Epic China Tour Including Yunnan and Tibet

18 days
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Private Guided

As a vast country with varied landscapes, China is worth traveling to more than once. Unlike some popular cities in the first tier (Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai), which offer modern and historical attractions, southwest China offers you different insights into the magic of nature and diverse cultures. Towering mountains, deep ...

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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Enjoy an Awesome Panoramic View and Take Fabulous Photos from the Peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
    • Cycle around Erhai Lake to Revel in Mountain Breezes and Fresh Air
    • Tie-Dye Your Handkerchief or T-Shirt with the Help of a Local Artisan in Lijiang
    • Be Awe-Inspired by the Most Spectacular River Canyon - Tiger Leaping Gorge
    • Visit a Lama's Dormitory and Hang a Prayer Flag to Pray for Happiness at Songzanlin Lamasery
    • Immerse Yourself in Tibetan Buddhism Culture at the Potala Palace
    • Be Part of a Chinese Landscape Painting as You Cruise along the Li River
    • Trek across the Longji Rice Terraces to Celebrate Planting or Harvest
    • Learn to Make Local Cuisine - Bamboo Tube Sticky Rice - in a Villager's Hous

What's this trip about?

    As a vast country with varied landscapes, China is worth traveling to more than once. Unlike some popular cities in the first tier (Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai), which offer modern and historical attractions, southwest China offers you different insights into the magic of nature and diverse cultures. Towering mountains, deep gorges, lush valleys, and picturesque lakes are concentrated in Yunnan, Tibet, and Sichuan, where numerous ethnic minorities live.

    We highly recommend that you start your tour from a low/medium altitude before traveling to a high altitude. Visiting Kunming before going to Lhasa, you would give you time to acclimate to different environments. Check out our suggested itinerary below to be inspired with ideas that are great for a second China trip.

    Everyone has a unique picture of an ideal trip. Our itinerary can be redesigned to meet your interests and needs from the beginning to the end. We cannot wait to talk with you about your next China tour.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CityShanghai
End CityShanghai

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • History
  • Nature
  • Guided Group
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • River Cruise

Trip includes

    • Tibet Travel Permits
    • Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
    • English speaking local guide
    • Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
    • 24/7 helpline while you are traveling

Itinerary

Day 1 Shanghai | Shanghai Arrival

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the airport with the second most international flights to China. If you wish to land in Beijing, or any other city that is more convenient for you, feel free to adjust this with your travel adviser.

After landing in Shan...

Day 2 Shanghai | City Landmarks

Breakfast & Lunch Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city known for its modern skyline, rich history, and diverse culture. You would visit the most famous iconic scenic spots in Shanghai.

The Bund is a waterfront area along the Huangpu River — the large rive...

Day 3 Shanghai to Guilin | Reed Flute Cave

Breakfast & Lunch After a 3-hour flight from Shanghai to Guilin, you would travel to Reed Flute Cave in the afternoon.

Reed Flute Cave is 240 meters deep with a large number of colorful and exquisite stalagmites, stone pillars, and calcite flowers. It is kn...

Day 4 Guilin to Longsheng | Longji Terrace Fields

Breakfast & Lunch Longji means 'Dragon's Backbone' in Chinese. It aptly describes the landscape's appearance of stunning terraced rice fields that cascade down the slopes of the surrounding mountains.

Ping'an Village is inhabited by the Zhuang ethnic group,...

Day 5 Guilin to Yangshuo | Li River Cruise

Breakfast & Lunch As a scenic county of Guilin, Yangshuo has earned international fame. Most tourists choose to take a Li River cruise to travel from Guilin to Yangshuo instead of driving. The scenic beauty along the Li River, with towering karst peaks covered in ...

Day 6 Guilin to Kunming | Rural Village and Bullet Train

Breakfast & Lunch You would wake up in a rural village beside the Li River in the morning. Then, you would experience its authentic rural lifestyle by wandering around the village, shopping in a local market without a guide getting between you and the villagers, a...

