9 Days Yunnan-Guizhou Karst Landform Tour and Ethnic Minorities Discovery

Yunnan and Guizhou both boasts wide-distributed Karst Landform and ethnic minorities. During this trip, you will enjoy the Karst Landform of Shilin, Xingyi, Bamei and Puzhehei, as well as explore the local ethnic minority such as Duoyi, Zhuang, Yi, Bai and Yao. Thic tour offers the integration of amazing karst landform and colorful ethnic culture.

Highlights:

  • Discover the mysterious and fantastic karst landform of Yunnan and Guizhou.
  • Visit ethnic villages and experience life styles of minorities.
  • Appreciate the charming landscape on the way.

Brief Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
  • Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Luoping
  • Day 3 Luoping-Xingyi
  • Day 4 Xingyi-Wanfenglin
  • Day 5 Wanfenglin-Bamei
  • Day 6 Bamei-Puzhehei
  • Day 7 Puzhehei
  • Day 8 Puzhehei-Mile-Kunming
  • Day 9 Departure from Kunming

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Arrive in Kunming
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Lunch

Arrive in Kunming. Airport-hotel transfer.

Day 2 Kunming-Shilin-Luoping

Sightseeing and Activities: Luoping
Accommodation: Luoping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Canola flowers in Luoping County, Qujing, Yunnan

After breakfast, meet the local English speaking guide and driver. Visit Luoping (about 4 hour ride), situated in the middle of 3 different Chinese provinces: Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi. Luoping is known for its karst landscape, characterized by small pools set among the hills, and for the production of rapeseed, which in spring (especially in mid-March), covers all the fields yellow flowers, for an area of over 17,000 hectares. It also represents a national resource for the breeding of bees and for processing of products derived from honey. Lunch at a local restaurant. After visit back to hotel and the dinner is not included. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3 Luoping-Xingyi

Sightseeing and Activities: Duoyi River, The village of Buyi minority, The Lubuge Three Little Gorges
Accommodation: Xingyi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today visit of Duoyi River, situated 40 km from the county of Luoping, where you can admire the splendid landscape with waterfalls, and the village of Buyi minority. Passing by the different villages you will see and take part in the everyday life of local people, women dedicated to the silk filature and the pottery production, the men working in the fields, and you can see the typical wooden. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue the visit of the Lubuge Three Little Gorges, whose name comes from the language of the ethnic minority, it means “a beautiful village.” The scenery can be compared to the famous Three Gorges of the Yangzi River. Afterwards, transfer by private bus to visit Xingyi (about 1.5 hours), a city located in the southwestern province of Guizhou, bordering Guangxi and Yunnan, as well as one of the most remote and less populated regions in China, where nearly the 90% of the province is covered with mountains and plateaus. Back to the hotel, dinner not included. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4 Xingyi-Wanfenglin

Sightseeing and Activities: The Ten Thousand Height Forest, Wanfeng Lake
Accommodation: Wanfenglin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Visit the Ten Thousand Height Forest, an amazing scenery in which you can find Wanfeng Lake, the fifth biggest freshwater lake in China. The forest represent an important part of the an important part of the geological national park of Xingyi, surrounded by river, fields and villages. 

Day 5 Wanfenglin-Longlin County-Xilin County-Bamei

Sightseeing and Activities: Bamei Village, Big Banyan Tree, Ake Village and Bada Village
Accommodation: Bamei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Bamei Village in Guangnan County, Wenshan

Drive to Bamei. After arrival, visit Bamei Village by passing through the caves. After landing, visit Bamei village and the Big Banyan Tree, enjoy the peaceful life of Zhuang ethnic people.  

The Bamei Village is located on the common boundary of Ake Village and Bada Village in the north of the Guangnan County,Wenshan. It belongs to the Karst topography. The Village is surrounded by green mountains, and through the Village runs all the year round a clear river which is called Tuoniang River. The most interesting thing about the village is that people have to go through a deep and sombrous water cave by boat whenever they want go in and out.When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, among a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It’s a picture of another lost Shangri-la.  Due to inconvenient location and hard transit, the village escaped attacks by outsiders and the influences of the modern world, staying as unadorned and as pure as they always were. A well-preserved environment and sub-tropical climate made the area a “Promised Land” for the inhabitants.

Day 6 Bamei-Babao-Puzhehei

Sightseeing and Activities: Bamei village, Bamei River, Sanla Waterfall
Accommodation: Puzhehei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, walk around in Bamei village and visit Bamei River. Take the boat to get out of the village from another cave. Drive to Babao village to enjoy the Sanla Waterfall. Transfer to Puzhehei and check in hotel.

Day 7 Puzhehei

Sightseeing and Activities: Puzhehei Scenic Resort, Qinglong Mountain, Torch Cave, Kwan-yin Cave, Local Ethnic Show
Accommodation: Puzhehei
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today visit the Puzhehei Scenic Resort,  take a small boat to visit the Karst landscape and rurality and lakes. If you come to Puzhehei on June, July and August, you will see large scale of lotus flowers on the lake. Then disembark at the Qinglongshan wharf and climb Qinglong Mountain to see the panorama of Puzhehei. After that, walk to visit the Torch Cave and Kwan-yin Cave. 

In the evening, you will watch a local show performed by ethnic minorities, such as Yi Minority, Bai Minority and Yao Minority. 

Day 8 Puzhehei-Mile-Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Mile hot spring, Green Lake Park
Accommodation: Kunming
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today drive to Mile and enjoy the most famous hot spring. Then drive back to Kunming and visit Green Lake Park.

Day 9 Departure from Kunming

Sightseeing and Activities: Departure from Kunming
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast

Departure from Kunming. Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostels
Kunming

Sofitel Hotel

Kunming Jinjiang Hotel

Kunming Longteng Hotel

T&T Story

Xingyi / / / Local Guesthouse
Wanfenglin / / / Local Guesthouse
Bamei / / / Bamei Dibei Guiyuan Hotel
Puzhehei / Guyue Lakeview Inn Benqian Guyin Hotel Yi Da Inn

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:

  • Visitors are advised to always carry changes of clothing due to the large variations in temperature between day and night.
  • The climate is relatively dry, so drink more water every day.
  • Protecting oneself from strong UV radiation at high altitude.
  • Protecting oneself from altitude sickness. Lessen the effects of altitude sickness, avoid strenuous exercise and have plenty of rest. 
  • Respect local customs , habits, and religious beliefs.