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Tourists eating in Yunnan

Eat Your Way Through Yunnan's Tea & Horse Road, from Dali to Lijiang

8 days / 7 nights

Start: Dali (DLU) End: Lijiang (LJG)

Activity Level 2

From $1500 USD per person

The Essentials:

Eat and explore your way through Yunnan’s Tea & Horse Road, from Dali to Lijiang, plus a unique overnight stay in Tiger Leaping Gorge. Plentiful local meals, cooking classes, market tours, and hot pots galore –  the perfect way to explore Yunnan’s diverse culture is through their equally diverse cuisine.

Price

Join-in trips start at $1,500 USD per person, which may increase slightly due to seasonality. You can browse the calendar for each trip’s specific price. A $500 USD per person deposit is required to reserve your spot. Click here for more pricing  details.

Group Size

Small groups of 4-10, or contact us to ask about a private trip

Accommodations

Boutique guesthouses and hotels that offer comfort and modern amenities while exemplifying Yunnan architecture and culture.

Inclusions

  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • All Meals, Including Soft Drinks & Beer
  • All Tickets/Entrance Fees
  • Transportation, Including Airport Transfers
  • English Speaking Lost Plate Trip Leader
  • China Travel Guide PDF
  • Online Pre-trip Briefing & Q&A Session

Highlights

  • Tiger Leaping Gorge Overnight
  • Dali Old-Town Food Tour
  • Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class
  • Local Market Visits
  • Rose Cake Making
  • Bai-Minority Tye-Dye
  • Shaxi Village
  • Xizhou Village
  • Shuhe & Baisha Old-Towns in Lijiang

Day to Day Itinerary:

This itinerary is subject to changes and adjustments based on seasonality and local operations.

Dali

  • Arrive and check into our hotel in Dali at any time, airport pick up is available on this day until 3pm.
  • Start off with an evening walking food tour – Lost Plate style! Try locally-made rice noodles, fried cheese and more. A Bai minority feast served on the biggest platter you’ve ever seen, and more!

Driving: None

Hotel: A modern boutique guesthouse near Dali’s old-town with excellent mountain and lake views.

Dali old-town
Local rice rolls street food
Fried local cheese
Chicken rice noodles
Dali old-town with mountains
Huge Dai Platter

Dali

  • Start the day with a local breakfast and visit a bustling market in Dali, followed by coffee tasting and free time to explore Dali Old Town.
  • Visit a rose farm, enjoy fresh rose water, and learn to make rose cakes with your guide.
  • Stroll or bike around the lake, followed by dinner at a lakeside spot known for local shrimp, fish, and regional flavors.

Driving: A total of about an hour in and around Dali.

Hotel: Same as previous night.

Market produce
Bowl of rice noodles
Rose farm
Rose cakes
Field of blooming lavender
Fresh rose cakes
Guests making rose cakes
Table with fish and dishes

Xizhou & Shaxi

  • Leave Dali for Xizhou to explore its historic streets, try freshly baked Xizhou Baba, and watch it being made in a traditional charcoal oven.
  • For lunch, enjoy freshly-caught fish, local chicken served with chili and rice cakes, plum-fried pork, fried eggs with jasmine flower, and more.
  • Learn Bai minority fabric dyeing and create your own handkerchief before heading to Shaxi for a courtyard family-style dinner.

Driving: 30 mins from Dali to Xizhou, 1.5 hrs from Xizhou to Shaxi.

Hotel: Boutique courtyard guesthouse in Shaxi.

Shaxi old-town
Fresh xizhou baba
Xizhou Baba Bread
Xizhou old-town
Xizhou old-town barber
Erhai Lake View
Guests doing tie-dye
Handkerchiefs made by guests
Table of dishes including fried cheese
Shaxi old-town

Shaxi

  • Enjoy a relaxed morning at local coffee shops before lunch featuring Yunnan wild mushroom hotpot loaded with fresh, foraged varieties.
  • Take a 2-hour tuk-tuk ride through villages, stopping at a hidden hillside cafe and a unique bookstore in a nearby village.
  • End the day with a Bai minority dinner featuring tree moss with eggs, lemongrass pork ribs, and local cheese.

