Ailao forests and the Tea Horse Road
Nan'en Waterfall, the Jinshan Pass forest and Nakeli's Tea Horse Road connect the Ailao Mountain section with Lancang through forests and old-route villages.
Secrets of the Tribes | Ailao, Jingmai, Cangyuan, Lushi and Lincang in 10 Days
Price on request
Overview
This 10-day, 9-night route covers Kunming, Xinping, Lancang, Cangyuan, Lincang, Lushi and Nanjian. From Kunming, travel through the Ailao Mountains, Jingmai, Cangyuan and Lincang to Lushi, Gumo and Nanjian, with a focus on forests, tea mountains and villages. It suits travellers interested in local cultures who don't mind long road journeys and frequent hotel changes; cloud seas and markets depend on the weather and the day's arrangements.
Highlights
Tea forests and villages on Jingmai Mountain
Jingmai's ancient tea gardens and Wengji village connect tea trees with local life. Sunrise and cloud-sea views depend on weather.
Wengding, Cangyuan and old-route villages
Wengding, Cangyuan rock paintings and village stops introduce southwest Yunnan's local cultures, while Lushi and Gumo add contrasting old-route settlements.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Kunming | Pickup and Free Time
Travel independently to Kunming Changshui Airport, Kunming South Station or Kunming Station. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and free time. All three meals are at your own expense today. Staff will contact you in advance to confirm arrival time and the meeting point.
Day 2Nan'en Waterfall and Jinshan Pass Primeval Forest | Ailao Mountains
After breakfast, drive from Kunming to the Ailao Mountains. Visit Nan'en Waterfall and the primeval forest of Jinshan Forest Park. Stay in Xinping. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Nan'en Waterfall · Jinshan Forest Park
Day 3Ailao Cloud Sea and Nakeli Tea Horse Road | Lancang
Watch the Ailao cloud sea early in the morning if weather permits; this natural spectacle is not guaranteed. After breakfast, drive to Nakeli to explore Tea Horse Road remains and the century-old Rongfa shop. Continue to Lancang for the night. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Ailao cloud sea; weather permitting · Nakeli · Tea Horse Road
Day 4Jingmai Mountain, Wengji, Nuogan and Ancient Tea Trees | Lancang
After breakfast, explore Jingmai Mountain, visiting Wengji and Nuogan ancient villages and the Tea Tree King ancient tea garden to learn about tea culture. Return to Lancang for the night. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense. Jingmai cloud-sea views depend on weather.
Stops: Jingmai Mountain · Wengji Ancient Village · Nuogan Ancient Village · Tea Tree King
Day 5Local Market, Mengsuo Longtan and Longmoye | Cangyuan
After breakfast, visit a local market if it coincides with the market calendar; confirm an alternative before booking if no market is held. Visit Mengsuo Longtan and Longmoye in Ximeng, then drive to Cangyuan. Lunch is at your own expense. Enjoy a Wa King Banquet for dinner and stay in Cangyuan.
Stops: Local market; according to market calendar · Mengsuo Longtan · Longmoye
Day 6Cloud Sea, Landscape Corridor, Cangyuan Rock Art and Wengding | Lincang
After breakfast, watch the cloud sea if the weather allows, then visit the Thousand-Metre Landscape Corridor, the Cangyuan Rock Art and Wengding Village. Electric shuttles at the corridor and at Wengding each cost CNY 30 per person extra and are recommended. If Wengding is closed under local policy, you may visit a Wa community in Banhong Township instead. Continue to Lincang for the night. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Cloud-sea viewing platform · Thousand-Metre Landscape Corridor · Cangyuan Rock Art · Wengding Village; a village in Banhong Township instead if closed
Day 7Yunnan-Burma Railway Heritage Park, Shidong Temple and Lushi Ancient Town
After breakfast, travel toward Lushi, visiting Yunnan-Burma Railway Heritage Park and Shidong Temple along the way. Explore Lushi Ancient Town and stay overnight. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Yunnan-Burma Railway Heritage Park · Shidong Temple · Lushi Ancient Town
Day 8Gumo Village and Vehicle Ferry Crossing | Nanjian
After breakfast, visit Gumo Village in Shili Township. If a vehicle with more than 30 seats cannot access the route, visit Fengqing Confucian Temple instead. Take the vehicle ferry from Yangjiang Pier to Kongquedu Pier, then continue to Nanjian for the night. Ferry arrangements depend on operating conditions; confirm cost coverage when booking. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Gumo Village; Fengqing Confucian Temple instead if large vehicles cannot get through · Yangjiang–Kongquedu vehicle ferry
Day 9Nanjian Earth Forest or Yunnanyi and Dounan Flower Market | Kunming
After breakfast, visit Nanjian Earth Forest; if closed for construction or another reason on the day, visit Yunnanyi instead. Return to Kunming, visit Dounan Flower Market and check into your hotel. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense.
Stops: Nanjian Earth Forest; Yunnanyi if closed · Dounan Flower Market
Day 10Depart Kunming | Transfer According to Your Schedule
After breakfast, transfer for your flight or train; confirm the exact drop-off point when booking. Lunch and dinner are at your own expense, and no extra hotel night is included. If the transfer stops at a tour hub, its location, purpose and duration will be explained before booking.
Included and not included
Included
- Nine nights in two- to three-diamond-rated economy hotels, with three nights in Kunming and Cangyuan upgraded to four-diamond-rated hotels. Outside Kunming, triple rooms and extra beds are unavailable; solo travellers pay a room supplement and are not paired with strangers. Some hotels have no lift or air conditioning.
- Nine breakfasts and one Wa King Banquet; other lunches and dinners are at your own expense.
- Local air-conditioned tour vehicle sized to the group, with a proper seat for each person. For groups of fewer than eight, the driver looks after you but gives no commentary at attractions or museums; for other group sizes, confirm the Mandarin-speaking guide arrangements when booking.
- Main admission to listed attractions; internal scenic-area transport costs extra.
Not included
- Thousand-Metre Landscape Corridor and Wengding electric shuttles each cost CNY 30 per person, payable separately and recommended.
- Single-room supplement, unlisted meals, personal expenses and personal travel accident insurance. Arrange suitable insurance before departure.
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