Itinerary

Day 1

Lijiang-DaliMost travellers come to Dali after our 'Lanterns in Lijiang' module. In this case your trip begins with a bus transfer from your hotel in Lijiang to Dali.The ride will take about four hours and you'll pass through a very diverse landscape: wooden houses surrounded by green farmland, forested hills and a bright blue sky with a single dark cloud appearing from time to time. Behind the hills you'll see the white mountain tops of the Himalayas peaking out to greet you. The last part of your trip will take you past the Erhai Lake. In Dali you'll be dropped off at your hotel, only a stones throw away from the southern gate of the city. It lies just outside of the part of the city that is surrounded by walls and where cars are forbidden in the many small streets. When you exit the hotel you'll walk into the ancient part of town with its traditional houses, where travellers and locals live together in harmony. You'll see mostly 'Bai' and 'Yi' minorities who only live in this part of China and who are recognizable through their traditional dress. They are hard workers, working on farmland surrounding Dali for instance.

In the evening enjoy a walk through the beautifully lit-up southern Gate into the walled in part of town. Once you pass the walls you'll find little streets with stores on both sides. Occasionally you'll see a temple and a beautiful garden. On Foreigner Street' you'll find many fun bars and restaurants. This is where western tourists meet up and share travel stories.

Day 2

DaliSpend this day in Dali as you please. Your hotel can give you more information on possible excursions in the area. Visit the Three Pagodas Temple and afterwards you could take the chair-lift into the Mountains behind the temple. Once you reach the top you can go on an independent hike over the 10km mountain ridge and you can enjoy the view of Dali and surrounding villages with Lake Erhai behind them. It's a flat path and easily accessible by anyone who attempts to walk over it. At the end of the path you'll take a gondola back down where you can catch a taxi cab back to the hotel.

One other excursion option is a visit to the Yi minorities. They are the largest Group of minorities in the Yunnan province; however they are relatively unknown since they usually live in the Mountains. This excursion will take you away from Dali and the lake for an entire day; therefore we suggest booking an extra night in Dali if you decide to go on this excursion. Don't feel up to going on an excursion? For a small cost you can rent a bicycle and ride your bike through Dali and several other villages in the area. There are also horseback riding options through the wooded areas and in the mountains.

Day 3

Departure from DaliThe next morning will start early; most travellers take the bus to Kunming (the train is also a possibility) and continue on to Kunming airport for a domestic flight to Guilin. This is where you can visit the Karst Mountains at Yangshuo, with our module Bamboo sailing through karst mountains.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Transport and accommodation

Exclusions -

Meals and drinks, excursions and entrance fees