1. Erhai Lake (Bai people) daytrip
2. Special markettrips: Yi market daytrips
3. Car trips to local markets around Dali

4. Shibaoshan: Buddhist treasures in the mountains on the road from Dali to Lijiang

This daytrip shows you daily countryside life in the Bai villages around Dali from a non-touristy side

Price : 200 euro/ 265 US $/ 2000 yuan total for 1-4 people, 5-6 people: 2500 yuan/ 250 euro/ 330 US $ total

special rates for larger groups

Incl.: all transport incl private boat, lunch, guide

SPECIAL: through booking this trip you directly support the village clinic, school and temple

This full daytrip first takes you to Xizhou, also known as 'small old Dali' because it looks like Dali many years before. Mainly inhabited by Bai people, Xizhou has an old part with houses more than a hundred years old. They are built in traditional style with Dali marble and black and white paintings on the walls and above the wooden doors. After visiting the Xizhou morning market we will have a look in one of the oldest houses with a beautiful courtyard.

After this we take a horse cart to get us to the lake. We have lunch on a local boat while crossing Erhai lake. After an hour's boatride we land in Wase where every 5 days a colourful market takes place. We will drive along the ricepaddies to a farmer's village. We will visit a a local doctor who is running his tiny clinic as good as he can with the little means he has, a local Bai Buddhist temple and a countryside school. After all these impressions of village life we drive back by car along the lake through picturesque villages.

Yi minority market trips

START IN DALI

These markets only run on certain days and are not touristy

Price: 1800 yuan/ 180 euro/ 238 US $ total for 1-4 people, 5-6 people 2200 yuan/ 220 euro/ 290 US $ total

special rates for larger groups

Including: all private transport, guide, lunch, temple fees

This full daytrip goes to the minority markets of the Yi-people. They are one of the biggest minority groups in Yunnan but one of the least known because they usually live in the mountains. They only come down for special occasions like markets or festivals.

SPECIAL: through booking this trip you directly support the construction of the village basketball field

Every month on certain days bigger and smaller markets take place. They sell everything from pigs, cows and waterbuffaloes to vegetables, medicine, farming tools, tobacco etc. Besides the Yi people you will meet the local people doing their shoppings and farmers walking their animals to the market. The Yi-women wear traditional clothes with beautiful, colourful embroidery. The young unmarried girls wear self-made flower headdresses.

During this trip we will also visit a small Yi village which lies off the road, walking past beautiful riceterraces. Here we go to a small countryside school. In the village are usually some women around who look after the children. A special custom in the village is the steaming of eucalyptus treeleaves in a big ton to make oil.

After a visit to the market we share a tasty lunch in a small muslim village. We conclude our daytrip with a local Buddhist temple, hidden in the ricefields. It's a peaceful place and inside the main temple are numerous statues who look surreal, one has very long legs, one an arm that reaches into the sky and another has eyebrows till the ground. After this colourful visit we're heading back to Dali.

CAR TRIP AROUND ERHAI LAKE

START IN DALI

We can arrange a car with driver (no guide) around Erhai lake. Bai villages on the road are Xizhou (daily morning market), Zhoucheng (tie/dye fabric making), Shaping (Monday market), Shuanglang, Wase (market every 5 days).

Price 1-4 people: 450 yuan/ 45 euro/ 60 $ (500 yuan incl. lunch), 5-6 people: 550 yuan/ 55 euro/ 75 $.

CAR TRIP TO YI PEOPLE AND MARKET

START IN DALI

During this cartrip you will visit a Yi village with a small school. To get there you walk for about half an hour past beautiful riceterraces. After that you can have lunch in a muslim village and go to a peaceful Buddhist temple hidden away from the main road. On certain days you can add a visit to one of the local markets in the area. The area you're going to is definitely non-touristy.

Price: 1-4 people 450 yuan/ 45 euro/ 60 $ (500 yuan incl lunch), 5-6 people 550 yuan/ 55 euro/ 75 $ (9-17 pm).

We can arrange a car for you to visit Xizhou which is mainly inhabited by Bai people. This small town has an old part with houses more than a hundred years old. They are built in traditional style with Dali marble and black and white paintings on the walls and above the wooden doors. After visiting the Xizhou morning market you can wander through the old part with many old houses and their courtyards.

