How to Plan a Trip to Dali: Itinerary, Hotels, Transport (2025)

Dali is always on the top destinations list for a Yunnan tour. The famous Chinese TV drama Meet Yourself (去有风的地方) was filmed in Dali. People are attracted by its quiet and romantic vibe. In this article, you will learn about how to plan a trip to Dali through considering these aspects:

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What Are the Must-Sees?

"Wind, flowers, snow, and the moon" are Dali's romantic theme. This is also the best summary of Dali's scenery.

Here we have handpicked Dali's most popular five attractions suitable for all kinds of visitors.

• Some local cultural experiences are highly recommended to add into your trip plan, such as learning to make flower cakes and trying Bai tie-dyeing in a traditional Bai village at the foot of Cangshan.
• Fengyangyi Village is one of the main settings in the popular TV drama 去有风的地方. If you're interested, you could add it in your itinerary.

Also see Top Attractions to See in Dali to get some inspiration.

How Many Days for a Dali Trip

• 3-4 days (for essential highlights)
• 5-7 days (for deeper exploration)

Dali in 3-4 Days

• Day 1: Dali arrival + Dali Old Town
• Day 2: Cangshan Mountains exploration with tie-dyeing experience
• Day 3: Bike around Erhai Lake with flower cake making
• Day 4: Departure

On the day of touring Erhai Lake, if you prefer a more relaxed way of touring instead of cycling, or if you are not interested in making flower cakes, then you could consider driving instead.

We would arrange a car and a guide to drive you along the lake and stop at major attractions such as Xizhou Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, and Xiaoputuo Island. End the day with afternoon tea at a lakeside hotel while enjoying the stunning view of Cangshan Mountain across the water.

Our guests trying Bai tie-dyeing

Dali in 5-7 Days

If you have more time in Dali, we recommend exploring beyond the city to discover the old towns and villages on the Tea Horse Road and learning about the traditions and history of the Bai people.

• Take one day to explore Shibaoshan Buddhist caves and Jianchuan Old Town, to learn about Buddhist culture and see traditional architecture and temples.
• Spend one day discovering Shaxi Ancient Town, to feel a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere with a focus on rural life and teahouse culture. It is also one of the main settings in the popular TV drama Meet Yourself (去有风的地方).
• Take one day to visit Nuodeng Village, to see the traditional residential houses and learn about how local people produce salt and preserve ham. It is a less touristy place.

Our guests in Shaxi Ancient Town

Extending Your Dali Tour

To fully enjoy the landscape of Yunnan, you could extend your trip to Kunming, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. A week's journey is recommended.

• Day 1: Kunming arrival + free time
• Day 2: Stone Forest + Yuantong Temple
• Day 3: Transfer to Dali: Xizhou Town + Erhai
• Day 4: Transfer to Lijiang: Lijiang Old Town
• Day 5: Dragon Snow Mountain + Baisha Village
• Day 6: Transfer to Shangri-La: Tiger Leaping Gorge
• Day 7: Songzanlin Lamasery + Pudacuo National Park
• Day 8: Shangri-La departure

Best Times to Visit Dali

Dali in December

The best time to visit Dali is from March to October. Erhai Lake and the Cang Mountains are especially beautiful in March and April when the flowers are in full bloom, and many ethnic festivals are held in these months.

In addition to the aforementioned best times, mid-October to December is another period we recommend. Dali enjoys a relatively mild winter with warm sunshine, clear skies, and a quiet vibe. If you are planning a winter tour to Dali, you could check out our 7-Day Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang Winter Tour

Dali has a relatively temperate climate year-round, with no extremes in summer or in winter. So, no matter when you travel to Dali, you are likely to have a good experience weatherwise (or at least better than most of the rest of China).

Weather Tips:

• Sun protection is important because UV rays in Dali is strong.
• The daily temperature variation is great, especially after the rain. Layered clothing that can be easily carried is advisable.
• Rain mainly falls in July and August. It is likely to spoil views for periods of a few hours.

How to Get to Dali

Dali has an airport and a railway station that connect with other cities in China and Yunnan.

Several domestic cities have direct flights to Dali, such as Beijing (4 hours), Shanghai (4 hours), Guangzhou (3 hours), Chongqing (2 hours), Guiyang (2 hours), and Kunming (1 hour).

Driving and taking a bullet train are the two main ways to get to Dali from other cities in Yunnan.

From Kunming to Dali, it is recommended to take a bullet train which may take about 2 to 2½ hours.

From Lijiang to Dali, it is convenient to take a 2 to 2½ hours' bullet train. Or if you want to make your transfer more hassle-free, we would recommend a private transfer direct from your hotel in Lijiang to the hotel in Dali. The driving time is about the same as the time of the bullet train.

From Shangri-La to Dali, you could take a 4-hour bullet train. There are no direct flights between them. 

Where to Stay in Dali

Hotels in the four best places to stay in Dali with convenient locations, regional features, and good reviews are recommended here for your reference:

Dali Old Town — Most Popular Choice

Staying in Dali Old Town is the best choice for a lively atmosphere, entertainment, and nightlife.

• Luxury and special: Honglongjing Hotel, The One Resort
• Boutique: Wucaiyun Garden Hotel
• Economical: Dali Landscape Hotel

Erhai Lake — Scenic Accommodation

If you want to enjoy a superb lake-view room and quiet environment, you could choose to stay around Erhai Lake. But there will be less entertainment in the evening.

• Luxury and special: Hotel Indigo Dali Erhai
• Boutique & Economical: Manshan Yise Resort Hotel, Munwood Panorama Resort Hotel

Xizhou Town — Quiet Relaxation

If you prefer staying in a hotel with a traditional residential ambiance and enjoy immersing yourself in local culture, staying in Xizhou Town is recommended.

While the evenings in Xizhou may not be as lively as those in Dali Old Town, they are more vibrant than around Erhai Lake, with some small shops open at night. 

• Luxury and boutique: The Linden Commons, The Linden Centre

Shaxi Ancient Town — Stopover between Dali and Lijiang

• Boutique: Shaxi Landscape Hotel, Sunyata Shaxi Hotel, Landscape Garden Hotel

Check out Where to Stay in Dali — 7 Best Boutique Hotels for more details.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

First time in Dali First time visiting Dali and I had a great guide in Alice Liu. I learnt so much about Dali and the local Bai people's customs and culture from her. She is cheerful and always eager to share her knowledge. In addition, she took good care of my family during our time in Dali. more Sep 2024, Jeffrey L

Great experience in Yunnan China Highlights helped to arrange our trip and everything was smooth. Our tour guide Alice Liu in Dali was very knowledgeable about the local culture and history and made our trip memorable. Thanks for the great trip! more Sep 2024, Samuel L

Alice Dali is best tour guide in Dali Yunnan❣️ Alice Liu Dali is a fantastic tour guide. Alice has provided excellent service and has gone extra mile to meet our needs. She speaks fluent English and has a bubbly personality that makes our trips so much fun.Highly recommend Alice Dali and China Highlights. more Sep 2024, Princess A

Find Your Ideal Dali Tour Here

All our itineraries are customizable. If you have any ideas or requirements, contact us. We will create a trip for you based on your group size, time, interests, preferences, and other requirements.

See our popular Dali tours for inspiration:

• 4-Day Dali and Tea Horse Road Experience Tour — The Past Prosperity of Dali
• 6-Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Tour — Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang