# Kunming – Dali – Lijiang – Shangri-La: 8-Day, 7-Night Private Tour of the Hidden Gems of Western Yunnan A private 8-day loop through western Yunnan: Kunming, the Erhai lake villages around Dali, Lijiang's old towns, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La. Your group travels only with its own vehicle and driver-guide, with no shopping stops, and every day has both a standard plan and a gentler version for grandparents and children. ## At a glance | | | | --- | --- | | Route | Kunming → Dali → Lijiang → Shangri-La → Kunming | | Length | 8 days, 7 nights | | Style | Private tour, your group only, no shopping stops | | Highest night | 3,280 m (Shangri-La, Day 6) | | Highest point | 3,700 m (Day 6) | | Walking | 1.5k–11k steps; gentle versions ≤5.5k steps | | Longest rail leg | Shangri-La to Kunming about 4.5 h | | Longest road day | Lijiang to Shangri-La about 5 h in the car with stops | | Best months | Mar-Jun, Sep-Jan | Cities on this route: [Kunming](https://unclepandatravel.com/destinations/kunming), [Dali](https://unclepandatravel.com/destinations/dali), [Lijiang](https://unclepandatravel.com/destinations/lijiang), [Shangri-La](https://unclepandatravel.com/destinations/shangri-la). ## Is this trip right for you? ### Great for - Families with children who want lakes, old towns and a cable car without long hikes - Travellers who prefer a private car, no shopping stops and a relaxed daily pace - First-time visitors to Yunnan who want to cover Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La in about a week ### Think twice if - Guests with heart or blood-pressure conditions, or travelling with very young babies, who are worried about sleeping at 3,280 m - Anyone looking for long treks or mountaineering; the walking here is old-town lanes and boardwalks - Travellers on a very tight budget who prefer large group tours ### Highlights - Erhai Lake circuit: Shuanglang, Wenbi Village's rainbow road, the S-bend and Xizhou's Bai courtyards - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car to Spruce Meadow at 3,240 m, then Blue Moon Valley's turquoise terraces - Tiger Leaping Gorge, Pudacuo National Park and Songzanlin Monastery on the way to Shangri-La ## Altitude and pace Sleeping altitude goes up step by step across the trip: 1,890 → 1,980 → 2,400 → 3,280 → 1,890 → 0 m. If anyone in your group has heart or lung conditions, please check with a doctor before booking. Your guide adjusts the pace on the day, and every day below has a gentle version. ## Day by day ### Day 1: Arrive in Kunming - **Stay:** Kunming (sleeping altitude 1,890 m) - **Standard plan:** start according to your actual flight arrival time; about 3,500 steps; highest point 1,890 m. Pick-up at Kunming Changshui Airport and transfer to the hotel; evening free to walk Kunming Old Street, Nanping Street and Nanqiang Street and try local snacks. - Stairs: few; hotel and streets are level - Travel: Changshui Airport to hotel about 40 min (25 km) - **Gentle plan:** start according to your actual flight arrival time; about 2,000 steps; highest point 1,890 m. Transfer and check in first, rest at the hotel, then a short walk to one nearby street for dinner. - Stairs: none - Travel: same transfer, about 40 min - **Meals:** none included, own arrangement · crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, steam-pot chicken, grilled erkuai rice cake - **Rest:** check in and rest at the hotel before going out - **Kids:** Kunming is mild all year; a short first evening helps children settle - **Note:** Kunming sits at 1,890 m, so drink water and keep the first evening light ### Day 2: Kunming to Dali: Shuanglang, Wenbi Village & Ideal State Town - **Stay:** Dali (sleeping altitude 1,980 m) - **Standard plan:** start 09:00; about 7,000 steps; highest point 1,980 m. Morning high-speed train to Dali, then Shuanglang old town on the east shore of Erhai, the rainbow road in Wenbi Village with a coffee stop above the lake, and the white Santorini-style lanes of Ideal State Town. - Stairs: stone lanes and a few short stairways at lakeside viewpoints - Travel: train Kunming to Dali about 2 h; then about 1.5 h of local driving between the three stops - **Gentle plan:** start 09:30; about 4,000 steps; highest point 1,980 m. Later train, one lakeside stop in the morning, a long cafe break at Wenbi Village and a slow walk through Ideal State Town without the upper stairways. - Stairs: almost