Driving: None

Hotel: Boutique courtyard guesthouse in Shaxi (same as previous night).

Shaxi Bridge
Shaxi old-town
Copper pot rice
Chicken hot pot with pickles
View from Shaxi cafe
Shaxi bookstore
Shaxi cafe view
Cured ham and sausage

Shaxi > Tiger Leaping Gorge

  • Visit Tiger Leaping Gorge for breathtaking canyon views, and enjoy an optional easy 2-hour hike from the guesthouse with a coffee shop break along the way (mostly flat with gentle slopes), or simply relax back at the guesthouse.
  • Stay in a villa with incredible views, then join the locals after dinner for a cozy bonfire filled with music, laughter, and dancing.

Driving: About 2 hours from Shaxi to Tiger Leaping Gorge, plus 30 minutes to the hotel.

Hotel: Private boutique villas deep within Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Viewpoint
Tiger Leaping Gorge River
Tiger Leaping Gorge River
Dali Lijiang Trip 11
Tiger Leaping Gorge Villa View
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking View
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hottub

Tiger Leaping Gorge > Lijiang

  • Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with stunning views before driving to Lijiang to explore its charming cobblestone streets.
  • Stay in the less touristy Shuhe and savor a Naxi hot pot dinner featuring cured pork ribs cooked in local broth on a hot stone slab.

Driving: Approx. 2 hours from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Lijiang.

Hotel: Boutique courtyard guesthouse at Shuhe old-town in Lijiang.

Lijiang Shuhe Old-town
Lijiang old-town
Lijiang Old-town
Guests around pork rib hotpot
Copper hotpot
Lijiang Shuhe Old-town

Lijiang

  • Start by exploring Lijiang’s oldest market before preparing lunch in a private cooking class with with Naxi locals, making three dishes.
  • Visit Lijiang old town to stroll its quiet lanes and enjoy coffee while soaking in the architecture.
  • Our final dinner will be a huge selection of local Naxi minority dishes, including roast pork belly with mint, fried eggplant, spicy fish, and a ton more. The perfect way to end the trip!

Driving: A total of about 30 minutes in and around Lijiang.

Hotel: Boutique courtyard guesthouse at Shuhe old-town (same as previous night).

Locals at the Lijiang market
Fresh rice noodles
Making rice noodles at cooking class
Making dessert at cooking class
Yunnan Ghost Chicken

Lijiang

  • Enjoy your last moments in Yunnan before you depart. Feel free to explore Shuhe old-town for some last minute shopping or cafe hopping. Airport drop-off is included any time today.
  • For those departing later, we’ll be happy to make some recommendations for the day, like a day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Must-See Tour Highlights:

Visit ancient old-towns and fairytale villages as you discover the best local cuisine you'll only find with us.

Visit a beautiful rose farm while your guide instructs you on how to make one of the most popular local treats: rose cakes.

All meals are included, plentiful, and include beer! Enjoy cured meats, fried cheese, hotpots, and dozens of plates every day.

Explore Shaxi and the surrounding countryside, stopping at a hidden-away hillside cafe and exploring a one-of-a-kind book store completely tucked away in an ancient neighboring village.

Get the unique chance to spend the night in Tiger Leaping Gorge, in your own private villa, with incredible balcony and poolside views.

Explore Lijiang's oldest market to shop shoulder to shoulder with Naxi locals before preparing lunch in a private cooking studio with a local Naxi family.

Visit ancient old-towns and fairytale villages as you discover boutique cafes and the best local cuisine you'll only find with us.

Visit a beautiful rose farm that sprawls for acres while your guide instructs you on how to make one of the most popular local treats: rose cakes.

All meals are included, plentiful, and include beer! Enjoy cured meats, fried cheese, hotpots, and dozens of plates every day.

Explore Shaxi and the surrounding countryside, stopping at a hidden-away hillside cafe and exploring a one-of-a-kind book store completely tucked away in an ancient neighboring village.