Day 7 Kunming | The Stone Forest and Local Culinary

Breakfast & Lunch The Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a remarkable geological formation known for its unique and otherworldly landscape. Characterized by limestone pillars, stone peaks, caves, and labyrinthine pathways, the forest covers an area of ...

Day 8 Kunming to Dali | Dali Old Town and Erhai Lake

Breakfast & Lunch Dali Old Town is the historical heart of Dali and a must-visit area. You would explore its cobblestone streets, traditional Bai architecture, and ancient city walls. You could also visit the Three Pagodas, which offer panoramic views of the town ...

Day 9 Dali to Lijiang | Tie-dye and Lijiang Old Town

Breakfast & Lunch Learning how to tie-dye may be a highlight of your day. You would experience the main steps of making a handkerchief, including brush-painting, tying and twisting, soaking, dyeing fabric, rinsing, and rolling the fabric. You could take it home as...

Day 10 Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Breakfast & Lunch Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is known for its year-round snowcapped peak. It is a popular destination for trekking and photography. To save your energy and time, you would take a cable car ride to the peak to admire its spectacular scenic beauty.

Day 11 Lijiang to Shangri-La | Tiger Leaping Gorge

Breakfast & Lunch This is a transfer day to Shangri-La, named after the utopian paradise depicted in James Hilton's novel "Lost Horizon".

Tiger Leaping Gorge is located on the way from Lijiang to Shangri-La. It is one of the deepest and most dramatic river ...

Day 12 Shangri-La | Songzanlin Lamasery and Pudacuo Park

Breakfast & Lunch Songzanlin Lamasery is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Yunnan. It's an architectural marvel and a place of spiritual significance. With us, you would be allowed to hang a prayer flag on the mountain at the back of the lamasery ...

Day 13 Shangri-La to Lhasa | Flight to Lhasa

It's time to fly to Lhasa to experience the strongest Tibetan cultural atmosphere. With an altitude of over 3,500 meters (11,000 feet), landing in Lhasa may cause altitude sickness. Your tour guide would escort you to your hotel and leave time for you to overcome the effects of acclimatization.

Day 14 Lhasa | Norbulingka and Sera Monastery

Breakfast & Lunch During this day, you would go to the most famous and representative Tibetan Buddhist sites on your bucket list for photo ops.

Norbulingka served as the traditional summer residence of the Dalai Lamas, the spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddh...

Day 15 Lhasa | Potala Palace and Barkhor Street

Breakfast & Lunch The Potala Palace remains an enduring symbol of Tibetan culture. It continues to be a place of pilgrimage, cultural heritage, and architectural wonder. You could explore various parts of the palace, including the living quarters of the Dalai Lama...

Day 16 Lhasa to Chengdu | Flight to Chengdu

Chengdu is renowned for its panda base and spicy cuisine. After escorting you to your hotel in Chengdu in the late afternoon, your tour guide would recommend some places and restaurants for you to explore.

Day 17 Chengdu | Panda Base, Wide and Narrow Alley

Breakfast & Lunch If you love pandas, you should not miss the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see these adorable creatures up close. The base has made a significant contribution to giant pandas' conservation both in captivity and in the wild. You ...

Day 18 Chengdu to Shanghai | Farewell

You could choose to leave China from Shanghai or any other city that operates flights to your next destination. This is a suggestion for a tailor-made tour that is designed entirely based on your preferences.

We sincerely welcome you to explore still more of China in the future!

