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Yunnan Exploration

Yunnan Exploration

Yunnan Exploration
5
About
As the most attractive place to visit in Kunming, Stone Forest is known as the First Wonder of the World. Youll marvel at its natural stone masterpieces and be bewitched by the intricate formations. An old local saying says that If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time. Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan.
Kunming, Yunnan, China

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles60 reviews
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57
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chiranjib_chak2007
Shenzhen, China11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Solo
This is a special Yunnan tour for me as I was looking for bird photography. Charlie from Yunnan Exploration gave me the best plan and arrange some remote places where I get to photograph many specifies . This consists of Puer , Mangba , Menglun of Xishuangbanna… The arrangement was very professional and through Charlie helped me . It was a solo tour but as a guide cum driver Mr. Chen is always there to help arrange by Charlie . Mr. Chen’s English is good . Yunnan Exploration has the best knowledge of Yunnan and their cost is reasonable and arrangement is very good even in remote areas . So travel with a Yunnan Exploration.
For more photos and stories about this bird photography tour follow my
Website - www. AnotherMile.net
Instagram- @chiranjibc
Written May 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

J Lin
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
We e-mailed a few tour companies, but only Charlie and Coco of Yunnan Exploration gave a prompt and welcoming reply. Coco was very responsive, answering our queries promptly and helping us plan and revise a comprehensive itinerary that covered what we wanted to see. She also helped us facilitate some requests, such as hiring a photographer. Costs were clearly listed and our guides, Tenzin, Andy, and Vincent were amazingly professional and friendly, making our flexible 2-week trip around Western Sichuan and Yunnan one to remember. Highly recommended!
Written December 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shiyu C
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
It's really a marvelous trip!!! I had an unforgettable trip to Yunnan this time. It was my first time visiting Yunnan, and fortunately, I found a very reliable travel agency and met hospitable travel agents. During the communication, everything went smoothly. They respected my opinions and suggestions. When I saw the beautiful Stone Forest, I couldn't help but marvel at the amazing work of nature. The tour guide vividly explained these scenic spots to us, and then took us to the hotel by bus. The hotel we stayed in was very characteristic of the local area, and we also tasted the local cuisine, which was very delicious. I love Yunnan!!!
Written June 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PolarBearOslo
Beijing, China33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Solo
After hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge for two days with Evan from Yunnan Exploration in December 2019 I can truly say it is one of my favourite hikes ever. It is near impossible not to describe the hike with words like spectacular and breathtaking and Yunnan Explorations and my guide Evans tidy organizing meant I could forget all the practical details and just walk and enjoy.
Rachel and Lydia took care of the planning and official stuff beforehand and Evan met me at my hotel in Lijiang on the morning of departure. YA had booked our seats on a bus full of hikers for Tiger Leaping Gorge and the trip from Lijiang to our departure point near the village of Qiaotou took around two hours. Our start point lies at around 1900 meters above sea level and after a one hour climb up through farms and orchards dotting the hillside we reached a small guesthouse in Nuoyu Village at 2200 meters. After a light meal here we continued our climb. This takes you up through the famous 28 bends and if the climb doesn’t take your breath away the views when you reach the top of the bends at 2600 meters certainly will. At this point you’ve actually reached the highest point of the upper hiking route through the gorge. From here on and in its relatively flat or slightly down hill for the next 3-4 hours to Halfway Guesthouse or one of the other guesthouses where you can spend the night between a two day hike. The scenery along the way is absolutely magnificent and all though the Yangtze River is some 600 meters below you in the gorge you can always hear the distant roar. After a good nights sleep in a room with THE view at Halfway Guesthouse the second part of the hike takes you through more high altitude scenery before you make your descent down to the road again near Tinas Guesthouse. This part of the hike took a couple of hours. I had also booked a hike of the lower trail along the river almost at the bottom of the gorge so after a short break we descended around 200 meters down to the river. This part of the trail is ‘private’ and the steps paths and ladders have a distinctly homely look and feel. Easy does it though and when you reach the river and the lower hiking trail it is equally spectacular compared to the upper trails you’ve left behind. In places the trail has been carved in to the rocks looming over the wild river right below. The final couple of hours hike is an easy stroll though to a village called Walnut Grove where you can have a nice lunch before catching the bus back to Lijiang. All in all my watch told me we walked 15+12 km over the two days. Apart from the tough climb from the road and up through the 28 bends at the start of the hike, and the descent from the road to the river which is not for the faint hearted the rest is pure beauty.
Can you do this hike on your own? If you read and speak Mandarin I’d say definitely. If you don’t but have time to bumble about you’ll probably still be fine. But you’ll need plenty of time. The bus drivers don’t speak any English so understanding where and when to get off in order to buy tickets to the gorge, or where to start your hike - there are several options none of which are marked properly - is anyones guess. If it wasn’t for my guide Evan who took responsibility when other guests on the bus obviously didn’t know what to do they’d probably still be wandering around near Qiaotou😂 On the bus ride from Walnut Grove out of the gorge we arrived at an accident scene. On understanding the road would be blocked for hours Evan got us a ride in a car in order to catch another bus back to Lijiang. Apart from all the practical help Evan offered first and foremost he is really good company. A warm pleasant person to spend time with. As a Tibetan he brings with him a wealth of mountain experience that comes in really handy when you are hiking the mountains of Yunnan. I hope to come back to TLG some day and if I do I’ll definitely let Yunnan Exploration take care of my trip and hopefully have Evan do the guiding again.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sapirb1
Jerusalem, Israel1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Family
My family and i (6 people) had an outstanding experience on a great trip to southern China. We worked directly with Yunnan Adventure Travel agency with Kelly. Straight from the start of the process of planning our trip, the logistical details and choosing the right options for our needs, we found a listening ear and a great effort to satisfy us. When we arrived in Guilin airport, there was waiting for us an excellent guide - Lisa and a devoted and reliable driver - Sue. They were at our disposal for all intents and purposes even beyond their working hours when we asked to go to see some shows in the evening. Lisa was an intelligent, professional and, most importantly - very kind and attentive to what can pleased us the most. We experienced a fascinating trip to southern China with an emphasis on Guilin and its surroundings and returned home with a very positive impression of the service we received in China and the stunning beauty of this region. We strongly recommend using the Yunnan Adventure Travel agency services under Kelly's supervision and enjoying Lisa's uncompromising professionalism.

הייתה לי ולמשפחתי (6 אנשים) חוויה יוצאת מן הכלל בטיול נהדר לדרום סין. עבדנו מול חברת יונאן ישירות עם קלי ומתחילת התהליך של תכנון המסלול, הפרטים הלוגיסטיים וההמלצות השונות מצאנו אוזן קשבת ומאמץ אדיר שנהיה מרוצים ושהטיול יתאים לצרכים שלנו. כשהגענו לגווילין חיכו לנו מדריכה דוברת אנגלית מצוינת – ליסה ונהג מסור ומהימן – סו. הם עמדו לרשותינו בכל דבר ועניין אפילו מעבר לשעות העבודה שלהם כשביקשנו ללכת למופעים בערב. ליסה הייתה איניטלגנטית, נבונה ובעיקר חביבה וקשובה למה ישמח אותנו. קיבלנו טיול מרתק לדרום סין עם דגש על גווילין וסביבותיה וחזרנו הביתה עם רושם מאוד חיובי על השירות שקיבלנו בסין ועל יופיו המהמם של חבל ארץ זה. אנחנו ממליצים בחום להשתמש בשירותי החברה בניצוחה של קלי ולהינות מהמקצועיות הבלתי מתפשרת של ליסה.
Written October 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter L
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2017 • Couples
From a contact in Beijing we were passed to Yunnan Adventure Travel to organise our 12 day trip to Yunnan. From the outset their response was both quick and efficient with good suggestions on what we could accomplish in the time we had. From their initial itinerary we made several changes as we wanted to stay at traditional Chinese guesthouses rather than modern hotels. All our requests were covered without any bother or difficulty.

Based on our experience we cannot recommend Yunnan Adventure Travel enough. The guides and drivers they arranged were excellent, all with good english and very helpful and considerate.

Yunnan Province is a most attractive area with quite stunning scenery and many potential trekking opportunities in the mountains.
Written April 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ahmednilsham
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Couples
Thank you for organising our visit to Yunnan. The local travel agency did offer a great service from the very beginning. The manager was really good at English and very helpfull during our stay. I hope to come back one day - and I will ask you to organise my stay🌞again.
Written March 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

冯 松
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Friends
Yubeng Village, located in Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, is a place I had long dreamed of visiting. Starting from Shangri-La, this four-day trek was not just a journey through picturesque landscapes but also a spiritual cleanse.

On the first day, we set off from Feilai Temple. Along the way, I could see the golden rays of the morning sun piercing through the misty mountains, casting a divine glow over the entire village. This spectacle left me speechless. Standing at the entrance of Yubeng Village in the evening, I felt as if I had stepped into a blank canvas painting, with every stroke vibrantly echoing the profound silence of nature.

The next day, we began our trek to Nanzongya Pass and then descended towards the Upper Yubeng Village. Although the home stay was extremely basic, it sufficed to shield us from the mountain wind and cold. That night, the village hosted a bonfire party. We shared stories with the local Tibetan villagers, who were very friendly and hospitable. Under the starry sky, amidst singing and dancing, I felt a sense of belonging in this distant land.

On the third day, we continued our journey to the Ice Lake and then ventured deeper into the canyon to Yubeng's Lower Village. The ice at the lake's edge contrasted sharply with the surrounding lush greenery, presenting a striking and beautiful vista. As we walked, the village's barley fields swayed in the wind like waves, and I could hear the crisp sound of the barley. This harmonious blend of nature enveloped me in an indescribable serenity.

