Authentic Village Tour Northwest Yunnan

Are you looking for somewhere quiet and beautiful, with charm and enchantment, away from the crowds during the busy holiday season? Explore the hidden gems with us in Yunnan Province, where it still retains its original charm, people still carry authentic smiles, and the surroundings are incredibly beautiful, especially in autumn. We offer non-shopping quality tours in the stunning and dynamic Yunnan. We provide tailor-made itineraries based on your interests, requirements, and the duration of your holiday. We were born here, and we still live here.

DAY 1

Arrival at Dali

Get picked up, visit Dali old town, and check into the hotel in Xizhou. This city has preserved the most typical architecture of the ethnic Bai People, surrounded by beautiful countryside scenery.

Overnight stay in a local Boutique Hotel, Xizhou, for 2 nights.

DAY 2

Xizhou

DAY 3

Donglianhua Muslim Village - Weishan

Drive 50 minutes to Donglianhua Muslim Village, explore this old and charming village where many men used to work as horsemen along the ancient Tea Horse Caravan Trading Trail, who saved and built a mosque and other structures in the surrounding area. Enjoy Weishan old town in the evening. Weishan is famous for its diverse local snacks and noodles in this region. Overnight stay in a local Boutique Hotel in Weishan, for one night.

Visit Weibao Mountain, with old Taoism/Buddhism Temples in the forest, with very interesting architecture. Then drive 5 hrs to Nuodeng, Yunlong was an important stop for horse teams to get salt, before they headed northwards to Tibet, along the antient Tea Horse Caraven trail. Overnight stay in a ocal Boutique Inn, Nuodeng, for 1 night. Then on to Weibao Mountain

DAY 5

Nuodeng - Shaxi

Visit the view point of the Natural Taiji Picture carved by the Bijiang River. Enjoy a beautiful stroll around the quiet/charming village, like going back in time 100 years Then drive about 5 hrs to Shaxi, with stops at the old Tent/Tongjin Bridges. Enjoy a relaxing time in the artistic/peaceful Shaxi old town. Overnight stay at a ocal boutique Hotel, Shaxi, for two nights.

DAY 6

Around Shaxi

DAY 8

Songzanlin Lamasery - Tibetan Villages

Contact us for further information and pricing

DAY 4

Weibao Mountain - Nuodeng

You can get to do:

Terra-cat making/painting

Tie-die

Tea picking

Tantric painting

Dongba pictography

Dancing with local

Local family-visiting

Hiking

Visit Xizhou morning market, old residence of Bai People, can learn and design your own terra cat, the traditional protector standing on local people’s houses, in Northwest Yunnan. Or learn and design tie-die in Zhoucheng Village.

Tie-die in Zhoucheng Village

Learn to make terra cats by hand

End of Tour

A Dongba Shamann in the village

The guesthouse in Nuodeng

The drive is long, so we’ll stop at some interesting spots from time to time, and have lunch along the way.

Visit Shibao Mountasin., which has a Hanging Temple built on cliff, with wild monkeys playfully dashing around. Then hike 2 hours downhill to Shaxi.

DAY 7

Shaxi – Spring Water Village - Shangrila.

Drive for 2 hours to Spring Water Village, where natural springs emerge from underground and flow all the way to the Yangtze River. You can take an easy and scenic walk along the stream, with waterfalls, a bamboo grove, terraced fields, and through a charming Naxi Village. Overnight stay at a local boutique hotel, Shangrila, for 2 nights.

Catch a traditional Tibetan dance show

Visit Songzanlin Lamasery, and Tibetan Villages. Pay a visit to a local Tibetan Family, try butter tea, and make your own Tsampa (Tibetan bread mixed with butter tea and barley wheat). Then take a horse ride around Napa Lake, which is a paradise for animals. You can learn and try Tantric painting in the old town, if interested.

Tantric painting with the Monks

Napa Lake

DAY 9

Shangrila - Tiger Leaping Gorge

Drive 2 hrs to Tiger Leaping Gorge, visit the Upper Gorge which is closer to the water with rapid flow. Then hike 2 hrs on flat-level path, with breath-taking views, and stay overnight at Tea Horse Guest House.

DAY 10

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Baoshan Stone Town

Hike down the Middle Gorge if interested, with breath-taking views, but it can be quite challenging for about 3 hrs on the edge, above the river. Then take the ferry from Lower Gorge, and drive 2.5 hrs to the hidden traditional mountain Village in Baoshan Township Lijiang, which has a beautiful lodge overlooking the mountains and river. Stay for two nights there.

DAY 11

Baoshan Stone Town.

Hike for two hours from the village down to the Yangtze River. Take a boat for about 40 minutes, then climb for an hour up to the Baoshan Stone Village. Have lunch in a local family, explore the Stone Village, which was built by Naxi ancestors to defend against the Mongolian army during the 1300s. You can visit a Dongba shaman in the village and learn to write the Dongba Pictography, which was used for religious ceremonies in the Naxi People’s culture.

DAY 12

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Drive 2 hours to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, take the cable car up to Yak Meadow at 3800 metres, and enjoy a beautiful walk above the clouds with spectacular views. Then visit Blue Moon Valley, and stay for 2 nights in a local boutique hotel in Shuhe Old Town.