Duration

8 days

Persons

10 - 15

places

7

Itinerary:

Shanghai – Xishuangbanna – Pu'er – Xishuangbanna – Ganlanba – Manyuan Dai Village – Menghai – Menglun Manme Village – Xishuangbanna – Tea Mountain – Shanghai

Journey Highlights

Step into China's largest and most species-rich tropical botanical garden

After dark, follow a nature guide to discover nocturnal animals and glowing fungi – a mysterious exploration of the rainforest at night.

Venture into the pristine rainforest on the edge of a nature reserve

Led by a Hani guide, hike 3–5 km and enjoy a rustic jungle lunch served on banana leaves and bamboo utensils.

Stroll through a thousand-year-old ancient tea plantation.

Pick and process tea leaves with your own hands, listen to the stories of Pu'er tea, and feel the depth of Yunnan's tea culture.

  1.  

Open every Saturday

Ganlanba Market features products sold directly by local villagers – a perfect opportunity to experience the authentic daily life of the Dai people.

In a traditional Dai village

choose from intangible cultural heritage activities such as hand-built pottery, ancient papermaking, and Dai dessert making – touch the wisdom of Dai handicrafts passed down through generations.

Stay at a hot spring hotel in Pu'er city and relax in the warmth of tropical rainforest surroundings

In Menghai, enjoy the local barbecue famous for suckling pig and lemongrass-grilled fish – an unforgettable taste of Xishuangbanna.

Design Philosophy

The author of Empty Valley Orchid once described Xishuangbanna this way: "The name rolls off the tongue, reminding me of a rum and fruit juice cocktail served in a coconut shell." Southern China always carries a certain romance – tropical landscapes, diverse ethnic cultures, and distinctive Buddhist temples and pagodas, with warmth and vitality bursting from every detail. This is perhaps the most poetic description of Xishuangbanna, and it is exactly the experience we hope every guest will take away from this journey.

This is not just an exploration of the tropical rainforest – it is a deep dialogue with nature, ethnicity, and ourselves. We do not rush from sight to sight. Instead, we allow ourselves to wander far from the mundane, to find joy among the mountains and rivers, and to rediscover inner peace and passion in this magical kingdom.

This is why we designed this journey – to cross the tropical rainforest, to step into a magical kingdom, and to offer you a truly relaxing getaway amidst the romantic charm of Xishuangbanna.

sm_webp_2x_2614996-2541572-V1-P0
sm_webp_2x_2614999-2541575-V1-P0
sm_webp_2x_2615000-2541576-V1-P0
sm_webp_2x_1270174-1187169-V2-P0

    Inclusions

    Round-trip airfare between Shanghai and Xishuangbanna;
    Excellent English-speaking tour guide service throughout the itinerary;
    Lunch and dinner daily at local specialty restaurants to enjoy authentic local cuisine;
    Accommodation at city hotels as listed in the itinerary;
    Private vehicle service throughout the itinerary: commercial tourist coach;
    Entrance fees to all attractions listed in the itinerary;
    Daily bottled water and fresh fruit in the vehicle;
    Domestic travel insurance.

    Exclusions

    Optional activities and other personal expenses not mentioned in inclusions;
    Personal expenses incurred during the itinerary.

    Itinerary


    Day 1      

    Shanghai – Xishuangbanna


    Fly from Shanghai to Xishuangbanna. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and check in.

    Accommodation: Xishuangbanna Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (own expense) / Lunch (own expense) / Dinner (included)


    Day 2      

    Xishuangbanna


    After breakfast, visit Dai Ethnic Park (entrance fee and electric cart included). After lunch, visit the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (CAS) – West Zone. At 19:30, enjoy a night tour of the botanical garden. The tour ends around 21:00, and you will be transferred back to the hotel.

    Accommodation: Xishuangbanna Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (included)


    Day 3      

    Xishuangbanna – Pu'er


    After breakfast, check out and depart for Pu'er. Visit Pu'er Sun River National Forest Park, where you can interact with red pandas and white rhinos. Afterward, transfer to a hot spring hotel in Pu'er city.

    Accommodation: Pu'er Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (included)


    Day 4      

    Pu'er – Xishuangbanna


    After breakfast, free at leisure. After lunch, return to Xishuangbanna to visit Manting Park and Zongfo Temple (General Buddhist Temple). In the evening, enjoy a specialty dinner before being transferred to the hotel.

    Accommodation: Xishuangbanna Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (specialty dinner)


    Day 5      

    Xishuangbanna – Ganlanba – Manyuan Dai Village – Menghai


    After breakfast, check out and head to Ganlanba Market (open every Saturday), where local villagers sell their own products. Then visit Manyuan Dai Village, where you can experience intangible cultural heritage activities such as hand-built pottery, ancient papermaking, and Dai dessert making (optional, pay on-site). Afterward, transfer to Menghai.

    Accommodation: Menghai Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (included)


    Day 6      

    Menglun Manme Village


    After breakfast, check out and take a private transfer to the village – about 2 km from Menglun Town, on the edge of a nature reserve. Led by a forest guide, enjoy a 3–5 km rainforest hike (distance based on your physical condition) and witness the magnificence and wonders of the tropical rainforest. Lunch features an authentic jungle meal – ingredients are locally sourced and prepared using traditional local methods such as grilling, cold mixing, and wrapping. The dining experience is rustic and immersive.

    Accommodation: Xishuangbanna Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (included)


    Day 7      

    Xishuangbanna – Tea Mountain


    After breakfast, take a private transfer to the Nannuo Mountain Ancient Tea Plantation for a tea plantation hike and tea experience (including tea picking – except in winter, tea making, and tea culture class). Lunch features a tea mountain barbecue. Afterward, transfer back to the hotel.

    Accommodation: Xishuangbanna Hotel

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (included) / Dinner (included)


    Day 8      

    Xishuangbanna – Shanghai


    After breakfast, free at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Shanghai. End of the journey.

    Accommodation: None

    Meals: Breakfast (hotel) / Lunch (own expense) / Dinner (own expense)