On the fourth day, we returned to Feilai Temple via the Original Forest and the Ancient Trail. In the dense forest, every rustle of leaves and bird call was like a lullaby, making me feel as if the forest itself was nurturing all living beings. At the exit of Yubeng Village, I took one last look and silently promised to return.

This four-day journey not only gifted me breathtaking views and physical challenge but also instilled in me a deep love for nature and respect for life. Yubeng Village is like a time tunnel, leading people back to simplicity and tranquility. For those yearning to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, I highly recommend experiencing this serene journey. Here, you will find your inner peace and true self.
Written November 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PaulaHM
Somerset, UK135 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
We found this travel group via an internet search, they were fairly helpful in planning a 10 day tour in Yunnan. Knowing we are keen photographers we asked for some tweaks to be made to the itinerary, they suggested seeing the Red Lands in Sept wasn’t ideal, I am so glad I asked them to keep this part of the tour as it turned out to be one of the most spectacular parts of the tour.
We had a total of four guides during the trip and they varied considerably in their keenness, in their knowledge of the area and in the standard of their English. Some were knowledgeable and keen and some were less enthusiastic and we had to ask the right questions to illicit information about what we were visiting. The standard of English varied a lot with two not really understanding us when we asked a question.
Some days on the tour were planned well with regards to timings but some days were not; one day we finished at 1pm in Kunming which seemed
crazy as we were in a huge city with things left to explore. We took ourselves off to continue exploring; this was easy for us as we had lived n China so were able to navigate taxi apps and payment for meals etc
But this would not have been so ideal if we were new to China as we would have been less prepared. I didn’t expect a day to finish at 1pm on an organised tour。
None of our guides had the itinerary that we were given by the company so we were asked to share that with each guide so they could ensure they know what we were expecting to do, I was surprised this aspect wasn’t more organised. Some things on the tour were not planned well; we had an early 7am start one day and when we asked about hotel breakfast the breakfast did not start until 7.30am. No provision was thought of for breakfast until we asked if we could have breakfast either provided by the hotel in a box to eat in the car when travelling or if we could breakfast along the route. I’d have expected the tour company to have considered this in their planning. Hotels were good but breakfasts often disappointing standard and variety of food and drinks available. Noodles, coke and sprite is not a good standard of breakfast in a four star hotel in my opinion.
The tour days often did not factor in a lunch stop, once we realised this we purchased some
snacks we could eat whilst travelling to keep us going but had we had our active and always hungry young daughter with us, this would not have been acceptable. Restaurants suggested by the tour guides in the evenings were very basic, not the type of restaurants we would normally eat in. It was much better when we said we were happy to find ourselves somewhere to eat and I found somewhere nicer by using an internet search engine. The tour company could ask customers of a rough price guide or type of restaurant they’d prefer to eat at. Guides tended to choose a
very basic restaurant/cafe.
The cars were very nice, roomy and comfortable. The driver we had for most of the trip was a very careful and considerate
driver.
The places we visited on the trip were interesting and a good variety in the main, just a couple of places it seemed like we were being taken to places where the guides had friends in the hope we would buy things from them eg the batik printing place and a tea cafe.
One of the guides was quite religious and took every opportunity to tell us this together with speaking to random people she met in the street about religion yet when visiting the monastery she seemed less enthusiastic and not very forthcoming with information about the place. The guide was seen by the ranger feeding the snub nosed monkeys some of her own food (throwing bread in the floor to try to attract the monkeys) and she was told not to do that by the ranger, fortunately. I was shocked our guide would not know this already, likewise she often referred to us when speaking to strangers as ‘waigoren’; I’m surprised she didn’t use a more polite term. She also frequently commented on my age from looking at my passport and how I looked age and wrinkles wise. All things that I’m surprised she hadn’t learned are different in western culture and I thought she’d have learnt to be more polite.
As we left each guide we were asked to complete a feedback form by the guide, this is a crazy idea. Stood there in front of the guide and handing that feedback back to them - this is not a way to gather true informative and honest feedback as it feels very intimidating to give feedback directly to the person involved. I was surprised to not hear from the tour company during the tour nor to be asked for feedback from the company at the end of the tour other than an email to ask me to complete this review on trip advisor.
Overall we feel this tour was average for the reasons stated above. We enjoyed visiting Yunnan but could have benefited from better English speaking guides and more
knowledgable guides and ones happy to freely tell us about places rather than wait for us to ask questions (two of our guides were very good at explaining things, two were not). We have travelled extensively in China both independently and with other small independent tour companies, we felt the general standard of planning, guides and the tour in general was not as good as other companies we have used in the past, hence an average rating.
Written September 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karen S
Moscow, ID33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2017 • Friends
Kelly from Yunnan Adventure travel planned a fantastic tour for myself and 3 other women. We started in Beijing, then Xian, LiJiang, Kunming and many rural villages in Southern China. She adapted the trip at our request, and assisted us during our journey. We had excellent guides in every city and always knew Kelly was there to help us if we needed her. It was a joy to meet her and her son. She did an excellent job for us and I highly recommend her
Written December 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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