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Revenue managementDynamic pricingChannel managementOTA managementBooking.com managementListing optimizationVacation rental marketingFull-day private tour with hotel pickup — Stone Forest, Yiliang roast duck lunch, followed by a customizable Kunming city experience.
Your day begins with hotel pickup for a private tour of the Stone Forest, a stunning natural wonder known for its towering limestone formations. After exploring the forest, you’ll head to Yiliang for lunch at a renowned roast duck restaurant, where you can choose a Halal option if desired. The duck here is notable for its traditional preparation and rich flavours, making it a highlight for food enthusiasts.
Post-lunch, travel back towards Kunming, where you can tailor the rest of your afternoon. Options include a walking tour of Kunming Old Town or Guandu Ancient Town, a visit to the Yunnan Ethnic Village, or a cable car ride at Western Hills and Dragon Gate. You might also explore the Yunnan Provincial Museum, Dounan Flower Market, or enjoy Chinese tea tasting at a local teahouse. A practical choice for those wanting a personalized sightseeing experience.
Reviews
This tour was fantastic, and our guide Bamboo was very knowledgeable and incredibly patient. Greg provided many recommendations since it was our first visit to Kunming. I highly suggest this tour, especially for those traveling with older adults.
We arranged a tour through Trip.com for a driver to take us to the Stone Forest and another destination, which we chose to be Dounan Flower Market based on a friend's suggestion. The experience was wonderful. Our driver, Mr. Lai, was friendly and punctual. He took us to see the jacarandas on XiaoChangZhong Road before heading to the Stone Forest, and we enjoyed seeing bougainvilleas near Yiliang during our journey. He also recommended we try roasted duck at XueCheng restaurant, which was excellent. It’s important to note that admission tickets for the Stone Forest are not included and were around 130 RMB for adults, with discounts for seniors over 60. There's an option to purchase a tram ticket for 25 RMB, which is useful given the vast area. We spent about 1.5 to 2 hours there, though many tend to stay for about 3 hours. The Dounan Flower Market is quite expansive, known as the biggest in South Asia, with incredibly affordable flowers and bouquets compared to prices back home. Besides fresh flowers, they offer a variety of related products, perfect for souvenirs. There are also many food and drink stalls nearby to grab a snack, and we spent about 1.5 to 2 hours exploring there as well. The car was comfortable for two, and bottled water was provided. The booking process was seamless, as the tour company reached out via WhatsApp and later switched to WeChat, allowing for easy communication about our itinerary. Mr. Lai was great, and we were able to converse in Mandarin, enhancing the experience. While it might be a challenge for non-Mandarin speakers, translation apps could assist. Overall, this was a fantastic experience that made visiting the Stone Forest and surrounding attractions much simpler. It’s a great choice for anyone traveling with older relatives since having a private driver reduces walking. I highly recommend this tour for a memorable introduction to Yunnan and Kunming.
During our honeymoon in Yunnan, we scheduled a visit to the Shilin Stone Forest. Our driver arrived early at our hotel and took us to Shilin in the morning, followed by a lunch at an outdoor restaurant and a trip to the Kunming museum. The Stone Forest was truly impressive; I had never seen anything quite like it. We explored different parts independently and occasionally joined English and Chinese-speaking groups to learn more about the area. Our driver also found a restaurant offering a variety of vegetarian dishes, saving us money by avoiding the higher prices in the Stone Forest tourist area. Initially, we planned to visit Green Lake in the afternoon, but since we had already seen it the night before, we switched to the museum, which was decent but not remarkable. Additionally, our driver took us to an intriguing market with numerous shops where we discovered some necessary items and a nice dining spot. Greg set up a WeChat group chat, providing helpful insights and restaurant recommendations, even on days when we weren't on a tour with them. We're very grateful to Greg and Aether Tours for making our honeymoon a memorable experience.
The flight from Singapore to Kunming was brief. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza City Centre, conveniently situated close to many attractions, where the service was outstanding. Breakfast featured a broad range of options, including daily Yunnan cuisine specials, and they kindly granted us a late check-out since our flight was in the evening. We were very pleased with the service. The Stone Forest is a must-see, and having a guide makes trekking there much easier, while other sights can be explored independently. The food is delicious and reasonably priced; we enjoyed a fantastic meal for two for just S$25. We sampled various Yunnan dishes, including Crossing the Bridge noodles, mushroom hotpot, roasted duck, and stewed chicken. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and might return to discover more nearby cities.
I had a fantastic day exploring with Mr. Zhang, who shared extensive knowledge about the area's history and the stone forest that only a local guide could provide. It was crowded, but I noticed other tourists were keen to hear him as well. I skipped the Yiliang roast duck and instead visited Green Lake and ZhuanXin Market. The lake was stunning with huge blooming lotus plants in mid-August, which thrilled me as a gardener. ZhuanXin Market was impressively large and organized, allowing me to experience diverse cultures and sample unique products. Miss Gou was an excellent driver; all Chinese drivers seem exceptional on the road and in everything they do.
The Stone Forest is a must-visit when in Kunming. Our tour agent was prompt and very considerate. Our guide, Gil, ensured we experienced the stunning, less crowded spots. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Stone Forest, had a delicious lunch with the famous roasted duck, and had a wonderful time watching seagulls at Dianchi Lake.
The tour was well-organized and went smoothly.
The driver was personable and punctual throughout the trip. The vehicle was clean, roomy, and very comfortable. Lunch was tasty and fairly priced. Initially, the stone forest may not impress, but it becomes increasingly stunning as you explore deeper. It's a must-see destination in China. The agency did an excellent job coordinating this last-minute arrangement for me. Thank you for all your help.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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