Price: 1-4 people 120 yuan/ 12 euro/ 16 $, 5-6 people 170 yuan/ 17 euro/ 25 $ (9-12 am)

Another nice Bai village is Zhoucheng where they also make the famous tie-dye bluewhite fabrics. If you want to add Zhoucheng to your visit after going to Xizhou prices are as follows: 1-4 people 170 yuan/ 17 euro/ 25 $, 5-6 people 220 yuan/ 22 euro/ 30 $ (9-13 pm)

Every Monday the small town of Shaping at the foot of the Cangshan mountains floods with people from the surrounding villages. Many of them are Bai women dressed in traditional clothes. Although this market is often visited by foreigners it has kept its charm. Only a small part is set up for tourists but the main reason for the local people to come down is buying and selling vegetables and livestock like they have been doing ever since they can remember...

Price: with or without stop in Xizhou: 1-4 people 180 yuan/ 18 euro/ 25 $, 5-6 people 230 yuan/ 23 euro/ 30 $ (9-13 pm)

Shibaoshan: Buddhist treasures in the mountains

FROM LIJIANG TO DALI

Daytrip: car from Dali to Lijiang via Shibaoshan temple/ no guide

Prices: old road 1-4 people 700 yuan/ 92 US$/ 70 euro, 5-6 people: 850 yuan/ 111 US $/ 85 euro total.

New road: 1-4 people 600 yuan/ 80 US$/ 60 euro total, 5-6 people: 800 yuan/ 105 US $/ 80 euro.

Prices excl lunch/ entrance fees.

To go to Lijiang we can arrange a private car via the new road (3,5 hrs) or old road (6 hrs drive). Only when you take the old road you can make a stop at Shibaoshan monastery.

Shibaoshan is is a temple where an ancient collection of Buddhist statues can be admired. The sculptures represent so-called king-gods who used to have both political and religious power. It's a true miracle that these statues have survived the cultural revolution.

TIBETAN TRIPS

Grasslands and monasteries around Xiahe (Gansu/ Lanzhou)

Experience the unique and colourful Tibetan way of life

START IN LANZHOU OR CHENGDU

The people in this area are friendly, hospitable and above all: very curious! Don't be surprised if locals invite you into their house or tent for some tea. Sit back and enjoy the relaxing and humorous Tibetan way of life.

Here follow a few sample routes in the area Lanzhou-Xiahe-Langmusi-Songpan-Huanglong/Jiuzhaigou national parks-Chengdu.

NOTE: PRICES ARE HIGHER DURING THE CHINESE HOLIDAYS FROM MAY 1-7 AND OCT 1-7.

4 days Lanzhou- Xiahe- Lanzhou (3 n Xiahe). On the way to or from Xiahe you can visit the Bingling Buddhist caves. Here you can see 694 Buddhist images carved into the cliffs of a 60 meter high gorge. To get to the Bingling caves, you take a speedboat across a bluegreen reservoir. The landscape is stunning with its high soaring cliffs on both sides.

Price 2 pax: 530 euro/ 695 US $ per person, 4 pax: 410 euro/ 540 US $ p.p.

Incl: private transport, accommodation, Tibetan english speaking guide for days 2,3,4

Excl: all meals, entrance fees and guide for day 1, tips

7 days from Lanzhou-Xiahe-Langmuse-Lanzhou: Lanzhou- Xiahe (3 n)- Langmusi (2 n)- Xiahe (1 n)- Lanzhou

Price 2 pax: 635 euro/ 835 US $ per person, 4 pax: 550 euro/ 725 US$ p.p.

Incl: private transport, accommodation, Tibetan english speaking guide for days 2,3,4,5,6, tips

Excl: all meals, entrance fees, guide for day 1 and 7

8 days from Lanzhou to Chengdu (or other way around): Lanzhou- Xiahe (3 n)- Langmusi (2 n)- Songpan (2n incl 1 full day horseriding)- Chengdu

Note: this 8 day trip can be extended or replaced with a visit to the national parks Jiuzhaigou and/or Huanglong. Prices are on request.

Price 2 pax: 875 euro/ 1150 US $ per person, 4 pax: 575 euro/ 755 US$ p.p.

Incl: private transport, accommodation, Tibetan english speaking guide for days 2,3,4,5,6,7

Excl: meals, entrance fees, guide for day 1 and 8, tips

Day 1 arrival in Lanzhou (Gansu province)/ drive about 6 hours to the pittoresque town of Xiahe. The landscape changes dramatically from a desert-like dry area into green mountains where you’ll find Xiahe at 3,000 m altitude.

