12 Days Yunnan - Vietnam Tour

^{12 Days / 11 Night}s

Itinerary (Kunming - Lijiang - Stone Forest - Hekou - Sapa - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Hanoi)

12 DAYS YUNNAN - VIETNAM TOUR
(Guaranteed daily departure on private tour, with meals as specified)

Day 1 : Arrival - Kunming (Dinner*)
Arrive Kunming International airport. After the formalities at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Horizon Jianguo Hotel.

Day 2 : Kunming - Lijiang (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to airport and morning flight to Lijiang. On arrival, excursion to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with a chairlift ride to discover the much famed thirteen peaks. On the ways, visit of the Baisha village, the ancient capital of the Naxi Kingdom. Lunch en route in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, after a walk to the Black Dragon Pond to have a look at the renowned Moon Embrancing Pavilion, you will have free time on your own for sightseeing of the Old Town of Lijiang. Lijiang is the center of the Naxi people, a relatively small minority group with a rich culture. Old Lijiang is an intimate mountain town of stone and tile, laced with swift canals and who has been put recently on the list of the world monument protected by UNESCO. Dinner at local restaurant followed by a Naxi concert evening. Overnight at the Grand Lijiang Hotel or similar.

Day 3 : Lijiang (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning drive to the Tiger Leaping Gorge which is one of the deepest canyons of the world. Wedged tightly between titanic cliffs, the Yangzi river is so narrow here, so legend tells us, that a hunted tiger made his escape to the other side of the river in a single bound. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, stop at the village of the Stone Drum where you will have a look at the first great bend of the Yangzi River.

The approach of Stone Drum offers a dramatic view of the Yangzi's near 180 degree turn where the water performs a grandiose about face. For nearly 20 km the river, first flowing south, then north, runs parallel to itself. Locals say if it were not for their village standing guard at the bend, China would lose the water of the Yangzi to southeast China, like that of the not too far away Mekong and Salween Rivers. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the Grand Lijiang Hotel or similar.

Day 4 : Lijiang - Kunming (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Kunming. On arrival, drive to the Western Hills followed by a 10-minute chairlift ride up the hill. From the top, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Kunming and its surrounding before taking a path down to the famous "Dragon Gate". On the way you will also have the opportunity to visit the Huating temple, the largest Buddhist complex in Kunming. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, discover the Bamboo Temple with its famous finely crafted 500 Luohan statues. Take a stroll in the flower and bird market. Dinner of Yunnanese specialties followed by a minority folk dance show. Overnight at the Horizon Jianguo Hotel.

Day 5 : Kunming - Stone Forest (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Stone Forest. On the way, you will visit the Golden Temple, a unique Taoist temple. Lunch en route. In the afternoon, discover one of China's most remarkable phenomena. The Stone Forest consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 200 million years ago. Dinner at local restaurant followed by a Sani dance show. Overnight at the Stone Forest Hotel or similar.

Day 6 : Stone Forest - Hekou (B, L, D*)

Breakfast at the hotel. Long drive to Hekou through beautiful subtropical landscape with great views of deep ravines, banana and pineapple groves, terraced rice paddies. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the Hekou Comfort Inn or similar.

Day 7 : Hekou - Sapa (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, cross the border at Hekou. The Chinese guide will leave you at the border on the Chinese side (Hekou) and you will cross by foot to the Vietnamese side (Lao Cai). After the formalities, you will enter Vietnam where your Vietnamese guide will wait for you and transfer to the Victoria Sapa Hotel in Sapa (45 minutes/38 km). Stunning trip up a winding road surrounded by steep mountains and terraced rice fields. Lunch at local restaurant. Leisure day to explore the rural hill tribe villages of the Hmong, Dzao and Dzay minorities in the spectacular landscape around Sapa. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the Victoria Sapa Hotel (superior room)

Day 8 : Sapa (B, L, D*)
Buffet breakfast; enjoy the superb facilities (heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool, sauna, massage) and be ready for trekking in the afternoon. Lunch at local restaurant. A 4-km drive by Russian jeep to the rim of a deep valley. Along the road you will see Hmong, Dzay and Dzao minority people dressed in their traditional costumes. A 30-minute walk takes you over a rattan bridge to picturesque Ta Van village, home to all three minorities. Share their daily lives for a rare glimpse into their culture and customs. Return for a four-course dinner at the Victoria Sapa Hotel. Overnight at the Victoria Sapa Hotel (superior room).

Day 9 : Sapa - Hanoi (B, L, -*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive down hill to Lao Cai and catch the day train at 10.10 hrs. (local train) to Hanoi. Lunch on board. On arrival Hanoi at 20.10 hrs, transfer to the hotel. Dinner at own account. Overnight at the Sunway Hotel (ROH) or similar.

Day 10 : Hanoi - Hai Phong (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and the whole months of October & November) and Residence, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Army Museum. Lunch at local restaurant in Hanoi. p.m. Drive to Hai Phong, visit to the Cathedral, Garden theatre, Hang Kenh tapestry, Du Hang Pagoda and Kenh temple and then check-in at the Harbour View Hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Harbour View Hotel (standard room).

Day 11 : Hai Phong - Halong Bay - Hai Phong - Hanoi (B, L, D*)
Breakfast at the hotel. 08.30 Leave hotel to the quay. 09.00 Take off by hydrofoil for Cat Ba Island. 10.00 On arrival, move to a wooden boat to cruise the best part of Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay through the limestone islets Seafood lunch on board.

P.M. Return to Cat Ba Island to catch the hydrofoil to Hai Phong (1500-1600)
16.15 Pick up at Hai Phong quay and transfer back to Hanoi. 18.00 Arrival in Hanoi and check-in at the Sunway Hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Sunway Hotel (ROH) or similar.

Day 12 : Hanoi - departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. At leisure until transfer to airport and departure flight or continuation of your Vietnam roundtrip.

***The detailed programme and schedule flights are subject to change without prior notice.

*B : Breakfast, L : Lunch, D : Dinner