Yunnan and jiuzhaigou

Question

Hi is it doable to visit Dali, lijiang, shangrila and jiuzhaigou in 14days. Thinking of traveling free and easy without tours

Answer

Visiting Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, and Jiuzhaigou in 14 days is doable, but it will require careful planning as the distances between these locations are considerable, and travel times in Yunnan and Sichuan can be long due to mountainous terrain. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Suggested itinerary approach:

Start in Dali: 2–3 days to explore the old town, Erhai Lake, and nearby villages.
Travel to Lijiang: 2–3 days to visit the Old Town, Black Dragon Pool, and consider a day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Move on to Shangri-La: 2–3 days to see the Songzanlin Monastery, Dukezong Old Town, and possibly a day trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Fly or take a combination of flights/trains to Jiuzhaigou: 3–4 days to explore the national park and surrounding areas.

Key points to consider:

Travel method: Free and easy travel without tours is possible, but you need to plan flights and buses in advance. Flights are the fastest way between Dali-Lijiang-Shangri-La and from Yunnan to Jiuzhaigou (which is in Sichuan).
Altitude: Shangri-La and parts of Jiuzhaigou are at high altitudes, so allow time to acclimatize.
Season: April to October is the best time; winters can bring snow and limited access to some areas, especially Jiuzhaigou.
Accommodation: Book ahead in popular towns like Lijiang and Jiuzhaigou, especially if traveling independently.
Flexibility: 14 days allows some flexibility, but consider that overpacking destinations may feel rushed.

Sample rough day allocation:

Days 1–3: Dali
Days 4–6: Lijiang
Days 7–9: Shangri-La
Days 10–13: Jiuzhaigou
Day 14: Travel back to departure city (Chengdu if flying out from Jiuzhaigou)

Overall, it’s feasible for free-and-easy travel if you focus on key attractions and prioritize flights over long bus rides. Allow some buffer days for rest and potential weather or transportation delays, especially when traveling between provinces.

Yunnan and jiuzhaigou

More Yunnan Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions