CHINA OFF THE BEATEN TRACK - South West China

Day 1 .... Arrive in Kunming (flight cost not included)
and transfer to the Harbor Plaza Hotel for two nights.
Many of China's 55 different ethnic cultures live in this area of southwest Yunnan province. Enjoy these unique cultureswith their colorful dress, folk art, delicious food and different traditions. (B,)

Day 2 ....  Visit the Stone Forest with towering peaks of bizarre shaped limestone and a Sanyi Minority
(B,L)

Day 3 .... Fly to Lijiang. Transfer to the Jiannanchung Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing includes the Black Pool and the old town of Lijiang. (B,L,D)

Day 4 .... Full day excursion to the Yulong Snow Mountain. (B,LD)

Day 5 .... Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kunming to connect to your onward flight. (B)

Hotels as listed           Half Twin (LS)         (HS)
                                      $775                        $875
Round trip Kunming/Lijiang/Kunming is included

2) KUNMING/XISHUANGBANNA. Tropical Southwest China,
 7 days/ 6 nights

Day 1 .... Arrive in Kunming (flight cost not included)
and transfer to the Harbor Plaza Hotel for two nights.
Many of China's 55 different ethnic cultures live in this area
of southwest Yunnan province. Enjoy these unique cultures
with their colorful dress, folk art, delicious food and different
traditions. Sightseeing to the National Minorities Institute. (B,L)

Day 2 .... Visit the Stone Forest and a Sanyi Minority village.Stone Forest

Day 3,4,5 ....Fly to Xishuangbanna and transfer to the Tai Garden Hotel for three nights. Sightseeing to include Menghai Eight Angels Pavilion, Ethnic Bazaar and villages, a lovely boat ride on the Mekong River, visits to the Little Menglun Botanic Gardens and the Tropical Research Institute. You will enjoy the privelege of visiting farmers' homes. This tropical paradise is the place to feast on sweet pineapples and papayas! (B,L)

Day 6 .... Evening flight to Kunming and check into the Plaza or King World Hotel for one night.(B,L).

Day 7 .... Sightseeing as time permits. Transfer to the airport for
your flight to next destination (flight cost not included). (B)

Harbour Hotel                        1225                   1525

(Please note that the above rates are not applicable during the Water Splashing Festival. Tour cost in USD)

Day 1, Kunming ... Meet guide and driver for transfer to the New Era Hotel for two nights.

Day 2, Kunming... Enjoy a day trip to the Stone Forest and visit a Sanyi Minority Village (B,L,)

Day 3, Kunming/Dali .... Transfer to the airport with guide for early flight from Kunming to Dali,  Upon arrival meet guide and driver and transfer to dock for boat ride on Lake Erhai. The one-way cruise starts at 9:30am and ends at about 1:30pm. Also enjoy the traditional 3-course-tea with minority performance on boat. After late lunch at the Town of Zhoucheng, visit a local Tie-dye Factory and Butterfly Spring. Then drive back to the old town of Dali and visit Three White Pagodas. En route, enjoy the beautiful view of the Cang Mountain. 2 nights at Asia Star Hotel which is a very nice hotel. (B,L,)

Day 4, Dali ... Visit morning market and a Bai minority architecture and village at the town of Xizhou. Drive back to the old town for lunch. Afternoon enjoy the old town, a cup of cold beer at the street Café and the idyllic setting (B,L)

Day 5, Dali/Lijiang .... A long day today. Drive from Dali to Lijiang with a side trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge - one of the deepest gorges in the world and in area of beauty with unspoiled villages of Naxi. It takes nearly 4 hours from Dali to Baihanchang - a crisscross among Dali, Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge. Further drive from Baihanchang for over 1 hour, you will reach Tiger Leaping Gorge Town where you will have late lunch at a village restaurant. After lunch, drive about 15 minutes to Tiger Leaping Gorge (this part of road is not in good condition, but worth it once you see the Gorge). Drive about 2 hours and a half from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lijiang via Baihanchang before dinner. En route, enjoy the fantastic view of Yulong Mountain (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). 2 nights at the Grand Lijiang Hotel which is by the site of the old town. (B,L,)

Day 6, Lijiang .... Visit Yufeng Monastery, Baisha Murals and back to the old town for lunch. Afternoon visit Black Dragon Pool Park, Dongba Script (Museum of Naxi Culture), and explore the old town of Dayan. Evening attend a performance of the Naxi orchestra. (B,L,)

