Flight: TG612 Bangkok - Kunming 10.50 - 14.05

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Kunming International Airport, you will be welcomed to China by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel to check and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Grand Park Hotel (Standard Room)

Full day tour of the Stone Forest and the Golden Temple: Located in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County, the forest is a special type of limestone formation known as karst. Some 270 million years ago the area was submerged in a lake and a thick layer of limestone deposited on the bottom. The movement of the earth's crust caused the sea bottom to thrust upward and become land, and through weathering and erosion over eons, the stone was formed into pillars. These bizarre stone formations reach up to 30 metres tall and cover a large area stretching into the distance. After time to explore the Stone Forest you will return to Kunming and there will be a visit to Kunming's famous Golden Temple, a unique Taoist temple set in the grounds of a charming park.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Grand Park Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: This morning, transfer to the high-speed train station for the journey to Dali.

High-speed train: This morning, travel by high-speed train from Kunming to Dali, a journey of approximately 2 hours.

Private transfer: On arrival in Dali, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Xizhou village to check in and enjoy the rest of the afternoon free at leisure to settle in and begin exploring independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Linden Centre (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning guided tour of Dali: Dali is home to the Bai people, a colourfully dressed minority influenced by the Chinese, Tibetans and Indians. Throughout the town you will see typical houses of the Bais with stone walls and dark blue tile roofs. Visit the Three Pagodas, made of bricks built a thousand years ago and coated with white mud, housing a shrine with Buddha statues and lotus flowers. Continue to the ancient town, which dates from 1382 AD when it was founded as the capital of the Dali kingdom. The original city wall was 8m in height and 6km in length with four gates in the east, west, south and north. The layout of the ancient city resembles a chessboard. The tour finishes with a boat trip on Erhai Lake, with a magnificent setting fringed by mountains and ancient temples.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon, you have some time at leisure in Dali. The Old Town is a charming place to explore for a while, or you can set out to explore the beautiful surrounding area. Some of our suggested activities include bicycle riding around Erhai Lake, or walking on the nearby Cangshan Mountains.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Linden Centre (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Dali to the ancient village of Shaxi: After breakfast, you will visit the morning market at Xizhou, and have the chance to see some of the Bai People's residential houses there, before setting off on the 2 hour drive to the ancient village of Shaxi, which is nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills and is home to the Bai and Yi minority peoples. On arrival here you will take a look at Shaxi Ancient Town and check into your hotel in a nearby local village for the night. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant on arrival.

Afternoon optional tours: This afternoon, there are a number of tours available including wild Pine Mushroom hunting with a local expert (July to September only), a visit to see Shibaoshan ancient Buddhist rock carvings, or a trek to a mountain village (on foot or on horseback).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Old Theatre Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day at leisure in Shaxi: Today is free to relax and explore in and around the flat agricultural land of the Shaxi Valley. There is an excellent map available from most hotels showing a network of cycling, trekking and horse riding routes to explore local villages and other places of interest. Bicycles are available to hire in several outlets in the old town at a cost of around £2-4 per day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Old Theatre Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Shaxi to Lijiang with sightseeing: After breakfast, you will set off on the drive to Lijiang, passing through Jianchuan on the way. You will make a stop to see some ancient Buddhist carvings at Shibaoshan. The Stone Treasure Mountain Grottoes here offer a fine example of 9th century Bai carvings. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant en route. On arrival in Lijiang, you will be transferred to your hotel on the edge of the old town, and the rest of the day will be free at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bruce Chalet (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning guided walking tour of Lijiang: This morning, take a walking tour of Lijiang. Visit Black Dragon Pool Park where between an arched marble bridge and a three storey Chinese pavilion you can see the towering peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflected in the crystal waters. This peak dominates the scenery for miles around and has a continual covering of snow.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon, you have some time at leisure in Lijiang. Get lost in the maze of cobbled streets, climb Lion Hill for some views over the Old Town, stroll around the Black Dragon Pool, hike or take the cable car up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, or take a trip further afield to Wenhai Lake.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bruce Chalet (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

2 Day / 1 Night trek along Tiger Leaping Gorge: This morning, depart Lijiang for Tiger Leaping Gorge, named after a tiger which is said to have leapt across the 30-metre gap when fleeing from a hunter. Famously walked by Michael Palin in his Himalaya TV series, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges anywhere in the world. 3,900m deep, it runs for 10 miles with the mighty Yangtze compressed between the twin peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and its brother Haba Mountain. Upon arrival at Tiger Leaping Gorge, trek for 5-6 hours with your guide through spectacular scenery to your simple guesthouse for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tea Horse Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

2 Day / 1 Night trek along Tiger Leaping Gorge: After breakfast this morning, continue the trek for a further 3-4 hours to your waiting car and driver. After lunch, depart by road to Zhongdian.

Tiger Leaping Gorge to Zhongdian: After lunch in a local restaurant, depart Tiger Leaping Gorge for Zhongdian, a journey of approximately 2-3 hours through dramatic scenery of mountains and deep valleys.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Blossom Hill Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of Zhongdian's sights & sounds: Today, there will be a tour of the 300 year old Songtsam Monastery, the most active outside of Tibet with around 600 practising monks. Afterwards continue to Napa Hai Lake which is noted for its variety of spectacular lakes, high altitude plants and rare wading birds. The Napa Hai Lake lies in a national park at an altitude of 3,270m above sea level. The lake is surrounded by jagged mountains with rivers flowing through lush grasslands which become carpeted with meadow flowers in the spring time. The marshlands of Napa Hai Nature Reserve provide excellent bird watching opportunities. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon to freshen up. In the evening take a walk to the old town of Zhongdian to see the local Tibetan people dancing and singing (weather permitting).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Blossom Hill Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Zhongdian to Deqin: This morning you will depart by road with your guide and driver on the journey to Deqin, a spectacular journey of approximately five hours passing by the wonderful scenery of the "Holy Tibetan Snow Mountains". En route visit Tanwei Pottery Village, a friendly Tibetan Village where lifestyles have remained unchanged for decades; and the big bend of the Jinsha River, part of the Three Parallel Rivers National Park.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Regalia Resort & Spa (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day tour of Mount Kawa Karpo: This morning, rise early to witness the impressive sunrise on the holy Kawa Karpo Mountain. Billed as one of the world's most beautiful mountains, Kawa Karpo is Yunnan's tallest mountain with a summit at an altitude of 6,470m, which is yet to be conquered by man. There will be the opportunity to explore Mingyong Glacier at the foot of Kawa Karpo by car, horseback or trekking. A visit will also be made to the Mingyong Tibetan Village located at an altitude of 3,350m above sea level.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Regalia Resort & Spa (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Deqin to Zhongdian: This morning, drive back to Zhongdian for the afternoon flight to Kunming.

Flight: MU5940 Zhongdian - Kunming 16.20 - 17.25

Private transfer: On arrival in Kunming, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in and relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Grand Park Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch