Landscapes of Yunnan Province & Culturas Encounters on the Tea Horse Road

Saturday, 17 May 2025

Fly to Beijing

Depart on a direct overnight flight from London to Beijing, or via an alternative route at one of the major regional airports in the UK if you prefer.

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Sunday, 18 May 2025

Welcome to Beijing 

Arrive in Beijing in the morning and transfer to your hotel for a 4 night stay. You will receive a walking orientation tour around your hotel with our guide, familiarising you with the surroundings. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax, or you may prefer to add an afternoon tour.

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Monday, 19 May 2025

Temple of Heaven, Hutongs & Forbidden City

We start early to visit the Temple of Heaven located in a delightful park. The Temple of Heaven, considered by UNESCO "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design", was created as a place of learning about Chinese philosophical beliefs, cosmogony, art, dynastic politics and sacrificial rituals. In the park, you will gain insights into local life, as groups of elderly Beijing residents gather to take communal exercises, sing, socialise and play musical instruments. We continue to the Hutong district, where we explore the ancient narrow streets by foot and rickshaw and enjoy an included lunch at a family hutong home. In the afternoon, we visit Tiananmen Square and explore the mythical and vast Forbidden City, home to 24 Chinese Emperors. Here you can learn about China's dynastic past.

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Tuesday, 20 May 2025

Experience the Great Wall of China 

Today we visit one of the wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. We travel for 2 hours out of Beijing to a remote section of the wall where in the footsteps of soldiers from the Ming Dynasty, we hike a wild section away from the crowds. It is a unique experience where you will truly appreciate the full majesty of the Great Wall and savour stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We also visit the restored part of the wall at Mutianyu, allowing you a look at the Wall in its original state. Lunch is included.

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Wednesday, 21 May 2025

At leisure

Explore Beijing at your own pace and perhaps go shopping. We have a range of optional excursions you can book with your guide including a calligraphy or paper cutting class or perhaps attempt to cook the Chinese way by making some local dumplings.

Thursday, 22 May 2025

Fly to Kunming 

Fly to Kunming ahead of our visit to the Stone Forest. You will be met on arrival by our guide and  transferred to your chosen hotel for a 2 night stay. Afternoon at leisure.

 

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Friday, 23 May 2025

Stone Forest and Kunming 

Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province, a modern city with a beautiful urban park at its centre. The reason for our visit here though is to explore the nearby Stone Forest, known as Shilin in Chinese. A sea of limestone pillars, many in unique formations and with wonderfully descriptive names, rise powerfully out of the ground, creating a magnificent karst landscape. Mysterious caves, underground rivers, ponds, lakes and waterfalls only add to the beauty found here. A guided tour will help you understand how they came to be and lead you to the very best viewing points.

After an included lunch, we return to the city to visit the Yuantong Buddhist Temple, at the foot of Yuantong Hill and also the pretty Green Lake Park, for a glimpse into everyday life in Kunming. 

Saturday, 24 May 2025

Napahai Wetlands and Benzilan 

Fly to Shangri-La airport, and to the ever-changing Napahai wetlands, encircled by mountains. At different points of the year it is possible to see a huge variety of migrating birds, including the rare black-necked crane, as well as herds of yaks and horses grazing, as the waters recede. We continue on into the mountains,  through a dramatic canyon to reach your base for the next 3 nights on a full board basis; the LUX* Benzilan luxury resort. Relax by the pool or roof terrace and enjoy a specially prepared dinner, ahead of tomorrow's exploration. 

 

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Sunday, 25 May 2025

Dongzhulin Monastery and Shuibianhe Valley 

Morning drive to visit the Dongzhulin Monastery and small religious community. Listen as the monks chant their morning prayers and then take a guided tour of the temple. This particular temple, unlike the more famous Songzanlin Monastery, is not a big tourism attraction and so allows for a far more insightful and intimate experience. You can speak to the monks to ask them about Buddhist life here. We drive to the Shuibianhe Valley to visit the small Tibetan hamlet of Shiyi. Here we will observe the process of making traditional Tibetan incense sticks. We then return to a second hamlet - Bairen - to watch a bell-maker at work. For lunch you can choose between a Tibetan-style picnic lunch or a home-cooked French lunch, made with Tibetan ingredients and served in the home of a local.

After lunch we will return to the Dongzhulin Monastery, enjoying privileged access to a Gelugpa-sect debating session. These debates are lively and expressive affairs, involving much shouting, jumping, dancing and posturing. Return to the hotel where you can relax and have dinner, before perhaps watching a movie outdoors under the stars in the LUX's Cinema Paradiso experience. 

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Monday, 26 May 2025

Balagezong Canyon and Nixi Pottery masterclass  

Morning drive to the Balagezong Canyon, a wonderful place to experience the precipitous gorges and biodiversity of the Three Parallel Rivers area, protected by UNESCO. Following a dramatic ascent, enjoy panoramic views over the valley below. We continue down the canyon for a guided nature walk, crossing a spectacular suspended walkway high above the river, before taking to the water itself for a short boat trip.

