As home to 26 officially recognized ethnic minority groups, Yunnan is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and diverse ethnic cultures. So where should you start your trip in Yunnan? How many days are needed to explore Yunnan's top attractions? This article will help you plan a great itinerary in Yunnan.
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How Many Days to Spend in Yunnan
The following are popular tourist destinations in Yunnan with suggested travel durations:
- Kunming (best gateway city): 1–2 days
- Dali (ancient towns and Erhai): 2–4 days
- Lijiang (snow mountains and old towns): 2–3 days
- Shangri-La (plateau scenery and Tibetan culture): 2–4 days
Therefore, for a first-timer to Yunnan, it's recommended to spend at least 7 days there to cover the highlights, including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La's essences.
If you want to look for more destinations, here are some suggestions for you:
- Xishuangbanna: 2–3 days (for tropical scenery)
- Yuanyang: 1–2 days (for rice terraces)
- Tengchong: 2–3 days (for volcanic landforms and hot springs)
- Jianshui: 1–2 days (for ancient architecture)
- Nujiang: 2–3 days (for canyons and ancient villages)
Ultimately, the ideal duration of your stay in Yunnan would depend on your interests, budget, and schedule.
All of our tours can be adjusted or customized based on your group size, length of stay, travel time, and other requirements. Feel free to contact us.
5–6 Days in Yunnan
With 5 or 6 days in Yunnan, we recommend visiting two or three cities.
Option 1: Recommended for First-Timers
If you are visiting Yunnan for the first time and want to see as much as possible, we recommend visiting Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang:
- Day 1: Kunming arrival
- Day 2: Visit the Stone Forest and transfer to Dali
- Day 3: Dali sightseeing (Dali Old Town, Erhai, and Bai villages)
- Day 4: Transfer to Lijiang and visit Lijiang Ancient Town
- Day 5: Lijiang sightseeing (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and a Naxi culture experience)
- Day 6: Departure
This 6-day itinerary could let you visit three of the four most popular cities in Yunnan (if you want to include Shangri-La, you could refer to the suggestions below for 7–8 days).
This itinerary is well-paced without feeling rushed. You wouldn't miss out on the most classic attractions. You would take a leisurely bike ride alongside Erhai to enjoy the wind and flowery meadows.
Take a cable car ride to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to see the snow and meadows. Also, take a stroll in the ancient towns to explore markets and shops and taste some local food.
At the same time, you would also immerse yourself in some cultural experiences to help you get to know Yunnan better, such as trying Bai tie-dyeing, learning some Naxi characters, and enjoying a piece of old Naxi music by visiting a shaman's house.
Option 2: Recommended for Hiking Lovers
If you want a slower pace or a deeper exploration, then we recommend visiting two cities, such as Lijiang and Shangri-La.
- Day 1: Lijiang arrival
- Day 2: One-day hiking tour of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Day 3: Transfer to Shangri-La with a stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge and a 2-hour hike across an alpine meadow
- Days 4–5: Shangri-La exploration (Songzanlin Monastery, Napa Lake, and a Nixi Tibetan village)
- Day 6: Departure
In this itinerary, you would have the chance to see awesome landscapes on a hiking trip and learn about old and mysterious cultures.
In Lijiang, besides the ancient towns, your guide would arrange a hike of about 12.5 km (8 miles) through the mountainside bushes, where you would wade across a little stream and enjoy exclusive views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain that only hikers could see.
On the way to Shangri-La, you would journey through Tiger Leaping Gorge and discover the best-kept secret of Haba Snow Mountain, where you would take a 2-hour hike across an alpine meadow, which offers exclusive views of Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
If you are interested in ethnic life, then visit a Nixi Tibetan village and a Tibetan family's house in Shangri-La. Sit and chat with the host and enjoy some traditional Tibetan snacks.
Yunnan Itinerary in 7–8 Days
Seven to 8 days is the ideal duration for a trip to Yunnan, especially if you don't want to miss out on the four classic destinations: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La.
An 8-Day Classic Yunnan Highlights Tour (Most Chosen)
- Days 1–2: Kunming (Naigu Stone Forest, Yuantong Temple, and Green Lake Park)
- Day 3: Dali (Erhai cycling, Xizhou Village, and Dali Old Town)
- Days 4–5: Lijiang (Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain)
- Days 6–7: Shangri-La (Tiger Leaping Gorge, Songzanlin Lamasery, and Pudacuo National Park)
- Day 8: Departure
In this 8-day itinerary, you would see the iconic limestone "forest" formations, one of the world's deepest canyons, UNESCO-listed ancient towns, beautiful snowy mountains, and colorful minority cultures.
With the help of your guide, you would also get some real interaction with the local cultures and people. In Shangri-La's Songzanlin Lamasery, you would be able to talk with lamas in their study room to learn more about their lifestyle, religious beliefs, and disciplines.
7-Day Yunnan Tour for Teenager School Groups
For this 7-day itinerary, we have selected three cities that offer a blend of rich experiential activities and iconic scenic landmarks: Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La.
