Karen
4 days / 3 nights
Start & End in: Guilin (KWL)
Level 2: This is a relaxed trip with optional physical activity and lush boutique accommodations.
The Essentials:
Explore Guilin and Yangshuo away from the tourist traps on our food-forward 4-day trip through China’s most famous landscape. From eating all of the best (and unique) local dishes to exploring the countryside in vintage sidecars to boutique poolside views, get ready for a delicious adventure like no other!
Price
From 4,800 RMB per adult based on double occupancy. A 2,000 RMB per person deposit is required to reserve your spot. Remaining balances are collected 14 days before the trip starts. Single occupancy fees from 1,600 RMB per person. Prices change slightly due to seasonality.
Group Size
Small groups of 4-10 guests per tour.
Hotels
One night at the a riverside hotel located in the center of Guilin. Two nights at a lush boutique hotel with poolside views in the countryside outside Yangshuo.
Activities
Evening food tour of Guilin, local market visit, hidden wild caves with a local guide, countryside vintage sidecar adventure, local cooking class, boat ride down the river, all meals.
Private Tours
We accept private tour requests for small groups of 2-12 people for any date – based on availability. Contact us if you are interested in this option.
The landscape around Guilin is surrounded by jagged limestone karsts that endlessly fill the horizon in every direction. Rivers zig-zag around these karsts to create one of China’s most classic scenes that has been celebrated in paintings, the 20 Yuan bank note, and as a backdrop in a Star Wars movie. So celebrated, that every child’s Chinese textbook describes the area as “the best scenery under heaven.”
Unlike other developing cities in China, most buildings in Guilin are limited to 20 floors as not to dwarf the hills or spoil the views. But beyond Guilin, a wonderland of quaint villages, outdoor recreation, and endless beauty exists. The karsts hide a network of caves found deep in the jungle where relics date back almost 10,000 years, proof of the area’s history, culture…and of course cuisine.
Known for being both spicy and sour, Guilin’s cuisine is a combination of Cantonese, Hunanese, and local minority. On menus, you’ll find local staples like taro, snails, fresh fish, bamboo, and tropical fruits. Ingredients are often pickled in every manner, and even the local chili sauce includes a hefty dollop of fermented soybean.
We have personally designed this 4-day trip that ignores the area’s tourist traps and introduces you to the real Guilin and Yangshuo. Dive into the local cuisine and markets, relax by the pool surrounded by limestone cliffs, and explore the nearby countryside on a real adventure that you’d never discover on your own.
The nature of this trip is relaxed. While the itinerary is packed full of food and fun, there will be time for you to get off your feet and enjoy your surroundings.
Kick-off your trip with an introduction to the area's delicious cuisine on a Lost Plate style food tour through central Guilin.
Soak in the incredible karst landscape views from our carefully selected boutique hotel.
Work up an appetite at our local cooking class, eat your way through a local market, and devour the best local dishes in a private kitchen.
Jump in a vintage sidecar to get off the beaten path and explore the beautiful Yangshuo countryside like no one else!
Beneath the karst cliffs are a network of caves hidden in the jungle. Explore the stalactites, stalagmites, and narrow passageways of the underground.
Float down the river and cool off while surrounded by karst hills, farms, and local life.
Driving: Approx. 30 mins from the airport to the city center.
Hotel: 4-star hotel located along the river in central Guilin.
* This itinerary is subject to changes and adjustments based on seasonality and local operations.
Our Trip Leaders.
We personally select and train each guide that lead our trips. As the pioneers that curate each Lost Plate itinerary, and each bite, we know the ins and outs of every mile we travel. We work along-side local guides to create a perfectly balanced experience that no one else can offer.
“My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our week-long adventure through Yunnan with Lost Plate! Our tour guides Brian and Evon were fabulous. It was so nice to take out all the guess work of traveling to a new place and we were able to fully trust them with getting us to great food and places to see. They took us to some spots that we’d never really find on our own. We’d love to do one of their other multi-day trips in the future!”
Karen
“Our first time to Yunnan and a great introduction to the best part of China. As ever with Lost Plate Food Tours, there was a well thought through and executed itinerary with some off the beaten places (and dishes) that you’d never find in your own. Highlights included the mountain bike, the cycling around Shaxi, and all of Dali!”
