Lijiang Old Town
Discover Yunnan Province From the laid back city of Dali to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at the base of the Himalayas, this tailor-made tour offers an insight into a unique and remote region of China. Discover the blue waters of the ear-shaped Erhai Lake which sits in the shadow of the Cangshan Mountains, travel to Tiger Leaping Gorge, keep an eye out for the rare black-necked crane and explore incredible Tibetan temples and palaces of Shangri-La.
Suggested Itinerary Day 1 Fly to Kunming | Take an overnight flight to Kunming. Day 2 Dali | Arrive in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Take a short flight to Dali and transfer to the hotel for three nights. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure. Day 3 Dali | Begin the day with a relaxing cruise on Erhai Lake, home to the famous cormorant fishermen, before exploring Bai ethnic minority village. In the afternoon stroll through the historic Ancient Town, once a gateway to the Silk Road, and visit the Three Pagodas of Chongshen Temple. (B,L) Day 4 Dali to Lijiang | Travel to the city of Lijiang, an area of outstanding natural beauty located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at the base of the Himalayas. En-route, enjoy a visit to Zhou village to watch the traditional process of tie-dye. On arrival in Lijiang enjoy the afternoon free at leisure. (B,L) Day 5 Lijiang | Enjoy a guided walk around Lijiang’s Old Town with its cobbled streets and canals, followed by a visit to Lion Hill where wonderful views of the ancient town can be
seen. Explore a local market before visiting the iconic Black Dragon Pool Park where mountain reflections can be seen in the lake. (B) Day 6 Lijiang | Visit Lashihai Wetland, a nature reserve home to 57 species of birds including the rare black-necked crane. Afterwards visit Naxi minority people and explore the Old Town of Shuhe, a well-preserved town on the ancient tea route. (B,L) Day 7 Lijiang to Shangri-La | Visit Shigu, a historically important Naxi town on the first bend of the Yangtze River. Continue to the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world located between towering peaks of over 3,000 metres, before travelling on to Shangri-La for three nights. (B,L) Day 8 Shangri-La | Explore one of ShangriLa’s earliest Tibetan temples, Dabao, built on the rugged green hillside. Take a stroll around some Tibetan villages to meet local families and sample homemade yak-butter tea (an acquired taste). Discover Gedan Songzanlin Monastery, the most important monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Yunnan, known as Little
Potala Palace. (B,L) Day 9 Shangri-La | Visit the beautiful Zhongdian Lake District and discover pristine Shudu Lake surrounded by green pastures, admire stunning Bita Lake - known as the Pearl on the Plateau - and visit Napa Lake, a designated wetland area and nature lovers’ paradise. (B,L) Day 10 Shangri-La to Kunming | Take a flight to Kunming. Discover Green Lake Park with its brightly painted pavilions and traditional bridges, before visiting the famous Birds and Flowers Market, where orchids and parrots can be bought alongside jewellery and antiques. (B,L) Day 11 Kunming | Drive to Kunming’s famous Stone Forest, a natural wonder where bizarre rock formations created over 270 million years ago create a unique landscape of stone towers and pillars. (B,L) Day 12 Fly to the UK | Transfer to the airport for the indirect flight back to the UK. (B)
Tour duration
12 days
Holiday type
Tailor-made Private, Guided
Seasonality
Year-round
Prices from
£3395 per person
Includes flights, accommodation, transfers and sightseeing tours
www.regentholidays.co.uk | Talk to a China Specialist on 020 7666 1292
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