15 Days Laos and Yunnan (China) Golf Tour from Vientiane to Lijiang

Vientiane also spelled Viangchan, largest city and capital of Laos, situated on a plain just northeast of the Mekong River. The city’s central river port location in a country relying heavily on its rivers for transportation and its surrounding hinterland of intensive rice cultivation have made Vientiane the major economic center of Laos.

Upon arrival at Vientiane airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check in.

After short rest, we drive approximately 35km to visit one of Laos’ slightly stranger attractions - Xieng Khuan Buddha Park or Buddha Park. It was Built in 1958 on the banks of the Mekong River This is the site of a large collection of many kinds of Buddhist and Hindu Sculptures then our guide and driver will take you a walk out to the night market to do shopping and enjoying testing street food, back to hotel for the night.

Overnight in Vientiane

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be meet with guide and driver to drive you to Mekong Golf Club Vientiane, Mekong Golf Club, former Lao Inter Golf Club, opened in 2012 located about 12 kilometers, as the crow flies, northwest of the Wattay Airport in Vientiane, adjacent to the Tadmoon Waterfall. It is maturing nicely and it is a pleasant playing experience with some wide fairways and few water hazards to worry about, you will spend whole day with the Golfing Lunch.

In the afternoon, we will visit the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to Lao’s national precious heritage, the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop enroute to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.

Overnight in Vientiane

At around 08:30 or 09.00am, we leave this wonderful town after breakfast for our journey northbound to Vang Vieng on route No. 13. We will see some breathtaking scenery enroute as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. Vang Vieng is a riverside town in Central Laos. The town hosts been known as a get-together destination for quite a long time, and whilst regardless these remaining parts more open air situated exercises are currently accessible, for example, mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, giving in, swimming and shake climbing.

Upon arrival at Vang Vieng, we cross the Nam Song River to Tham Jang caves and today ends with a superb panorama of the sunset reflecting over the Nam Song River with long tail boat ride.

Enjoy your lunch at local restaurant;

Then transfer to your hotel for check-in. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Dinner is on your own.

In the early morning, we drive to take the Balloon Flying over the Vang Vieng City.

After breakfast at your hotel, we start our board on a local tractor through paddy field areas heading to Tham Phoukham Caves, where your breath will be taken away seeing the most beautiful and famous limestone cavern, surrounded by natural forests.

Along the way, you have chance to explore the local cultures by greeting the local villagers and learning about their daily lifestyle. There is a small natural pool in front of the caves where you can take a swim to refresh yourself from the hot climate or you could explore the nearby area.

Take the speed train to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon (C84 VV-Lpb 16:11/17:10pm).

Stay in Lunag Prabang

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be meet with guide and driver to drive you to Luang Prabang Golf Club sits about 6 km west from the center of town, situated along the south bank of the Mekong River surrounded by forested tropical mountains. Holes 14 through 17 parallel the riverbank with the par three 17th playing right along the river’s edge. Water is evident on nine of the 18 holes but really only comes into play on holes 3, 5, 7, and 14. The par four 18th hole plays uphill 35’ over 375 yards from the tips to a medium-sized green that slopes 7’ right to left across 75 feet of putting surface. The greens in general tend to be medium to small. Elevation changes across the entire layout are mild with hole 18 being the only exception and walking is not difficult, consisting of level to gently undulating terrain contours. you will spend whole day with the Golfing lunch.

In the afternoon, you will be met with guide and driver for transfer to hotel for check in, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent today visit The National Museum (closed Thursdays) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artefacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating back from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. The National Museum and the Central Market are not to be missed.

This early evening at 17.30pm, you will be transfer to local house to do Baci ceremony are an integral part of Lao culture. Held to celebrate a special event, whether a marriage, a homecoming, or a departure, it is based on an ancient belief that the human being is a union of 32 organs and the kwan (or soul) watches over each of them. Since kwan is often the attributed cause of an illness or bad fortune, the Baci ceremony calls the kwan from wherever it may be roaming back to the body and re-establishes equilibrium. The Mohkwan is a village elder who chant and call the kwan.

At the end of the ceremony, the village elders wrap a white cotton thread around your wrist while chanting an invocation to strengthen the power of the blessings. In Laos, white is the color of peace, good fortune, honesty and warmth. The ceremony is set up at a 115-year-old rustic house on a lotus pond. Enjoy traditional music and dance after the ceremony.