Day 2 Xiahe
Xiahe is a predominantly Tibetan town which centres around the huge Labrang monastery. The first day in Xiahe is spent exploring the monastery. You will see many monks, often in prayer or busily debating each other on religious issues. All year around you’ll meet the many pilgrims in town wearing their splendid traditional clothing and jewellery.

Day 3 Xiahe

Today you will explore the grasslands around Xiahe where nomad families live in tents. When invited in their homes you cannot refuse their infamous Tibetan milk tea and barley "tsampa". The grasslands are also a beautiful area for hiking. In summertime the flowers are like a carpet on the meadows.

Day 4 Langmusi

First we visit Hezuo to admire the nine-floor-temple. Inside are beautiful handpainted decorations of Tibetan buddhist gods and deities. We will arrive in Langmusi at the end of the afternoon.

Day 5 Langmusi

In Langmusi the ancient Tibetan custom of sky burials is still practised. Sky burials are now limited only to a very small area in Tibet and are a rare sight nowadays. The town of Langmusi is half in Gansu province, and half in Sichuan province, divided only by a small river. Therefore, this small town has two monasteries, one in each province. We will visit the monasteries and see the stunning buddhist caves.

Day 6

Full day ride from Langmusi to Songpan. On the way you can visit a monastery with 108 stupas. This is a holy and very beautiful place. You will stop several times for some short hiking trips.

Day 7 Full day horse riding trip in the beautiful mountains surrounding Songpan. The horses are tame but the slopes are sometimes quite steep. You can do this trip even if you don't have experience with horseriding.

Day 8 drive to Chengdu airport or railwaystation

PLEASE NOTE: this is an area not yet very developed for tourists. Hotels are not luxurious!

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South East Yunnan: meet the Chinese-Vietnamese hilltribes

Jianshui & Yuanyang: riceterraces, traditional architecture and colourful markets

START IN KUNMING

Please note that we only offer this trip with a guide. If you want a car only it has no use sending us a mail.

Route: Yuanyang is one of the places which serves as a base to explore the impressive riceterraces and colourful markets in south-east Yunnan which are held at specific days which change every month. From this area you can travel further to Vietnam where we can also arrange trips for you.

Price:530 euro/ 690 US $ euro p.p. for 2 people
Incl: private car and driver, guide, accomodation

Excl: meals, entrance fees

Duration: 4 days from Kunming

This special trip takes you to the unknown south-east of Yunnan to the area bordering Vietnam. It is home to many minorites like the Hani, Yi, Miao, Zhuang, Yao and Dai. We will meet them on the very colourful and busy markets in small villages. You will be one of the attractions as they see few foreigners here.

On your way to Yuanyang you can make a stop in Jianshui, known for its traditional architecture. A fine example is the restaured ancestral home of the Zhu family, a classic example from the Qing-dynasty (1644-1911) with its many buildings, ponds and gardens. Just outside Jianshui, in the middle of a farming village, is another 100 years old unrestaured family home. In this area you can also find a Qing dynasty bridge.

From Jianshui we drive to the riceterraces in the south east of Yunnan. Few foreigners visit this area. The roads get emptier and more mountainous. This area is home to many minorities like the Hani, Yi, Miao, Yao, Zhuang and Dai. They live a traditional life and many dress in colourful clothes. The Yi-women for example do their own embroidery and wear typical headdresses. The Hani wear dark-blue clothes which are decorated with coins traditionally given to the daughters by their mothers. The Yao-women often shave their heads and wear red pointed hats and together with their colourful embroidered trousers they look very special. Another subgroup of the Yao are more soberly dressed in black with pink accents. You will meet them on the colourful markets held at specific days which change every month.

The surroundings with the high riceterraces are impressive. The terraces are centuries old and made by the Hani people. Although sometimes steep, they are very suitable for walks and on the way you will pass small villages and local people with their waterbuffaloes working on the fields.

Minorities and nature in South China (Guanxi and Yunnan)/ From green riceterraces to white snow mountains (2 weeks)

START IN HONG KONG/GUANGZHOU/ GUILIN/ KUNMING

If you would like to see the most beautiful parts of South China and you want to maximize your limited time without rushing we would recommend the following itinerary. This is a colourful trip both culture and naturewise. You'll see many different people and landscapes range from riceterraces to mountains.

