Transfer to Chiang Saen (4 hours) and embark the Mekong Pandaw for your 7-night cruise on a full board basis. Proceed upstream on the Mekong for the sunset and moor overnight at Ban Mon village in Laos.
PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.
Cross the Mekong to the Burma side and travel by car deep into Kengtung State on the old Mandalay road. Our objective if time permits is the old colonial hill station of Loi Mwe. Here long abandoned Anglo Indian dak bungalows are set about a golf course polo ground and tennis courts, also long abandoned. The Old Mandalay Road passes through pretty Shan villages set in the cultivated valleys between great ranges of mountains and swathes of jungle.
Continue up the Mekong with Burma on our left and Laos on our right and stop to explore a jungle village on the Laos side and if possible trek in the jungle.
Moor at Xiang Kok and travel inland by car to the town Muang Long and visit Aka tribal villages.
After a visit to a local village, we leave Laos and cross the border into China. Here the Mekong River turns to a beautiful emerald green. Continue to Gang Lei where we go ashore for a walking tour.
A morning visit to the famous Menglun Botanical Garden, built in 1959 and one of China’s most important botanical research centres. Explore the impressive gardens, home to many rare, exotic and endangered plant species here such as the dragon tree, the poisonous upas tree; the "Clock Flower" that opens and closes along with the sunrise and sunset and the "Dancing Grass" that responds to sound. After lunch, sail upstream and stop at Mengzhan where we explore Mangza temple.
Sail to Jinghong. Morning excursion to the impressive Mangfeilong Monastery. After lunch, visit a Chinese tea plantation including tasting and Manting Park Temple, the third most important Buddhist temple in Yunnan province. After our farewell dinner tonight, enjoy a traditional dancing show in Mengbalanaxi theatre.
Disembark after breakfast.
Note: A taxi from Jinghong airport to the jetty takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic conditions.
Jinghong – Lijiang – Dali – Kunming 7D6N
DAY 1
JINGHONG – LIJIANG B/L
Take early afternoon flight (13:20) to Lijiang, Naxi People’s region, pick up and check in Manxin Hotel. Later go to visit the Old Town of Lijiang which belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture.
DAY 2
LIJIANG B/L
Morning visit Yufeng Temple – one of the Scarlet Sect Lamaseries of Lijiang, built in 1756 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Next comes Baisha Naxi Village & Baisha Ancient Mural. In the afternoon take a visit to Shuhe Ancient Town, a more peaceful, smaller version of Lijiang Ancient City. Following visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 antique items that are great in cultural and historical value, including 42 items at national level and more than 2,500 items as Dongba cultural relics. It is the biggest cultural relic museum for Dongba.
DAY 3
LIJIANG – DALI B/L
Morning drive along old road (not express way) to visit Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes (Shibaoshan Shiku in Chinese), which has over 1300 years history. A hidden gem of the beaten track for visiting ancient sites, and seeing ethnic people live traditionally. Then drive to Dali, Bai People’s area, check in One Resort. Afterwards take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago.
DAY 4
DALI B/L
After breakfast, visit Xizhou Morning Market & Xizhou Town. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. The old houses and streets are well preserved. Continue riding around the town by horse cart. Following go to Bai village Zhoucheng Village, famous as the “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-Dyeing Art”. Tie-dyeing is a technology of printing flower patterns on cloth. We can observe how Bai people make Tie-dye products at home. Then visit Three Pagodas, which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area.
DAY 5
DALI – KUNMING B/L
In the morning drive to Kunming, check in Crowne Plaza Hotel upon arrival. Afternoon visit Bamboo Temple which is a Buddhist Monastery and dates back to the Tang Dynasty (1000 years ago). It is famous for its 500 colorful clay Buddhas which were built in Qin Dyasty and are called as “the Sculpture Treasure of Oriental”. Later afternoon strolling on Green Lake Park.
DAY 6
STONE FOREST B/L
Morning start for visiting the Stone Forest, Yi People’s region, a typical Karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. On the way we have a lunch stop for the famous Yunnan Yiliang Roast Duck.
DAY 7
DEPARTURE KUNMING B
Transfer to airport for departure, end of service.
Jinghong – Lijiang – Shangri-la – Dali – Kunming 9D8N
DAY 1
JINGHONG – LIJIANG
Take early afternoon flight (13:20) to Lijiang, Naxi People’s region, pick up and check in Manxin Hotel. Later go to visit the Old Town of Lijiang which belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture.
DAY 2
LIJIANG B/L
Morning visit Yufeng Temple – one of the Scarlet Sect Lamaseries of Lijiang, built in 1756 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Next comes Baisha Naxi Village & Baisha Ancient Mural. In the afternoon take a visit to Shuhe Ancient Town, a more peaceful, smaller version of Lijiang Ancient City. Following visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 antique items that are great in cultural and historical value, including 42 items at national level and more than 2,500 items as Dongba cultural relics. It is the biggest cultural relic museum for Dongba.