Get the unique chance to spend the night in Tiger Leaping Gorge, in your own private villa, with incredible balcony and poolside views.

Explore Lijiang's oldest market to shop shoulder to shoulder with Naxi locals before preparing lunch in a private cooking studio with a local Naxi family.

Spend 8 days in the land of cured ham legs, homemade breads, bubbling bowls of rice noodles, and fried local cheese. It’s where Chinese artists come to escape the nation’s newfound love of tarmac. Local live-music bars and evening bonfire square-dance sessions are opt-ins we highly recommend on this tour. And to us, that constant ebb and flow of peoples and their appetites in a climate well suited to agriculture means it’s the perfect storm for all things crazy delicious.

We have personally curated this 7-night, 8-day food and sightseeing tour from Dali to Lijiang with a few stops in between – and it’s become one of our most popular trips! It’s a great balance between fun interactive activities and free-time to explore the old towns of Yunnan on your own.

This tour takes place at high altitude, with elevations ranging between 2000m and 2500m above sea level. 

You may also want to consider our trip to Shangrila and Yunnan’s Tibetan Region if you are looking to experience remote villages off the tourist track. These two trips are often run in tandem so it is possible to join both.

Where We'll Stay:

  • Dali (1 night)
  • Xizhou (1 night)
  • Shaxi (2 nights)
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge (1 night)
  • Lijiang (2 nights)
Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel

Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel

Wuliu Hotel

Wuliu Hotel

Yachajiao Manor

Yachajiao Manor

The Bivou

The Bivou

The villages visited during this trip do not offer well-known hotel brands. Accommodations may change based on group size and availability. If so, an equivalent will be used.

  • Join-in trips require a minimum of 4 people to operate. You should only purchase your transportation to/from Yunnan after you receive a tour confirmation notice. Private tours (for an additional fee) are always an option if your join-in trip does not hit the minimum amount of people.
  • A deposit of $500 USD per person is required to secure your spot. This deposit is non-refundable for any reason unless the trip is cancelled by Lost Plate due to the minimum group size not being met.
  • Solo travelers not sharing a room will incur a single occupancy fee of $309 USD. See more details in our FAQ below.
  • Payment of your remaining balance will be collected 14 days before the trip starts.
  • If you need to cancel, the amount you have already paid cannot be refunded. This is because spots on each trip is limited, and because we arrange accommodations when you reserve your spot. You are able to transfer your spot to someone else.
  • Payments can be made by credit card, WeChat, or Alipay.

Spend 8 days in the land of cured ham legs, homemade breads, bubbling bowls of rice noodles, and fried local cheese. It’s where Chinese artists come to escape the nation’s newfound love of tarmac. Local live-music bars and evening bonfire square-dance sessions are opt-ins we highly recommend on this tour. And to us, that constant ebb and flow of peoples and their appetites in a climate well suited to agriculture means it’s the perfect storm for all things crazy delicious.

We have personally curated this 7-night, 8-day food and sightseeing tour from Dali to Lijiang with a few stops in between – and it’s become one of our most popular trips! It’s a great balance between fun interactive activities and free-time to explore the old towns of Yunnan on your own.

This tour takes place at high altitude, with elevations ranging between 2000m and 2500m above sea level. 

You may also want to consider our trip to Shangrila and Yunnan’s Tibetan Region if you are looking to experience remote villages off the tourist track. These two trips are often run in tandem so it is possible to join both.

Where We'll Stay:

  • Dali (1 night)
  • Xizhou (1 night)
  • Shaxi (2 nights)
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge (1 night)
  • Lijiang (2 nights)
Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel

Dali Iridescent Clouds Hotel

Wuliu Hotel

Wuliu Hotel

Yachajiao Manor

Yachajiao Manor

The Bivou

The Bivou

Accommodations may change based on group size and availability. If so, an equivalent will be used.

