Meet your driver at Dali airport or railway station and transfer to your hotel. Explore the old town at an easy pace if arrival time permits. The evening is free, with no long transfer after your inbound journey.
8-Day Dali, Shaxi, Nuodeng & Tengchong Tour
Dali - Shaxi - Nuodeng - Tengchong
Private planning around your dates and interestsTOUR OVERVIEW
A route that works on the ground
Follow an 8-day western Yunnan route through Dali, Shaxi, Nuodeng and Tengchong, with village stays, heritage lanes and geothermal landscapes.
- Start
- Dali
- Finish
- Tengchong
- Travel rhythm
- Balanced sightseeing with time to slow down
- Best time
- Spring and autumn are mild; late autumn is known for ginkgo color, while geothermal and heritage visits work across the year.
Village stays along western Yunnan’s heritage roads
Go beyond the usual Dali to Lijiang corridor on a western Yunnan journey shaped around historic settlements. Shaxi and Nuodeng add overnight stays in smaller villages before the route turns toward Tengchong. A full transfer day keeps the longest drive realistic, and two nights in Tengchong allow time for Heshun and the surrounding natural scenery. Compare this itinerary with our wider collection of Yunnan tours.
8 days / 7 nights Itinerary at a Glance
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Route
- Dali - Shaxi - Nuodeng - Tengchong
- Long-distance travel
- Private road transfers
- Tour format
- Customizable private tour
Trip Highlights Code: YN-03-08
- Combine Bai heritage in Dali with two distinct trading villages.
- Stay overnight in Shaxi and Nuodeng.
- Explore Heshun’s courtyards and village lanes.
- Choose a relaxed final day among Tengchong’s geothermal scenery.
Plan with Confidence: Clear inclusions, confirmed travel arrangements and a personalized itinerary before booking.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
INTERACTIVE ROUTE MAP
8-Day Dali, Shaxi, Nuodeng & Tengchong Tour
Drag to explore, use + / − to zoom, and select a numbered stop for details.
Visit Xizhou for traditional Bai architecture and a market-lane walk. Continue to selected viewpoints and paths beside Erhai Lake rather than attempting a full circuit. Return to Dali for a second night and an unhurried dinner.
Drive to Shaxi and walk through Sideng Square and the old trading streets. Cross the river bridge for a quieter countryside perspective. An overnight stay lets you enjoy the village’s morning and evening atmosphere, beyond a quick roadside visit.
Continue by road to Nuodeng, a historic hillside village associated with the salt trade. After check-in, take a guided walk through its stone lanes. The slopes and steps can be demanding, so luggage assistance and room access should be discussed before booking.
Set aside the day for the westbound drive to Tengchong, with meal and comfort stops. Road conditions determine the final schedule. Check into a comfortable hotel and rest on arrival rather than combining the journey with a ticketed excursion.
Spend the day around Heshun’s lanes, traditional houses and village ponds. Visit open heritage interiors when available and leave time for tea or a quiet courtyard lunch. Return to your Tengchong base without another hotel change.
Explore the Hot Sea geothermal area on established paths. A separate hot-spring bathing session can be quoted on request and is not assumed in the base visit. Choose a shorter walking circuit or a relaxed afternoon according to your interests.
Transfer to Tengchong airport for your onward journey. If flight timing allows, enjoy breakfast at leisure before departure. Travelers returning to Dali should request an additional road-transfer day rather than combining it with a tight flight connection.
Private Tour Reference Prices
Estimated starting prices in USD per adult for the full 8-day / 7-night itinerary, sharing twin or double rooms.
2 adults traveling togetherUSD 2,090from / person
4 adults traveling togetherUSD 1,550from / person
6 adults traveling togetherUSD 1,390from / person
Headline price basis: Four adults traveling together, using two twin or double rooms. City stays use comfortable 4-star hotels; village and remote stays use selected local guesthouses or boutique accommodation. The Accommodation tab shows the overnight bases.