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,549
Price per day$253
Last Updated: 2/13/2025

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with China Highlights.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International travel expenses to enter or leave Asia.
    • Visa Fees
    • Excess Baggage Charges.
    • Personal Expenses
    • Meals: Any meals that are not specified in the tour itinerary.
    • Insurance
    • Single Room Supplement
    • Gratuities, Tips to Guides or Drivers

Accommodation

Requirements
Payment Deposit & Final payment A deposit which is equal to 10% of the total tour cost is required at the time of booking. The full or final payment is required 30 days before departure for your China tour. Should the tour booked within 30 days before departure for your China tour, full payment is required. Receipt of your deposit or final payment will indicate that you and your travel agent (when applicable) have read these Terms and Conditions, and that you (and your agent) have accepted them. The Terms and Conditions below form the basis of the contractual relationship between China Highlights International Travel Service Co., Ltd (Business Certificate Number: L-GX00724) and its clients. It is extremely important that our clients understand and accept these Terms and Conditions as well as their quotations, itineraries and other relevant communication from our travel advisors. Methods of Payment We are now able to offer 3 methods of Payment: Visa or Master Card secure online payment via PayPal. Visa or Master Card by email Wire transfer. Cash payment, travelers' check and company check is applicable upon special request, but personal checks cannot be accepted. or click here to enter the "Payment Center" page to know more. If we receive a fraud alert from our credit card processor, we'll require confirmation before your transaction can be processed. If the booking is too urgent to get all required confirmation in time, we have the right to cancel the booking and refund the card holder's account for our own and the card holder's protection. Disclaimer of Difference Caused by Exchange Rate (For clients who make payment by credit card only). China Highlights will draw Chinese currency (CNY) from your credit card. The Credit Card Company or Bank will convert this amount to the currency of your credit card account. China Highlights converts Chinese currency to US Dollars at a rate of CN721 = US$100 for our quotations, but must charge your credit card in CNY (Note: China Highlights will apply the latest exchange rate, which may differ from the one shown above.). Banks and credit card companies must then buy Chinese currency at their local rate to make the payment. The rate may be more or less than our rate. Banks and credit card companies may also make a service charge for the transaction. For these reasons what appears on your bank statement may be more (or even less) than what you were expecting. Click here for an illustration. Note: Before you pay, please check our exchange rate against your bank's exchange rate and your bank's transaction fee policy. China Highlights currently quotes tour prices in US Dollars on our web site to give you an idea of the tour cost and quote in CNY to you at the time when you are making bookings. 1. Should a revaluation of the Chinese Renminbi occur, China Highlights will honor all quotations for tours that have been fully paid at the time of the revaluation. 2. Customers who have not paid for their tour in full at the time of any revaluation will be required to pay the difference between the old and new price calculated in Renminbi. China Highlights will never charge more that our quotation that has been accepted by you, our client. Luggage AllowanceIn accordance with regulations of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the free baggage allowance within China is 20kg for the economy class, 30kg for the business class, and 40kg for the first class, plus limited carry-on luggage. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the client. Regulations within China specify that all suitcases must have a locking device attached. Failure to follow this regulation may result in refusal by airport staff to load suitcases onto the aircraft. Alteration of Itinerary Alterations to your itinerary before the booking are happily processed free of charge. Alterations after payment of the deposit will attract a fee of $25.00 per request. All expenses incurred by China Highlights in alteration of the booking are the responsibility of the customer. This includes all fees and charges levied by third parties such as cruise operators, airlines and hotels. Liability & ResponsibilityChina Highlights provides tour information and China tour bookings. China Highlights publishes travel information and services gathered from the selected quality hotels, air ticket agencies and tour companies & operators. Chinahighlights will not be responsible for errors, emissions or inaccuracies in information provided by third party providers. China Highlights shall not be responsible for any wrongful or negligent or fraudulent, omissions, changes of itinerary, cancellation or the failure of any equipment operated by those suppliers or any other party not directly owned or controlled by China Highlights. China Highlights shall not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage to person or property, alteration of itineraries or cancellation in part or in full, caused by climatic conditions, sea fire, breakdown of machinery or equipment, acts of government or other authorities, wars whether or not declared, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, terrorist activities, or any other actions, omissions or conditions beyond China Highlights's control. Neither China Highlights nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses of liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of any of the aforementioned causes China Highlights is not responsible for a client's failure to comply with customs regulations. China Highlights is not responsible for the theft or loss of any customer's valuables or items of personal property due to the negligence of the customer. China Highlights reserves the right to substitute hotels, flights, trains, or cruise ships, to alter itineraries, or to cancel the tour prior to departure. If China Highlights has cancelled any tour prior to the commencement of the tour, China Highlights is liable for a full refund of the money received from the client. Many of China Highlights tour packages include activities which require care and attention. Such activities include boarding and going ashore from boats, climbing hills and entering and exiting tombs and caves etc. You will receive help and advice from our representatives but all activities are undertaken at your own risk. China Highlights, its employees and agents cannot be responsible for any action or event that occurs after its said employees and agents have exercised their duty and taken the necessary care. China Highlights reserves the right to modify or rescind the terms and conditions in whole, or in part at any time with or without notice.Modification or Discontinuance of Service China Highlights reserves the right to modify or discontinue service to clients who behave illegally or objectionably toward its employees and agents. Offensive behavior includes behavior which is obscene, racially offensive or of a sexual nature. CommunicationsYou can contact China Highlights via the web form from www.chinahighlights.com, email, fax, or phone. If for any reason, you fail to receive any reply from China Highlights in regard of your tour status within 48 hours from the time you submitted the request for booking, modifying, or canceling a tour, please contact China Highlights customer service center at customercare@chinahighlights.com to ensure that we are able to deal with your enquiry under the terms of our Terms and Conditions. Contact Us Form Complaints and ClaimsShall you feel unsatisfied with any service China Highlights has provided, please notify your 7x24 hours available travel advisor or China Highlights Customer-care service to avoid the potential for similar problems happening again during your trip. Phone no. or WhatsApp: +86 18007839275 Email: customercare@chinahighlights.com  In the event of a complaint or claim for compensation, you must inform us by email, regular mail, or facsimile in writing within 15 days from the end of your tour. Relevant receipts and substantiating evidence must be attached to the letter of claim. China Highlights will not be liable for any claims made later than 15 days after the completion of your tour.,
Cancellation policy
Cancellation Refunds
We would deeply regret your decision to cancel your trip to China, however we realize that there are many valid reasons that this can happen.

