3 Days Private Dali Tour

This morning, your guide and the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and accompany you to Cangshan Mountain. Board the cable car we have included for you, which will lift you above lush forests toward the mountainside. As you ascend, Erhai Lake unfolds in the distance like a vast sapphire mirror, Dali Ancient Town resembles miniature blocks below, and the Cangshan range stretches across the horizon like a blue-gray barrier. After disembarking, enjoy hiking along the plank trail, during which you can listen to the gentle babble of streams and birdsong, and enjoy a fresh perspective of Erhai Lake from above.

Then, we’ll take the cable car down and proceed to Chongsheng Temple, best known for its iconic Three Pagodas. Standing on the temple square, you’ll see the three towers arranged in a triangular formation against the backdrop of Cangshan Mountain. Remarkably, they have stood here for over 1,200 years without a deep foundation, and one of the pagodas once cracked during an earthquake, but later closed naturally.

As the afternoon light softens, we’ll head to Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor for the final and most romantic stop of the day. Stroll along the shoreline and watch the evening sun cast golden ripples across the water. If you visit between November and March, you may see flocks of red‑billed gulls migrating from Siberia, their white wings beautifully contrasting with the blue lake and lush trees, creating a truly cinematic scene. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► Tip: For Erhai Lake tour, bicycle rentals are available at your own expense. Whether you prefer to ride for one hour from the town to the lake, or just enjoy a short ride near the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor, please let us know in advance if you are interested.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel (4 stars)

On the final day of your 3-day Dali tour, your guide and the driver will offer you a 40-minute private car ride to Xizhou Ancient Town. As soon as you arrive, dive into the morning market, a vibrant window into local life. Here, you’ll hear vendors calling out in the local dialect and see women in traditional attire carrying bamboo baskets, selecting fresh vegetables. You’ll find freshly baked local specialty pancakes, truly mouth-watering with crispy crust and savory and sweet taste.

Then, let’s visit the Yan’s Compound, which was built around 1907 AD as the residence of the wealthiest local merchant, representing the pinnacle of traditional Dali architecture. Here, you can admire paintings on screen walls, vivid wood carvings on doors and windows, and intricate painted beams among the halls. Wandering through its rooms, you can imagine the former owner reading in the study or hosting guests and conducting business in the reception rooms.

★ Special Arrangement: Create Your Own Tie-Dye Souvenir 

Next, we’ll head to nearby Zhoucheng Village, where you’ll try your hand at the local art of tie‑dye. In a workshop, a local artisan will guide you in folding, twisting, or stitching white cloth to create patterns, then dipping it into a vat of natural indigo. Through repeated dyeing, oxidation, and rinsing, you’ll finally finish your unique handcrafted textile and take it home.

At the end of the experience, your guide and the driver will escort you to the airport or train station according to your onward travel plans. If you wish to extend your journey to nearby destinations like Lijiang, Kunming, or Shangri-La, we would be delighted to help you arrange the next stage of your travels.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast