SHOULD I COME?
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LOCATION
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YOGA&MEDITATION
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PROGRAM
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STAY
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FOOD
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GETTING THERE
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BOOKING
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HIGHLIGHTS
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* 5 days of yoga retreat with two classes per day and other activities in between the classes
* 10 days of exploring urban and rural areas around Chengdu (Sichuan) and Lijiang (Yunnan) with a local * Staying in Chengdu to explore the city and the area * The Giant Buddha of Leshan * Mount Emei * Spending half a day in Panda Breeding and Research Center |
* Dali and its surrounding ancient towns
* The Three Pagodas complex in Dali * Lijiang and its surrounding ancient towns * Cultural show in Lijiang * Exploring the incredibly exciting food in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces - from street food markets to fancy restaurants and everything in between |
YOU WILL LOVE THIS TRIP IF...
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... you are curious about exploring China beyond the most famous cities and tourist attractions
... you want to see a little bit of everything - big modern cities, old towns, ancient villages, mountains, lakes, cultural diversity ... you are beyond excited about trying out endless varieties of local food ... you are happy to have a somewhat balanced holiday - 10 days of exploring the cities and the countryside and 5 more slow days of our typical yoga retreat schedule |
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LOCATION
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Our adventure begins in the vibrant heart of Sichuan, where the energy pulses with a lively, spicy rhythm. We'll dive into the culinary paradise of Chengdu, tasting the iconic, mouth-numbing heat of authentic Sichuan hotpot and soaking up the bustling teahouse culture. Chengdu is also the home to the world-famous Panda Breeding and Research Center - a perfect place to spend half a day and get a cuteness overload! The journey continues to the awe-inspiring spiritual sites of the region, from the serene grandeur of the world's largest stone Buddha in Leshan to the sacred, cloud-ringed peaks of Emei Mountain. This is a land defined by dynamic urban life, profound history, and famously bold flavors.
From there, we'll head south into the serene and breathtaking landscapes of Yunnan, where every turn feels like a new discovery. We'll explore the ancient cobblestone streets around Dali and Lijiang, lined with local craft shops and filled with the scent of sizzling street food. You'll experience the warm hospitality of its many ethnic cultures—Yunnan is home to over half of China's 56 ethnic groups—and feast on unforgettable dishes. October brings ideal weather, with sunny, mild days and crisp, clear air, perfect for taking in the stunning vistas that shift from modern cities, to jade-green lakes, to towering, misty mountains. |
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YOGA & MEDITATION
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As this retreat is open only to those who have already been on a retreat with me, you already know what you can expect from my classes.
One big difference and a very important thing to understand is that the actual yoga retreat part of this trip will only be five days long, and it will happen in the middle of the trip, while we are in Dali, Yunnan. During those five days (five nights-six days, to be precise), we will have out usual retreat schedule. We will have two yoga classes per day, a 90 minutes class in the morning, and a 60 minutes class in the afternoon. Between the two classes, we will still have enough time to explore the beautiful Old Town of Dali and its surroundings. We'll visit several ancient towns and some quite remote Buddhist and Daoist temples. We will take one whole afternoon to explore and soak in The Three Pagodas complex. We will also take a cable car to go up to Cangshan Mountain and admire the Seven Dragon Maiden Pools. If we are very lucky, and very quiet, we might even see a red panda in the wild, as this is their home. The maximum group size will be 10 guests. |
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PROGRAM
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This trip will be quite different from what you are used to with me, so please read carefully through this program.
I am organizing this trip together with Sun Yang, who will be with us throughout the trip, making sure that everything goes smoothly, answering all our questions about China, and also showing us some of his favorite hidden places. Our meeting point will be Chengdu and everyone should fly into Chengdu. Our program will start officially with a group dinner in Chengdu and having a night stroll around the old town to feel the atmosphere of what some people say is China's most chilled city. While in Chengdu, we will off course pay a visit to the pandas and spend half a day spotting these cuddly furry balls. This is a very vibrant city and possibilities are endless: People's park, Wenshufang area, Anshun Lang Bridge, Wenshu Monastery. Depending on the interest of the group, we'll decide what to visit. After exploring Chengdu, we'll head to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha - a 71-meter tall stone statue carved into a riverside cliff. We will also visit Mount Emei, one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, renowned for its ancient temples, lush forests, and mystical sea of clouds. Both of these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
On the morning of Day 5, we will head to Chengdu airport and take 1.5 hours long flight to Dali. With the arrival to Dali, we begin the yoga retreat section of our trip. We will be picked up from the airport and taken to our retreat accommodation. The days in Dali will follow our usual retreat schedule, and you can see more of what we have planned for Dali in the Yoga and Meditation section above.
The idea of having the yoga retreat part of the trip in between the very busy Chengdu and Lijiang days also gives us an opportunity to have some down time to process what we have seen and experienced so far, although we will still be visiting beautiful places during these five days as well. 
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After spending 5 night in Dali, we will take a private transfer to Lijiang. We have decided to stay in a small ancient village Shuhe, just outside of the busy Lijiang old town, but still quite close to all the places of interest.
