Eat Your Way Through Yunnan's Tea & Horse Road, from Dali to Lijiang, 8-day Trip

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome Dinner / Dali Old-Town Food Tour
1 stop
1
We’ll kick things off at dinner with a local walking food tour – Lost Plate style! Try locally-made rice noodles, fried cheese, a few street snacks, a Dai minority feast served on the biggest platter you’ve ever seen, and more!
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Dali Old-Town Market, Rose Farm & Pastry Making, Xizhou Village, and More
2 stops
2
Start the day in an area of Dali that is still popular with locals, grab a popular breakfast, and explore a local market that sprawls throughout many small lanes. Then get some free time to explore Dali old-town before a Bai minority lunch.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
3
Xizhou Town
Head to the small village of Xizhou where we’ll check-in to our guesthouse before enjoying freshly-caught fish, local chicken served with chili and rice cakes, plum-fried pork, fried eggs with jasmine flower, and much more for dinner.
12 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Xizhou Baba, Erhai Lake, Traditional Tye-Dye, Shaxi Village
3 stops
4
Xizhou Town
Explore Xizhou village’s cobblestone horse-worn streets, wooden buildings, and unique architectural styles before trying Xizhou Baba, a freshly baked bread only found in this village – stuffed with your choice of savory pork or sweet rose paste. You’ll get a first-hand look at how they are prepared and baked in a traditional charcoal oven.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
5
Erhai Lake
Grab lunch at a lakeside restaurant to enjoy local shrimp, fish, and a plethora of other local dishes.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
6
Check-in and enjoy some free time in Shaxi village before our dinner at a local family courtyard restaurant. We’ll be starting out with meticulously made pork-stuffed lima beans, cured meats, some local fried cheese, and work our way through a variety of other delights based on what’s best at the local market that day.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Shaxi Village & Countryside Bike Ride
1 stop
7
We'll spend the entire day in Shaxi with a leisurely morning with time to explore the coffee shops and bakery, a hotpot lunch, a bike ride through the countryside with a stop at a mountainside cafe and book store, and another excellent local dinner.
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Tiger Leaping Gorge Views, Hike, Private Villa Accommodations
1 stop
8
Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)
We’ll head to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Our first stop will be the viewing deck at the mouth of the canyon where the upper waters of the Yangzi river are forced through one of the deepest gorges in the world. It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight to see and experience. Then we'll head to the middle of the gorge for a (optional) moderately difficult, 3.5 hour round-trip hike down to the river, across suspension bridges, waterfalls, and rock islands in the river, before heading back up to the top on a breathtaking loop-hike. For those not interested, you’ll have time to relax at our guesthouse for the afternoon.
1 day • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Tiger Leaping Gorge & Shuhe Old Town in Lijiang
2 stops
9
Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)
Enjoy a leisurely morning with some of the best breakfast views in China.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
10
Shuhe Ancient Town
We’ll be eating and staying in Shuhe, a less touristy old-town within Lijiang.
2 days • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Cooking Class & Market Visit, Baisha Village, Shuhe Old-Town Dinner
3 stops
11
Start the day exploring Lijiang’s oldest market to shop for our cooking class. Immersion is a great way to learn about what makes Yunnan’s food culture so special. Shop shoulder to shoulder with Naxi locals and their woven-basket backpacks, before preparing lunch in a private cooking studio with a local Naxi family. Everyone will be making 3 dishes that you’ll enjoy for lunch!
4 hours • Admission ticket included
12
Baisha Ancient Town
Head to Baisha old-town to explore the quiet cobblestone lanes of the oldest village in Lijiang. It’s a great place to grab a coffee and soak in the architecture and views of the area.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
13
Shuhe Ancient Town
Our final dinner will be a huge selection of local Naxi minority dishes, including roast pork belly with mint, fried eggplant, spicy fish, and a ton more. The perfect way to end the trip!
1 day • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Departure, Airport Drop-off Included
1 stop
14
Shuhe Ancient Town
Airport drop-off in Lijiang is included all day today.
12 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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