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Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yunnan, China
Home Group Tours Photography and cultures in Yunnan

China

Photography and cultures in Yunnan

  • EXPERT-LED GROUP TOUR
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Start dateEnd dateDays
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Single SupplementTour ExpertGroup SizeStatus
07/05/22 16/05/2210 days £3,995 ex. flights £425George Chan10 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place
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Discover a fascinating, little-visited region of China. Under the expert guidance of George Chan, explore the bustling capital of Beijing before travelling to the Yunnan region, which, is incredibly diverse, both in terms of its culture and its landscapes. Capture the dramatic and mountainous landscape of honing your lens capturing the people and wildlife. 

This small group tour, with a maximum of ten people, offers a perfect mix of celebrated and UNESCO recognised sites, plus lesser-known gems and throughout there is ample time to soak up the busy street life and meet the charming local people, in what has to be China’s most friendly province.

Begin your photographic journey in Beijing, with the yellow tiles of the forbidden City and the curved path of the Great Wall’s more peaceful Mutianyu section. Continue to Yunnan, in south west China, where there are tropical jungles and where elephants roam although you will visit the mountainous north. There are fascinating and atmospheric old cities too, including the UNESCO listed Lijiang. Capture the dramatic and mountainous landscapes, explore Tibetan minority villages and the Dian National Park, home to the endangered Golden Monkey, which can be found hiding in the trees.

Introducing your expert

George Chan

George Chan

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George has been a photographer and cameraman for more than 30 years and was a Producer and Director at the BBC Natural History Unit.

He worked on David Attenborough’s State of the Planet, the BBC’s most comprehensive series about conservation. He also worked on the first series of Planet Earth travelling to the Amazon and the Arctic.

George made an episode of the BBC’s Wild China and is an expert on the nature of Asia. He has a PhD in Evolutionary biology and a degree in Zoology from Oxford University.

His career highlights include visiting Easter Island with Sir David Attenborough, finding a mummy in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, seeing the world’s largest butterflies in New Guinea and filming Tibetan Antelope in Central Tibet.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Forbidden city in Beijing, China 1

Explore China's capital

Spend time in Beijing exploring Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Great Wall

Tiger Leaping George, Yunnan 2

Beautiful landscapes

Photograph Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from Lijiang Old Town

Golden Monkey, China, Paul Craven 3

Captivating wildlife

Walk in the Yunnan Monkey National Park in search of the Golden Monkey

Tibetan Monk walking in Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri La, Yunnan, China 4

Stunning architecture

Explore Gyalthang, or Shangri-La, the best-preserved example of Tibetan architecture

Explore our suggested itinerary

Map View List View

  • Day 1

    Beijing

  • Day 2

    Beijing

  • Day 3

    Great Wall of China

  • Day 4

    Beijing to Lijiang

  • Day 5

    Lijiang

  • Day 6

    Lijiang to Tacheng

  • Day 7

    Tacheng to Shangri-La

  • Day 8

    Shangri-La

  • Day 9

    Shangri-La

  • Day 10

    Shangri-La

Day 1

Beijing

Arrive in Beijing with the day at leisure to explore.

Day 2

Beijing

Visit the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City and walk in the steps of emperors.

Day 3

Great Wall of China

Travel to the less-visited Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, one of the great wonders of the world.

Day 4

Beijing to Lijiang

Lijiang old town, Lijiang, Yunnan, China

Fly from Beijing to Lijiang in the south west of China. Lijiang was at one end of Tibet’s trading route and had trading ties with far flung cities in Burma, Tibet and India.

Day 5

Lijiang

Explore Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Black Dragon Pool.

Day 6

Lijiang to Tacheng

Travel from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge, believed to be one of the deepest gorge in the world. Continue onto Tacheng, one of the most fertile valleys in Yunnan.

Day 7

Tacheng to Shangri-La

Tibetan Monastery town against blue sky, reflected in river.

Visit the Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey National Park to search for one of the most endangered species in the world: the Black Snub-Nosed Monkey. Continue to Shangri-La, also known as Gyalthang.

Day 8

Shangri-La

Golden Monkeys, China

Explore the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan province, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. Also visit Pudacuo National Park, China’s first national park.

Day 9

Shangri-La

Discover Tangdui, a Tibetan village specialising in pottery to visit master potter Luo Sang Enzhu. Continue to Dong Zhu Lin Monastery.

Day 10

Shangri-La

Depart for the airport for your onward flight.

Stone Lion Sculptures, Beijing, China
Stone lion sculptures, Beijing
Regions visited

Beijing

Beijing is China’s capital city, located in the North of the country it is a veritable metropolis of epic proportions and offers more than just the entrance to The Great Wall and the Forbidden City, although these are magnificent sights in themselves. An elaborate display of Chinese architecture at its best, and worth its title as one of the seven wonders of the medieval world, the city is an historian’s delight and a fascinating insight to the bygone era of China.