Ajmy05
“My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the 4-day Lost Plate tour of Chengdu and Leshan. We saw new and unforgettable parts of China and had experiences we never encountered before, like picking and roasting our own tea leaves. Thanks for opening up another side of China to us, Lost Plate!”
Tom
“Amazing food at local, hidden restaurants that you probably wouldn’t find yourself. Authentic, delicious food! Great sight-seeing. Stayed in an amazing cave hotel and got to see the terracotta warriors!”
Joel
“This was our fifth Lost Plate Tour experience so we are clearly fans! It was a great introduction to Xian, both the local food (some of the best I’ve experienced in China) and local sites – my highlight was cycling around the city wall! Lost Plate is great at finding excellent venues and spots that you’d never find by yourself.”
Ajmy05
“As an expat living in China, it was a great way to explore and travel while navigating changing regulations during COVID. There is A LOT of food so come hungry and be prepared to eat! The food was amazing and at local restaurants that I would not have found on my own. They really take you off the typical “tourist path” when it comes to food so you get to eat like the locals and have some of the best versions of each dish in town. The local guides were great at explaining the history of the historic sites we went to and eager to share what they know. Over the 4 days, we saw the Muslim Quarter, the Wild Goose Pagoda, the City wall, Cave Dwellings outside of the city, and the Teracotta warriors. Overall, I am glad I traveled to Xi’an with Lost Plate!”
thetravelingbroad
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. We promise the food will be the highlight of your trip!
Dinners include beer. Non-alcoholic options such as tea, mineral water, and soft drinks will always be available. Drinks like soda water and cocktails will not be available at the restaurants we visit.
All of our tours have been designed to accommodate vegetarian diets. We will always make sure everyone gets enough to eat. Please understand that meals are typically eaten in restaurants that specialize in one dish, so there will not always be direct substitute for everything we eat.
Please let us know when paying your deposit if you have any special dietary requirements.
We’ve rated this trip at a level of 2 out of 4, and there is no strenuous activity required during this trip. You should plan to be on and off your feet as we sightsee and explore the sights. Any strenuous physical activity will be optional.
One of our optional activities is to explore a network of natural, wild caves. For the adventurous, this will prove to be a challenging and unique experience. Be prepared to wear a helmet and headlamp, and squeeze through narrow spaces.
Yes, children are welcome to join this trip. We ask that groups with children exercise their own judgement and contact us with any questions. 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.
Due to limited capacities on our trips, discounts are not generally provided for children. Contact us with any questions or concerns and we will assess each situation individually.
Flights to and from Guilin are not included. This gives you the flexibility to arrive and depart when you would like, on the flights or trains of your choice.
Yes! Feel free to arrive early or stay extra days. 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 pickup and drop-offs to/from the airport/train station are not available for those that arrive before our itinerary starts or depart after it ends.
The minimum number of guests for this trip is 4, and the maximum is 10. All of our trips guarantee a small, intimate group for your pleasure and enjoyment – no big busses and tour guides waving flags here.
Your trip will have one Lost Plate trip leader with you the entire time and one driver/vehicle that stays with us for the entire trip.
All of our guides and trip leaders are employees of Lost Plate and trained by our founder. We do not outsource staff like other travel companies.
Guilin is suitable to visit any time of year. In general, it has a humid subtropical climate with short mild winters, and long hot and humid summers. You can expect rain and overcast skies from late winter through summer, although summer is also the sunniest season. Autumn is sunny and dry. Average daytime temperatures range from 12 celsius / 55 fahrenheit in winter to 33 celsius / 91 fahrenheit in summer. Humidity is high all year long.
Yes! All of our trips are available for private groups or families, depending on date availability. Pricing will vary for groups under 8 people, but we always make sure they are reasonable. Groups of 8 or more can enjoy our published price for public tours. Contact us with your request and we’ll let you know specific details and pricing.
Our trips are in high demand and have limited spots. Deposits are non-refundable for any reason, including sickness, unless the trip is cancelled by Lost Plate due to the minimum number not being met. Full payment for the trip is required 14 days before arrival and is not refundable if you need to cancel.
Email: info@lostplate.com
China & Cambodia Tours: +86 156 9210 9030
Portland Tours: +1 503 409 5593
WeChat: lostplate
Join our newsletter for promotions and tour announcements!
