Private Journey - 12 Days
Yunnan + Sichuan Foodway - 12 Days
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.
What makes this route specific
- Built around Chengdu, Leshan, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and more, not a generic template.
- Every day specifies where you stay, what you do, what is included, and what remains optional.
- Holiday price logic is visible before payment: Golden Week and Spring Festival +50%, other national holidays +20%.
- Route rhythm protects arrival day energy, station or airport friction, guide timing, meals, and hotel comfort.
What is included
- Private English-speaking guide on touring days.
- Private vehicle transfers for the confirmed route.
- Hotel breakfast and route-standard hotels as listed in the final proposal.
- Entrance and ticket planning for named included sites.
- In-China support for weather, timing, and local adjustments.
Private timing beats checklist speed
The guide can move a stop earlier, shorten a crowded block, or preserve an afternoon when the traveler needs recovery.
Hotels are chosen by route logic
Location, transfer time, stairs, breakfast timing, and evening access matter more than decorative hotel names.
One living culture thread each day
Food, craft, neighborhood, monastery, market, or family workshop context turns sightseeing into a readable story.
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 + Sichuan Foodway - 12 Days
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 Chengdu — Panda base early visit
Touch down and just breathe — no rush today. Chengdu is a soft landing, and your guide quietly spends the first hours working out your rhythm so the whole trip bends around you, not some script.
Taikoo Li, Jinjiang, or a quieter boutique quarter - 5-star Chengdu hotel with easy food access
Panda base early visit
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around sichuan hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Chengdu is about pace, food, teahouses, and soft urban life as much as pandas.
Day2 Chengdu — Wuhou Shrine and Jinli context
Today leans into Wuhou Shrine and Jinli context. No stopwatch — your guide reads the crowds, the light, and frankly your mood, then shapes the hours around it. Food-wise, hold out for Sichuan hotpot. And here is the bit that is properly ours: Sichuan opera face-changing (bianlian) and Shu embroidery — a private face-changing show and a Shuxiu studio. Most tours cannot get you in that room — we can.
Taikoo Li, Jinjiang, or a quieter boutique quarter - 5-star Chengdu hotel with easy food access
Wuhou Shrine and Jinli context
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around sichuan hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Chengdu is about pace, food, teahouses, and soft urban life as much as pandas.
Day3 Leshan — Riverside temple context
Slow start or an early one, your call. Riverside temple context sits at the heart of today, with plenty of breathing room so nothing feels rushed. Leshan bobo chicken sorts the eating when you are ready. And here is the bit that is properly ours: Buddhist stone-carving heritage on site. Most tours cannot get you in that room — we can.
Chengdu base or Leshan riverside hotel for slower pacing - Comfortable 4-5 star regional hotel
Riverside temple context
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around leshan bobo chicken when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Leshan connects pilgrimage, river geography, and Sichuan food in one accessible day.
Day4 Kunming — Flower market or Green Lake walk
We build today loosely around Flower market or Green Lake walk, at your pace and nobody else's — expect a small surprise or two your guide pulls depending on the day. Crossing-the-bridge noodles when the appetite shows up. And here is the bit that is properly ours: Yunnan tie-dye and ethnic-minority embroidery introduction. Most tours cannot get you in that room — we can.
Green Lake or central Kunming for easy first-day logistics - 5-star city hotel
Flower market or Green Lake walk
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around crossing-the-bridge noodles when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Kunming gives Yunnan a gentle arrival day and sets up altitude gradually.
Day5 Dali — Dali old town
This is the kind of day you will be showing people photos of later: Dali old town, with the freedom to slow right down the second something catches your eye. Lunch or dinner usually circles back to Bai cuisine.
Erhai lakeside or old town edge, chosen by noise tolerance - Boutique lake or courtyard hotel
Dali old town
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around bai cuisine when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Dali should feel like lake, Bai craft, and soft pacing, not just a photo stop.
Day6 Dali — Bai tie-dye workshop
Ease into Bai tie-dye workshop today. Nothing is rigid — your guide flexes around the weather and how you are feeling, so it stays comfortable start to finish. And Bai cuisine is exactly what you will want by then. And here is the bit that is properly ours: Bai tie-dye (zharan) and jiama woodblock print — a Zhoucheng tie-dye workshop. Most tours cannot get you in that room — we can.
Erhai lakeside or old town edge, chosen by noise tolerance - Boutique lake or courtyard hotel
Bai tie-dye workshop
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around bai cuisine when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Dali should feel like lake, Bai craft, and soft pacing, not just a photo stop.
Day7 Lijiang — Old town lanes at calm hours
Honestly? This is one of those days people still bring up years later. The centrepiece is Old town lanes at calm hours — and because the day is entirely yours, you linger where it grabs you and drift off when you are ready. When hunger lands, Naxi hotpot is the move, the version locals actually queue for.