DAY 3
LIJIANG – SHANGRI-LA B/L
In the morning drive to Shangri-la, the Tibetan region. Visit First Bend of Yangtze River on the way, unusual geological phenomenon force the Yangtze to make a sudden V-shaped bend and flow to the northeast. This extraordinary turn, nearly 180-degrees, creates beautiful and marvelous views that startle the imagination. Then Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. Check in Old Town International Hotel when arrival. In the evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets & houses and enjoy the local people dancing performed by Tibetan people in the middle square of old town.
MORE ABOUT TIGER LEAPING GORGE
DAY 4
SHANGRI-LA B/L
After breakfast visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery. Then Tibetan Family Visiting and have a lunch there, drink buttered tea is must-do when visit the Tibetan home. In the afternoon visit Napa Lake, which locate eight kilometers (4.97 miles) northwest of the county. Several rivers flow into the lake, including the Naizi and Naqu Rivers. The lake is seasonal in that it is dry in the fall and winter seasons, naturally becoming part of the Yila Prairie. During this time, visitors can see many sheep and cows grazing the lake bed.
MORE ABOUT SONGZANLIN MONASTERY
DAY 5
SHANGRI-LA – DALI B/L
Morning drive along old road (not express way) to visit Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes (Shibaoshan Shiku in Chinese), which has over 1300 years history. A hidden gem of the beaten track for visiting ancient sites, and seeing ethnic people live traditionally. Then drive to Dali, Bai People’s area, check in One Resort. Afterwards take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago.
DAY 6
DALI B/L
After breakfast, visit Xizhou Morning Market & Xizhou Town. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. The old houses and streets are well preserved. Continue riding around the town by horse cart. Following go to Bai village Zhoucheng Village, famous as the “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-Dyeing Art”. Tie-dyeing is a technology of printing flower patterns on cloth. We can observe how Bai people make Tie-dye products at home. Then visit Three Pagodas, which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area.
DAY 7
DALI – KUNMING B/L
In the morning drive to Kunming, check in Crowne Plaza Hotel upon arrival. Afternoon visit Bamboo Temple which is a Buddhist Monastery and dates back to the Tang Dynasty (1000 years ago). It is famous for its 500 colorful clay Buddhas which were built in Qin Dyasty and are called as “the Sculpture Treasure of Oriental”. Later afternoon strolling on Green Lake Park.
DAY 8
STONE FOREST B/L
Morning start for visiting the Stone Forest, Yi People’s region, a typical Karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. On the way we have a lunch stop for the famous Yunnan Yiliang Roast Duck.
DAY 9
DEPARTURE KUNMING B
Transfer to airport for departure, end of service.
Note: A taxi from Jinghong airport to the jetty takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic conditions.
Embark the Laos Mekong from 1600. Afternoon at leisure. Opportunity to explore charming Jinghong.
PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.
Morning excursion to the impressive Mangfeilong Monastery. After lunch, visit a Chinese tea plantation including tasting and Manting Park Temple. After dinner tonight, enjoy a traditional dancing show in Mengbalanaxi theatre.
Sail downstream on the emerald green Mekong River arriving at Mengzhan, where we enjoy a walk ashore and visit to Mangza temple.
Visit to the famous Menglun Botanical Garden, built in 1959 and one of China’s most important botanical research centres. Explore the impressive gardens, home to many rare, exotic and endangered plant species here such as the dragon tree, the poisonous upas tree; the " Clock Flower " that opens and closes along with the sunrise and sunset and the " Dancing Grass " that responds to sound. Rejoin the Laos Pandaw at Guang Lei where we overnight.
We cross the border into Laos and continue to Xiang Kok and travel inland by car to the town Muang Long and visit Aka tribal villages.
Continue down the Mekong with Burma on our right and Laos on our left and stop to explore a jungle village on the Laos side and if possible trek in the jungle.
Cross the Mekong to the Burma side and travel by car deep into Kengtung State on the old Mandalay road. Our objective if time permits is the old colonial hill station of Loi Mwe. Here long abandoned Anglo Indian dak bungalows are set about a golf course polo ground and tennis courts, also long abandoned. The Old Mandalay Road passes through pretty Shan villages set in the cultivated valleys between great ranges of mountains and swathes of jungle.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Chiang Mai (three hours) or Chiang Rai (two hours).
Kunming – Dali – Lijiang – Jinghong 7D6N
DAY 1
ARRIVAL KUNMING
Arrive in Kunming, check in Crowne Plaza Hotel upon arrival. Afternoon visit Bamboo Temple which is a Buddhist Monastery and dates back to the Tang Dynasty (1000 years ago). It is famous for its 500 colorful clay Buddhas which were built in Qin Dyasty and are called as “the Sculpture Treasure of Oriental”. Later afternoon strolling on Green Lake Park.
DAY 2
STONE FOREST B/L
Morning start for visiting the Stone Forest, Yi People’s region, a typical Karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. On the way we have a lunch stop for the famous Yunnan Yiliang Roast Duck.
DAY 3
KUNMING – DALI B/L
Today drive to Dali, Bai People’s area, check in One Resort. Afterwards take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago.