In the event of a cancellation, you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure. The cancellation fee will be calculated as follows except specified by your travel advisor:

  • Cancellation received prior to 22 days before departure: 100 % refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 15 to 21 days before departure: 70% refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 8 to 14 days before departure: 50% refund of all monies paid.
  • Cancellation received from 0 to 7 days before departure: no refund.
  • No-show travelers will be charged 100% of the payment.
  • After the trip has commenced, no refund for unused services due to your unwillingness/inability to participate, early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.
Special Notes:

  • The terms for cancellation for tours of more than 10 people may vary from case to case. Please ask you travel advisor regarding the cancellation policy for a group of over 10 people.
Travel Insurance
China Highlights tour packages include Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance up to a maximum of $30,000 per adult provided free of charge as part of our package. We still highly recommend that you purchase full coverage travel insurance from you country of origin. Insurance provided by China Highlights is not applicable where only hotel or China flight booking are purchased through China Highlights.
Visa requirements
All clients must be in possession of a valid passport and necessary visas or permits at the commencement of travel. All such documentation is the sole responsibility of the client. Your travel advisor may assist you in applying for the necessary travel documentation upon request. China Highlights accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the failure of clients to obtain appropriate documentation.
Health & Safety
Clients should take into account all international travel risks and familiarize themselves with health requirements applicable to the areas they intend to visit. The client is solely responsible for checking the safety and security conditions, vaccination, and other health requirements of governments in countries visited or transited. Travelers to Tibet are required to provide a doctor's certificate stating that the he/she is fit to travel and his/her blood pressure and heart condition are normal. This is a necessary requirement because of the possible effects that the very high altitude may have on certain people.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Age Requirements
12 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
chinah-EpChToYuTi

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