Southwest China Private Tour: Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou

Southwest China is where the country changes — Yunnan's mountains and minority villages, Sichuan's pandas and hotpot, Guizhou's karst and waterfalls. It is also where the driving is slow and the rail is new, so the order of the route decides whether you spend the week moving or seeing.

包車 — charter, car and driver

A charter is close to essential here. The Yunnan loop — Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La — is a road trip between towns that each deserve two nights. Sichuan's mountains toward Jiuzhaigou and the Tibetan plateau need a driver who knows the passes.

包團 — private tour, the route planned too

A private tour adds hotels in the old towns (Dali's and Lijiang's), the internal flights that save two days of driving, and guides who can explain what you are looking at in villages where nobody speaks English.

Routes that work

• 7 days Yunnan: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, with the Tiger Leaping Gorge road.
• 10 days Yunnan: add Shangri-La and Meili, or the Yuanyang rice terraces in the south.
• 9 days Sichuan: Chengdu, Leshan, Mount Emei, Jiuzhaigou by air and road.

Getting around

Kunming to Dali is about four hours by road or two by high-speed rail. Dali to Lijiang roughly two and a half hours by road. Lijiang to Shangri-La about four hours. Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou is a short flight plus an hour's drive, or a long day by road.

When to come

March to May and September to November for Yunnan; the plateau is best in autumn. Sichuan's lowlands are hot in summer but the mountains are pleasant. Avoid the first week of October and Chinese New Year, when the whole country moves.

Frequently asked questions

Is altitude a problem?

Shangri-La sits above 3,000 m and Lijiang at 2,400 m. Build the route upward, take the first day slowly, and it is manageable for most travellers.

Do we need permits?

Some Tibetan areas require permits arranged in advance. We handle them as part of the route when the itinerary includes those regions.

Can we do Yunnan by train?

Partly — Kunming to Dali and Lijiang is fast rail. Everything beyond that is road, which is why the car matters.

How many days for Yunnan?

Seven for the classic loop, ten if you add Shangri-La or the southern terraces. Less than six means constant transit.

Do your guides speak English or Cantonese?

We match the guide to the party. Tell us the language you need when you ask.