none; car stops close to the viewpoints - Travel: later train, same local driving - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · Xizhou baba flatbread, Bai sour-spicy fish, rubing cheese - **Rest:** cafe break at Wenbi Village above Erhai - **Kids:** the rainbow road and lakeside cafes are easy for children - **Note:** strong sun by the lake; bring a hat and water ### Day 3: Dali: Longkan Pier, S-Bend, Ecological Corridor & Xizhou - **Stay:** Dali (sleeping altitude 1,980 m) - **Standard plan:** start 07:30; about 8,000 steps; highest point 1,990 m. Early start for sunrise at Longkan Pier, cycle a stretch of the ecological corridor past wetlands and bald-cypress groves to the S-bend, then afternoon in Xizhou: tie-dye workshop in a Bai courtyard, Sifang Street and the small train through the fields. - Stairs: mostly flat lakeside paths; a few steps at the pier and in Xizhou courtyards - Travel: about 1 h in total along the west shore - **Gentle plan:** start 09:30; about 4,000 steps; highest point 1,990 m. Sunrise seen from near the hotel or a short walk to the pier, no cycling: a short flat stretch of the corridor near the S-bend, then a seated tie-dye session in Xizhou with a long tea break. - Stairs: few; short level sections only - Travel: same, with the car waiting at each stop - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · Xizhou baba (sweet and salty), Bai three-course tea, fried rubing with rose sauce - **Rest:** long lunch and tea break in a Xizhou courtyard - **Kids:** the tie-dye workshop is hands-on and popular with children - **Note:** sunrise is around 06:30 to 07:00 in summer; the corridor is shared with cyclists and walkers ### Day 4: Dali Old Town and Drive to Lijiang - **Stay:** Lijiang (sleeping altitude 2,400 m) - **Standard plan:** start 09:00; about 8,000 steps; highest point 2,400 m. Morning in Dali Old Town: Foreigner Street, Renmin Road and up Wuhua Tower for the rooftops; after lunch drive about 2.5 h to Lijiang and walk Sifang Street, Mu Mansion and the water wheels in the evening. - Stairs: steps up Wuhua Tower in Dali; Lijiang old town is stone-paved with slopes - Travel: Dali to Lijiang about 2.5 h (roughly 170 km) - **Gentle plan:** start 09:30; about 4,500 steps; highest point 2,400 m. Slower Dali Old Town walk at street level, view of Wuhua Tower from below, a rest stop on the drive, and a short evening walk near the Lijiang hotel. - Stairs: Wuhua Tower viewed from the square below; Lijiang lanes walked slowly - Travel: same drive with a rest stop halfway - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · Naxi grilled fish, preserved pork rib hotpot, chickpea jelly - **Rest:** tea stop on the way to Lijiang - **Kids:** Mu Mansion's courtyards and the water wheels are the highlights for children - **Note:** Lijiang is at 2,400 m and the stone streets are slippery after rain ### Day 5: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue Moon Valley & Shuhe - **Stay:** Lijiang (sleeping altitude 2,400 m) - **Standard plan:** start 07:30; about 9,000 steps; highest point 3,240 m. Cable car up to Spruce Meadow at about 3,240 m for views of the snow peak, then Blue Moon Valley's white travertine terraces and turquoise lakes, and a slow evening in Shuhe old town. - Stairs: boardwalk steps at Spruce Meadow and along Blue Moon Valley - Travel: about 1 h each way to the mountain, then 20 min to Shuhe - **Gentle plan:** start 09:00; about 5,000 steps; highest point 3,240 m. Later start, cable car to Spruce Meadow and only the flat boardwalk near the meadow with bench stops, Blue Moon Valley along the paved path, and a rest in Shuhe instead of walking the whole town. - Stairs: few; stay on the flat meadow boardwalk - Travel: same, car waiting at each stop - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · preserved pork rib hotpot, Lijiang baba, yak yoghurt - **Rest:** bench stops at Blue Moon Valley, then an afternoon break back in Lijiang - **Kids:** the cable car and short boardwalks suit children; watch the altitude rather than the distance - **Note:** Spruce Meadow is 3,240 m, so walk slowly and drink water; mountain weather changes fast, bring a warm layer ### Day 6: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Pudacuo National Park - **Stay:** Shangri-La (sleeping altitude 3,280 m) - **Standard plan:** start 09:00; about 11,000 steps; highest point 3,700 m. Morning at Tiger Leaping Gorge, looking