Example route:

Day 1 arrival Hong Kong airport / flight Hong Kong-Guilin/ transfer to Yangshuo

Day 2 Yangshuo/ boattrip on the Li river with guide  

Day 3 Yangshuo/ bike trip in karstmountain landscape along the ricepaddies with guide

Day 4 transfer to Longsheng riceterraces with guide and private car  

Day 5 Longsheng: hike the riceterraces with guide

Day 6 transfer to Sanjiang with guide and private car: a beautiful Dong village with wooden houses and wind- and rainbridges

Day 7 Sanjiang with guide and private car: explore the nearby villages  

Day 8 transfer to Guilin airport, flight Guilin-Kunming and Kunming-Dali

Day 9 Dali/ guided daytrip to Yi people, visit villages and market

Day 10 Dali/ guided daytrip to the Bai people, visit villages and Erhai lake

Day 11 private car to Lijiang via old or new road

Day 12 Lijiang: visit the old town, you can rent a bike and cycle to the Naxi villages by yourselves

Day 13 transfer to Zhongdian (Shangrila) by new road and make a stop in Tiger leaping gorge

Day 14 free day in Zhongdian: you can visit the Songzanlin monastery and the old town by yourselves

Day 15 arrange your own transfer to Zhongdian airport for your flight to Kunming/ Hong Kong

Price: 2 people- 1950 US $/ 1500 euro per person

incl: flights Hong Kong-Guilin, Guilin-Kunming, Kunming-Dali, Zhongdian-Kunming, Kunming-Hong Kong, English speaking guide for mentioned trips, traditional style accomodation in boutique hotels incl BF, private car for all transfers

excl: all other meals, entrance fees, international flight from and to Hong Kong

TIBETAN TRIPS

7 days from Chengdu or Zhongdian (6 days is also possible)

Price: 760 euro/ 985 US $ p.p. for 2 people

Incl: car, driver, guide, accomodation

Excl: meals, entrance fees

Route:

day 1 Chengdu to Kangding

day 2 to Tagong grasslands

day 3 to Litang

day 4 to Yading

and 5 in Yading

day 6 in Yading

day 7 to Daocheng- Derong- Zhongdian (long day drive)

Other 7 day routes:

Zhongdian- Derong- Litang- Gantse- Daofu- Tagong- Kangding- Chengdu or Zhongdian– Derong- Litang- Kangding- Tagong- Danba- Wolong– Chengdu

After driving through the fertile and populated valley around Chengdu we slowly mount to cross the 3,000 m high Erlang pass. In the course of the day we will arrive in Kangding at 2,500 m: a good height to get used to the altitude. For centuries Kangding has been one of the gateways to Tibet and the demographical border between the Chinese and Tibetan peoples.

If you have time, it is nice to make a small detour to visit the grasslands of Tagong. This small 'wild west town' has the biggest Buddhist college of Sichuan province and a massive Sakyapa monastery. With the Gongga Shan (7556 m) in the background, the green rolling hills are home to nomads and their grazing yaks.

After a mountainous ride we arrive in Litang which is one of the highest cities in the world (4,100 m). The population mainly exists of Khampa Tibetans which makes it one of the best places to experience Tibetan culture. After Litang you can make the trek in Yading.

Yading national park lies in a rough, mountainous area in the Tibetan part of Sichuan province. On the way you'll enjoy the magnificent views on the snow-capped peaks. At an altitude of 4-4,500 m you walk or take a horse through alpine forests and admire the valleys, holy mountains and lakes. You'll find yourself on the roof of the world, far away from 'civilization'.

After these heights we go down to Zhongdian which lies at 3,200 m. The Tibetan houses here look slightly different from the ones we've seen so far. After Zhongdian you can travel further down to Lijiang, Dali and Kunming. You will look back on a great trip with beautiful landscapes and people in a mainly Tibetan area.

Tibetan spheres in Sichuan

START IN CHENGDU

The western part of Sichuan is people and landscape wise like Tibet.

A roundtrip of 24 days starting in Chengdu could include the following places: Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou national park-Huanglong national park--horseriding in Songpan--Wolong panda reserve- watchtowers of Danba-Tagong grasslands-Yajiang-Litang-Xinlong-Ganze-lake Manigango-printing monastery of Dege- Baiyu-Ganze-Luhuo-Daofu-Kangding- Chengdu.

Price: 1910 US $/ 1470 euro p.p. for 2 people

Incl: private jeep, driver, guide

Excl: accomodation (double room w. bathroom around 25 US$/ night), meals, entrance fees