Yunnan
From Spring City to Snow Mountain
8 Days · Kunming to Shangri-La
Kunming · Dali · Lijiang · Shangri-La
From 1,900 metres to 3,300 metres — through four completely different sides of Yunnan.
The Idea
Yunnan changes as you travel north.
Four places. Four cultures. One gradual journey into the mountains.
This journey is not simply four famous destinations placed together.
It is designed as a gradual journey north through Yunnan.
Start in Kunming at 1,900 metres, continue to Dali beside Erhai, climb into Lijiang beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and finish at 3,300 metres in Shangri-La on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.
Along the way, the landscapes, architecture, food and cultures change completely.
Kunming feels like the relaxed Spring City.
Dali introduces Bai culture between lake and mountain.
Lijiang brings Naxi heritage and the snow peaks.
Shangri-La feels unmistakably Tibetan.
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Start / Finish
Kunming → Shangri-La
Destinations
Kunming · Dali · Lijiang · Shangri-La
Transport
High-Speed Rail & Private Road Transfers
Highest Overnight
3,300 m — Shangri-La
Highest Sightseeing
Approx. 3,705 m — Pudacuo National Park
Recommended Season
December–March
Difficulty / Pace
Moderate · Well-Paced / Active
Why This Journey
Seven reasons to travel north
01
Stone Forest
Walk through one of Yunnan's most extraordinary karst landscapes.
02
Cycle Beside Erhai
Around two hours cycling the flat west shore of Erhai with Cangshan on one side and the lake on the other.
03
A Full Bai Culture Day
Visit Xizhou market, experience the Three Courses of Tea and make your own indigo tie-dye in Zhoucheng.
04
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Take the cableway to Spruce Meadow at around 3,240 metres.
05
Blue Moon Valley
See the turquoise meltwater pools beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
06
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Travel north through one of the deepest river canyons in the world.
07
Tibetan Shangri-La
Visit Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park and a local Tibetan home.
The Journey North
Six days of gradual ascent
before reaching Shangri-La.
Spring City
Kunming
1,900 m
Lake & Bai Culture
Dali
1,970 m
Snow Mountain & Naxi Culture
Lijiang
2,400 m
Tibetan Plateau
Shangri-La
3,300 m
The route is designed so that altitude increases gradually rather than all at once.
Route Overview
Kunming to Shangri-La
High-speed rail west to Dali, private road north to Lijiang, then the scenic mountain road through Tiger Leaping Gorge onto the plateau.
Kunming
High-Speed Rail
High-Speed Rail
Dali
Road Journey
Private Road Transfer
Lijiang
Scenic Mountain Road
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Shangri-La
Day by Day
Eight days through Yunnan
Day 1Arrival in Kunming+
Arrive in Kunming and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is deliberately free. Kunming sits at around 1,900 metres and is the lowest point of the journey, making this an easy first day before gradually travelling higher.
Optional Suggestions
- Yunnan Nationalities Village
- Golden Horse & Jade Rooster Archways
- Western Hills
- Dianchi Lake
Overnight · Kunming
Day 2Stone Forest & Kunming Life+
Travel to the Stone Forest and walk through the dramatic limestone formations of this UNESCO-listed karst landscape. Return to Kunming and visit Yuantong Temple, which brings together different Buddhist traditions in one complex. Finish at Green Lake Park and experience the relaxed everyday life of Kunming.
Overnight · Kunming
Day 3Kunming → Dali+
Take the high-speed train to Dali — approximately 2 hours. Visit the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. In the late afternoon, cycle for around two hours along the west shore of Erhai. The route is mostly flat and runs between the lake, local villages and farmland. The evening is free to explore Dali Old Town.
Overnight · Dali
Day 4Bai Culture → Lijiang+
Travel to Xizhou and start at the local morning market. Visit the Yan Family Compound and learn about traditional Bai courtyard architecture, then experience the Three Courses of Tea. Continue to Zhoucheng for a hands-on indigo tie-dye workshop, making and dyeing your own piece to take home. Later, drive north to Lijiang.
Overnight · Lijiang
Day 5Jade Dragon Snow Mountain+
Travel to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take the cableway to Spruce Meadow at approximately 3,240 metres. Walk through the forest and meadow beneath the mountain, then continue to Blue Moon Valley. In the afternoon, see Impression Lijiang, an outdoor performance staged with the mountain itself as the backdrop. In the evening, explore UNESCO-listed Lijiang Old Town.
Overnight · Lijiang
Day 6Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La+
Leave Lijiang and travel north. Stop at the First Bend of the Yangtze, then continue to Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge and walk down to the river viewpoint. A lift is available at additional cost for travellers who prefer not to use the stairs. Continue by road to Shangri-La — approximately 1,800 m at the gorge to 3,300 m at Shangri-La. The evening is deliberately kept gentle after arrival.