DAY 4
DALI B/L
After breakfast, visit Xizhou Morning Market & Xizhou Town. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. The old houses and streets are well preserved. Continue riding around the town by horse cart. Following go to Bai village Zhoucheng Village, famous as the “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-Dyeing Art”. Tie-dyeing is a technology of printing flower patterns on cloth. We can observe how Bai people make Tie-dye products at home. Then visit Three Pagodas, which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area.
DAY 5
DALI – LIJIANG B/L
Morning drive along old road (not express way) to visit Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes (Shibaoshan Shiku in Chinese), which has over 1300 years history. A hidden gem of the beaten track for visiting ancient sites, and seeing ethnic people live traditionally. Then drive to Lijiang, Naxi People’s region, when arrival check in Manxin Hotel. Later go to visit the Old Town of Lijiang which belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture.
DAY 6
LIJIANG B/L
Morning visit Yufeng Temple – one of the Scarlet Sect Lamaseries of Lijiang, built in 1756 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Next comes Baisha Naxi Village & Baisha Ancient Mural. In the afternoon take a visit to Shuhe Ancient Town, a more peaceful, smaller version of Lijiang Ancient City. Following visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 antique items that are great in cultural and historical value, including 42 items at national level and more than 2,500 items as Dongba cultural relics. It is the biggest cultural relic museum for Dongba.
DAY 7
DEPARTURE LIJIANG B
Transfer to airport to take flight to Jinghong, end of service.
Kunming – Dali – Shangri-la – Lijiang – Jinghong 9D8N
DAY 1
ARRIVAL KUNMING
Arrive in Kunming, check in Crowne Plaza Hotel upon arrival. Afternoon visit Bamboo Temple which is a Buddhist Monastery and dates back to the Tang Dynasty (1000 years ago). It is famous for its 500 colorful clay Buddhas which were built in Qin Dyasty and are called as “the Sculpture Treasure of Oriental”. Later afternoon strolling on Green Lake Park.
DAY 2
STONE FOREST B/L
Morning start for visiting the Stone Forest, Yi People’s region, a typical Karst formation, the Stone Forest covers an area of more than three hundred square kilometers. On the way we have a lunch stop for the famous Yunnan Yiliang Roast Duck.
DAY 3
KUNMING – DALI B/L
Today drive to Dali, Bai People’s area, check in One Resort. Afterwards take a pleasant stroll in Dali Old Town which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago.
DAY 4
DALI B/L
After breakfast, visit Xizhou Morning Market & Xizhou Town. People nowadays regard Xizhou as a town that is famous for the Bai minority culture. The old houses and streets are well preserved. Continue riding around the town by horse cart. Following go to Bai village Zhoucheng Village, famous as the “Hometown of Bai People’s Tie-Dyeing Art”. Tie-dyeing is a technology of printing flower patterns on cloth. We can observe how Bai people make Tie-dye products at home. Then visit Three Pagodas, which has a history of over 1,800 years. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area.
DAY 5
DALI – SHANGRI-LA B/L
Morning drive along old road (not express way) to visit Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes (Shibaoshan Shiku in Chinese), which has over 1300 years history. A hidden gem of the beaten track for visiting ancient sites, and seeing ethnic people live traditionally. Then drive to Shangri-la, the Tibetan region. Check in Old Town International Hotel for a rest. In the evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets & houses and enjoy the local people dancing performed by Tibetan people in the middle square of old town.
DAY 6
SHANGRI-LA B/L
After breakfast visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism Monastery. Then Tibetan Family Visiting and have a lunch there, drink buttered tea is must-do when visit the Tibetan home. In the afternoon visit Napa Lake, which locate eight kilometers (4.97 miles) northwest of the county. Several rivers flow into the lake, including the Naizi and Naqu Rivers. The lake is seasonal in that it is dry in the fall and winter seasons, naturally becoming part of the Yila Prairie. During this time, visitors can see many sheep and cows grazing the lake bed.
MORE ABOUT SONGZANLIN MONASTERY
DAY 7
SHANGRI-LA – LIJIANG B/L
In the morning drive Lijiang, Naxi People’s region. Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way, which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. Then visit First Bend of Yangtze River, unusual geological phenomenons force the Yangtze to make a sudden V-shaped bend and flow to the northeast. This extraordinary turn, nearly 180-degrees, creates beautiful and marvelous views that startle the imagination. When arrives Lijiang, check in Manxin Hotel. Later go to visit the Old Town of Lijiang which belongs to the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture.
DAY 8
LIJIANG B/L
Morning visit Yufeng Temple – one of the Scarlet Sect Lamaseries of Lijiang, built in 1756 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Next comes Baisha Naxi Village & Baisha Ancient Mural. In the afternoon take a visit to Shuhe Ancient Town, a more peaceful, smaller version of Lijiang Ancient City. Following visit Black Dragon Pool and Dongba Cultural Museum, the museum has a collection of over 10,000 antique items that are great in cultural and historical value, including 42 items at national level and more than 2,500 items as Dongba cultural relics. It is the biggest cultural relic museum for Dongba.
DAY 9
DEPARTURE LIJIANG B
Transfer to airport to take flight to Jinghong, end of service.