Meet your driver at Kunming airport or railway station and transfer to your hotel. Keep the remainder of the day free after the journey. If you arrive early, take an easy walk around Green Lake; no timed attraction is attached to your arrival.
10-Day Yunnan Ancient Towns & Shangri-La Tour
Kunming - Dali - Shaxi - Lijiang - Shangri-La
Private planning around your dates and interestsTOUR OVERVIEW
A route that works on the ground
Explore Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang and Shangri-La in 10 days, with the Stone Forest, Erhai Lake, Naxi villages and time to settle into the highlands.
- Start
- Kunming
- Finish
- Shangri-La
- Travel rhythm
- Balanced sightseeing with time to slow down
- Best time
- March to May and September to November bring comfortable weather; winter is excellent for migratory gulls around Dianchi Lake.
Yunnan’s old towns with time to slow down
A northbound journey for travelers who want Yunnan’s classic towns with an extra night in Shaxi. Begin with Kunming’s karst scenery, follow the lakeside villages of Dali, then slow down among the courtyards of the old Tea Horse Road. Two nights in Lijiang and two in Shangri-La keep sightseeing separate from the longer transfer days. Compare this itinerary with our wider collection of Yunnan tours.
10 days / 9 nights Itinerary at a Glance
- Duration
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Route
- Kunming - Dali - Shaxi - Lijiang - Shangri-La
- Long-distance travel
- Confirmed daytime rail connections and private transfers
- Tour format
- Customizable private tour
Trip Highlights Code: YN-01-10
- Explore the Stone Forest before leaving Kunming.
- Spend two nights around Dali and a night in atmospheric Shaxi.
- Combine Lijiang’s Naxi villages with a scenic stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge.
- Allow a relaxed arrival in Shangri-La before visiting Songzanlin Monastery.
Plan with Confidence: Clear inclusions, confirmed travel arrangements and a personalized itinerary before booking.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
INTERACTIVE ROUTE MAP
10-Day Yunnan Ancient Towns & Shangri-La Tour
Drag to explore, use + / − to zoom, and select a numbered stop for details.
Drive to the Stone Forest for a guided walk through the limestone formations, choosing a shorter or longer path to suit your pace. Return to Kunming in the afternoon. Dinner is flexible, with time to explore the old streets near your hotel.
Take a daytime train to Dali, with private transfers at both ends. After check-in, explore Dali Old Town and its quieter lanes. The afternoon is kept light so delays do not affect a major sightseeing reservation. Stay in Dali.
Visit Xizhou for Bai courtyards, market lanes and local craft traditions. Follow selected stretches of Erhai’s western shore, with short walks and a lakeside lunch break. A craft session can be arranged in advance; return to the same Dali hotel.
Travel by road to Shaxi and settle into a courtyard guesthouse. Explore Sideng Square, the old theater frontage and the nearby river paths on foot. Remaining overnight gives you time to enjoy the village after day visitors have left.
Leave Shaxi after a relaxed breakfast and continue to Lijiang. Walk beside the canals of the old town with a guide who explains Naxi history and the town’s trading connections. Keep the evening free rather than adding a distant excursion.
Explore Baisha’s village lanes and the scenery at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Blue Moon Valley can be included when access allows. Any high cable-car excursion is an optional change requiring separate confirmation, rather than a fixed promise in the base route.
Drive north with a stop at an accessible Tiger Leaping Gorge viewpoint. This itinerary uses a scenic visit rather than the multiday high trail. Continue to Shangri-La and rest after check-in; keep the evening walk in Dukezong short and optional.
Visit Songzanlin Monastery with time to understand the courtyards and local traditions. Add a gentle outing around Napa Lake or a nearby village according to seasonal conditions. Return to Shangri-La early enough for a relaxed final evening.
Enjoy breakfast and a private transfer to Shangri-La airport or railway station. The final day is reserved for departure. If your onward journey starts in Lijiang or Kunming, ask for an additional transfer arrangement before fixing tickets.
Private Tour Reference Prices
Estimated starting prices in USD per adult for the full 10-day / 9-night itinerary, sharing twin or double rooms.
2 adults traveling togetherUSD 2,190from / person
4 adults traveling togetherUSD 1,690from / person
6 adults traveling togetherUSD 1,550from / 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: Kunming–Dali second-class rail; private road transfers through Shaxi, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
For this route: Stone Forest, Tiger Leaping Gorge viewpoint and Songzanlin admission are budgeted. High-altitude Jade Dragon cable cars and craft workshops are extra.
Single-room supplement: From USD 450 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.
Kunming
2 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quoteDali
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 quoteLijiang
2 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quoteShangri-La
2 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 quoteDali
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 quoteLijiang
2 nights · Comfortable 4-star city or resort hotel; final property confirmed in your quoteShangri-La
2 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
- 9 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
- Kunming–Dali second-class rail; private road transfers through Shaxi, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
⊘ 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 10 days to explore Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang, Shangri-La.
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 is an open-jaw journey: arrive in Kunming and depart from Shangri-La.
- Pack layers for the change from Kunming to the northern highlands.
- Friday market activity in Shaxi depends on your travel dates; it is not guaranteed on every departure.
- 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
Why take ten days instead of a shorter Yunnan tour?
The extra time adds an overnight stay in Shaxi and separates the major town visits from the longer road transfers.
Does this route include the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek?
It includes a scenic gorge stop. The high trail is a separate hiking itinerary requiring extra time and suitable conditions.
How many nights does this itinerary include?
The published 10-day route includes 9 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 1,690 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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