Luna Sea-View Inn
Shuanglang · Erhai Lake
First-line on Erhai — travertine terraces and soaking tubs open straight onto the water, the island village across the bay.
A big journey starts small · with Boutique ChinaA big journey starts small · with Boutique China
We take you across Yunnan's most diverse landscapes and cultures, into the everyday lives, homes, and cuisines of Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan communities.
US$3,590 per person (twin share).
Single room: Available on request
10 days / 9 nights in hand-picked curated stays, each chosen for its unique character.
Small-group departures, max 12 guests per trip.
All experiences & entries: cheese-making, cooking class, Nixi pottery, and more.
Daily breakfast plus most lunches and dinners.
English-speaking bilingual guide & on-trip support throughout.
We created an itinerary that brings together its full diversity — from Kawagarbo Snow Mountain to hidden Catholic churches and remote Tibetan monasteries in the Nujiang Valley, this is Yunnan at its most real — raw, diverse, unforgettable.
Along the way, we move through ancient towns, Tibetan highlands, hidden valleys, and remote rural communities. We meet local families and artisans, share meals with them, and experience the cultures and traditions that make Yunnan one of China's most diverse regions.
| Days | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dali & Shuanglang | Welcome Dinner at Erhai Lakeside |
| 2 | Dali → Shaxi | Local Market Visit & Rushan Cheese Tasting |
| 3 | Shaxi → Shuhe | Ancient Town of Shaxi, Artisan Visit & Yunnan Fine Dining |
| 4–5 | Shangri-La | Cooking Class, Songzanlin Monastery & Tibetan Family Visit |
| 6–7 | Feilai Monastery & Tacheng | Nixi Pottery, Kawagarbo Sunrise & Tibetan Catholic Community |
| 8–9 | Tacheng → Xizhou | Roasted Pig Picnic, Local Market & Farewell Dinner |
| 10 | Xizhou → Dali | Onward Transfer |
We meet you at Dali airport or rail station and drive to Shuanglang on the shore of Erhai Lake. The afternoon is yours by the water; at dusk, a relaxed welcome dinner — a short briefing, then good food and drink as strangers become fellow travellers.
Dawn at Dali's Beimen Market — mushrooms, fresh cheeses, and mountain herbs set the rhythm of Yunnan's breakfast culture. Enjoy free time in the old town before continuing to Shaxi, once a key stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road. On the way, we stop in Dengchuan to try Rushan, the region's unique Chinese cheese.
We begin in Shaxi, an ancient Tea Horse Road town, where we walk its old streets and explore its living history as a former trading hub. We then continue to Jianchuan to visit local craft workshops and enjoy a simple regional lunch, including local specialties like baba bread. In the afternoon, we drive to Shuhe near Lijiang, where we settle into the old town and end the day with a modern Yunnan fine dining experience.
We explore Yunnan's food culture through a hands-on cooking experience in Lijiang, starting from the market and learning about local ingredients before preparing and enjoying a shared lunch together. In the afternoon, we drive towards Shangri-La via Tiger Leaping Gorge (if weather permits), arriving in the old town for check-in and a relaxed evening.
We start the day with a visit to Songzanlin Monastery where we explore Tibetan Buddhism and the historical role of Shangri-La in Tibetan culture. At midday, we visit a Tibetan family near Napa Lake, sharing a Tibetan-style lunch while learning about daily life and household rituals. In the afternoon, we take a gentle walk across the Napa Lake grasslands before returning to Dukezong Old Town for free time, with an optional evening of traditional Guozhuang dance in the square.
We follow the sacred mountain route from Shangri-La through Nixi and Benzilan to Feilai Monastery, moving from Tibetan craft villages to highland valleys and dramatic mountain viewpoints. Along the way, we visit a black pottery workshop in Nixi, stop for a local lunch in Benzilan, and end the day at Feilai Monastery, where we arrive in time to check in and enjoy views of the Meili Snow Mountain range.