  • Join-in trips require a minimum of 4 people to operate. You should only purchase your transportation to/from Yunnan after you receive a tour confirmation notice. Private tours (for an additional fee) are always an option if your join-in trip does not hit the minimum amount of people.
  • A deposit of $500 USD per person is required to secure your spot. This deposit is non-refundable for any reason unless the trip is cancelled by Lost Plate due to the minimum group size not being met.
  • Solo travelers not sharing a room will incur a single occupancy fee of $309 USD. See more details in our FAQ below.
  • Payment of your remaining balance will be collected 14 days before the trip starts.
  • If you need to cancel, the amount you have already paid cannot be refunded. This is because spots on each trip is limited, and because we arrange accommodations when you reserve your spot. You are able to transfer your spot to someone else.
  • Payments can be made by credit card, WeChat, or Alipay.

Watch:

Chinese STREET FOOD in Dali + China’s BIGGEST Platter of Food!!

Yunnan’s Xizhou Village – Hidden Street Food They DON’T Show Tourists!

Traveler on a rope bridge

Our Trips Hit Different.

The Lost Plate Style: Our trips are designed to give you a hassle-free and comfortable experience, focusing on authenticity and unique activities without the luxury price tag. We explore off the beaten path spots, eat authentic local food at family-run mom ‘n pop restaurants, and take care of all logistics so you can relax.

Our Itineraries are personally designed by our founder (psst, that’s her hiking through Tiger Leaping Gorge). We do not “plug and play” typical itineraries like everyone else. Instead, we go the extra mile to take you to places that WE would travel to, making sure you get a unique (and delicious) experience.

Our Guides & Trip Leaders are hired and trained by us and lead our trips regularly. This means you’ll get a professional experience led by a team that is passionate about what we do (and eat). 

Guest Reviews:

Read All Our Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions:

Private trips can be arranged based on availability. This is ideal for families, large groups, or guests who don’t want to join with other travelers. An additional private trip fee will be charged (which is waived for groups of 8 or more). Simply contact us to book so we can check availability.

We are happy to make simple customizations to private trips, such as the start time/date or the duration of the trip.

Beyond that, we generally do not arrange customized tours. We work very hard to create our tour routes and build strong relationships with our vendors to ensure the quality and service they provide. It’s also important for us to share the stories of each destination and vendor that we visit. If your request involves visiting a destination or vendor that we don’t have an existing relationship with, we will politely decline.

We generally recommend join-in tours for children aged 8+. With that said, we ask parents to use their own judgement to determine whether the itinerary of this trip is appropriate for their children without impacting the experience of other guests. Due to the schedule each day, it is important that we stay on time and there may not always be an opportunity for you to take breaks or go back to your hotel for rest. With that said, this trip has a good amount of built-in free time. 

Due to the limited capacity on our join-in trips, discounts are not generally provided for children. This is always determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on the size of your family, the ages of your children, and how many hotel rooms you will require.

Booking a private trip for your family is always an option, based on availability. This allows you some added flexibility during the itinerary to make sure nothing starts too early/late and so you have time to rest when needed.

Travelers with children should always contact us before booking so we can provide detailed prices for you.

We welcome all travelers, but ask that guests use their own judgement to determine whether the itinerary of this trip is appropriate without impacting the experience of other guests. We do not recommend this trip for anyone who is unable to be on their feet for 1-2 hours at a time, or requires mobility assistance such as a wheelchair or walker.

Booking a private trip is always an option. This gives you some added flexibility during the itinerary to make sure you have extra time when needed during the day.

Yes! Our join-in trips are perfect for solo travelers because it gives you the ability to travel with others and the advantage of being able to try a large variety of food. 

All of our join-in trips have a minimum of 4 people. Our website will accept your solo booking and we’ll keep in touch to let you know when the minimum number of people has been met. If it’s not met, and we are unable to reschedule you to another date that works for you, we will provide a full refund for your booking. 

The single occupancy fee for this trip is $309 USD. This is necessary because accommodation is the largest cost of the entire trip, and it is designed to be split by two people. While we do our best to make this reasonable (the single occupancy fee doesn’t cover the entire gap), it is necessary for us cover this cost.

Feel free to contact us at any time if you’d like us to check your dates of interest and we’ll let you know if anyone else has booked the trip or if there are nearby alternative dates.

