FLEXIBLE ROUTE IDEA
Kunming — Shangri-La · 10 days
Ten days climb gradually from Kunming through Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang to Shangri-La, following changing landscapes and cultures along the Tea Horse Road.
This is a planning framework, not a fixed group tour. Stops, transport and daily pace can all be changed.
Duration
10 days
Best season
All year
Travel pace
Balanced
Suggested route rhythm
The day ranges below show a comfortable starting rhythm. Exact trains, flights and driving time are arranged after your dates are confirmed.
Main interests
- Day 1
Kunming
Use Kunming as a gentle arrival day for markets, lakeside parks and Yunnan food before moving north.
Continue to: Dali · High-speed rail
- Days 2–3
Dali
Look beyond the old town to Erhai villages, Bai architecture, markets and the working landscape around the lake.
Continue to: Shaxi · Private car
- Days 4–5
Shaxi
Use two nights for Sideng market square, village lanes, nearby temples and the quieter Tea Horse Road landscape.
Continue to: Lijiang · Private car
- Days 6–7
Lijiang
Pair Lijiang Old Town with Baisha or Shuhe, Naxi culture and nearby mountain-and-village scenery.
Continue to: Shangri-La · High-speed rail
- Days 8–10
Shangri-La
Build in altitude time before Songzanlin Monastery, old-town lanes and weather-dependent plateau landscapes.
Arrival and departure
Enter through Kunming and travel north through Dali, Shaxi and Lijiang. Depart from Shangri-La airport when schedules work, or return by road to Lijiang for a wider choice of flights and trains.
Why this route works
The northbound order supports gradual altitude gain; Shaxi receives two nights and Shangri-La three days for acclimatization, monastery visits and weather flexibility.
Build your version of this route
Tell me your dates, preferred pace, must-see places and what you would rather skip. I will prepare a free first version for us to review together.
Start with this route