After the included lunch we arrive at the remote Nixi village of Tangdui to visit a master potter at work. Luo Sang Enzhu is recognised as the greatest exponent of black pottery in the surrounding area, following on from the legacy of his father. Learn how the pottery gains its distinct black colour and be taught by the master himself how to mould a Tibetan bowl with your very own hands. We will then return for a final night at the LUX* Benzilan Hotel. 

 

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Tea Horse Road to ancient Lijiang 

Today we leave behind Benzilan and drive south to the ancient city of Lijiang, following the route of the old Tea Horse Road. Along the way we will pass mountains, gorges and high passes, as well as entering a completely different cultural region, as we shift from the Tibetan influences of Shangri-la to the Naxi dominated Lijiang.

Before departing, enjoy a walk around Shangri-la's historic old town, which was once a major staging post for caravans, a final port of call before travelling the dangerous road to Tibet. A huge fire swept through the old town of Dukezong in 2014, the poignant affects of which can still be seen today. The town is being faithfully restored, but fortunately plenty of places of interest escaped unscathed, including the Guishan Temple and the world's largest Tibetan prayer wheel.

After an included organic Tibetan lunch at a local restaurant we journey south across the high plain. It is a journey of around 3 to 4 hours, in stark contrast to the week long undertaking that it was in the days of the caravans. En-route we will observe traditional Tibetan style houses and enjoy views of the Haba Mountain. The highlight of the trip though is undoubtedly Tiger Leaping Gorge, through which we drive, following the path of the Yangtse River. Soon we reach the LUX* Lijiang, your home for the next two nights on a full board basis, in the heart of the Dayan old town in Lijiang.

You will be welcomed with a traditional cup of tea and given chance to settle in to your room, before taking a late afternoon stroll through the winding cobbled streets of this 800 year old town. A special map will be provided, detailing the most authentic shops and which will also lead you to a lookout point for a panoramic view of the city. A visit to the oldest of the tea-houses is a must, giving you the chance to watch the tea being pressed and prepared. Then enjoy a guided tasting session in the company of a Pu'er tea master, whose family has traded and served tea for generations. Return to the hotel for dinner and relax after a busy day, either within the welcoming confines of the LUX* hotel, or at a nearby canal-side cafe or bar. 

 

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Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Lijiang, Jade Dragon Mountain and Baisha

The final day will see us explore Lijiang and the surrounding area in greater detail, to complete your Tea Horse Road experience. After enjoying another specially designed self-guided walk through the atmospheric streets of Lijiang, via picturesque stone footbridges and Naxi 'three eyed' wells, you will return to the hotel to accompany the head chef to a local market. Away from the tourist crowds, you will see an authentic exhibition of local Naxi life, as all kinds of goods are brought and sold. We will do some buying ourselves, as the head chef guides you through the Naxi cuisine and purchases the ingredients needed to make the LUX's signature Naxi Hotpot later that day.

We will then take a 45 minute drive north to the foot of the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to watch the awesome Lijiang Impressions Show, a visual treat set in front of a spectacular backdrop. The epic open-air show was designed by renowned movie director Zhang Yimou (he of House of Flying Daggers and Hero fame) and features hundreds of horses and over 500 actors. You will enjoy VIP seats for the best views of this hour-long performance - just don't forget your camera!

We then head back to the hotel via the Naxi settlement of Baisha which, together with Dayan and Shuhe, formed the original city of Lijiang. We visit the temple to admire its ancient murals and learn about the unique Dongba hieroglyphic script - the world’s only living pictographic language. We complete the visit by walking to a local silk tapestry school. Back at the hotel, after enjoying the Naxi Hotpot, created using the ingredients bought from the market earlier, settle in for your last night at the LUX* Lijiang and reflect upon an unforgettable few days that will have completely immersed you in the various cultures and ancient customs of this part of Yunnan Province.

The Tea Horse Road experience is based on groups of a maximum of just five people, so depending on your group size you may be joined by other guests. Alternatively we can arrange the entire experience on a private basis, for a minimum of two travellers.

 

Thursday, 29 May 2025

Shaxi, Shibaoshan Grottoes and Dali 

After breakfast at the LUX* hotel, we will take a transfer south to the city of Dali. En-route we will visit the Shibaoshan grottoes and admire their intricate carvings and continue to Shaxi, one of the best-preserved of the caravan towns of the ancient tea route into Myanmar and Tibet. After an included lunch, we arrive at Dali old town, famed for its centuries-old Three Pagodas. 

 

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Friday, 30 May 2025

Zizhou Village and Erhai Lake 

Today we start with a visit to the picturesque minority village of Xizhou and explore nearby Erhai Lake, taking a scenic boat trip to visit the three main islands and their small temples. We finish at a traditional fishing village. Lunch is included today.

Saturday, 31 May 2025

Fly to Beijing 

Take a morning flight back to Beijing for a 1 night stay, with time for any last minute shopping or sightseeing in the capital.

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Sunday, 01 June 2025

Return flight to UK  

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving later the same day.