"Hometown of Peacocks, Buddhist Kingdom in Southern Xinjiang; Gentle Dai Country, Love in Banna"

Number of days：5 days
Time: May
Average cost: 1500 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2021.05.17

2021 Xishuangbanna Travel Cost Guide] Read it patiently for 3 minutes, which will surely help you avoid detours during your trip to Banna. The gentle Dai girls, the leisurely Asian wild elephants, the beautiful peacocks, the quaint and primitive Dai villages, the natural and magical plant stranglers, the Southern Buddhism and the Southeast Asian customs, are like the exotic 'Little Thailand' - Xishuangbanna... A brand new way to play, take you to travel around Banna!

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I recently came back from a trip to Xishuangbanna with my boyfriend and friends. Banna is indeed no less beautiful than Thailand and Southeast Asia, like a 'Little Thailand'. The famous Banna Tropical Botanical Garden, Manting Park, Wild Elephant Valley, Daluo Port on the China-Myanmar border, Mengjinglai, Nannuo Mountain Scenic Area, Primitive Forest Park, etc. are all open as usual. Due to its proximity to Southeast Asian countries, all scenic spot tickets need to be booked in advance with real name. Whether you are traveling independently or in a group, you must make plans in advance.

I had already made arrangements before going and checked the locations of all the attractions, but the scenic spots in Banna are very scattered and far away. Later, I contacted the local tour guide Linglong, who helped us plan the itinerary, which saved us a lot of money and avoided a lot of detours;

This time, Bingbing helped us with food, accommodation, transportation, attraction tickets, and round-trip transfers for our Banna trip, which saved us a lot of money and time~~

After 5 days, each person spent more than a thousand less than expected. Bingbing is a local, and the hotel and ticket prices are all discounted through year-round cooperation, which is very cost-effective; what made me most satisfied was that Bingbing personally picked us up at the airport and took us to eat authentic Banna snacks, which were not only delicious but also very cheap;

We were also given the opportunity to experience the Dai Princess Afternoon Tea, which gave us a glimpse into Southeast Asian culture.

啊凌胃心lydz948

A reminder for those who demand quality and want to save time in Banna without a tour group. It's recommended to book with Linglong in advance. Their parking and rooms are really tight, and during peak season, they only reserve them for guests who have a specific itinerary. I almost forgot to mention the most important point: Linglong has partnerships with major scenic spots in Banna. While others were still struggling to queue, we were already entering through the VIP channel. There's also a dedicated dining area for dining, so you don't have to squeeze in. Kudos to Linglong!

My own conclusion is that only when you find the right people can you have a more enjoyable trip. You can learn from this. We were very satisfied with the itinerary planned by Linglong at that time!

So I recommend it to you with a clear conscience! I strongly recommend that you choose to book a tour guide to visit Xishuangbanna. I did half a month of online research before going, and combined with some of my feelings and experiences after the trip, I summarized them and shared them with you. I hope it helps you:

First of all, to answer your question, is Xishuangbanna suitable for pure independent travel? My answer is that it is not suitable for purely self-guided travel.

1. It is inconvenient. Xishuangbanna is located in the southwest border of China. Transportation is very inconvenient. There are many ethnic minorities and many local taboos. You must rent a car to travel between scenic spots, which is very inconvenient and unsafe.

2. It wastes time. All time is spent waiting for the car, looking for guides, and asking for directions, which greatly reduces the time for actual fun.

3. It costs a lot of money. The attractions and hotels are charged high prices. The transportation costs to each place are particularly high, so it will definitely cost a lot.

4. It is very worrying. You have to do everything yourself. Looking up information forces you to become a tour guide.

To answer your second question, is Xishuangbanna suitable for purely self-guided travel? My answer: Xishuangbanna is not suitable for self-driving tours.

1. It's unsafe. Xishuangbanna's roads are in poor condition. Unless you're very familiar with the roads, there are numerous inspections and complicated procedures.

2. It's not cost-effective. Xishuangbanna is extremely far from everywhere, and the drive time is very long. The tolls are very expensive and tiring.

3. It's not fun. Every tourist attraction is surrounded by border inspections and long lines. You won't have enough time to see the sights.

4. It’s very worrying. You have to book a room, find the route, and go through the formalities by yourself (the formalities are very complicated). You may also go the wrong way.

What are the must-see attractions in Xishuangbanna (summarized in 14 words: “plants, animals, exotic customs, food, ethnic minorities”):

NO1: Botanical Garden The must-see attraction in Xishuangbanna is the Tropical Botanical Garden, where you can see and hear things you have never seen before.

NO2: Mengjinglai (one village, two countries. Now you can't go abroad, this is the best choice to see the Southeast Asian style)

NO3: Wild Elephant Valley (I personally recommend it, the children have a lot of fun) The only place in China where you can see Asian wild elephants

NO4: Forest Park, there is no development. Here you can open your arms, embrace nature, and watch peacocks fly.

NO5: Nannuo Mountain, where the Hani people have lived for generations. If you come to Xishuangbanna and don't experience the ethnic minority culture, it's like coming in vain.

There are many niche attractions in Xishuangbanna, so I won't introduce them one by one.

Tips: Be sure to visit Gaozhuang Xishuangjing at night; it's even prettier than Thailand's Little Train Night Market. And be sure to take artistic photos in Gaozhuang; it's incredibly beautiful.