Dinner is on your own account – then transfer back to hotel for the night

Overnight in Luang Pranang

At around 08:30am, we countinue drive to Ban Muang Khai (Luang Prabang Elephant Camp), to enjoy feeding Elephant with riding on its back for 30 – 40mintes (each Elephant can carry only 2papx in one time) Ban Long Lao Hmong village and start trekking with the villagers. Your guide will explain to you the common use of the plants for the Hmong people.  Can experience the garden work and cut some vegetables and herbs with the local people. Then to Kuang Si Waterfall, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the beautiful multi-tiered falls. You also have the opportunity to cool off in the turquoise blue pools. Then return to Luang Prabang in time to catch the sun setting over the Mekong on the top Mount PhouSi Hill.

In the afternoon, we then continue visit the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low representing the classical architecture of Luang Prabang including the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset.

From there, we visit the Luang Prabang Night Market, where you can browse a lovely selection of handmade textiles, made by the local people and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Back to hotel, free and overnight.

Overnight in Luang Pranang

Optional for early riser at 5:30:

Early morning, enjoy Giving Alm Bowl to the monks on the street for making a merit. The Buddhist monks carry for their collection of food as they walk around the village near by only one time a day, early morning. It's a belief that in order to give people to gain merit before they will start their day life, normally people will have to go to Buddhist temple, but in this case it's to give people opportunity to do at home, it is not the way of begging as they never ask for any food and even wait for those who are late for giving alms in the morning. (With the Morning Alms Giving Ceremony, if you do not wish to make an offering, please keep an appropriate distance and observe the ritual in silence. Dress appropriately, shoulder, chest and legs should be covered.)

Then visit the Luang Prabang Morning Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, Mekhong fishes, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings and local delicacies. Return to hotel for breakfast.

After lunch, we will transfer to Na Teuy Train Station to catch EMU C82 to Bo Ten Laos – China borders.Cross the border to Mohan Town, continue the high speed train to Jinghong City.

Arrive in Jinghong at noon. You will pay a visit Manting Park in the city downtown.

Explore Gaozhuang Night Market at night. Located between the JinHong Golden Pagoda and Mekong River occupying a huge square with hundred stores and shops selling from fresh food, toy and handicrafts to exclusive tea sets made by famous artists. Even if you have a weak stomach and thin pocket (like me) there is still plenty to see and smell and absorb in the atmosphere by just strolling around.

Stay in Jinghong

Today we will enjoy a full day trip to Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Golf Club. Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Golf Club is surrounded on three sides by forests, and acres of tea accompanied by one side. The clubhouse, with an area of 3,000 square meters, shows fully Dai characteristics and a combination of traditional folk and modernization. It owns a U-shaped layout of the stadium and the middle of the courtyard was connected with the forest, which makes people feel the forest is an extension of the courtyard.

In Wild Elephant Golf Club, you can experience the most natural and healthy environment, see the changing shapes of fairways and greens, have a dialogue with designers, compete with rivals and fully enjoy the golf.

In the afternoon, we drive to Manzhang Village of Dai Ethnic Minority; we will learn how to make the Dai ethnic pottery and papers. Of course we can have an optional tour to Wild Elephant Valley to experience the tropical forest and elephants .

The old village of Manzhang (which means “elephant village”) in the city of Jinghong has a history of around 500 years. Villagers here have always taken great care of their old residences and its environment. In addition to preserving the outward beauty of the old village, local residents have also stayed true to their traditional culture and customs. Consequently Manzhang’s alleys and lanes are permeated with the aroma of glutinous rice wine mixed with mead that the private winery of each home emits. Dai traditional lifestyle and customs also feature bamboo weaving, slow-wheel pottery, Buddhist scriptures carved on palm leaves, papermaking, and Dai ethnic papercuts. Senior Dai women spend much time at their looms weaving geometric patterns in silk.

Transfer back to Jinghong in the late afternoon.

Stay in Jinghong

In the morning, drive along the Mekong to Ganlanba, a traditional Dai inhabitancy region, enjoy view along the river, in Ganlanaba, see a lively daily local market of Dai people first, then drive off main road into countryside to Dai Minority Garden to find out the life and culture facts of Dai people, the dominant ethnic group of the region, if like, enter their house built on stilts and have a chat with them.

Further move in the east to Menglun, where the biggest tropical botanical garden of China is situated,  Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden holds more than 3000 species, enjoy nice scenery in the garden and learn about some interesting plants, short walk in rainforest zone, the most natural part of garden is especially recommended, tourists seldom go there, very quiet and original, for simple knowledge about rainforest, the most bio-diversified vegetation type in the world.

Return Jinghong different way, mountainous but scenic, across the rainforest, if time permits, drop in village of Jinuo Mountain, the last ethnic group classified by Chinese government in 1979, with population of only 20 thousand, they uniquely belong to this region.

Welcome to Kunming, the Spring City of China! Upon arrival at the Kunming South Railway Station, the local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort for accommodation.

In this morning, enjoy fantastic time and play golf at the Mountain Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort (around 3~4 hours).

Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort is a premier integrated golf course in Kunming, located 48 kilometers east of Kunming city with about 1 hour’s driving. Reputed as one of the best golf courses in China, Spring City Golf & Lake Resort includes Mountain Course (designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest players and course designers of all time) and Lake Course. The 18-hole Mountain Course is set on high grounds overlooking the Yang Zonghai Lake, offering spectacular views of the picturesque lake and the verdant hills.

In this afternoon, your guide and driver will pick you up at golf course. Later, drive 50 km to the typical Karst landform - Stone Forest. As the “Essence of World Karst Landform”, Stone Forest has been listed as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage with the incomparable coverage of 12 square kilometers’ stone pinnacle groups. Take the sightseeing bus to visit the Greater Stone Forest Scenic Area to admire the typical concentrating cinerous stone pinnacles by walking through the maze of stone peaks and jumping high for the panorama of the forest of protruding stone peaks. Also, you will see the famous peak on many photos and even stones towering over 40 meters. Then, continue to ride the bus to explore the Lesser Stone Forest to closely look at the iconic stone “Ashima” like a young lady, listen to the touching love story of Ashima, and fill your eyes with the emerald garden-like park of wilder stone peaks surrounded by lush green plants and blossoms. Take the sightseeing bus to exit the scenic park.

Transfer back to Kunming in the late afternoon stay one mor night in Mountain Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort.

After breakfast, enjoy your memorable time and play golf at the Lake Course of Kunming Spring City Golf & Lake Resort (around 3~4 hours). The 18-hole Lake Course, set on the banks of Yang Zonghai Lake, is world-renowned for its narrow fairways, crisscrossing trenches, green terraces and breathtaking lake views. Enjoy amazing golf experience with your partners this morning.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Shilin Railway Station for the train to Dali (D3957 16:39-19:47).

If the time is not enough, we will drive back to Kunming South Railway Station for the train to Dali.

Meet your local tour guide and driver in Dali, transfer to the hotel in Dali Old Town.

After breakfast, drive to play golf at Dali Stone Mountain Golf Club. After the golf, you will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Temple, which is a typical historical symbol of Yunnan. It is also one of the oldest sublime architecture in South China.

At last, you will visit Dali Old City, a historically and culturally famous city of China, is renowned for her historical interest. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was the capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, the political, economic and cultural centre of Yunnan, an important gateway of cultural exchange and trading with southeastern Asian countries, and an important pass of the ancient “Silk Route of the South”. It has long enjoyed the reputation of “a land of letters”.

In the morning, you’ll travel in the Erhai Lake by boat and visit Jinsuo Island. Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi and one of the seven biggest fresh water lakes in China. It means, ‘sea shaped like an ear’, in Chinese. Implying that the lake is ear shaped and as large as a sea, hence it was so named. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometers and is located about two kilometers east of Dali.

After landing, you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style architecture, taste their fragrant three-course tea and explore their distinctive culture.

Then drive about 4 hours to Lijiang. You will be free in Lijiang Old Town. Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Here you will see the wonderful wooden architecture of Naxi ethnic people.

In the morning you’ll visit Ganhaizi Meadow, Baishui(White Water) River; take the chairlift to visit the Glacier Park of the Yulong Snow Mountain, which stretches a length of 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a width of 20 kilometers (13 miles). Looking from Lijiang Old Town in the south which is 15 kilometers (nine miles) away, the snow-covered and fog-enlaced mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence, the name Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

After the Spruce Meadow, you will play the golf at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, which is well-known as the highest golf course in Asia. Situated in Ganhaizi at the eastern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, this golf course was open to the public in October 2001.

Transfer back to Lijiang in the late afternoon. You will be free to explore Lijiang Old Town by your own.

You will be free to explore Lijiang Old Town.

Transfer to Lijiang Airport or Lijiang Railway Station for returning.

Service ends.