Left side shows a person holding a bowl of noodles topped with sauce, greens, and nuts, wearing an apron with a bear design. Right side displays a black sign with white text in Chinese and English, listing routes from Dali to Kunming, Lijiang, and Zh
Stone arch bridge over a calm river with mountains in the background and trees on the sides.
A two-panel image; the left panel shows two people sitting on steps, with baskets in front and intricate carved doors behind them. The right panel displays bunches of lychee fruit with leaves.
On the left, a person is painting floral designs on a large dough or bread using a brush. On the right, there's a checkered pattern tablecloth with rose and peony designs.
Image split into two: on the left, freshly baked stuffed flatbreads with meat and scallions; on the right, a person shaping a clay teapot in a workshop.
Left: Traditional Chinese building with red lanterns and a person walking with a cart. Right: Plate of Chinese noodles with vegetables and chopsticks on a patterned tablecloth.
A collage showing two images: on the left, a basket of fresh wax apples and bayberry fruits with green leaves; on the right, a person in a hat and blue shirt sits on the ground, bundling red incense sticks.
Street scene in Lijiang, China with traditional wooden buildings, red lanterns, and a person walking on a cobblestone path.
Street vendor preparing food next to a wall with Chinese characters and a plate of sliced cured meat with chopsticks on a wooden table.
Baked goods in trays and person preparing tea
A plate of Chinese stir-fried chicken with vegetables on a wooden table with chopsticks, a cup, and a brown pitcher; a traditional wooden lattice panel with intricate designs.
A person rowing a small boat on a lake with a traditional Asian-style pavilion on a rocky island and a mountainous background under a blue sky with clouds.
A split image showing a food dish and a kettle. On the left, a plate of Chinese sausage and potato slices, accompanied by a bowl of rice with chopsticks and two glasses of tea. On the right, a rustic wooden kettle on a wooden surface against a brick
A person wearing traditional colorful attire and a black headdress next to a display of vibrant, patterned textiles.
Street scene in a traditional Chinese village with a man riding a bicycle, red lanterns hanging from buildings, and carved wooden window frames.
Bowl of noodles with chopsticks and a wall painting of a tiger with clouds.
Two-panel image: Left panel shows traditional brick buildings with tile roofs in a lush, green village setting. Right panel shows a straw hat hanging on a stone wall.
A textile worker wearing a colorful headscarf and apron standing beside a dye vat, next to an ornate relief art piece featuring birds and rabbits among flowers and foliage.
Plate of Asian noodle dish with chili and herbs, black chopsticks, bowl of rice on wooden table; person carrying water buckets on a stone path surrounded by lush greenery.
Person with a hat standing near a boat, holding a fishing net on a calm lake, with mountains in the background.
Clay pots with rice, sausage, and vegetables on a grill; a smiling person carrying baskets near a field.
Left side image of Asian food dishes including pickled vegetables and spice-coated nuts on a blue patterned tablecloth; right side shows an ornate, weathered archway entrance in a traditional Chinese architectural style.
Woman in traditional red and gold Chinese attire standing outdoors; adjacent image displays a menu with Chinese dishes and English translations.
Street vendor grilling food on a portable stove, with a basket of rolled, fried snacks nearby.
Two men sitting at a wooden table outside a traditional Asian restaurant with chalkboard menu, animal skulls on the wall, and red wooden doors.
A vendor in a blue raincoat and plastic hat sitting on steps next to baskets of fruit, including mangosteens and red apples, with a carved wooden door in the background.

Yunnan

Tucked away in China’s southwest, Yunnan is a land of staggering beauty – snow-capped peaks in the Tibetan north, tropical jungles in the south, and rolling, fertile, red-soil agricultural land in between. The air feels fresher, the skies stretch wider, and life moves at a different rhythm. No wonder so many young Chinese dream of escaping here to “tang ping”– or “lie flat”– opting out of the city grind for something slower, something real-er.

And the food? A revelation. Central Yunnan, the focus of this experience, is famous for raw-cured ham to rival jamón, sweet fresh cheeses, foraged wild mushrooms in endless variety, and the region’s signature steam pot chicken – a delicate, slow-simmered dish scented with herbs and aromatics. You'll find handmade rice noodles in rich broths, pressed tofu cooked over hot coals, and surprising twists everywhere – fresh flower petals tucked into pastries, a hit of mint in your noodles, and stir-fried bugs sizzling at night markets.

The produce here is some of the best in China, nurtured by Yunnan’s pristine climate and rich cultural mix. Then there’s the tea. This is the birthplace of legendary Pu’er tea, steeped into deep, complex brews aficionados go wild for. Even Yunnan’s high-altitude coffee is quietly making a name for itself – rich and chocolatey with a hint of local terroir.

Every stop on this journey reveals something unexpected. In Xizhou, we’ll bite into baba – yeasty flat breads stuffed with sweet or savoury fillings and traditionally baked over coals. Near Fuxian Lake, we’ll eat fresh local fish that’s bubbled away in a copper pot in a fragrant, spice-laden broth. Dali loves its erkuai, a type of versatile rice ‘cake’ made by pounding steamed, ground rice that can be stir-fried, grilled then wrapped around various fillings like a burrito, or deep-fried and served with chilli sauce. Delicious. Shaxi seduces with it’s unspoilt pace; this ancient stop on the Tea Horse Road is famous for a bustling Friday Market that dates back 1300 years. We’ll learn of the Bai minority’s Three Cup Tea Ceremony, where each brew, from bitter to sweet, tells a story of heritage, hospitality and ritual. The piece de resistance? Either a trip to a ham-producing village, where mules are still used in place of cars, or a mountain home-stay, feasting on home-cooked fare, foraging for wild greens and mushrooms, and experiencing a tranquil, pristine side of rural China few outsiders get to see.

Places are strictly limited.

Join us

Spring in Yunnan – 2026

12th-26th April 2026

From 6, 495AUD

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Autumn in Yunnan – 2026

October 2026 (exact dates to come)

From 6,495AUD

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