If you know anything about Lost Plate, you know that you’ll never go hungry. All meals are included on this trip. You can expect simple yet hearty breakfasts, plus lunches and dinners that offer a huge variety of dishes in large quantities. We often visit family-owned restaurants that specialize in one type of cuisine or dish, and there’s a reason why we visit every single place. Our goal is to make food the highlight of your trip!

Meals include local beer, soft drinks, and bottled water.

All dietary requests must be communicated at the time of booking. When booking online, you will have the opportunity to let us know if you have any dietary requirements or special requests. Please use the following information to understand if this trip is right for you.

This tour can accommodate vegetarian travelers, including those who are pescatarian and those who do not eat beef, pork, seafood, shellfish, and/or mutton. However, there will not always be direct substitutes for every dish that we try on the tour.  Instead, we’ll order extra vegetarian items. Please note that every stop we visit during the trip does use meat in their kitchen. It is important for us to know how flexible your restrictions are (ie; are you able to have meat broth used for hotpot). 

This tour can also accommodate gluten-free travelers since rice and rice noodles are the primary staple foods. However, soy sauce is widely used in Chinese cuisine and will be difficult to avoid. Please communicate your strictness with us. 

This tour cannot accommodate severe allergies as we do not have full control over the preparation for your food. Travelers that don’t eat nuts are welcome, but kitchens do use nuts and cross-contamination is possible.

If you have any questions not answered here, please contact us prior to booking.

Yes! Feel free to arrive early in Dali or stay in Lijiang after the trip. In fact, it’s a good idea if you need some time to adjust to the higher altitude. We are able to pass on our special hotel rates to you so you don’t need to switch hotels as well. Just let us know your dates and we will check rates and availability for you. Please note that airport pick-up/drop-off is not available if arriving/departing outside of our itinerary.

We ask all travelers to independently apply for their tourist visa to China. We typically are not arranging your entire trip to China, so this gives you flexibility on the dates and duration for your visa application. We are able to provide documents such as your trip itinerary and hotel confirmations to aid with your visa application. The price of obtaining this visa is not included in the tour price.

Visa policies change often and vary by nationality. You should do your own research to understand if your nationality will require a visa, and what the process and timeline is for your nationality. 

  • Your tourist visa for China.
  • Transportation/flight tickets to and from Yunnan. This gives you the flexibility to arrive and depart when you would like, on the flights of your choice.
  • Shopping and activities during your free time.
  • While basic travel insurance will be provided by Lost Plate, coverage is not all-encompassing. Each guest should obtain their own health and travel coverage.
  • Optional gratuities for your guide.

We’ve rated this trip a level of 2 out of 3. While there are no strenuous activities required during the itinerary, you will need to be on your feet for a few hours at a time while visiting some destinations. The itinerary also involves changing hotels 4 times during the trip, and includes multiple car rides of approx. 2-3 hours.

The hiking activities in Tiger Leaping Gorge are the most demanding of the trip, but they are optional. You can still experience incredible views without taking part in these activities.

This entire trip takes place at elevations between 2,000–2,700m (6,500–8,858ft) above sea level, where lower oxygen levels may be noticeable, especially during activities like climbing stairs or hiking.

Yunnan has earned the phrase “the place of eternal spring” due to it’s generally pleasant weather year-round. Winters are sunny, dry and mild, while summers are known as “rainy season,” when showers are common (which also block the sun’s heat). There really isn’t a bad time of year to visit this region of Yunnan. 

We’re excited to provide all of our trip guests a self-curated travel guide to China. This detailed PDF includes information about the following:

  • Visa policies
  • Mobile plans, internet, and VPNs
  • Essential mobile apps for payment and travel
  • Cultural overview & etiquette
  • Language guide
  • Health & safety
Approximately 1-2 weeks before the trip begins, we will host an online pre-trip briefing and Q&A session for all travelers joining your trip. This will cover important information you need to know before arrival, a review of your itinerary, and time for Q&A. It will last approximately 30 minutes, and a recording will be available for those who are unable to attend the live session. 

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