Northern Yunnan
Sacred mountains, village wine and remarkable places to stay
Sacred mountains, village wine and remarkable places to stay
Afternoon tea overlooking the Meili mountains. Village wine in Cizhong. Truffles and thoughtful design deep in the Nujiang valley.
Spend eleven days exploring northern Yunnan with China Serendipity, from the highland surroundings of Lijiang to places whose landscapes, people and hospitality have stayed with us long after our visits.
A private journey, personally designed and guided by the founders of China Serendipity.
-
We recommend travelling outside the busy holiday periods in early October and early May. Travel during these periods can be arranged with a seasonal supplement.
-
This journey includes eleven travel days and ten overnight stays. We can adapt the duration and pace to your interests when planning your individual itinerary.
-
Your journey begins at Lijiang airport and ends at your departure airport in Lijiang or Dali. We coordinate the itinerary and final overnight stay with your flight arrangements.
-
The price covers the journey described, based on two guests travelling together and sharing a double room.
For three to five guests, suites or changes to the itinerary, we prepare an individual quotation. Any adjustments and their price are agreed before booking.
A landscape that deserves your time
In northern Yunnan, the upper reaches of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween run through neighbouring mountain valleys. The region includes the protected areas of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Our journey brings these landscapes together with village life, local food and places to stay that deepen your connection to their surroundings.
Two nights each in Meili, Cizhong and Wuli allow time for an unhurried breakfast, a conversation or an afternoon whose plans change because something has caught your interest.
Afternoon tea beneath the sacred peaks
Sunyata Meili Hotel
Local architecture, warm colours and carefully considered interiors make Sunyata Meili a particularly welcoming mountain retreat.
One of our favourite moments here is the generous afternoon tea on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the sacred Meili mountains. The restaurant brings Chinese dishes together with local influences from this region close to Tibet, while the bar offers a good selection of wine and whisky.
We stay for two nights, leaving a full day to enjoy the setting.
Wine, hospitality and village stories
Songtsam Cizhong Hotel
Excellent rooms, carefully prepared food and a strong wine selection make Songtsam Cizhong a rewarding place to spend time. We especially appreciate the staff, whose attentive hospitality feels rooted in local life.
Cizhong holds some of our most memorable encounters. On one visit, a local winemaker welcomed us into her private museum in an old wooden house. Letters, photographs and bottles of village wine opened a story of French missionaries and traditions still carried forward today.
Design deep in the valley
Sunyata Wuli Hotel
Sunyata Wuli sits discreetly within the landscape of the Nujiang valley. Industrial design, spacious rooms and contemporary interiors give it a distinctive character.
The kitchen draws on local ingredients, including truffles gathered by farmers. Wooden cottages offer another possibility for families, which we can explore when planning your stay.
A Smeg refrigerator in one of these remote mountain cottages is a detail we still remember. Thoughtful comfort can become part of the memory of a place.
The shape of your journey
Wenhai and Lijiang
Begin at Lijiang airport and settle into Aloman Wenhai for two nights. There is time to arrive, explore the surroundings and become accustomed to the highland setting.
Shangri La and Napa Lake
Continue to the wetlands outside Shangri La for one night at Muka Pastoral Manor by Napa Lake.
The Meili mountains
Spend two nights at Sunyata Meili, with a full day for the mountain setting, afternoon tea and the pleasures of the local kitchen.
Cizhong and Wuli
Two nights at Songtsam Cizhong bring wine and village life into the journey. Two further nights at Sunyata Wuli allow time for local food, contemporary design and the landscapes of the Nujiang valley.
Lijiang or Dali
Return towards your chosen departure airport. Your final night is at a hotel of comparable quality in Lijiang or Dali, selected according to your flight arrangements. The journey ends at the airport on day eleven.
Your journey and what it includes
EUR 4,800 per person for eleven days and ten nights
This price covers the journey described, based on two guests travelling together and sharing a double room. The total for two guests is EUR 9,600.
Included:
All ten overnight stays in double rooms
Personal guidance by China Serendipity
An SUV or minivan suited to your party
Vehicle costs and fees
Vehicle passenger accident insurance
Breakfast and lunch
Additional costs:
Dinner, wine and other alcoholic drinks are charged separately. Suites are available at an additional charge. Guests arrange their own travel medical insurance.
For three to five guests, we prepare a personal quotation based on your party and room configuration.
Make this journey your own
We can adapt this journey closely to your interests, preferred pace and choice of accommodation.
In a personal video call, we discuss the route, duration and the experiences you would like to give more time to. You might wish to stay longer in a particular valley, explore the region’s wines more deeply or choose a suite or family cottage.
From there, we shape your individual itinerary and prepare a personal proposal. The published price covers the journey described. Any changes and their price are agreed with you before booking.
Your journey begins with a conversation
We are Andrea and René, the founders of China Serendipity.
We live in China and personally design and guide our private journeys. The places we share with our guests grow out of our own travels, encounters and curiosity.
Tell us your approximate dates, how many people will travel and what has caught your interest. We will arrange a personal video call to explore the possibilities together.