Day 1 Chiang Khong – Mohan – Mengla (Dai minority, 450 km, about 8 hrs). Morning departure from Chiang Khong to Thailand, ferry to Houay Xay of Laos. Continue drive to China/Laos border Mohan,after going through custom,drive to Mengla. Welcome dinner with local flavor will be arranged for you. 1 N in Mengla.
Day 2 Mengla – Menglun (94 km, about 2 hrs). Morning take a walk in Wangtianshu Rainforest Park. Then drive to Menglun visit China Tropical Botanical Garden, which is the largest and most beautiful one in China. 1 N in Botanic Garden.
Day 3 Menglun -- Jiangcheng (Hani & Miao minorities’ area, 181 km, about 3 hrs). Drive to Jiangcheng. Enjoy evergreen sub-tropical rainforest on the way. 1 N in Jiangcheng.
Day 4 Jiangcheng – Luchun – Yuanyang (Hani, Yi & Miao minority area, 304 km, about 6 hrs). Drive to Yuanyang via Luchun, on the way you can see vast Green Tea Gardens on both sides of the road. Visit and experience one of the high points of the trip -- the first wonder in the world at Duaoyishu and Tiger Mouth: Endless Terraced Rice Fields on the mountains belong to Yuanyang, made by local Hani People for thousands of years. 1 N in Yuanyang.
Day 5 Yuanyang – Jianshui (158 km, about 3 hrs driving). To old city of Jianshui and city tour, visit Zhu Family Garden--This complex features in fancy blend of garden architecture and dwelling house. The exquisite courtyards, antique furniture, austere ancestral hall and everything in the Garden bear silent witness to the rich life that the former host had enjoyed. Besides, those delicate wooden cuttings and stone sculptures in Zhu Family Garden are not allowed to go marked by any individual. And visit the second largest Confucian Temple in China. Last visit Chaoyang Tower which is even 24 years elder than Tian An Men in Beijing. 1 N in Jianshui.
Day 6 Jianshui – FuXian Lake – Stone Forest (Yi minority area) – Kunming (308 km, about 5 hrs). Morning drive for Stone Forest. An 80 ha site of fantastic limestone formations created during the Permian Era when the sea covered this area. Stone Forest is in the World Heritage List and managed by its traditional owners the Yi people. Pass FuXian Lake which is the second deepest fresh-water lake in China and enjoy the lake fish lunch at a house of a fisherman. Reach Kunming in the evening. 1 N in Kunming.
Day 7 Kunming – Lijiang (Naxi minority area, 530 km, about 6 hrs). Drive to Lijiang via Dali. Evening wandering in Lijiang Old Town, a lovely traditional town with beautiful wooden houses and crisscrossed with streams of mountain water. Lijiang is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. 2 N in Lijiang.
Day 8 Lijiang. Free for refreshment, or choose your activities according to your interest. Here we offer Biking trips, trekking tours or you can stroll Lijiang Old Town by yourself. If you wish, we can arrange a short jeep trip into the surrounding Naxi villages.
Day 9 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – White Water Terrace – Shangri-la (Tibetan minority area, 270 km, about 5 hrs). Drive to Shangri-la, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge en route, which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled (70-90 degrees) mountain sides to the rushing up reach of Yangtze River, local people call it Golden Sands (Jingsha) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. Then we visit White Water Terrace, located in a valley, forms the second largest natural limestone terrace in the world. Enjoy the alpine vegetation scenery and huge mountains. 2 N in Shangri-la.
Day 10 Shangri-la Today drive along Yunnan-Tibet Road to visit Dongzhulin Monastery which is located in deep mountains, 95 km away from Zhongdian. Dong Zhu Lin Monastery was first built in 1667, the 6th year during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of Qing Dynasty. It is unique with many thangka, Tibetan Buddhist Scriptures, four mandalas and stupas. The most unusual thing is the real body of the fifth Zhatang living Buddha which is over 100 years but still reserved very well in the monastery. Beside that have a photo stop for the wonder of upper Yangtze River -- The First Bend of Golden Sand River ( the upper reach of Yangtze ) and enjoy the scenery along the river. Then continue drive to Baimang Snow Mountain Pass which is National Nature Reserve Area, 4250 meters above sea level. Evening visit Zhongdian old town with Tibetan old streets and houses and enjoy the local Tibetan people dancing performance in the middle square of old town.
Day 11 Shangri-la – Dali (Bai minority area, 370 km, about 6 hrs). Morning visit Songzanlin Monastery, which is 5 km from the seat of Shangri-la County. Construction began in 1679 and completed in 1681. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it "Gedan Songzanlin Monastery", now there are 700 monks inside. Then drive southward to Dali along Tibet-Yunnan Road. In the evening take a strolling in Dali Ancient Town, which was the capital city of Nanzhao Kingdom 1000 years ago. 1 N in Dali.
