The Best Way to Tour Erhai Lake in Dali

Visiting Dali without touring Erhai Lake is a waste! But seriously, I advise against driving yourself.
Every time I came to Dali before, transportation was such a headache—self-driving left me exhausted 🫠, cycling turned me into a sunburnt mess 🥵, and carpooling was chaotic and full of scams. This time, I finally found the perfect way—renting a car for a private Erhai Lake tour is absolutely amazing!!!

You can stop wherever you want throughout the day✨, enjoying the freedom like you're starring in a road movie. The best part? No rushing, no shopping stops, no pressure‼️ The cost-effectiveness is off the charts🛫️.

——— 🚗【My Highlight Erhai Lake Route】(Adjustable!)
Dali Ancient Town → S-shaped Road → Xizhou Ancient Town → Zhou Village → Shuanglang → Xiao Putuo → Luwo Mountain → Rainbow Road in Wenbi Village → Ideal State

The entire route is about 140km, and I spent 9 hours on it—a truly pure and free trip. Taking photos, daydreaming, sipping coffee, strolling leisurely... you control the pace📸.

🔥 If you're a slow traveler｜I recommend splitting it into 2 days for a more relaxed experience:

Day 1 West Erhai Line: Ancient Town → Three Pagodas → Cang-Er Avenue → Panxi S-shaped Road (cycling here is super healing!) → Lang Bridge (perfect for photos under the bridge) → Xizhou (rice fields + corner buildings) → Haixi Park → Zhou Village for tie-dye experience

Day 2 East Erhai Line: Ancient Town → Shuanglang (best views of Erhai 📸) → Luwo Mountain (popular abandoned window photo spot) → Wenbi Village (Rainbow Road & sunset) → Ideal State (pretend you're in Santorini) → Xing Sheng Bridge

——— 🚗 Vehicle options are impressively diverse!!
From comfortable sedans/SUVs → 7-seater vans → 9-seater Mercedes → 19-seater minibuses. Perfect for friends, families, or girl squads—cost per person is really affordable!

💡 All-inclusive fees: fuel + parking + driver service ✅ No hidden charges!! Highway tolls are optional (you can choose not to take the highway).

——— 👨🏻‍💼 Huge shoutout to our local driver! Not only is he a living map 🗺️, but he also avoids traffic jams, recommends genuinely good restaurants, shares local customs, helps with photos, and plans your schedule—so thoughtful, he feels like a friend.

——— 🙌 Who should opt for a private car tour?
· Lazy travelers who want freedom without planning
· Couples/families who want a hassle-free trip
· Photo enthusiasts who don’t want to rush
· Those who refuse shopping stops and superficial tours

——— 📌 Handy Tips:
· Start at 9 AM⏰ for soft lighting and no backlight
· Wear white dresses or ethnic-style outfits👗 for stunning photos!
· Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Don’t forget sunglasses and hats🕶️
· Bring a light jacket—the lakeside can be windy️

——— One car + One lake + One full day of your own time—this is the right way to experience Erhai Lake 💙