Shuhe or Lijiang old town edge for quieter evenings - Boutique Naxi courtyard hotel
Old town lanes at calm hours
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around naxi hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Lijiang needs crowd strategy and Naxi context to avoid feeling like only a shopping street.
Day8 Lijiang — Naxi Dongba context
Today leans into Naxi Dongba context. No stopwatch — your guide reads the crowds, the light, and frankly your mood, then shapes the hours around it. Food-wise, hold out for Naxi hotpot. And here is the bit that is properly ours: Naxi Dongba script and Naxi ancient music — a Dongba scholar and an ancient-music recital. Most tours cannot get you in that room — we can.
Shuhe or Lijiang old town edge for quieter evenings - Boutique Naxi courtyard hotel
Naxi Dongba context
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around naxi hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Lijiang needs crowd strategy and Naxi context to avoid feeling like only a shopping street.
Day9 Shangri-La — Highland meadow or Napa Lake
Slow start or an early one, your call. Highland meadow or Napa Lake sits at the heart of today, with plenty of breathing room so nothing feels rushed. Yak hotpot sorts the eating when you are ready.
Dukezong old town or monastery-side hotel - Best available highland boutique hotel
Highland meadow or Napa Lake
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around yak hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route. Oxygen canisters or medical services are arranged only if needed and billed locally.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Shangri-La adds Tibetan highland rhythm with altitude-aware timing.
Day10 Shangri-La — Songzanlin Monastery
We build today loosely around Songzanlin Monastery, at your pace and nobody else's — expect a small surprise or two your guide pulls depending on the day. Yak hotpot when the appetite shows up.
Dukezong old town or monastery-side hotel - Best available highland boutique hotel
Songzanlin Monastery
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around yak hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route. Oxygen canisters or medical services are arranged only if needed and billed locally.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Shangri-La adds Tibetan highland rhythm with altitude-aware timing.
Day11 Kunming — Stone Forest or city soft landing
This is the kind of day you will be showing people photos of later: Stone Forest or city soft landing, with the freedom to slow right down the second something catches your eye. Lunch or dinner usually circles back to Crossing-the-bridge noodles.
Green Lake or central Kunming for easy first-day logistics - 5-star city hotel
Stone Forest or city soft landing
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around crossing-the-bridge noodles when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Kunming gives Yunnan a gentle arrival day and sets up altitude gradually.
Day12 Chengdu — Sichuan opera face-changing
Ease into Sichuan opera face-changing today. Nothing is rigid — your guide flexes around the weather and how you are feeling, so it stays comfortable start to finish. And Sichuan hotpot is exactly what you will want by then.
Taikoo Li, Jinjiang, or a quieter boutique quarter - 5-star Chengdu hotel with easy food access
Sichuan opera face-changing
Breakfast at hotel; lunch or dinner built around sichuan hotpot when timing fits.
Private guide, private transfer, entrance planning, hotel breakfast, and standard route coordination.
Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, evening show, special craft purchase, and any activity outside the confirmed route.
Guide reconfirms pickup point, pacing, tickets, and weather before the day starts.
Cultural context: Chengdu is about pace, food, teahouses, and soft urban life as much as pandas.
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 + Sichuan Foodway - 12 Days
Choose a date window below, or set an exact start date here.
Base per traveller$8,200.00
Seasonal supplement+0%
Trip value before offer$8,200.00
Pay in full today: 20% off$1,640.00
Full payment due today$6,560.00
Deposit plan: 10% off trip value$820.00
Deposit plan total after 10% off$7,380.00
20% deposit due today after 10% off$1,476.00
Deposit balance after planner confirms$5,904.00
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 this a fixed group tour?
No. This is a private journey framework. Dates, hotels, exact guide timing, and some daily details are confirmed around your traveler profile before payment is captured.
What is free and what is extra?
Standard guide service, private transfer, route planning, hotel breakfast, and listed included sites are covered. Personal shopping, alcohol, spa, optional shows, premium upgrades, and route changes remain extra.
Why can holiday pricing change?
China national holidays affect guide availability, hotel rates, rail tickets, and scenic crowd controls. The selector shows likely supplements early so the traveler can choose a calmer date if needed.
Can you adjust food, walking, or hotel style?
Yes. Tell us dietary limits, walking tolerance, sleep style, photo priorities, and hotel expectations. The final route balances those details before the booking is confirmed.
When is the earliest realistic departure?
We normally plan private China routes at least two months ahead so visa, permits, hotel rooms, guides, rail tickets, and any restricted-region logistics can be checked properly.
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