Day 12 Dali – Lincang (310 km, about 5 hrs). Morning visit Three Pagodas which is known as the Chongsheng Santa and situated on top of the ruins of Chongsheng Monastery, the Three Pagodas lie one kilometer northwest of Dali and located on the slope of Mount Cangshan. Then drive to Lincang where 3 ethnic groups of Miao, Yi and Aini inhabited. 1 N in Lincang.
Day 13 Lincang – Lancang – Jinghong (Dai minority area, 430 km, about 7 hrs). Drive to Jinghong. Enjoy the evergreen sub-tropical rain forests, minority villages and rice paddies on the way. 2 N in Jinghong.
Day 14 Jinghong. Free for refreshment, or choose your activities according to your interest. Here we offer trekking tours in rain forest and a half-day Wild Elephant Valley tour. If you wish, we can arrange a short trip into the local tribe villages. Wild Elephant Valley, with elephants herding and moving in companies, if you are lucky, the Wild Elephant Valley is the only region where people can observe wild Asian elephants safely in China.
Day 15 Jinghong – Mohan – Namtha Plateau – Muang Sing, (260 km, about 4 hrs). Morning drive back to Mohan border to go through custom then continue to Muang Sing. Upon arrival in Laos you will enjoy the difference between China and Laos and the unique atmosphere. With winding roads we make our way to Luang Namtha plateau area, where rice paddies and ethnic minority villages create the first impression of Laos. You can visit a small town that offers the diversities of minorities who come to local market, as well as the opportunity to do self-driving in the various small paths surrounding the rice plateau. 1 N in Muang Sing.
Day 16 Muang Sing – Nong Khiau, Nam Ou River (280 km, about 4.5 hrs). An early start will give us more time today. We have to cover long way to reach one of the most beautiful areas along that river in Laos. We ride through rugged mountains, pass small villages and agricultural mountain lands. The road winds up and down in endless curves… 1 N in Nong Khiau.
Day 17 Nong Khiau – Luang Prabang (130 km, about 2.5 hrs).There is a 2.5 hrs’ ride possible (about 130 km) by express way, or a ride of more than 8 hours on the mountain road which depends on construction progress on this route (no accurate KM available for this routing on the old mountain road, approx 300KM). If you wish to arrive in Luang Prabang earlier, please choose the shorter routine, which gives more time to explore the beauty of Luang Prabang. 2 N in Luang Prabang.
Day 18 Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is best to be explored by walking. The small town has so much to offer and certainly is the highlight in Laos. We take a walk into the town and explore some ancient temples, monasteries and possibly the local museum. After lunch the guests may enjoy the lifestyle and unique feeling of Luang Prabang along the Mekong.
Optional boat cruise on Mekong if possible.
No cars, jeeps used, afternoon ride into countryside if possible.
Day 19 Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng (320 km, about 5-6 hrs). The mountains between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng are some of the most dramatic and most beautiful in Laos. Enjoy the vistas, villages and views along this great route. The diversity of landscapes is breathtaking and the curvy road impresses many visitors. We will have lunch in a great view point looking over the tropical mountains. After about 5-6 hours we arrive in Vang Vieng where we will enjoy the life on the river. 2 N in Vang Vieng.
Day 20 In Vang Vieng you can choose your activities according to your interest. Here we offer biking trips, waterfall visits, trekking tours or simply the most stunning kayaking tour that you can experience all over Laos. If you wish, we can arrange a short jeep trip into the surrounding areas, or with your GPS ride it yourself.
Day 21 Vang Vieng – Vientiane. Leaving for Vientiane we will leave the main road and hit some side roads over countryside towards Vientiane. Here we find time in the afternoon to see some cultural sights in town. Farewell dinner is arranged with Lao specialities and great food. 1 N in Vientiane.
Day 22 Departure to drive cross the border into Thailand, end of the service.
Note: it's convenient to rent jeeps in Thailand, so please prepare your own jeeps in Thailand for this tour.
Highlights: different cultures & sceneries along the road from tropical low area to frigid high plateau
Travel season:all year round except rainy season (Jun, Jul, Aug & Sep)
Travel grade:medium
Price(USD)per person:
10 pax up:2386
Single supplement:1208
Private tour departure: any date in travel season
Group departure (10 pax up/5-25 vehicles, starts Chiang Khong of Thailand, ends Vientiane of Laos):
Depart month: on 10th every Oct, Nov, Dec, Mar & Apr, 2013-2014
Note: please kindly understand the scheduled departure dates may be changed or cancelled due to fewer bookings & other unexpected reasons which are out of our control
FOR PRIVATE DEPARTURE PRICE PLEASE CONTACT US