Overview
This 1-day joint tour with other travellers brings you to two of Kunming’s most famous sites, the Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Caves.
Kunming Stone Forest is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its unique karst formations. Between the tall limestone karsts are small gardens and natural paths, allowing visitors to move through the unusual scenery at their own pace.
The tour will then move on to the Jiuxiang Scenic Region, a 45-minute drive from the Stone Forest. The area is well-known for its karst caves, views over mountain valleys, and local minority cultures.
Highlights
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Itinerary
Morning
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel to drive you to the Stone Forest.
Stone Forest
Spend 2-3 hours in the park, exploring the iconic karst formations and lush gardens. Then enjoy a local Yunnan-style lunch before continuing your journey to the Jiuxiang Caves.
Jiuxiang Caves
The Jiuxiang Caves are known for their dramatic limestone stalactites and stalagmites. The paths through the caves bring you past gorges, underground rivers, waterfalls and natural stone bridges. The cable-car to the entrance offers views over lush green forests, with glimpses of the cave entrances below.
18:00 Jiuxiang Caves – Kunming
After 2-3 hours of exploring the caves, the driver will bring you back to your hotel in Kunming.
Optional evening activity
Visit the Dynamic Yunnan Show that showcases the diversity of Yunnan’s cultures with dancers in traditional costume.
This 1,5 hr performance is choreographed by world-renowned Bai minority dancer Yang Liping, who gathered and trained a troupe of over sixty performers from different Yunnan minorities.
The show starts at 20:00 every day at Kunming Artistic Drama House.
Pick-up time:
Morning
Drop-off time:
17:00 – 18:00
Meals
Breakfast
Altitude
2000 m – 2100 m
Traveltime
3 hrs (210 km)
Additional information
- Wear comfortable walking shoes: surfaces can be uneven and slightly slippery
Inclusions & Exclusions
- Transportation: gas, tolls, parking fees and any additional pick-ups and drop-offs
- Local experienced English-speaking tour guides
- 1 half-liter bottles of drinking water per person per day
- Entrance tickets to the attractions listed
- Supplement for the meals for the tour guide and driver
- 24/7 English-speaking customer service
- Government taxes
- Chinese visa
- International and domestic flights
- Meals
- Dynamic Yunnan Show discount tickets (please mention which category you prefer if you are interested: VVIP = USD 100, VIP = USD 77, Luxury = USD 59, Standard = USD 44, Budget = USD 33)
- Additional days caused by unexpected nature disasters, for instance, land slides or flooding.
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips for drivers and guides (highly appreciated but not requested)
- Anything not listed in inclusions
Frequently asked questions
The locations on this tour can be visited throughout the year. Spring and Autumn often have mild temperatures and sunny days.
This tour involves gentle walking in the Stone Forest and some stairs in the Jiuxiang caves. It is suitable for travellers of all ages with a moderate level of mobility. Shuttle buses are available in the Stone Forest.
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The caves are usually cooler and more humid than Kunming city, so you can bring a light jacket.
Important information
- Single Supplement. The price listed is for two people sharing one room. If you require a private room or if there is no one else in the group to share a room with, a single room supplement will apply. The single supplement fee is outlined in our price list.
- Driver and guide working hours. The daily working time for driver and tour guide during this tour is maximum 10 hours per day. Overtime working hours will be charged extra.
- Tipping drivers and tour guides is custom in China. We recommend giving 50-80 RMB (7 – 10 USD) per day to the driver and 80-130 RMB (10 – 15 USD) per day to your tour guide.
- Weather. During the summer months (June to September) Yunnan has a rainy season. It won’t be raining 24/7, but we recommend bringing a small umbrella that fits in a backpack.
- Accommodation. The hotels in the itinerary are the recommended hotels, if they are fully booked during your travel period, we will book alternative hotels in the same price/quality range. We book different hotels on request too, but a surcharge might be needed.
- Children & Accommodation. Please note that except for luxury hotels, in many hotels family rooms only have space for one child, but it could be possible to book an extra mattress in some hotels. Please contact us for more information when travelling with a family.
- Meals. Lunches at authentic, quality local restaurants are not included. Your guide can recommend quality authentic places for you. If you have preferences or dietary requirements such as vegetarian, halal, kosher, vegan or gluten-free, please tell your tour guide in advance. Your tour guide will normally not order spicy food or meat/fish with bones unless asked for.
