13 Days Yunnan GaoliGongshan Mountain Birding Tour

Journey with us into deep lush forests, an area so remote that it still remains largely undiscovered by the discerning birder, as we journey into these rich sub-tropical forests and marvel at the spectacle of swathes of orchids clinging on to their host climber. We watch as sunbirds dart from orchid to orchid sipping the sweet nectar and then on to rhodedendrums with flocks of at least a dozen species of other birds in a accopanying symphony of sound and dazzling color. With billowing clouds shrouding the verdant forest and waking up in a tent to a cacophony of birdsong in this area, is a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.

Highlights:

  • Have a memorable bird watching experience in Yunnan.
  • Enjoy the stunning scenery along the way.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Kunming Arrival
  • Day 2: Kunming-Zhixishan
  • Day 3: Zhixishan
  • Day 4: Zhixishan – Dali
  • Day 5: Dali
  • Day 6: Dali – Bawan
  • Day 7: Bawan-Gaoligongshan
  • Day 8: Gaoligongshan
  • Day 9: Gaoligongshan
  • Day 10: Gaoligongshan – Bawan
  • Day 11: Bawan – Tengchong
  • Day 12: Tengchong
  • Day 13: Tengchong Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: None

Upon your arrival at the airport, meet your local tour guide and driver and then transfer to your hotel for rest. If time permits, explore the city on your own. 

Day 2 Kunming-Zixishan

Sightseeing and Activities:Qiong Zhu temple, Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning birding in Kunming around Qiong Zhu temple. After lunch, drive to Zixi Shan reserve.

Day 3 Zixi Shan Reserve

Sightseeing and Activities:Zixi Shan reserve
Accommodation: Zixishan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A whole day birding in Zixi Shan reserve, a good place for Giant Nuthatch,Tree crepper, Ms Hume`s Pheasants.

Day 4 ZixiShan-Dali

Sightseeing and Activities: ZixiShan
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After morning birding in ZixiShan, drive to Dali in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali ancient town.

Day 5 Dali

Sightseeing and Activities:Mt. Cangshan, Lady Amhersts, Dali Ancient City
Accommodation: Dali
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Bird watching in Mt. Cangshan in the morning, a good opportunity to see Lady Amhersts, fire-tailored sunbirds and blood pheasant at 3100M elevation. Birdwatching in the farmland in the afternoon. Overnight at Dali Ancient City.

Day 6 Dali-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities: Cangshan, birding
Accommodation: Baoshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bird watching in Cangshan, drive to Bawan in Baoshan city. Evening bird watching for tropic birds along the Nujiang river in the valley and farmland. Overnight in Bawan.

Day 7 Bawan-Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning bird watching, drive to Baihualin in Gaoligongshan. Birding on the way, and overnight in Baihualing.

Day 8 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 9 Gaoligongshan

Sightseeing and Activities: birding 
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Birdwatching in Gaoligongshan.

Day 10 Gaoligongshan-Bawan

Sightseeing and Activities:Bawan
Accommodation: Gaoligongshan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After morning birding in Baihualing, drive back to Bawan. Birding on the way.

Day 11 Bawan-Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: birding
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Tengchong. On the way, make several stops for some easy roadside birding. 

Day 12 Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities: Laifengshan Forest Park, Yunfengshan
Accommodation: Tengchong
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, birding at Laifengshan Forest Park. After breakfast, drive about 50 km to Yunfengshan, a Taoist Mountain and important habitats for some mid-altitude birds. Climb to a Taoist Monastery on the top of the mountain.

Day 13 Depature from Tengchong

Sightseeing and Activities:Depature from Tengchong
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Tengchong. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

City 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostel
Kunming Crowne Plaza Hotel Wenhui Hotel Camellia Hotel T&T Story Hotel
Zixishan / / / Local Guesthouse
Dali Hilton Dali Resort And Spa Landscape Hotel Taiheju Hotel Dali Fengxue Gucheng
Gaoligongshan / / Local Guesthouse  
Bawan / / Local Guesthouse  
Tengchong Guanfang Hotel Tengchong Empark Grand Hotel Tengchong Dongfang Xuanyi Holiday Hotel  

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide;
  • Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  • Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
  • Domestic train tickets of soft sleeper.

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel accident insurance;
  • All optional programs.

Travel Tips:

  • The economy-class airfare of China flights as specified in the itinerary.
  • The hotel/cruise accommodation is based on two persons sharing one standard twin room/cabin with private facilities in all relevant locations. If a single client requests a twin room/cabin alone, the single room/cabin supplement will be charged. 
  • For the land tour in each city, daily American breakfast is served in the hotel, and Chinese lunch and/or dinner will be served with two cups of soft drink outside the hotel. All meal arrangements are served as the itinerary specifies.
  • On the cruise daily American breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. The beverage arrangements are subject to policies.