8 Days Best Yunnan Muslim Tour to Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri La
Tour Overview
Yunnan Classic Tour usually includes these four hot destinations, including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la. It is also a tour focused on minority cultures, because you will encounter different ethnic...
Length of Travel: 9 Day
Destinations of Tour: Kunming-Dali-Weishan-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-la
Departure City: Kunming
Price of Tour: Request
Type of Tour:
Features of Tour: muslim culture tours Nature scenery Wonders of yunnan tours
Yunnan Classic Tour usually includes these four hot destinations, including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la. It is also a tour focused on minority cultures, because you will encounter different ethnic groups, the minorities are mainly Yi, Bai, Naxi and Tibetan ethnic groups. On route, Along the way, you will also explore Muslim culture. This tour is specially designed for those who wish to visit Yunnan’s classic attractions and those interested in Muslim culture.
Highlights:
- Visit the highlights of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La.
- Step into ethnic villages to meet colorful and mysterious ethnic cultures.
- Hiking along the Tiger Leaping Gorge to feel the grotesque and raging rapids of the magnificent gorge.
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Kunming Arrival
- Day 2: Kunming
- Day 3: Kunming-Dali
- Day 4: Dali-Lijiang
- Day 5: Lijiang
- Day 6: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangri-La
- Day 7: Shangri-La- Kunming
- Day 8: Kunming
Google Map
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch
Upon arrival at the Kunming airport/train station, your local tour guide and driver will meet you in the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel. You’ll begin your journey to the diverse and captivating land from the capital city, Kunming.
Day 2 Kunming-Stone Forest-Dali by Speed Train
Sightseeing and Activities: the Stone Forest, Kunming Mosque, Kunming City Center
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, drive 86 km to the renowned Stone Forest, the “First Wonder of the World.” You’ll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations. The Stone Forest is located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, about 120 kilometers from Kunming, requiring a three-hour drive. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots.
After the tour, drive back to Kunming and visit the Kunming Mosque and the Kunming City Center in the downtown area.
Day 3 Kunming-Dali High Speed Train
Sightseeing and Activities:Dali Santorini, Erhai Ecological Corridor, Dali Old Town, Foreigner’s Street, Ancient City Wall
Accommodation:Dali
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch
Get up in the early morning. Transfer to train station. Take a high speed train from Kunming to Dali.Arrive at Dali train station. Meet your local guide in Dali. Then visit Dali Santorini, also known as Ideal Town Resort, is located on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake. Inspired by the Greek island of Santorini, it is often called the “Santorini of China.” Built on a hillside facing the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, the town features white-washed buildings, blue-domed churches, and terraced layouts that blend modern art with Bai ethnic culture, creating a romantic and exotic atmosphere. Popular photo spots include infinity pools, seaside viewing platforms, and cactus gardens, making it ideal for photography, travel shoots, and vacations. The town is home to several high-end boutique hotels and guesthouses offering private and comfortable accommodations. About a 30-minute drive from Dali Ancient Town, it is a perfect destination for couples, photographers, and holidaymakers.Then, strolling along the Erhai Ecological Corridor is like stepping into a beautiful painting. The azure sky and the clear Erhai Lake reflect each other, and as the breeze blows, ripples spread across the lake. The banks are shaded by green trees and adorned with blooming flowers, with the air filled with the fresh fragrance of flowers. Occasionally, egrets skim across the water, and in the distance the, Cangshan Mountains stand like a dark blue screen. The scenery is poetic and picturesque, making one feel refreshed and reluctant to leave.
In the late afternoon, take a walk in Dali Old Town. Visit Foreigner’s Street and ancient city wall.
Day 4 Dali-Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Dali Mosque, Zhoucheng Village, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch
In the morning, head for Dali Mosque has a long history, dating back to the Yuan Dynasty, and is an important religious site for local Muslims. The West Gate Mosque, built in 1278, blends Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural styles and houses a stone mill from the Qing Dynasty. The South Gate Mosque, also from the Yuan Dynasty, has been rebuilt several times. Its architecture is typically Chinese in style, and it once served as a school, highlighting its dual role in religion and education.
Transfer to visit Zhoucheng Village and the Bai people’s Tie-dying cloth workshop where you can take some special souvenir with the Bai ethnic style.
After lunch, drive to Lijiang. You will be relaxed around Lijiang Old Town, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province. Located on the plateau which is 2,400 meters above the sea level and embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, vast fertile fields in the southeast and crystal clear water running through, the old town looks like a big jade ink slab, therefore got the alias the Town of Big Ink Slab (Dayanzhen).
Day 5 Lijiang
Sightseeing and Activities: Ganhaizi, Spruce Meadow, Baishui River, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Impression Lijiang Show, Baisha Old Town
Accommodation: Lijiang
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Enjoy the sunrise over Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning. Drive about 30 km to Ganhaizi Meadow (3,100 meters). Take the sightseeing bus for a short visit through Baishuihe River in Blue Moon Valley, then take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cable car will operate based on mountain conditions. You will then hike for about an hour through the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3,200 meters).
After lunch, enjoy the Impression Lijiang Show, a spectacular outdoor performance set against the backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, directed by the famous Zhang Yimou. The show is a magnificent outdoor singing and dancing performance demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the local ethnic groups. It’s staged innovatively at an altitude of 3,100 meters with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as the breathtaking backdrop.
Stroll through Baisha Old Town, an enchanting traditional Naxi-style old town.
Day 6 Lijiang-100KM-Tiger Leaping Gorge-100KM-Shangri-La
Sightseeing and Activities:the First Bend of Yangtze River, Iron Chain Bridge, Red Army’s Long March Memorial Monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dukezong Ancient Town, Guishan Hill
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch
Setting off from Lijiang, we travel along the winding mountain roads, with picturesque scenery all the way. Upon arriving at the first view platform of the Yangtze River, we are greeted by the magnificent river meandering through the mountains, forming a unique “Ω”-shaped bend. The sunlight shimmers on the water, creating a sparkling effect, while the towering mountains on both sides are awe-inspiring. Here, we press the shutter to capture this breathtaking natural wonder, feeling the marvel of nature’s craftsmanship and as if time has slowed down.
Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.
Then you will enter the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scattered in the valleys. Walk around Dukezong Ancient Town, an important town of the Ancient Tea-horse Trade Caravan from Yunnan to Tibet and India. Walk up to the top of Guishan Hill or Tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of shangrila county and Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 7 Shangri-La- Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities: Tibetan Family, Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park,Local Market
Accommodation:Shangri-La
Meals:Breakfast and Lunch
Today’s itinerary is packed with natural beauty and cultural richness.
In the morning, we will visit Pudacuo National Park. As we enter the park, we are greeted by the fresh, crisp air and the vibrant colors of the natural landscape. The park is a haven for biodiversity, with lush forests, pristine lakes, and meadows filled with wildflowers. We will walk along the well-maintained trails, enjoying the serene environment and the gentle sounds of nature. Highlights include the picturesque Shudu Lake, where the clear waters reflect the surrounding mountains, and the Bita Lake, known for its crystal-clear waters and the unique wooden plank road that takes us across the lake. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, and we might catch a glimpse of some rare species.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Local Market, the Dukezong Huaxiang Fengwu Market is a highland cultural tourism bazaar that combines authentic local cuisine, specialty products, and intangible cultural heritage experiences. The market offers a wide variety of Tibetan snacks, such as butter tea, tsampa, and yak jerky, satisfying visitors’ taste buds. Numerous handicraft stalls showcase traditional crafts like Tibetan silver jewelry, thangka paintings, and Tibetan incense, allowing visitors to experience the unique charm of Tibetan culture up close.
After the visit, we returned to Kunming.
Day 8 Departure from Kunming
Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Kunming
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast
After breakfast, we will head to Kunming New Luosiwan International Trade City is the largest modern wholesale market in Southwest China, covering an area of approximately 12 square kilometers. It houses over 35,000 vendors and attracts around 200,000 visitors daily. The market offers a wide variety of goods, including clothing, general merchandise, furniture, electronics, toys, and accessories, spanning more than 50 categories with 1.7 million products to meet diverse consumer needs. With affordable prices and trendy styles, it is a paradise for bargain hunters, retailers, and shoppers. The trade city also features multiple themed shopping zones, a clean environment, and comprehensive facilities, providing a one-stop shopping experience. Whether for wholesale or retail, New Luosiwan is one of the most attractive shopping destinations in Kunming.
Finishing the visit, our tour guide and driver will take you to Kunming International airport and then departure.
Recommended Hotels
Destination | 5 Star | 4 Star | 3 Star |
---|---|---|---|
Kunming | Softel Hotel | Wenhui Hotel | Kyrid Hotel |
Dali | The One Resort Dali | Manxin Dali Old Town Hotel | Lavande Hotel (Dali Ancient City) |
Lijiang | Pullman Lijiang Resort & Spa | Lijiang Golden Path Hospitality Hotel | No.1 Courtyard Hotel |
Shangri-La | Tanshan Hotel | The 5th Meteorite Grace Hotel | E-Outfitting 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;
- High speed train tickets from Kunming to Dali (2nd class seats).
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.