Driving journey from Yunnan to the Lanna Kingdom

As you drive on this adventurous journey from southern China via Laos to the tropical heart of the Golden Triangle in northern Thailand, we have paved the way for you to cross borders seldom crossed by overseas travellers. You will drive through a region steeped in different cultures, through ancient rainforests with the last remaining Asian elephants in China, and through valleys dotted with Tibetan villages.

Day 1 - Arrive Kunming
On arrival in Kunming, you will be met and transferred to your hotel on Green Lake, where the rest of the day is yours to perhaps stroll around the lake and get a taste of the easy-going pace of life.

Day 2 - Kunming
All the documents will be prepared for your temporary Chinese driving license; you will just need to complete the formalities.  You may like to sample Yunnan's most famous export Pu'er Tea or visit the secluded Bamboo Temple in the hills overlooking Kunming before a dinner in a beautifully restored Qing-dynasty house.

Day 3 - Kunming/Shangri-La
This morning a short flight (around 1 hour) takes you to Shangri-La, an ethnically Tibetan town on the edge of the Plateau that is the fabled paradise of James Hilton's 'Lost Horizon'. Spend the afternoon at the important Ganden Sumtseling Gompa temple, perhaps take a ride on horseback, or simply rest at your hotel, the Gyalthang Dzong Hotel.

Day 4 - Shangri-La/Tiger Leaping Gorge/Lijiang
Your driving journey begins today, crossing a mountain pass on roads that wind their way south along the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The road narrows as you reach the part of the Yangtze that carries the poetic name 'River of Golden Sands'  and hugs the river cliffs as you approach Tiger Leaping Gorge. The drive continues after lunch to your hotel on the edge of Lijiang's old town.

Day 5 - Lijiang
Lijiang's old town is perfect for a relaxed stroll searching among the shops for souvenirs, or take the cable car to the top of nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towering at a height of 5,600 metres. Alternatively, there are many wonderful hiking and horse-riding trails in the surrounding countryside.

Day 6 - Lijiang/Dali/Chuxiong
Today you are on the road again as you continue your drive through Yunnan along a wide country road to Dali, a small town whose laid-back atmosphere is evident in the many hidden coffee shops and restaurants in the sleepy old town. The afternoon drive is on a divided highway through lush plains to cheerful Chuxiong, home of the Yi minority.

Day 7 - Chuxiong/Xishuangbanna Region
From the town of Chuxiong at an elevation of 2,000 metres descend into the Xishuangbanna region in the lowlands of Yunnan where China and South-East Asia meet. The Chinese transliteration of the name means 'Twelve Thousand Rice Fields'. The long drive is certainly rewarded by the dramatic change of scenery in this region that feels more South-East Asian than Chinese. The streets of the main town Jinghong are lined with palm trees and the pace of life appealingly laidback.

Day 8 - Xishuangbanna Region
The sleepy tropical climate may prompt you to relax for a day with a good book, find the wonderful deli serving Dai food, or stroll around Menghai market where the locals come to sell food and handmade goods.

Day 9 - Xishuangbanna Region/Laos/Thailand's Golden Triangle
An early departure allows you to miss the crowds at the China-Laos border crossing, and arrive in Laos by mid-morning for a delicious brunch on the banks of the river in Luang Nam Tha. Route 3, a newly constructed country road that crosses the mountains of northern Laos, evokes a time past as you drive through villages that seem to have remained unchanged for centuries. Huay Sai is where you board the car ferry to cross the Mekong into Thailand, where you will continue your drive along the river to the Golden Triangle and the wonderful Anantara Golden Triangle Hotel which is a gem in this part of the world.
(We will do our utmost to make the border crossings as smooth as possible but please note that even with the best of connections, crossing South-East Asian borders by car can be fraught with uncertainties and delays.)

Day 10 - Golden Triangle
Today is a welcome break after the long drive of the previous day. You may like to spend time by the hotel's pool, have a Thai cooking course and lunch at a riverside restaurant that grows its own ingredients, or visit the Grand Hall of Opium, a modern museum devoted to educating visitors about the poppies and opium for which the Golden Triangle gained notoriety in the past. Or perhaps spend the day at the elephant camp and take a sunset elephant trek.

Day 11 - Golden Triangle/Doi Mae Salong/Chiang Mai
On this last day of driving leave the Golden Triangle for the hills around Doi Mae Salong. In 1949 the remnants of Chiang Kai Shek's army sought refuge in this little corner of Thailand after the communists proclaimed victory in China's civil war. Tea groves cover the hills and wat towers rise high above the centre of Doi Mae Salong village that is empty of vehicles. The final few hours of your journey take you via Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai where you will enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 12 - Depart Chiang Mai
Today you will continue homeward from Chiang Mai while the cars are returned to Kunming by drivers. Or you may like to stay a while longer to see how silk is made or shop in the charming night market. Whatever you choose, you will leave with many wonderful new memories of your journey on the roads of China and South-East Asia.