Day 01:Arrive in Jinghong
➤ PM: Upon arrival in Jinghong, you'll be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, take some time to relax and recover from your journey.
Later, meet your fellow travellers and your guide before setting out together for a leisurely stroll along the Mekong River, where tropical scenery and the relaxed pace of Southern Yunnan offer the perfect introduction to the journey.
➤ EVE: Gather for a welcome dinner featuring authentic Dai cuisine, then explore the vibrant Gaozhuang Night Market, where colourful handicrafts, local snacks and lively riverside atmosphere provide a memorable first taste of Xishuangbanna.
➤ AM: Depart Jinghong and enjoy a scenic drive to Pu'er, a laid-back city renowned as both the birthplace of world-famous Pu'er tea and China's coffee capital.
Visit a boutique coffee plantation to discover how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted before enjoying a freshly brewed cup overlooking the rolling hills. Here, you'll experience the region's flourishing coffee culture, shaped by the same unique climate that has nurtured its ancient tea traditions for centuries.
➤ Noon: Enjoy a traditional local lunch featuring seasonal ingredients.
➤ PM: Spend the afternoon at Sun River National Park, one of China's finest tropical rainforest wildlife reserves. Wander through lush rainforest while encountering animals at remarkably close range, including playful red pandas, rhinoceroses, giraffes, capybaras and many other rescued species.
➤ AM: Enjoy a scenic drive to Jingmai Mountain, home to the world's first UNESCO World Heritage-listed tea cultural landscape. Here, centuries-old tea trees thrive beneath native rainforest canopies, creating a living landscape where nature and tea cultivation have coexisted for over a thousand years.
➤ Noon: Enjoy lunch overlooking the rolling tea-covered hills.
➤ PM: Wander through the beautifully preserved Wengji Ancient Village, where traditional Bulang architecture and tea culture remain part of everyday life. Continue to the iconic Bee Tree, a symbol of the harmonious relationship between the local community and the ancient tea forest.
➤ AM: Rise before dawn to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the mist-covered tea mountains, before taking a gentle walk through Jingmai's ancient tea forests. Visit the elegant Golden Pagoda, where sweeping views stretch across the rolling hills and centuries-old tea landscape.
➤ Noon: Enjoy lunch before continuing your journey.
➤ PM: Enjoy a scenic drive to Manwa, a peaceful Bulang village surrounded by forests and tea mountains. Along the way, visit the tranquil White Elephant Temple and the picturesque Lone Tree Forest, two hidden gems rarely visited by international travellers.
➤ EVE: Gather around the fire for a traditional village dinner beneath the stars, surrounded by the peaceful mountain landscape.
➤ AM: Explore the dramatic One-Line-Sky Canyon, where towering cliffs rise on either side, leaving only a narrow ribbon of sky above. This hidden natural wonder offers a peaceful walk through one of Southern Yunnan's most spectacular landscapes.
➤ Noon: Enjoy a traditional Bulang lunch featuring authentic local flavours.
➤ PM: Visit Manzhao Village, where local artisans continue the centuries-old tradition of handmade bark paper using natural forest materials. Discover this unique craft before continuing to a luxury hot spring resort nestled among lush tropical gardens.
➤ EVE: Celebrate New Year's Eve at your own pace. Soak in the natural hot springs, unwind in the peaceful surroundings, and welcome the year ahead with a memorable evening in one of Southern Yunnan's finest rainforest retreats.
➤ AM: Enjoy a scenic drive to Mengsong, a remote mountain region known for its ancient tea forests and traditional Akha villages. Upon arrival, join your hosts as they celebrate the Akha New Year, one of the community's most important annual festivals, and experience the warmth of this joyful local tradition.
➤ Noon: Enjoy a traditional home-style lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients.
➤ PM: Check into your tea garden homestay before joining a hands-on tea-making experience. Learn how freshly picked leaves are transformed into tea using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
➤ EVE: Spend a relaxed evening with your hosts, sharing local food, stories and festive celebrations in the peaceful surroundings of the tea mountains.
➤ AM: Wake to sunrise over the tea-covered hills before taking a gentle walk through the surrounding tea forests, where ancient tea trees continue to thrive beneath native woodland.
➤ Noon: Enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch surrounded by the tranquil mountain landscape.
➤ PM: Take part in an Akha bamboo weaving workshop, discovering a traditional craft that remains an important part of everyday village life.
➤ EVE: Continue the Akha New Year celebrations with your hosts through traditional music, dancing and village festivities, offering a rare opportunity to experience one of Southern Yunnan's most vibrant cultural traditions.
➤ AM: Bid farewell to your hosts and enjoy a scenic drive towards Mengla, where the tea-covered mountains gradually give way to lush tropical rainforest. Along the way, stop at a traditional Dai village to discover another of Southern Yunnan's rich ethnic cultures and enjoy a home-style local lunch.
➤ PM: Continue your journey through the rainforest to Mengla and settle into your hotel. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon at leisure before dinner.
➤ EVE: Enjoy a barbecue dinner featuring local flavours.
