Sample itinerary, Southwest China
Yunnan itinerary: 7 days from Kunming to Shangri-La
Seven days is enough for northwest Yunnan if you travel one way: fly into Kunming, drive north through Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge, and fly out of Shangri-La. The route climbs from about 1,900 metres to about 3,300 metres, so the altitude rises gradually. Go between March and June or September and November.
Elevation of the main stops, on the same 0–4,000 m scale we use for all three regions. The dashed line marks 3,000 metres, where we keep the first evening light.
- Length
- 7 days, one way
- Arrive
- Kunming (KMG)
- Depart
- Shangri-La (DIG)
- Best months
- March to June, September to November
- Highest night
- Shangri-La, about 3,300 m
- Driving
- Mostly 2 to 4 hours a day; one longer gorge day
Day by day
As you read, the map draws the route to where each day ends. The bar shows that night's elevation on the same 0–4,000 m scale; the tick marks 3,000 metres.
- Day 1
Arrive in Kunming
Land in Kunming and keep the evening easy. If you arrive early, walk the lakeshore at Green Lake; otherwise rest. Kunming is a useful buffer for long-haul arrivals before the road north.
- Day 2
Kunming to Dali
Take the train or a private car west to Dali and stay by Erhai Lake rather than inside the old town walls. Leave the afternoon free for the lakeshore.
- Day 3
Dali and Erhai Lake
See the Three Pagodas early, then spend the day in Xizhou for Bai courtyard houses and the rice fields by the lake, with tie-dye workshops in nearby Zhoucheng. Cycling a stretch of the lakeshore is the easiest way to see it.
- Day 4
Dali to Lijiang via Shaxi
Stop in Shaxi, the best-preserved market town on the old Tea Horse Road, for lunch and the Friday market if your dates allow. Continue to Lijiang and stay in Shuhe or Baisha, quieter than the main old town.
- Day 5
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
The high cable car to the Glacier Park is the goal, with Blue Moon Valley and the lower Spruce Meadow as the cloudy-day option. Cable car tickets go on sale only 7 days ahead, by real name, and sell out on busy days, so we book them the day they open. Evening in Lijiang Old Town after the day crowds leave.
- Day 6
Tiger Leaping Gorge to Shangri-La
Drive into Tiger Leaping Gorge for the upper viewpoints, then climb onto the plateau. Shangri-La sits around 3,300 metres, so keep this evening light and skip alcohol.
- Day 7
Shangri-La and departure
See Songzanlin Monastery in the morning, walk Dukezong Old Town and its giant prayer wheel, then fly out. Add a night here if you want Napa Lake or Pudacuo National Park.
Is this route right for you?
It suits you if
- You want culture and landscape in equal measure.
- You are comfortable with a one-way route and four hotel changes.
- You can take a slow first evening at altitude.
Choose something else if
- You must avoid high altitude entirely.
- You want Xishuangbanna, Yuanyang or Tengchong in the same week. Those are separate trips.
When to go
- March to June
- Spring flowers and mild days. Mountain visibility changes quickly; Shangri-La can still see snow in March.
- July and August
- Rainy season. Green and quieter, but cloud often hides the snow peaks.
- September to November
- Usually the clearest skies and best walking weather. Early October is crowded with domestic holiday travel.
Where to stay
- Dali
- A lakeside boutique hotel on Erhai, rather than the old town, for quiet evenings and views.
- Lijiang
- Shuhe or Baisha, or the edge of the old town where cars can reach the door with luggage.
- Shangri-La
- Somewhere warm with good heating; some hotels offer in-room oxygen, which helps on the first night.
The 14-day version
With two weeks, keep the same first week and continue west to Deqin for Meili Snow Mountain, then down to Tengchong's volcanic hot springs before flying back via Kunming.
- Days 8–9: Shangri-La to Deqin, two nights facing Meili Snow Mountain
- Day 10: Return to Shangri-La
- Days 11–13: Fly to Tengchong via Kunming for hot springs, volcanoes and Heshun village
- Day 14: Fly home via Kunming
Not every place in Yunnan fits one route. See what else there is, grouped by interest, and tell us which draws you.
Have this route planned for your dates
Every sample here changes with your dates, party and pace. This route fits our Essentials trip design (US$190). Add the WhatsApp concierge for help while you are on the road, or ask us to pass the final plan to a licensed partner agency to book hotels, drivers and guides.
Yunnan itinerary questions
Do Americans need a visa for this Yunnan route?
Yes. China's 240-hour visa-free transit covers Kunming, Dali and Lijiang but not Diqing prefecture, so Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge from the north bank and Meili Snow Mountain are outside the permitted area. Apply for a tourist (L) visa; our visa guide walks through it step by step.
Is 7 days enough for Yunnan?
Yes, for the northwest: Kunming, Dali, Shaxi, Lijiang and Shangri-La. Southern Yunnan (Xishuangbanna, Yuanyang) and western Yunnan (Tengchong) need their own extra days.
How bad is the altitude in Shangri-La?
Shangri-La is about 3,300 metres. Most travelers manage with a gradual approach through Dali and Lijiang and a quiet first evening. Ask your doctor first if you have heart or lung conditions.
Should I take the train or a private driver in Yunnan?
Take the high-speed train from Kunming to Dali and Dali to Lijiang if you are not stopping in Shaxi. Use a private driver for Shaxi, Tiger Leaping Gorge and the climb to Shangri-La.
How do I avoid the crowds in Lijiang?
Stay in Shuhe or Baisha, visit the old town early in the morning or after 8 pm, and avoid the first week of October and Chinese New Year.
How far ahead should I book Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?
Tickets go on sale only 7 days ahead and are sold by real name; the Glacier Park cable car has a daily limit and sold out over the October 2026 holiday. We book the day your date opens and keep Blue Moon Valley, which needs no cable car, as the cloudy-day backup.
Planning Yunnan?
Tell us your dates and who is traveling. The route check is free.