flexibility for weather and access.
For fewer hotel changes, your own departure date or a different meal and walking schedule, compare our private Yunnan tours.
Check the Departure and Services
Before booking, request the confirmed departure status, minimum and maximum group size, guide language, room basis and any single-room supplement. The dated proposal should also list the train arrangements, mountain tickets and cable cars, meals, airport transfers and cancellation terms.
Ask About This 8-Day Group Departure
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 according to the meeting arrangements in your booking. Keep the remainder of the day free to settle into the hotel.
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 outside Kunming, with Yuantong Temple and Green Lake included in the day’s programme. The guide will arrange the order around travel time and opening hours. Overnight in Kunming.
Take the train from Kunming to Dali, then visit the Three Pagodas, an Erhai lakeside stop and Dali Ancient Town. Train timing and station transfers shape the sightseeing schedule. Overnight in Dali.
Visit Xizhou Market and take part in the listed Bai tie-dye activity before travelling to Shangri-La. This is a sightseeing and transfer day; allow time to settle into the hotel after arrival.
Photo credit
Photograph by Luca Casartelli; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and resized for web use.Explore Pudacuo National Park, Songzanlin Monastery and Dukezong Old Town. The park visit, road travel and monastery opening hours determine the order. Stay a second night in Shangri-La.
Photo credit
Photograph by jm whalen; available on Wikimedia Commons; under CC BY 2.0. Cropped and resized for web use.Travel from Shangri-La to Lijiang with a stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge. Your departure itinerary will identify the viewing area and walking involved. This stop is not a two-day high-trail hike. Overnight in Lijiang.
Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area, Blue Moon Valley and Baisha Ancient Town. Check the included mountain tickets and cable-car arrangements in your proposal; views and access depend on weather. Stay a second night in Lijiang.
Depart from Lijiang. Your booking will specify the included airport or station transfer and pickup time for your onward connection.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Guide, driver and local transfers described for this small-group tour
- Accommodation for the 7 overnight stops shown in the itinerary
- Admission or activity arrangements for Stone Forest, plus Xizhou Market and Bai tie-dye, when listed for the departure
- Transport needed to travel from Kunming through to Lijiang
Your booking confirmation lists the final hotels, transport, guide service and admissions for the chosen departure.
Not Included
- International transport before arrival in Kunming and after departure from Lijiang
- Meals not identified as included in the departure details
- Optional experiences outside the planned program around Stone Forest or Xizhou Market and Bai tie-dye
- Insurance, visas, gratuities and traveler-requested changes
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