Day 7,8,9 Lijiang/Xishuangbanna ... Fly from Lijiang to  Xishuangbanna,  and transfer to the Tai Garden Hotel for three nights. Sightseeing to include Menghai Eight Angels Pavilion, Ethnic Bazaar and villages, a lovely boat ride on the Mekong River, visits to the Little Menglun Botanic Gardens and the Tropical Research Institute. You will enjoy the privelege of visiting farmers' homes. This tropical paradise is the place to feast on sweet pineapples and papayas! (B,L)

Day 10, Fly Xishuangbanna to Kunming, and transfer to the New Era Hotel for one night. (B,L)

Day 11,  Fly to next destination (cost not included). (B)

Tour cost in USD. Cost includes transportation within China but not arrival and departure flight.

Shangri-La, 9 nights/10 days

Kunming, Dali, Gyelthang (Shangri-La), Lijiang, Kunming

For this fall's tour see - China's Shangri-La

Day 01, Kunming ....  Morning arrival in Kunming. any of China's 55 different ethnic cultures live in this area of southwest Yunnan Province. Enjoy these unique cultures with their colorful dress, folk art, delicious food and different traditions. Afternoon sightseeing to the Western Hills and the National Minorities Institute. 2 nights at the New Era Hotel.

Day 02, Kunming .... Day excursion to the Stone Forest.

Day 03, Kunming/Dali ... Early morning flight Kunming/Dali. Upon arrival meet guide and driver and transfer to the dock for a boat ride on Lake Erhai. The one-way cruise starts at 9:30am and ends at about 1:30pm. Also enjoy the traditional 3-course-tea with minority performance on boat. After late lunch at the Town of Zhoucheng, visit a local tie-dye factory and the Butterfly Spring. Then drive back to the old town of Dali and visit the Three White Pagodas. En route, enjoy the beautiful view of the Cang Mountain. 2 nights at the Asia Star House.

Day 04, Dali ... Visit morning market and a Bai minority architecture and village at the town of Xizhou. Drive back to the old town for lunch. Afternoon enjoy the old town and maybe visit the street cafe, which serves the local beer.

Day 05, Dali/Gyelthang...  Drive from Dali to Gyelthang (Zhongdian in Chinese) - the native place of "Shangri-La".3 nights at the Diqing Hotel.

Day 06, Gyelthang ... Day excursion to Bitahai Lake. Visit the sacred hill of Ringha where Tibetans come to free animals slated for slaughter to accrue good karma and leave behind illness or unhappiness. Also visit villages and an old Ningma Monastery.

Day 07, Gyelthang ... Morning visit Sunsanling Monastery, the Tibetan Museum and Khena Village. Afternoon see the scree slopes of Napha reserve which is famous for the blue poppy and Yunnan's rare herbs and flowers.

Day 08, Gyelthang/Lijiang ... Drive Gyelthang to Lijiang with a side trip to Tiger Leaping

Day 09. Lijiang ... Visit Yufeng Monastery, Baisha Murals and back to the old town for lunch. Afternoon visit Black Dragon Pool Park, Dongba Script (Museum of Naxi Culture), and explore the old town of Dayan. Evening attend a performance of the Naxi orchestra.

Day 10. Lijiang/Kunming... Morning flight Lijiang/Kunming, then continue to your next destination.

Hotels as listed               Half Twin        Single

                                             1,655             1,925

Tour cost in USD. Chinese visa is not included. Flights within China are included but arrival and departure flights are not included.

 LONGSHENG AND SANJIANG (Minority villages outside Guilin), 
3 Days and 2 nights

Day 1, Guilin .... Drive today (5 hours) through the incredible karst hills of the Guilin area to the minority villages of Longsheng and Sanjiang. China's tribal people have managed to preserve many of their unique customs because they live in remote regions. There is a hot spring at Sanjiang. Overnight at the very basic Chengyangqiao Guest House. (B,L,D)

Day 2 .... Return to Guilin and check into the Sheraton Hotel with a river view. (B,L).

Day 3 .... Visit the Reed Flute Cave. Afternoon sightseeing to a Children's Palace where gifted children are given extensive training in the arts and music (as available) or visit a commune in the country. Transfer to the airport for your flight to next destination (flight cost not included!

  Hotels as listed                             Half-twin          Single
                                                  $$                                                                                                                                                                                                        550                 718
Tour cost in USD.
Flight to and from Guilin is not included. Chinese visa is not included