8-Day Tea Horse Road Tour: Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang
Overview
This Tea Horse Road Yunnan tour uses Shaxi as a two-night stop between Dali and Lijiang. The route has enough time for Bai and Naxi cultural interpretation, village workshops and Shibaoshan, while keeping daily road time reasonable.
Route at a glance
| Day | Main stop or experience |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kunming |
| 2 | Train to Dali |
| 3 | Xizhou, Zhoucheng and Erhai |
| 4 | Dali to Shaxi |
| 5 | Shibaoshan and Shaxi |
| 6 | Shaxi to Lijiang via Baisha |
| 7 | Lijiang Naxi Culture |
| 8 | Depart Lijiang |
Who this route suits
This is a private route for international visitors who value clear logistics, local interpretation and enough time at each base. Hotel level, walking distance and meal requirements are adjusted before the final quote.
Daily Itinerary
Meet the guide and recover from the journey with a light walk and Yunnan dinner.
Take the train to Dali and transfer to a hotel with practical vehicle access. Explore the old town later in the day.
Visit Bai architecture, a pre-arranged tie-dye workshop and a selected Erhai section without attempting a full lake circuit.
Travel by private vehicle with an optional Weishan stop when road and opening times allow. Arrive in Shaxi before evening.
Spend the morning at Shibaoshan and the afternoon in Sideng and nearby countryside. Walking level can be adjusted.
Continue north by road and stop in Baisha for Naxi history and murals before checking in.
Walk Dayan early, visit Black Dragon Pool and add a Dongba paper or music experience with proper interpretation.
Transfer to Lijiang Airport or railway station. An extra night can be added for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Private vehicle and licensed driver for the stated land programme
- English-speaking guide where listed
- Accommodation with breakfast
- Entrance tickets and rail segments named in the confirmed itinerary
- Airport and station transfers shown in the route
- 24-hour local operations contact during the trip
Not Included
- International flights and visas
- Domestic flights unless specifically quoted
- Meals not named in the final itinerary
- Personal expenses, gratuities and travel insurance
- Optional activities and room upgrades
