7-Day Yunnan Travel Guide

Yunnan 7-day tour routes and prices vary significantly depending on season, transportation, and accommodation standards. Below are three mainstream itineraries for reference (using 2025 off-season prices as examples; peak season requires 20%-50% higher budget):

Option 1: Classic Northwest Yunnan Route (Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La)

Route Highlights: Combines nature and culture, ideal for first-time visitors

Itinerary:

• Day1-2 Kunming

Stone Forest (¥130 entrance) → Feeding seagulls at Dianchi Lake → Kunming Old Street

Accommodation: Budget hotels ¥150-250/night

• Day3-4 Dali

Dali Ancient Town → Cycling around Erhai Lake (¥50/day bike rental) → Shuanglang Ancient Town → Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple (¥75)

Accommodation: Lakeside guesthouses ¥300-500/night

• Day5-6 Lijiang

Lijiang Ancient Town → Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (¥100 entrance + ¥140 cable car) → Blue Moon Valley → Shuhe Ancient Town

Accommodation: Naxi-style guesthouses ¥200-400/night

• Day7 Shangri-La

Potatso National Park (¥138) → Dukezong Ancient Town → Return

Transport: Kunming-Dali HSR 2hrs (¥145), Dali-Lijiang HSR 1hr (¥80), Lijiang-Shangri-La bus 4hrs (¥120)

Estimated Total Cost (per person):

Budget (hostels + buses): ¥2500-3500

Comfort (guesthouses + private cars): ¥4000-5500

Includes tickets, transport, accommodation, basic meals (excludes round-trip to Yunnan)

Option 2: Southern Yunnan Tropical Route (Kunming-Pu'er-Xishuangbanna)

Route Highlights: Rainforests, Dai culture, tea mountain experiences

Itinerary:

• Day1-2 Kunming

Yunnan Ethnic Village (¥90) → Dounan Flower Market

• Day3-4 Pu'er

Pu'er Tea Horse Trail (¥160) → Sun River Forest Park (¥150) → Tea-picking experience

• Day5-7 Xishuangbanna

XTBG Botanical Garden (¥80) → Wild Elephant Valley (¥60) → Dai Minority Park (¥45) → Gaozhuang Night Market

Transport: Kunming-Pu'er HSR 3hrs (¥200), Pu'er-Xishuangbanna bus 2hrs (¥50)

Estimated Cost:

Budget: ¥2800-3800

Comfort: ¥4500-6000

Note: Nov-Apr is peak season in Xishuangbanna with doubled accommodation prices

Option 3: Customized In-Depth Tour (Lijiang-based)

For: Travelers preferring slow-paced, immersive experiences

Highlights:

• Shaxi Ancient Town (last surviving Tea-Horse Road market)

• Yuhu Village (original Naxi settlement)

• Baisha Ancient Town (quietest among Lijiang's three ancient towns)

• Tiger Leaping Gorge trek (Middle Section, ¥50)

Cost Reference:

Private car (7-seater): ¥800-1000/day

Premium B&Bs (e.g., Lijiang Hidden Retreat): ¥800-1500/night

Total Budget: ¥6000+/person (includes customized guides, specialty dining)

Important Notes:

1. Transport: Scattered attractions recommend HSR + private cars to avoid long-drive fatigue.

2. Ticket discounts: Student/Senior cards get 50% off; some sites (e.g., Stone Forest) offer off-season discounts for non-local visitors.

3. Dining: Try wild mushroom hotpot (Jun-Sep) and cured pork rib hotpot (~¥50-80/meal).

4. Altitude sickness: Shangri-La averages 3450m - prepare oxygen cans (~¥60/can).

For precise quotes, provide travel dates, group size, and preferences (photography, family, hiking etc.) to connect with local agencies for real-time packages.