- Days 1–2: Dali (a bike riding experience and tie-dyeing)
- Day 3: Transfer to Lijiang and Shaxi Ancient Town
- Day 4: Lijiang (Yuhu Village and Naxi family visits)
- Day 5: Transfer to Shangri-La and Tiger Leaping Gorge
- Day 6: Shangri-La (Songzanlin Monastery and a thangka painting experience)
- Day 7: Departure
Throughout the trip, considering the potential for a larger number of students and to ensure ease of management and flexibility for the leaders, we suggest private car transportation for all transfers (we could arrange that for you).
Yunnan is an ideal destination for school trips, especially during the summer, as it offers a cool respite from the heat along with numerous opportunities for outdoor adventures and cultural experiences.
Children could cycle along the shores of Er Lake while enjoying the distant view of Cang Mountain and hike in Shaxi Ancient Town to learn about its historical architecture and the history of the Tea Horse Road.
A hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest canyons, offers the chance to witness the roaring river and feel the power of nature.
Additionally, cultural experiences should be included to immerse the children in local life, such as trying the Bai ethnic group's tie-dyeing process, visiting the former residence of American explorer Joseph Rock to understand his connection to Yunnan, and experiencing a Tibetan blessing ceremony in Shangri-La, where they could also create a thangka painting as a keepsake.
See more on our 7-Day Yunnan Tour for Teenager School Groups
Yunnan Itinerary in 9 Days
If you have 9 days in Yunnan, we recommend allocating more time to Kunming. Often overlooked as merely a transportation hub, most itineraries in Kunming only allow for a quick visit to the Stone Forest before heading to other cities.
Kunming, known as the Spring City, has much more to offer, especially during its blooming season from March to April.
- Days 1–2: Kunming (the Stone Forest and cherry blossoms on Yiliang Mountain)
- Day 3: Kunming to Lijiang (admire crabapple blossoms at Puji Temple)
- Day 4: Lijiang (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and peach blossom fields at Lashihai)
- Day 5: Lijiang to Shangri-La (Tiger Leaping Gorge)
- Day 6: Shangri-La sightseeing and then to Dali
- Day 7: Dali (Dali Old Town, Xizhou Town, and make flower cakes)
- Day 8: Dali to Kunming for sightseeing (Daguan Pavilion and Nanping Pedestrian Street)
- Day 9: Departure
The highlight of this itinerary is the opportunity to experience the vibrant colors of Yunnan, making it particularly suitable for nature lovers.
The best time to undertake this journey is during spring (March to April).
In addition to the must-see landmarks, the itinerary includes several flower-viewing spots that are perfect for the season.
In spring, Kunming is at its most beautiful, with the city awash in blue jacaranda blooms. Yiliang Mountain is covered in cherry blossoms.
Daguan Park features a stunning display of cherry, peach, and magnolia blossoms, creating a kaleidoscope of colors from the top of Daguan Pavilion.
The ancient towns of Lijiang and Dali are also more vibrant, with flowers blooming along their streets. Don't miss the enchanting peach blossom fields near Lashi Lake and the vast canola flower fields in Xizhou, Dali.
It's also the season for roses, so you could visit a local farm to pick fresh roses and learn how to make flower cakes.
10+ Days in Yunnan
If you have 10+ days (11, 12, 13 days, etc.), we recommend combining Yunnan with nearby cities for more diverse experiences.
The following are popular destinations to combine with Yunnan.
If you could adapt well to altitude sickness and are interested in Tibetan culture, Tibet is undoubtedly the best choice.
For those who particularly enjoy scenic views and road trips, we recommend Chengdu, driving through Xinduqiao and Daocheng to reach Shangri-La, and then continuing your journey in Yunnan.
If you are concerned about acclimatizing to high altitudes but still love natural landscapes, Zhangjiajie would be a great choice.
For those who prefer urban cultural experiences and culinary delights, consider visiting Chongqing or Chengdu.
For a trip combined with Yunnan, we suggest 12 to 14 days with 6 to 7 days in Yunnan and 6 to 7 days in another destination. Here are some popular itineraries for reference:
- 12-Day Yunnan and Xinjiang Scenic Tour
- 12-Day Yunnan and Eastern Tibet Tour
- 12-Day Best Yunnan and Zhangjiajie Tour
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Fascinating Lijiang
We had a great time in Lijiang and around. Our guide Alice was very enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable as well. Wonderful two days organised by China Highlights. more
Oct 2024, B.Feldman
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Experience Wonderful Yunnan
Much appreciation goes to our guides- the energetic Lina in Kunming; the experienced Frank in Dali; the knowledgeable Peter in Lijiang; and the earnest Sonam in Shangri-la! All ensured a smooth journey, and were enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the history, culture and customs of the various places. more
Sep 2024, Chewie T
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Jade Dragon Adventure.
Visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is a great experience but also come with a little risk of altitude sickness. Our guide Alice has taken good care of us for the whole journey. Truly a memorable trip! more
Sep 2024, Dax S
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