down on the Jinsha River between Yulong and Haba Snow Mountains; afternoon in Pudacuo National Park: the Shudu Lake boardwalk, Militang pasture with yaks and Bita Lake. - Stairs: stairs at the gorge viewing platforms (the ticket includes the escalator); wooden boardwalks at Shudu Lake - Travel: Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge about 2 h; gorge to Pudacuo about 2 h; Pudacuo to Shangri-La about 40 min - **Gentle plan:** start 09:30; about 5,500 steps; highest point 3,700 m. Later start, the gorge seen from the upper platform using the escalator instead of the stairs, and in Pudacuo only the first flat stretch of the Shudu Lake boardwalk with a long rest at the visitor centre. - Stairs: use the escalator at the gorge; flat first stretch of the boardwalk - Travel: same route with extra rest stops - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · Tibetan yak hotpot, butter tea, tsampa - **Rest:** long stop at the Pudacuo visitor centre and by Shudu Lake - **Kids:** the Shudu Lake boardwalk is flat and easy for children; keep them off the gorge stairs - **Note:** altitude reaches about 3,700 m at Pudacuo and you sleep at 3,280 m, so walk slowly and skip alcohol the first night ### Day 7: Songzanlin Monastery, Dukezong Old Town & Train to Kunming - **Stay:** Kunming (sleeping altitude 1,890 m) - **Standard plan:** start 09:00; about 7,000 steps; highest point 3,300 m. Morning at Songzanlin Monastery, Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, with the golden roofs mirrored in Lamuyangcuo Lake; afternoon in Dukezong old town and up Guishan Park to turn the 21 m prayer wheel; evening train to Kunming. - Stairs: stairways up to Songzanlin's main hall; steps up Guishan Park to the prayer wheel - Travel: about 30 min of city driving; train Shangri-La to Kunming about 4.5 h (17:25 departure) - **Gentle plan:** start 09:30; about 4,000 steps; highest point 3,300 m. Later start, Songzanlin's lower halls and the lakeside viewpoint instead of the upper stairways, Dukezong at street level with the prayer wheel seen from below, and a teahouse rest before the train. - Stairs: lower halls and lakeside viewpoint only; old town at street level - Travel: same; car drops you at the monastery gate - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · Tibetan thukpa noodles, yak yoghurt, qingke barley cake - **Rest:** teahouse in Dukezong before the train - **Kids:** turning the big prayer wheel together is the fun part for children - **Note:** the train leaves at 17:25, so reach the station 40 min early; Kunming is 1,890 m, a big drop from 3,280 m ### Day 8: Departure from Kunming - **Stay:** home (sleeping altitude 0 m) - **Standard plan:** start by flight time; about 1,500 steps; highest point 1,890 m. Breakfast, then transfer to Kunming Changshui Airport according to the flight time. - Stairs: none, the airport is level - Travel: hotel to Changshui Airport about 40 min - **Gentle plan:** start by flight time; about 1,000 steps; highest point 1,890 m. Breakfast, the driver handles the luggage, and a direct transfer to the airport with time to sit and rest before the flight. - Stairs: none; wheelchair service can be requested at the airport - Travel: same transfer, car at the door - **Meals:** hotel breakfast · flower cakes to take home - **Rest:** hotel lobby until the car arrives - **Note:** allow 2 h before domestic flights and 3 h before international ones Steps and drive times are estimates for planning. Altitudes are from public data. Your guide adjusts on the day. ## Meals & local food Breakfast is included at every hotel. Lunches and dinners are booked by your guide and paid at the table. ### Kunming Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, steam-pot chicken, grilled erkuai, flower cakes. Nanqiang Street and Kunming Old Street are the easiest places to graze in the evening. ### Dali Xizhou baba flatbread, Bai sour-spicy fish, rubing cheese, pork erkuai noodles. In Xizhou buy the baba fresh from the oven; the sweet rose and the salty minced-pork versions are both worth trying. ### Lijiang Naxi grilled fish, preserved pork rib hotpot, chickpea jelly, Lijiang baba. Eat the rib hotpot at a courtyard restaurant in Shuhe, quieter than the bars in the big old town. ### Shangri-La Yak meat hotpot, butter tea, tsampa, matsutake in season, yak yoghurt. Eat light and avoid alcohol on the first night at 3,280 m. ### Dietary needs - Vegetarian, allergies or no spicy food: tell your travel designer before booking - Your driver-guide explains your needs to each restaurant in Chinese - Mild dishes for kids and grandparents on request ## Hotels & transport Seven nights in 4-diamond hotels with good reviews: Kunming (2 nights), Dali lake-view room (2), Lijiang (2), Shangri-La (1). We pick the hotels in each city for the group and share the names before the trip. | Group | Vehicle | Luggage | | --- | --- | --- | | 1-2 guests | 5-seat sedan or SUV | 2-3 medium suitcases | | 3-4 guests | 7-seat MPV | 3-4 medium suitcases | | 5-6 guests | 9-seat van, vehicle chosen for the group | One medium suitcase per guest plus day bags | ## What will your group pay? **From ¥4,315 CNY per person** for a 6-guest group, twin share, 7 nights in 4-diamond hotels, private vehicle with driver-guide, all first-gate tickets and two second-class train tickets. From ¥4,315 CNY per person ≈ US$646 USD · €576 EUR · S$827 SGD (site reference rates; the written quote is in CNY). Use the on-page estimator to estimate your whole group, then ask for a written quote. An estimate is not a booking. For example, the page's estimator shows a total of ¥25,458 CNY for a group of 4 adults and 2 children. Your travel designer sends a written quote with the currency locked, valid for 7 days. You can [request a written quote](https://unclepandatravel.com/quote?route=YN8) — asking is free. ### Included - 7 nights in 4-diamond hotels: Kunming 2, Dali lake-view room 2, Lijiang 2, Shangri-La 1 - Private vehicle with driver-guide for the whole trip (5-, 7- or 9-seat by group size), including airport and train station transfers - Second-class high-speed train tickets: Kunming to Dali and Shangri-La to Kunming - First-gate tickets: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (entrance, shuttle, Spruce Meadow cable car, Blue Moon Valley cart), Tiger Leaping Gorge (ticket and return escalator), Songzanlin Monastery (ticket and shuttle), Pudacuo National Park (ticket and shuttle bus) - Travel accident insurance and agency liability insurance - 7 hotel breakfasts ### Not included - Flights to and from Kunming - Lunches and dinners; the driver can recommend restaurants to your taste - Pudacuo Shudu Lake boat ride, 65 CNY per person - Optional extras such as costume photo shoots and horse riding - Single room supplement for guests travelling alone ### What can change the price - Hotel rates during public holidays and peak dates (Labour Day, National Day, Spring Festival) - Single room supplement if the group size or room sharing changes - Train ticket prices and seat availability; seats open for booking about 15 days before departure - Child price depends on age and whether the child shares a bed ## Paying & cancelling 1. **Free plan & quote** — change it until it fits. You pay nothing. 2. **30% deposit** — only after you approve the written plan and sign the contract. 3. **Balance** — 30 days before arrival. Booking later? Full payment, told upfront. ### If you cancel | If you cancel | We keep | | --- | --- | | 7 or more days before departure | 10% of the total tour price; the rest is refunded | | 6–4 days before departure | 20% of the total tour price; the rest is refunded | | 3–1 days before departure | 40% of the total tour price; the rest is refunded | | On the day the trip starts | 60% of the total tour price; the rest is refunded | | After the trip has started | 60%, plus a share of the other 40% for each day travelled | ### Leaving this 8-day trip early If you leave on day 1 we keep 65% of the total tour price; the share we keep rises with each day of the trip travelled, and the full table is printed in your contract. The day you leave counts as a day travelled, and the rest is refunded. Train and flight tickets we bought for you follow the carrier's own rules. See [payment methods and who receives your money](https://unclepandatravel.com/licence-payment#payment). ## Who is in charge of this trip Names and phone numbers go into your confirmation pack 7 days before you fly. --- - Source page: https://unclepandatravel.com/tours/yunnan-8d - Language: English · Updated: 2026-10-23 - Operator: Hunan Panda International Travel Service Co., Ltd. (Uncle Panda Travel), licensed China travel agency, licence L-HUN-304745 - Contact: service@unclepandatravel.com · WhatsApp +8615580812229 - Site index for AI: https://unclepandatravel.com/llms.txt