Transport included in the estimate: Private road transfers from Dali through Shaxi and Nuodeng to Tengchong, including the longer western transfer.
For this route: Heshun and the standard geothermal sightseeing visit are budgeted. Hot-spring bathing packages and a return transfer to Dali are extra.
Single-room supplement: From USD 350 per person for the full itinerary, added to the applicable twin-sharing group price. Solo private tours, odd-numbered groups and children receive a separate quote.
Dates and confirmation: These are planning estimates for standard-season travel, excluding Chinese public holidays, peak summer dates and major local festivals. Hotel and transport availability, room upgrades and itinerary changes can affect the price. Your dated quotation confirms the final total and inclusions before booking.
Get a Quote for My DatesTypical Overnight Bases
Only places used by this itinerary are shown below. The final hotel list follows confirmed transport, season and room availability; upgrades and room preferences can be customized.
Dali
2 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quoteShaxi
1 night · Selected local guesthouse or boutique stay; final property confirmed in your quoteNuodeng
1 night · Selected local guesthouse or boutique stay; final property confirmed in your quoteTengchong
3 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quote
2 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quoteShaxi
1 night · Selected local guesthouse or boutique stay; final property confirmed in your quoteNuodeng
1 night · Selected local guesthouse or boutique stay; final property confirmed in your quoteTengchong
3 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quote
✓ Price Includes
- The reference price budgets for the following services; your dated quotation confirms the final arrangements
- 7 nights in twin or double rooms: comfortable 4-star city hotels and selected local boutique or guesthouse stays; cruise cabin where specified
- Daily hotel breakfast
- Private arrival, departure and sightseeing transfers on the base itinerary
- English-speaking local guides on scheduled sightseeing days; no full-time escort on independent leisure or rail/flight sectors
- Standard admission and mandatory scenic transport for the base sightseeing program, as specified in Prices
- Private road transfers from Dali through Shaxi and Nuodeng to Tengchong, including the longer western transfer.
⊘ Price Excludes
- International flights and transport to the first city or from the final city; domestic flights except any allowance expressly listed in Prices
- Lunches, dinners and drinks except the meals specifically included above
- Optional activities, alternative excursions and upgrades identified in the route-specific price notes
- Single-room supplements, extra nights, upgraded rooms and changes to the base itinerary
- Personal travel insurance, entry-document costs, personal purchases and discretionary gratuities
Who Is This Tour For?
This route suits travelers interested in ancient towns & culture who want 8 days to explore Dali, Shaxi, Nuodeng, Tengchong.
Hotel standard, walking pace and optional experiences are agreed before confirmation. Share your priorities so the final route remains practical for your group.
Travel Tips for This Itinerary
- This itinerary ends in Tengchong, so confirm open-jaw transport first.
- Village guesthouses may have stairs and simpler facilities than city hotels.
- Bring comfortable shoes for Nuodeng’s steep stone lanes.
- Review our guide to China high-speed train travel before any rail sector.
- Check current entry requirements early with the China visa guide.
- Read our practical China travel tips for packing, payments and daily preparation.
- Daily hotel breakfast is included in the estimate. Other meals are included only where specified under Prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this route suitable for travelers who prefer less walking?
Dali and Tengchong can be adapted, but Nuodeng has steep lanes and steps. Discuss access needs before confirming the village stay.
Are hot-spring baths included?
The base sightseeing plan visits geothermal scenery. Bathing admission and a suitable facility are quoted separately if requested.
How many nights does this itinerary include?
The published 8-day route includes 7 overnight stays. The Accommodation tab lists the actual bases and night counts. Extra arrival or departure nights can be quoted separately.
What does the starting price mean?
The estimated starting price is USD 1,550 per person for four adults traveling together and sharing twin or double rooms in standard season. The Prices tab also shows estimates for two and six adults, the single-room supplement and route-specific inclusions. Send your dates for a confirmed quotation.
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