5 Days Kunming & Shangri-La Adventure

Today, your guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel for a 1.5-hour private transfer to the remarkable Stone Forest. Millions of years ago, this area lay at the bottom of a vast ocean. Over time, sedimentary deposits formed limestone, which was later sculpted by wind and rain into the spectacular stone pillars you see today. Some resemble swords piercing the sky, while others evoke lotus flowers, elephants, or camels. Let your imagination roam to identify these abstract features, adding an engaging experience to your exploration. For energetic ones, climb to a vantage point to capture panoramic views over the entire landscape. 
► Tips: The stone steps can be slippery, so we strongly recommend wearing shoes with good grip. Kunming’s high UV levels also make sun protection essential.

Then, a 40-minute drive will convoy you to the 600-year-old Nuohei Village. Once stepping into the hamlet, you’ll find that all houses here are piled with stones, hence its nickname “Stone Village”. Wandering along the lanes, you might encounter elderly residents in traditional ethnic dress embroidering. A remarkable stone gate shaped like a human face may catch your eyes. It marks the entrance to the Mizhi Holy Forest, the boundary between the human world and the divine realm. Every year, during late February, males will enter the forest to pray for peace and harvest. To avoid disturbing the deities, entry is prohibited, but you can take photos with this iconic portal. At the end of the day, the guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel in downtown Kunming.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

After checking out in the morning, the guide and the driver will escort you to the railway station for a 5-hour high-speed train to Shangri-La, a place closest to Heaven. As the cityscape gradually gives way to expansive mountain ranges and pristine blue skies, Shangri-La is approaching. Upon arrival, your local guide and the driver will pick you up from the station exit and assist you in checking into the reserved hotel. 

★ Special Arrangement: Tibetan Family Visit

After settling in, we’ll offer you a first glimpse into Tibetan culture with a visit to a local family. You’ll be welcomed by the distinctive aroma of yak butter and treated to a bowl of traditional yak butter tea, a nourishing blend of tea, yak butter, and salt that helps locals stay warm in the high-altitude climate.

Following this warm encounter, we’ll explore Dukezong Ancient Town, a key trading post a thousand years ago for merchants traveling along the Tea-Horse Road. Stroll along cobblestone lanes lined with traditional white-and-yellow buildings, where you’ll see visitors dressed in ethnic attire for photos and local children gently holding lambs who earn their school expenses through offering photo opportunities. At the town’s temple, you can see the world’s largest prayer wheel, which takes several people to rotate. As evening falls, we’ll convoy you back to your hotel. 

► Tip to Alleviate Altitude Sickness: 
Shangri-La sits about 3,500 meters (11,480 feet) above sea level. To prepare for possible altitude discomfort, consult your doctor before travel regarding suitable medication. To minimize the risk of discomfort, please avoid strenuous physical activities such as running and jumping during your stay. Please also ensure you stay well-hydrated and get ample rest. Should you feel unwell at any point, please inform your guide immediately.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel this morning for a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, considered the “Little Potala Palace.” Built leaning against the mountain, its golden roofs and crimson walls create a striking contrast against the sky. Climb the steps to the highest prayer hall, where you’ll see intricate murals, flickering butter lamps, and may hear monks chanting. From the rooftop terrace, you can enjoy panoramic views of Shangri-La and the distant snow-capped mountains. Please note that photography is not permitted inside the temple halls out of respect.

After leaving this spiritual sanctuary, let’s proceed to Potatso National Park. A park shuttle we arranged for you will take you to Shudu Lake. Walking along the wooden lakeside path, breathe in the crisp air scented with spruce and meadow grass. The lake’s crystal-clear waters mirror the distant snowy peaks, drifting clouds, and surrounding evergreen forest. Yaks and sheep graze peacefully in the pastures, their neck bells softly chiming. If you spot a rare white yak, consider it a lucky sight, since these animals are revered on the plateau as auspicious spirits believed to bring good fortune. At the end of the day, we’ll escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

In the morning, your guide and the driver will whisk you away from the urban hustle to visit the ancient Nixi Pottery Village. Renowned for its distinctive black pottery, Nixi Village has kept this craftsmanship alive for over two thousand years. In a family workshop, you can watch artisans shape clay and carve delicate patterns. If time allows, you may even see the distinctive open-pit firing method: sun-dried pieces are covered with straw and set alight, then smothered with pine needles and sawdust partway through. This process creates an oxygen-poor environment that gives the pottery its signature deep black glaze.

After you visit Nixi Village, this 5 days Kunming Shangri-La tour package comes to a close. Your guide and driver will provide a comfortable transfer to the airport or the high-speed train station and assist you with check-in for your onward itinerary. Should you wish to extend your travels, whether to nearby Lijiang and Dali, eastward to Lhasa, or even across the border to Southeast Asian destinations like Myanmar, Bangladesh, or Thailand, our team is here to help you plan the next chapter of your adventure!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast