Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing and get to the hotel on your own. From there, it's up to you - rest after the flight or wander around the city to start getting a feel for China's capital.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dongfang Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Explore Beijing city on your own
- Day 2
Beijing
Breakfast comes first, then you're off to the Temple of Heaven to see the imperial architecture and locals doing their morning exercises in the park. Next is Tiananmen Square, which is really something to see in person. After lunch, you'll spend time in the Forbidden City checking out the halls and gardens. The day winds down with a walk through the Hutongs in the Houhai area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dongfang Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Stroll through Hutongs in Houhai area
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Optional Activities
- Entrance to exhibitions in Forbidden City (not included)
Landmarks Temple of Heaven Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Houhai - Day 3
Beijing
Following breakfast, head to Mutianyu on the Great Wall to see how it was built and the views from up there. Later, you'll visit a Beijing Cloisonné workshop to watch how they make the traditional enamelware. After lunch, the Summer Palace is next, where you can walk through the royal gardens and around Kumming Lake. You'll get transferred back to the hotel by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dongfang Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu section of Great Wall
- Visit Beijing Cloisonné workshop
- Visit Summer Palace
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Optional Activities
- Cable car on Great Wall (not included)
- Boat entrance fee at Summer Palace (not included)
- Theatre entrance fee at Summer Palace (not included)
- Longevity Hill entrance fee at Summer Palace (not included)
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Summer Palace - Day 4
Beijing to Kunming
After breakfast, take a taxi to the airport (that's on your own dime) and fly to Kunming. When you land, a transfer takes you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for exploring the city however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kunming Wenhui Hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast included
Optional Activities
- Explore Kunming at leisure
- Day 5
Kunming to Pu'er
Breakfast at the hotel, then a private transfer gets you to Kunming railway station for the morning train. You'll head to Nakeli village, which was a key stop on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road connecting Yunnan to Tibet and beyond. There's time to walk around the village and try your hand at Pu'er tea-making and tasting. Before the day ends, you'll do a short hike along the old Tea and Horse trail toward Pu'er city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Jones Hotel)
Included Activities
- Private transfer to railway station
- Rapid train from Kunming to Pu'er
- Visit Nakeli village
- Stroll through Nakeli village
- Short hike along ancient Tea & Horse trail
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Optional Activities
- Pu'er tea-making demonstration and tasting
Landmarks Nakeli village Pu'er County - Day 6
Pu'er to Xishuangbanna
After breakfast at the hotel, head up Nannuo Mountain for a hike through tea plantations with aged tea trees. You'll get to make tea and learn how it's done, then have lunch at a local spot. A transfer takes you to Xishuangbanna with a stop at a typical Dai minority village along the way. You'll arrive in the late afternoon at this autonomous prefecture, known for its mix of cultures and tropical feel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Empark Grand Hotel)
Included Activities
- Hike on Nannuo Mountain tea plantation (approximately 2 hours)
- Tea-making experience on Nannuo Mountain
- Visit typical Dai minority village
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Landmarks Nannuo Mountain - Day 7
Xishuangbanna
Start with breakfast at the hotel, then go to the Tropical Botanical Garden with over 13,000 plant species. You can explore the western district's specialized gardens and the Exotic Flower Garden, or hike through old-growth rainforest trails on the eastern side. After lunch, Manting Park is next where you'll see Dai-style buildings and traditional dress. The General Buddhist Temple from 615 comes after that. Your evening ends at the Gaozhuang night market by the Mekong River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Empark Grand Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tropical Botanical Garden
- Visit Manting Park
- Visit General Buddhist Temple
- Visit Gaozhuang night market
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Landmarks Tropical Botanical Garden Manting Park General Buddhist Temple Gaozhuang night market - Day 8
Xishuangbanna to Luang Prabang
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station and take the rapid train to Luang Prabang, heading through Boten port to cross from China into Laos. Pack lunch before leaving China. Go through customs for both countries. Your English-speaking guide meets you at Luang Prabang station and takes you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to discover this charming city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Chitdara Hotel)
Included Activities
- Rapid train from Xishuangbanna to Luang Prabang via Boten
- Breakfast included
Optional Activities
- Explore Luang Prabang at leisure
- Day 9
Luang Prabang
Following breakfast, you'll spend the full day on a guided sightseeing tour by minivan exploring why Luang Prabang is called the Jewel of the Mekong. You'll see the morning market, ancient temples, war relics, local crafts, and learn about former Lao kingdoms at the National Museum. This UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995 offers both quiet moments and cultural experiences.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Chitdara Hotel)
Included Activities
- Full-day guided sightseeing tour of Luang Prabang by minivan
- Visit morning market
- Visit ancient temples
- Visit war relics
- Visit local crafts
- Visit National Museum
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
Landmarks Luang Prabang morning market National Museum Luang Prabang 
- Day 10
Luang Prabang
After breakfast, the day is yours to do what you want. If you're interested in activities, optional tours are available like a full-day biking trip across Mekong rice fields with off-road sections, remote villages, and ferry crossings. There's also a half-day jungle trek option with village visits and the Tad Sae waterfall hike.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Chitdara Hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast included
Optional Activities
- Full-day biking on/off-road across Mekong rice fields
- Half-day easy jungle trek, village, boat and waterfall (3 hours)
Landmarks Tad Sae waterfall - Day 11
Luang Prabang to Vientiane
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station and catch the morning train to Vientiane. Once you arrive, another transfer takes you to the city center for check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Surestay Hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast included
Optional Activities
- Explore Vientiane at leisure
- Day 12
Vientiane
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is yours to explore Vientiane on your own however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Surestay Hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast included
Optional Activities
- Explore Vientiane on your own
- Day 13
Vientiane
Following your last breakfast, a transfer takes you to the airport for your departure flight.
- End point
- Wattay International Airport (VTE), Souphanouvong Rd., Vientiane Laos (Drop off at Vientiane Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast included
- Shared transfer from hotel to Vientiane Airport