Overnight · Shangri-La
Day 7Songzanlin & Pudacuo+
Visit Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. Continue to Pudacuo National Park and walk along the lakes and plateau wetlands — Shudu Lake, Bita Lake, high-altitude forest, wetlands and yak pasture. Finish with a visit to a local Tibetan family home and experience traditional butter tea and tsampa.
Overnight · Shangri-La
Day 8Dukezong Old Town & Departure+
Explore Dukezong Old Town and walk up Guishan Hill to the enormous prayer wheel overlooking the town. Transfer to Diqing Shangri-La Airport for departure.
Overnight · —
Dali
Dali, Beyond the Old Town
Dali is not just cafés and old streets.
This journey spends time inside Bai culture.
You visit the working market at Xizhou, step inside a traditional merchant courtyard, experience the Three Courses of Tea and take part in an indigo tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng.
- Xizhou Market
- Yan Family Compound
- Three Courses of Tea
- Zhoucheng Tie-Dye
- Erhai Cycling
- Three Pagodas
Lijiang
Under the Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain dominates the landscape above Lijiang.
Rather than taking the highest glacier cableway, this itinerary uses the Spruce Meadow cableway to approximately 3,240 metres.
This gives travellers the high-mountain experience and views without making the altitude jump unnecessarily aggressive.
- 3,240 m
- Spruce Meadow
- Blue Moon Valley
- Impression Lijiang
- Lijiang Old Town
Lijiang → Shangri-La
The road north is part of the experience.
The journey from Lijiang to Shangri-La is not simply a transfer.
Along the way you stop at the First Bend of the Yangtze and Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge before climbing towards the Tibetan Plateau.
The landscape changes completely as the road rises towards Shangri-La.
Shangri-La
At the edge of the Tibetan Plateau
Shangri-La sits at approximately 3,300 metres.
The architecture, landscapes and rhythm of life here feel completely different from Kunming, Dali and Lijiang.
Experience Tibetan Buddhist culture at Songzanlin Monastery, walk through the high-altitude wetlands and forests of Pudacuo National Park, and visit a Tibetan family home.
- Songzanlin Monastery
- Pudacuo National Park
- Shudu Lake
- Bita Lake
- Butter Tea
- Tsampa
- Dukezong Old Town
- Guishan Prayer Wheel
Who This Trip Is For
Is this journey for you?
Good For
- First-time visitors to Yunnan
- Couples
- Friends
- Families
- Culture lovers
- Photography lovers
- Travellers who enjoy mountains and scenery
- People who prefer varied experiences rather than staying in one place
- Travellers interested in minority cultures
- People comfortable with moderate walking
Less Suited To
- Travellers wanting a beach or resort holiday
- People unable to tolerate altitude around 3,300–3,700 metres
- Travellers wanting intense multi-day hiking
- People wanting luxury accommodation throughout
Altitude
A gradual journey higher
One of the strengths of this itinerary is its gradual increase in altitude.
- Kunming1,900 m
- Dali1,970 m
- Lijiang2,400 m
- Spruce Meadow3,240 m
- Shangri-La3,300 m
- Songzanlin3,380 m
- Shudu Lake3,705 m
The journey spends several nights below 2,500 metres before reaching Shangri-La.
Travellers should still take altitude seriously and tell the local guide immediately if they experience significant symptoms.
Activity Level
Moderate
Main Physical Activities
- Stone Forest walking
- Approx. 2-hour Erhai bicycle ride
- Walking at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Tiger Leaping Gorge stairs
- Walking at Songzanlin Monastery
- Level boardwalk walking at Pudacuo
This is not a hiking tour. Most activities are sightseeing-based and can be adjusted depending on the traveller's fitness.
When To Go
Why winter?
This reference itinerary is designed for departures between December and March.
- Clearer views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Dry weather in Kunming and Dali
- Snow on the high mountains
- Strong visibility
- Winter birds around Kunming and Shangri-La
- Less summer rain
Shangri-La can be very cold in winter, with temperatures well below freezing overnight. Warm layers are essential.
Accommodation
Accommodation is arranged in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
Exact properties and categories will be confirmed with the final quotation.
Meals
- Breakfast — included from Day 2 onwards according to the itinerary.
- Lunch — not included.
- Dinner — not included.
Lunch and dinner remain flexible so travellers can explore local food along the route.
Price
On Request
Pricing depends on travel dates, number of travellers, accommodation preferences and final arrangements.
Tell me your travel dates, number of travellers and travel style, and I'll help you build the right version of this Yunnan journey.
Customisation
Make Yunnan yours.
This is a reference itinerary and can be adapted around your interests, pace and travel dates.
Want more time in Dali? Want to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge instead of only visiting the viewpoint? Want to stay longer in Shangri-La? Want to add Yuanyang, Shaxi or Xishuangbanna?
Tell me what kind of trip you are looking for and we can reshape the route.
- Spring City
- Lake & Bai Culture
- Snow Mountain & Naxi Culture
- Tibetan Plateau
From the Spring City to the
edge of the Tibetan Plateau.