Yunnan Private Tours: Kunming, Dali & Lijiang

Yunnan is the most varied province we operate in. Kunming sits at 1,890m, Dali at 1,970m beside a lake ringed by mountains, Lijiang at 2,400m beneath the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Shangri-La at 3,280m on the Tibetan plateau edge. Altitude is the thing to plan around, and it is why we build the climb in gradually.

Snow peaks above a sea of cloud in Yunnan

What we do in Yunnan

Kunming for the Stone Forest and the flower market; Dali for Erhai lake, Xizhou and Zhoucheng; Lijiang for the old town, Baisha and Shuhe, and a day on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. If the itinerary extends to Shangri-La, Pudacuo National Park and Songzanlin Monastery are the reasons. High-speed rail links Kunming to Dali in about two hours, and Dali to Lijiang in about two hours.

Altitude: Lijiang is 2,400m and the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car reaches 3,700m. Shangri-La is 3,280m and is usually the only high-altitude overnight. We build the ascent in stages and we do not put anyone above 3,000m on their first night.

Yunnan experiences you can add

Erhai by bicycle — a lake road at the foot of the Cangshan, with a climb on foot.
Dongba script — write a blessing plaque in the world’s last living pictographs.
Bai tie-dye — fold, bind and dip your own indigo cloth in a village workshop.

Trip facts

Best months	March to May; September to November. June to August is the rainy season.
Getting there	Kunming Changshui (KMG). Kunming–Dali about 2 hours by high-speed rail; Dali–Lijiang about 2 hours.
How long you need	Five nights minimum for Kunming, Dali and Lijiang. Seven to add Shangri-La.
Walking load	Moderate. Old towns are cobbled and often steep; high-altitude days are deliberately short.
Altitude	Kunming 1,890m · Dali 1,970m · Lijiang 2,400m · Jade Dragon 3,700m–4,506m · Shangri-La 3,280m.

Yunnan: Kunming, Dali in pictures

Which of our routes include Yunnan: Kunming, Dali

7-Day Yunnan7 days

Common questions

Will I get altitude sickness in Yunnan?

Most travellers are fine up to Lijiang at 2,400m. Shangri-La at 3,280m is where people notice it, and the first evening matters more than anything else: half pace, plenty of water, no alcohol, early night. We carry oxygen in the vehicle.

Do we need oxygen?

Not usually, but it is available at hotels, pharmacies and scenic areas for ¥30–60, and we keep it in the car. Anyone with heart or respiratory conditions should talk to their doctor before booking.

Should we include Shangri-La?

If you have seven nights and no altitude concerns, yes — Pudacuo and Songzanlin are unlike anywhere else on our routes. If the trip is five nights, do not force it.

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