Private Journey
Yunnan Ethnic Kitchens
A private China route with day-by-day pacing, hotel logic, seasonal pricing, and guide support confirmed before payment.
Route Overview
A route designed for depth, not distance
Pace built around energy, not a checklist. Star-level hotels confirmed privately. One real local culture thread on every route.
Day by Day
The shape of the trip
A representative shape. We finalize each morning during the planning call so the route reflects your interests and pace.
Yunnan Ethnic Kitchens
City stops, day ranges, and the main movement between anchors are shown before you ask a planner to confirm the route.
Tap any day to open the full plan — where you stay, what you do, meals, what is included, and traveler notes. All 12 days are shown below.This route is fully customisable — adjust it with a specialist →
Day1 Kunming — Arrival and Green Lake
Arrive in Kunming and take an easy walk around Green Lake, then try 'crossing-the-bridge' rice noodles for dinner.
near Green Lake - near Green Lake
Green Lake and the old quarter
Breakfast at the hotel; crossing-the-bridge rice noodles when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast and route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening shows and anything outside the confirmed route.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: Kunming is called the Spring City for its mild climate.
Day2 Kunming — The Stone Forest and Yi food
Day trip to the Stone Forest, a karst landscape of limestone pillars about 1.5 hours away, with a Yi-style lunch nearby.
near Green Lake - near Green Lake
Stone Forest (Shilin)
Breakfast at the hotel; yi-style roast and goat cheese when timing fits.
Cultural context: The Stone Forest is part of the South China Karst UNESCO site.
Day3 Dali — Mushroom market, then train to Dali
Visit a Kunming market in the morning; in summer, the wild-mushroom stalls are the highlight. Take the high-speed train to Dali, about 2 hours.
an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard - an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard
Market visit and rail to Dali
Breakfast at the hotel; wild mushroom hot pot (in season) when timing fits.
Cultural context: Yunnan's rainy season, roughly June to September, is wild-mushroom season.
Day4 Dali — Dali old town and the Three Pagodas
See the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in the morning and walk Dali old town in the afternoon.
an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard - an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard
Three Pagodas and Dali old town
Breakfast at the hotel; er kuai (rice cakes) and rubing goat cheese when timing fits.
Cultural context: The Bai are the main ethnic group around Erhai Lake.
Day5 Dali — Xizhou, Bai three-course tea and Zhoucheng tie-dye
Visit Xizhou's Bai merchant courtyards and try Bai three-course tea, then see indigo tie-dye being made in Zhoucheng.
an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard - an Erhai-view or old-town courtyard
Xizhou courtyards, Bai tea and Zhoucheng tie-dye
Breakfast at the hotel; xizhou baba flatbread when timing fits.
Cultural context: Bai three-course tea is bitter, then sweet, then aftertaste—like life.
Day6 Lijiang — Erhai Lake and on to Lijiang
Cycle or drive part of the Erhai shoreline in the morning, then take the train to Lijiang, about 1.5 hours.
a Naxi courtyard in the old town - a Naxi courtyard in the old town
Erhai Lake shoreline and rail to Lijiang
Breakfast at the hotel; lijiang chicken bean jelly when timing fits.
Cultural context: Erhai is Yunnan's second-largest freshwater lake.
Day7 Lijiang — Lijiang old town and Baisha village
Walk Lijiang old town's canals in the morning and visit Baisha village, an older Naxi settlement known for its murals.
a Naxi courtyard in the old town - a Naxi courtyard in the old town
Lijiang old town and Baisha village
Breakfast at the hotel; naxi dishes and baba bread when timing fits.
Cultural context: Lijiang old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day8 Lijiang — Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley
Ride the cable car up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (weather and ticket quotas allowing) and visit the blue pools of Blue Moon Valley below.
a Naxi courtyard in the old town - a Naxi courtyard in the old town
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Blue Moon Valley
Breakfast at the hotel; yak hot pot when timing fits.
Bring warm layers; altitude can be felt at the top.
Cultural context: The upper cable car station is above 4,500 m.
Day9 Xishuangbanna — Fly to Xishuangbanna
Fly from Lijiang to Jinghong, about 1 hour. In the evening, visit the Gaozhuang night market by the Mekong.
a riverside Dai-style resort - a riverside Dai-style resort
Flight to Jinghong and the night market
Breakfast at the hotel; dai grilled fish with lemongrass when timing fits.
Your guide reconfirms pickup, pacing, tickets and weather the evening before.
Cultural context: The Mekong is called the Lancang River in China.
Day10 Xishuangbanna — Dai villages, temples and the botanical garden
Visit a morning market and the Buddhist temples of a Dai village, then the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden at Menglun.
a riverside Dai-style resort - a riverside Dai-style resort
Dai village, temple and the Tropical Botanical Garden
Breakfast at the hotel; dai banana-leaf dishes and sticky rice when timing fits.
Cultural context: The Dai practise Theravada Buddhism.
Day11 Pu'er — To Pu'er tea country
Take the train to Pu'er, about 1 hour, and continue to a tea-growing village to see the plantations and how pu'er tea is processed.
a tea-estate lodge - a tea-estate lodge
Rail to Pu'er and a tea village visit
Breakfast at the hotel; farmhouse lunch when timing fits.
Cultural context: Pu'er tea is named after the old tea-trading town of Pu'er.
Day12 Pu'er — Tea tasting and departure
Taste raw and ripe pu'er side by side, then transfer to Pu'er airport or take the train to Kunming for your onward journey.
a tea-estate lodge - a tea-estate lodge
Pu'er tea tasting, then departure
Breakfast at the hotel
Cultural context: Raw (sheng) and ripe (shu) pu'er are processed differently.
Dates & Pricing
Choose a tentative date - see your seasonal supplement
Base price for standard non-holiday departures. Chinese national holidays add a supplement automatically.
Yunnan Ethnic Kitchens
Choose a date window below, or set an exact start date here.
Children are included in the total party size. Your planner confirms the child price and bed arrangement before payment.
Base per traveller$6,420.00
Seasonal supplement+0%
Trip value before offer$6,420.00
Pay in full today: 20% off$1,284.00
Full payment due today$5,136.00
Deposit plan: 10% off trip value$642.00
Deposit plan total after 10% off$5,778.00
20% deposit due today after 10% off$1,155.60
Deposit balance after planner confirms$4,622.40
Holiday supplement is shown before checkout. Final guide, room, and rail availability is confirmed by a planner.
Trusted private travel framework
Plan Notes
Practical setup before arrival
Is Yunnan Ethnic Kitchens a private journey?
Yes. The itinerary is operated for your party rather than a mixed coach group. Final guide, vehicle and hotel arrangements are confirmed in your trip documents.
Can I change the start date or travel pace?
Choose your preferred start date in the booking panel. Our planning team confirms availability, and adjustments that change hotels, transport or inclusions may change the final quote.
How do the deposit and full-payment options work?
The booking panel shows the current amount for each option and carries your selected date and party size into the cart. Review the amount before checkout and see the payment terms for the balance schedule.
What should I check before booking?
Review the itinerary, inclusions, visa or permit requirements and activity level. Contact a trip planner before payment if you have dietary, mobility or rooming requirements.
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