11 Days Yunnan Classic Tour (Kunming / Dali / Lijiang / Shangri-La) | Crane & Ancient Town Focus

Basic Tour Info

Tour Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Pax: 2 Guests (Twin Room Sharing Basis)
Tour Type: Private Leisure & Nature & Ancient Town Cultural Tour
Core Highlights: Seasonal black-necked crane watching at Napa Lake, multiple original ancient towns/villages, autumn alpine scenery, Erhai lake view, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain high-altitude landscape, authentic local ethnic culture
Service Inclusion: Private English-speaking guide + experienced driver + private air-conditioned SUV + boutique heritage/star hotels + full daily transfers

Daily Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming Arrival | City Leisure & Old Street Exploration

Private airport / train station pick-up, transfer to downtown boutique hotel check-in
Leisure visit to Kunming Old Street, explore ancient architecture, local handicraft stores and Yunnan folk culture
Stroll Green Lake Park to experience local daily life
Overnight: Kunming downtown 4-star boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 2 Kunming → Dali | Erhai Lake Classic Scenery & Dali Ancient Town

Morning private transfer to Dali (4.5h comfortable highway ride)
Afternoon: Erhai Lake coastal sightseeing, visit classic lakeside viewpoints, enjoy golden autumn lakeside scenery
Evening in Dali Ancient Town: Wander ancient streets, ancient city walls, Bai ethnic architecture, local snack alleys and traditional handicraft workshops
Overnight: Dali ancient town view boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 3 Dali | Xizhou Ancient Town & Local Bai Ethnic Village

Full day ancient town & rural culture in-depth tour
Xizhou Ancient Town: Well-preserved original Bai ethnic ancient town, ancient courtyard mansions, traditional tie-dye craft experience, century-old local shops
Visit nearby authentic Bai village, learn about local folk customs, traditional dwelling architecture and rural lifestyle
Leisure Erhai lakeside sunset viewing in the evening
Overnight: Dali boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 4 Dali → Lijiang | Heqing Ancient Town & Lijiang Ancient City Night View

Morning drive to Lijiang, stopover at Heqing Ancient Town (less touristy, original ancient water town with ancient bridges and water villages)
Afternoon arrive Lijiang, check in boutique courtyard hotel
Evening stroll Lijiang Ancient City, enjoy ancient canal scenery, wooden arch bridges and night lantern views
Overnight: Lijiang ancient town courtyard boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 5 Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & Shuhe Ancient Town

Full day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic tour: Glacier Park, Blue Moon Valley, alpine meadow scenery
Afternoon visit Shuhe Ancient Town: Quiet, primitive ancient town with ancient tea horse road relics, far less crowded than Lijiang Ancient City
Experience ancient tea horse road culture and Naxi ethnic customs
Overnight: Lijiang boutique courtyard hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 6 Lijiang → Shaxi Ancient Town → Shangri-La

Morning drive toShaxi Ancient Town (the best-preserved ancient tea horse road market town in Yunnan)
Explore ancient stage, old teahouses, ancient post road and original village lifestyle
Afternoon continue driving to Shangri-La, adapt to plateau altitude
Evening stroll Dukezong Ancient Town, turn the giant prayer wheel, experience Tibetan culture
Overnight: Shangri-La Tibetan-style 4-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 7 Shangri-La | Napa Lake Crane Watching & Plateau Wetland Sightseeing

Core highlight of the trip: Professional seasonal black-necked crane watching at Napa Lake
October–November is the official overwintering period for black-necked cranes; spot flocks of black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese and wild water birds inhabiting the golden wetland meadow
Guided wetland sightseeing, photography at best bird-watching viewpoints (early morning & sunset bird active period)
Napa Lake full loop tour, enjoy plateau golden grassland, snow mountain reflection and wetland ecological scenery
Overnight: Shangri-La Tibetan-style hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 8 Shangri-La | Songzanlin Monastery & Local Tibetan Village

Morning visit Songzanlin Monastery (Little Potala Palace), the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan
In-depth visit to nearby original Tibetan village, experience local Tibetan folk life, traditional houses and pasture culture
Leisure plateau scenery photography, no intensive arrangement for altitude adaptation
Overnight: Shangri-La hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 9 Shangri-La → Dali | Return & Ancient Town Leisure

Morning return private transfer to Dali
Afternoon free leisure time in Dali Ancient Town, souvenir shopping and local snack tasting
Evening enjoy Dali night scenery and quiet ancient town atmosphere
Overnight: Dali boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 10 Dali | Erhai Lake Full Day Leisure & Local Culture Experience

Full day relaxed Erhai lake rim sightseeing, visit less crowded ancient villages along the bank
Experience Bai ethnic traditional craft and local rural culture
Sunset lakeside viewing, capture golden autumn Erhai scenery
Overnight: Dali boutique hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (B)

Day 11 Dali → Kunming Departure

Package Inclusion & Exclusion

What’s Included

✅ 10 nights boutique/4-star hotel accommodation (twin room sharing, daily breakfast)
✅ Full-journey private air-conditioned SUV + professional driver (all fuel, tolls, parking fees included)
✅ Full-time experienced English-speaking tour guide service
✅ All scenic spot entrance tickets listed in itinerary
✅ 24/7 agency emergency support & travel coordination service
✅ All government tax & service charges

What’s Excluded

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