5 Days Kunming Xishuangbanna Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Kunming

   Welcome to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. The city is known as the "Spring City" due to its pleasant climate throughout the year. After arrival, the local driver will greet you at the airport or high-speed railway station and transfer you to the pre-booked hotel.

   If you arrive early, you can explore some attractions on your own. The recommended attractions are as follows:

   Located in the heart of Kunming, Yuantong Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Kunming, with a history of 1,200 years. The whole temple looks like a garden, with turquoise pools and exquisite old buildings in the courtyard. What is especially wonderful is that the architecture here incorporates features of Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Southern Buddhism from Southeast Asia.

   Green Lake Park, aka Cuihu Park, is a beautiful urban park in Kunming city center. Whether you want to savor the natural beauty of Kunming, enjoy ultimate relaxation, experience local daily life, or look into rich cultural and historical relics of Kunming, the park is a great place for your Kunming travel.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Kunming

   

2. Day 2: Kunming to Xishuangbanna Tour
   Marvel at the Remarkable Karst Stone Forest

   After breakfast, start your guided Kunming tour at the world-famous Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shilin Yi Autonomous County. Featuring the marvelous karst landforms, the Stone Forest welcomes you with its various limestone shapes including columns, cones, pagodas, and mushrooms, etc. Marvel at the breathtaking scenery and capture some stunning photos with your camera.

   

   After lunch, your guide will escort you to catch a high-speed train to Xishuangbanna, the Little Thailand. A local driver will welcome you and transfer you to the downtown hotel.

   In the evening, you can go to explore the vibrant atmosphere of Gaozhuang Night Market, aka Starlight Night Market, the largest and most popular one. You will be impressed with countless food stalls, souvenir shops, clothing stores, and street performers.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Jinghong

   

3. Day 3: Xishuangbanna Tour
   Learn about Local Dai Culture, Then Explore Vast Tropical Gardens

   Begin the Yunnan Xishuangbanna tour with a visit to Dai Minority Park, a cultural theme park about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of Jinghong city. It contains five Dai villages, dedicated to preserving the culture and customs of the Dai ethnic minority. You can learn about the customs, art, architecture, and traditions of the Dai people.

   Then, we transfer to the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, housing over 13,000 species of living plants, organized into 38 specialized plant zones. Covering an area of approximately 1,125 hectares, it preserves around 250 square kilometers of virgin tropical rainforest, making it the largest botanical garden in China.

   

   The garden is divided into two sections: the East Zone and the West Zone. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring the West Zone where there are the main attractions, composed of several smaller gardens.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Jinghong

4. Day 4: Wild Elephant Tour
   Wildlife Park Visit with Elephants, Rainforest Hike and Other Animals

   After breakfast, we will leave for Wild Elephant Valley, China's first national park themed around wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Spanning an area of over 370 square kilometers, it is home to many Asian elephants.

   

   You will take a cable car and enjoy a panoramic view of the rainforest in the valley. Then take a guided hike to spot wild elephants.

   After that, experience interactive exhibitions at the Asian Elephant Museum. You will have a simple understanding of their lifestyle habits. In addition, you can encounter other wild animals, including monkeys, peacocks, and pythons.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Jinghong

5. Day 5: Departure from Xishuangbanna
   Explore a Royal Park, Buddhist Temple, and Ancient Tea Mountain

   Begin your last day of Xishuangbanna tour with a visit to Manting Park, the oldest park in Xishuangbanna, famous for its Dai Royal Culture, Dai Folk Culture, and Buddhist Culture. It was once the royal garden of the Dai kings and has a history of over 1,300 years.

   Then, explore the Zongfosi Temple, one of the earliest Theravada Buddhist temples built in Xishuangbanna. Admire the grand and exquisite architecture from the outside.

   

   After that, move forward to Nannuo Tea Mountain, which is well-known for its long history of tea cultivation. Hiking along the trail through forests of green bamboo and other trees, you will encounter some of the oldest and largest tea trees (many between 200 - 500 years old) which grow together with some wild plants and produce some of the best tea in Yunnan. The oldest of the tea trees is the over 800-year-old "King of Tea Trees".

   If you visit between April and October, you can experience tea picking (for an extra fee).

   After that, our 5-day Kunming and Xishuangbanna tour comes to an end. Your private driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for flight or train to your next destination or home.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A