We explore the unique valley of Tacheng, where Tibetan culture meets European-influenced heritage. We begin with a sunrise view of Kawagarbo (Meili) Snow Mountain from Feilai Monastery, then descend through the Lancang River Canyon to Cizhong, where we visit the historic Catholic church and a local winery for a wine tasting, then a local lunch. In the afternoon, we continue towards Tacheng with scenic stops along the way, arriving in the evening to check into our hotel and enjoy a relaxed dinner in this quiet borderland valley.
Day 8 unfolds in Yunnan's hidden valleys at a slower pace, beginning with a free morning in Tacheng where we explore the village, riverside paths, cafés, and surrounding fields at leisure. Around midday, we gather for a picnic lunch on the grasslands before continuing to Shigu, where we take a break and enjoy views of the dramatic bends of the Yangtze River. In the afternoon, we drive on to Xizhou in Dali, arriving in the early evening, checking into our guesthouse, and settling into a quiet night in the old town.
Day 9 is a gentle farewell to Yunnan, spent in Xizhou at a slower pace to reflect, wander, and take in the final moments of the journey. The morning begins with a guided walk through Xizhou's early market, followed by free time for coffee, photography, and personal exploration. Around midday, we gather for a traditional Bai family lunch, before taking the afternoon to rest, sort photos, or choose between optional cycling around Erhai Lake or visiting a tie-dye workshop. In the late afternoon, we end the day with a farewell dinner, sharing memories and closing the journey together.
Day 10 marks the end of our journey, beginning with a relaxed breakfast in Xizhou before a smooth group transfer to Dali Airport or the high-speed rail station.
We stay in places that feel connected to their surroundings — lakefront inns, old-town courtyards, and Tibetan-style retreats, carefully selected along the route.
First-line on Erhai — travertine terraces and soaking tubs open straight onto the water, the island village across the bay.
A Bai courtyard hotel on Shaxi's old Sideng Street — Tea-Horse Road stone walls and a lily pond, timber-ceilinged rooms opening onto bamboo, and a stone-and-beam library for slow afternoons.
Sixteen rooms across two century-old Naxi farmyards off Shuhe's square — restored timber and stone, garden courtyards, a hearth lounge.
A Tibetan courtyard house in Dukezong old town — rammed-earth walls, carved pillars and a thangka-hung hall, steps from the great prayer wheel.
Picture windows onto the sacred Meili snow range — for the dawn alpenglow on Kawagebo, without leaving your room.
A timber-and-glass inn in a remote Tacheng valley, rooms opening onto rice fields and forested mountains.
A seven-room Bai courtyard guesthouse in Xizhou old town — whitewashed walls, timber-beamed rooms, and a quiet garden to slow right down in.
In rare cases of limited availability, some stays may be replaced with hotels of equal standard.
Having spent the past few years guiding travelers and exploring Yunnan, Carrie has developed a deep appreciation for the region's incredible diversity. Now living in a peaceful village in Dali, she loves sharing the landscapes, cultures, and hidden gems she has discovered.
Having called Yunnan home for over a decade, Henry has transformed his passion for the region into a career. From the bustling streets of Kunming to the mountains of Shangri-La, he specializes in uncovering hidden scenery that guidebooks often miss. Henry loves connecting travelers with local culture through authentic food and untold stories, ensuring every journey feels personal and unique.
A Yunnan native with a lifelong passion for his homeland, Li loves sharing the region's landscapes, cultures, and hidden stories with travelers. Years living in Australia and working with international guests give him both local insight and a global perspective.
A 'professional' foodie based in Yunnan, Brad loves drawing closer to new things and new places, and building connections with local people. A food detective who never misses a delicious dish or a flavorful snack, he's the perfect helper to lead you on your food adventure.
Our guides live and breathe Yunnan — building real relationships with the families, artisans and small guesthouses along the route, so you experience the province the way locals do, not just from a bus window.
Tell us a little about your trip and we'll be in touch within ~24 hours. A 20% deposit secures your spot; groups stay small.