View of snow-capped mountain with lake and forested hillsides in foreground.
China
Tibetan Monastery town shrouded in low cloud, reflected in river.
China
Regions visited

Yunnan

Yunnan, meaning ‘Beautiful clouds in the South’ is one of China’s most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces with terrain ranging from snow-capped, alpine mountains to tropical rain forests.Yunnan is home to the towns of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled beneath the Jade Dragon Mountains with a wonderfully atmospheric old town and Dali with its lakeside location. The province stretches to the borders with Tibet and as one journeys beyond the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge towards the town of Shangri-La (Gyalthang) it is possible to get a real feel of Tibetan life at the 300 year old Tibetan monastery of Ganden Sumtseling Gompa which is still home to around 600 monks.

Local woman and child, Yunnan, China
Tibetan woman and child

China photography

China is heaven for photographers. Every corner offers an exciting opportunity for photography. Whilst in Beijing, capture the stunning detailed architecture, in Lijiang, photograph the Jade Dragon Mountains reflected in the waters of the Black Dragon Pool, and the vast depths Tiger Leaping Gorge. In the national parks, wildlife photography can be tricky, patience is key. Finally, as you travel to the smaller remote villages, photograph local life. All of this is under the expert guidance of photographer and videographer, George Chan.

Group Tour FAQs

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Why travel to China with Steppes Travel?

We have been creating China holidays since 1994. Recent adventures in China include trekking on the Great Wall, travelling the Songtsam Trail in Yunnan, following the Silk Route and rafting on the Li River. It is our wealth of in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience that has helped to created this incredible photography tour.

What will the accommodation be like?

In Beijing, the hotel will be a good 4* property in a great location. As you travel to Yunnan, the accommodation will be based in simple local hotels. Rooms will have private bathrooms and reflect local characteristics.

Is this Group Tour suitable for solo travellers?

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places does provide security and peace of mind. We handle all the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour Expert.

If you are willing to share, we will always do our best to match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex so that you do not have to pay for a single room.

If you would prefer the privacy of your own room and would like this guaranteed, then the single room price supplement will apply. We aim to keep these as low as possible.

Do I need to be fit to join this Group Tour?

You do not need to be physically fit as there will be no long trekking. However, the areas visited will be at an altitude of up to about 4,000 metres so taking adequate precautions is advised.

Altitude – Although anyone can be affected by altitude there are precautions to help cope with it. Plenty of rest and drinking water will usually help. Medication is also available but you should consult a medical practitioner first before taking medicines.

What are the roads in China like?

Generally, good tarmac roads throughout but as some of the regions visited are quite remote there may be times where roads are slightly bumpy.

Can I extend my time in China?

Yes, this can easily be arranged at the end or the beginning of the tour. Private travel arrangements with a car and driver will be provided and a private guide arranged for sightseeing. Speak to one of our experts for possible suggestions on what extensions would complement this tour.

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Why a Steppes expert-led group tour

1.Experience Matters

We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.

2.Size Matters

Our average group size is typically eight to ten people, smaller than other group tours typically offered – a factor which many of our clients appreciate. Travelling as part of a smaller group provides a more intimate, personalised and relaxed atmosphere.

4.It’s about who you know

We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.

3.Like-Minded People

Steppes Travellers are like-minded people – interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.

5.Value for money

Our tours are well-priced to ensure you get real value for money. We include gratuities on the majority of our tours and do not pass on currency surcharges. We strive to look after single travellers as well as we can, keeping single supplements to a minimum.

6.Peace of Mind

When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.

Includes / Excludes

Important Information

Activity Level
Light Activity
Single Supplement

Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.

Flexibility

To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.

What is included

  • Accompanied by George Chan
  • Accompanied by an English speaking local guide
  • Entrance fees for sights mentioned
  • Accommodation throughout
  • Early check in or late check out at hotels
  • Internal flight Beijing to Lijiang
  • Transportation throughout
  • Meals, as per the itinerary
  • Gratuities for local guides. drivers and porters
  • £25 to help fund the communities, conservation agencies and NGOs that we work with
  • £25 contribution to ‘Trees and Science’ in mitigation of your carbon emissions

What is excluded

  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas if applicable
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinks throughout

Our future tour dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980

Start dateEnd dateDays
Prices from
Single SupplementTour ExpertGroup SizeStatus
07/05/22 16/05/2210 days £3,995 ex. flights £425George Chan10 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place

Reserve your place on this group tour

Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.

01285 880 980

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Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

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