Shuhe is a gorgeous small town that absolutely stole my heart and the moment I stepped in, I knew I had to do a retreat here and we will spend at least one full day exploring and admiring this somewhat hidden gem. While in this final destination of our trip, we will also take one full day to explore the gorgeous Old town of Lijiang, to visit Black Dragon Pool Park, which offers incredible views of the town and the Jade Dragon Mountain, and Mu Mansion, often called The Forbidden City of the South East. We will also attend a cultural show telling the stories and myths of a local ethnic group called the Naxi - it's a theatrical production that will for sure blow your mind. We will also take two daytrips higher up towards the Jade Dragon Mountain. The first one will be to visit the Blue MoonValley, famous for its crystal-clear, mineral-rich waters that create a vivid blue and white landscape against a mountain backdrop. The second day trip will be to the Jade Lake and a couple of more remote villages. To see the full day-to-day schedule, please click here. 
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STAY
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We will stay at four different accommodations during our trip in China.
In Chengdu we will stay in a very cozy and modern 4-star hotel in a convenient location for three nights. When we visit Leshan and Emei Mountain we will spend one night sleeping in a temple half way to the top of the mountain, so we can take the cable car early in the morning and reach the peak for the sunrise. In Dali, we will be staying in a small and cozy boutique hotel close to the beautiful Erhai Lake. The hotel is well equipped to host yoga retreats, with a designated yoga room and the necessary equipment. In Shuhe (Lijiang), we will be staying in another cozy boutique hotel. All the accommodation will be very comfortable and cozy, although different from one another - from a temple on Mount Emei through small cozy boutique hotels in Dali and Lijiang, to a 4-star hotel in Chengdu. The rooms will be twin or double, always with en-suite bathroom and to be shared among two guests. If you need a different arrangement, for the accommodation, please talk to me directly. |
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FOOD
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These two weeks we'll spend together in China will also be a culinary discovery and even a culinary extravaganza of a sort. We will be in two different provinces, each one famous for its dishes and unique flavors.
In Sichuan, we will explore the very exciting food scene of Chengdu with its modern and hip restaurants and cafes. But as elsewhere, we will not shy away from the iconic street food. Sichuan food if famous for its spiciness and richness of flavor and as we will be going through a wide range of settings - from modern bustling Chengdu to staying in a temple in a middle of nowhere, we will also have a chance to try out food in modern restaurants, as well simple home-cooked authentic meals. Cuisine in Yunnan is an experience in itself. Just the versatility of ingredients is enough to make your head spin, not to mention all the different preparation techniques. Yunnan food is much lighter than in Sichuan and uses a lot of foraged ingredients - mushrooms, flowers, likens, water plants. The climate of Yunnan is very mild, so juicy and fragrant fruits and vegetables are available year-around. Yunnan is also famous for dried fruits and both Yunnan and Sichuan are famous for a wide assortment of pickles. During the five days that we will stay in Dali on the yoga retreat part of the trip, we will eat breakfast and dinner at our accommodation and we'll enjoy the lunch outside. While in Chengdu and Lijiang area, we will mostly be eating outside. |
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GETTING THERE
The trip starts in Chengdu and you should fly into Chengdu International Airport on the 10th of October the latest. The airport transfer from Chengdu airport to our hotel on the 10th of October will betaken care of by us and is already calculated into the price.
The trip ends in Lijiang. Lijiang has a small domestic airport well-connected to other cities in China. As everyone will probably have different plans when the trip ends, we haven't included any flights out of Lijiang. Of course, we are available to help you sort out any flights or help you plan some more travelling in China.
The trip ends in Lijiang. Lijiang has a small domestic airport well-connected to other cities in China. As everyone will probably have different plans when the trip ends, we haven't included any flights out of Lijiang. Of course, we are available to help you sort out any flights or help you plan some more travelling in China.
BOOKING
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* 3 nights in a 4-star hotel in Chengdu * 1 night accommodation in a temple on Emei mountain * 5 nights accommodation in a boutique hotel in Dali * 5 nights accommodation in a boutique hotel in Lijiang * 3 meals per day during the entire trip * domestic flight from Chengdu to Dali * airport transfers in Chengdu and Dali * all the transfers between the cities by a private vehicle (From Chengdu to Leshan to Emei Mountain back to Chengdu, and from Dali to Lijiang) * all the transfers for the day trips and sightseeing by a private vehicle * 5 days of yoga classes in Dali (2 classes per day) * all the entry tickets (Panda Breeding center, the Giant Buddha of Leshan, Emei Mountain, all the cable cars (at least three), national parks admissions, Naxi cultural show, Black Dragon Pool Park, Mu mansion, Jade Lake, Blue Moon Valley, or any other admission ticket) |
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* international flights * personal expenses * flying out of Lijiang after the end of the trip |
14 nights/15 days full-board, all-inclusive
(per person)
Twin or double room
2750 EUR
2750 EUR
For more information and for special deals, contact us at [email protected]
