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ss-03 Vietnam and Yunnan of China

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi D

Arrival in Hanoi and check-in to a downtown hotel. Afternoon free to relax or explore the city before an evening performance of the highly original water-puppets.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi - Lao Cai B/L

Day tour of some of the city’s sites, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the 11th century University, Hoan Kiem Lake and a walking tour of the narrow streets of Hanoi’s bustling old commercial quarter. Evening departure by sleeper train for Lao Cai in the far north.

Overnight on train

Day 3: Laocai - Sapa B/L

Morning arrival and transfer to nearby Sapa. This picturesque old French hill-station overlooking a spectacular valley, lies in the shadow of the mist shrouded Fansipan Mountain – at over 9,500 ft the highest summit in mainland SE Asia. Afternoon at leisure to explore the town or roam the bustling hill- tribe market.

Overnight in Sapa

Day 4: Sapa B/L

Day hike through the area’s incredible scenery – known to the French as the Tonkinese Alps – Hmong and Dzao minority villages, lush forest, towering peaks and crystal clear waterfalls.

Overnight in Sapa

Day 5: Sapa - Yuanyang B/L

Crossing the Chinese border into Yunnan Province, we’ll follow the scenic Red River Valley North West into the Ailao Ranges and the small mountain top town of Yuanyang. Afternoon visit to the region’s famous rice terraces - carved out of the mountain sides over thousands of years by the local Hani and Yi minorities - a truly spectacular site.

Overnight in Yuanyang

Day 6: Yuanyang - Jianshui B/L

The morning at leisure to explore Yuanyuang's lively market, a trading centre for the myriad local minority peoples. Afternoon drive to historic Jianshui and a visit to some of the Town's famous sites including the 14th Century Chaoyang Tower and Confucian Temple, the second largest in China, and the amazing ‘Zhu Family Garden’ mansion, a complex of 42 courtyards and 250 rooms.

Overnight in Jianshui

Day 7: Jianshui - Kunming B/L

Morning trip to the fascinating village of Tuanshan, one of the very few remaining medieval, fortified villages in SW China. This Ming dynasty village receives very few visitors despite being recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Leaving Jianshui district we’ll continue north, via the picturesque FuXian Lake, to the Province’s capital, Kunming.

Overnight in Kunming

Day 8: Kunming B/L

Free morning in Kunming, relax in one of the local coffee shops, or check-out the city’s famous ‘Bamboo Temple’, before an afternoon trip to the spectacular karst formations known as the Stone Forest – another site added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2006.

Overnight in Kunming

Day 9: Kunming - Dali B/L

Morning drive along the route of the old Burma Road, to Weishan Town – one of the oldest and best preserved towns in Yunnan yet one of the least visited – before arriving at our day’s destination, Dali.

Overnight in Dali

Day 10: Dali B/L

Day at leisure to explore this scenic old walled town, former capital of the ethnic Bai people and beautifully situated between the slopes of the Azure Mountains and the shores of Lake Erhai.

Overnight in Dali

Day 11: Dali - Lijiang B/L

Early departure to catch the bustling morning market in the lakeside, Bai village of Xizhou, before continuing north to Lijiang by way of the superb cave temples of sacred Shibao Mountain.

Overnight in Lijiang

Day 12: Lijiang B/L

Discover the ancient centre of the ethnic Naxi Culture and now World Heritage Site of Lijiang - wander the beautifully preserved cobbled streets that line the streams running through the picturesque old town – dramatically situated beneath the towering peaks of the 5,500m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Overnight in Lijiang

Day 13: Lijiang - Walnut Grove B/L

Day hike along the famous and picturesque Tiger Leaping Gorge to the village of Walnut Grove for our overnight stay in a local family run guesthouse.

Overnight in Walnut Grove

Day 14: Walnut Grove - Zhongdian/Shangri-la B/L

Head up to the Tibetan Plateau itself and the town of Zhongdian – now officially renamed Shangri La by the Chinese Government. Evenings stroll around the old streets of Shangri La with a chance to catch some traditional Tibetan dancing in the town square.

Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 15: Shangri-la B/L

Visit the town’s spectacular Tibetan monastery with an afternoon hike through the surrounding hills to check out the scenery, the local Tibetan style villages and last but not least the amazing yaks!

Overnight in Shangri-la

Day 16: Shangri-la - Kunming and departure B

Free morning and afternoon transfer to Kunming and end of tour.