18Day Yunnan Ethnic Minorities Festivals Tour around Chinese New Year

1. Altitude Sickness:

Yunnan is a mountainous Province with high elevation. Sometimes people maybe suffer from the altitude sickness, you should drink much water,walk slowly and have much more rest. The elevations of Yunnan are as follows: Kunming(1895M),Dali(1976M),Lijiang(2416M),Shangrila(3280M).

2. Ethnic Folk Customs:

Please respect the local ethnic culture when you visit China. There are 55 ethnic minorities in China, you can find 52 of them in Yunnan Province. In this tour, you will experience Bai, Yi, Naxi, Tibetan,Mosuo minorities. You can learn more information about them from "Yunnan Ethnic Minorities".

3. Service Tipping
Giving a tip to someone who serves is a token of gratitude for a job well done.For the person who provides the service, their tip is often a large part of their income.Therefore, it is assumed they will do their best job to get the best tip possible.Unfortunately service tends to fall short quite often and then servers become insulted when the tip does not measure up to their expectations.

As the time flies to 21 century, tipping is no longer illegal in China since 1980s. Tipping for tour guides and drivers in recognition of their good service has become a common practice. Hotel bellboys and house keepers expect your tips as well. It is not customary to leave tips at hotel or local restaurants as the bill usually includes 10-15% service charge. 

.Yunnan Adventure Travel does not include tipping in our quotation as tipping is a personal matter. If you don't know what the proper amount for tipping would be, the following standard is for your reference:

•If you are traveling in a small party like 2 to 5 members, We suggest approximately US $8 to US $10 /per guest per day as tips for tour guide and US $4 to US $6 for the driver and about US $2 to US $3 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

For example, if 2 of you are traveling together and will stay in Beijing for 3 nights, the tip from both of you may be from US$48 to US$60 for the tour guide, US$24 to US$36 for the driver. But, for active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.

•If you are traveling in a party like 6 to 9 members, We suggest US $6 to US $8 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $3 to US $5 for the driver and about US $1 to US $2 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

•If you are traveling in a group with more than 10 people, We suggest US $3 to US $5 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $2 to US $3 for the driver and about US $3 to US $5 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

The above is for your reference only, again tipping is a personal matter, you can always adjust the amount based on your satisfaction with the service you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and so on.

4. Weather and Climate:

Yunnan is very nice to travel all the year around. From Kunmin to Shangri-La, you will experience different climate from 1900 to 3400meters above the sea level.

5.Tips for Photography fans
The unique high attitude, exotic culture, highland landscapes and friendly people in Tibet and Yunnan offer perfect photo oppotunities to all those foreign tourists. Here are some helpful tips for travelers with a hope of photography.

Take necessary technical precautions to protect your camera in case of extreme temperatures due to the harsh climate. It's a good idea to take enough film and batteries. Photographing in monasteries is generally allowed; however taking pictures inside the chapels is forbidden or usually charged at extremely high rates to prevent photography. However, Drepung Monastery allows inside photography and charges no fee.

Respect the person you invite to take picture and avoid to disturb them. If it is necessary, you can send them some tiny presents, which is much better than giving them money.If there are some avaricious guys asking you for money when you take pictures in public places. You can refuse to pay money strictly. To take pictures in the hall of the monastery, do remember to ask the lama or monks for permit.

1. Altitude Sickness:

Yunnan is a mountainous Province with high elevation. Sometimes people maybe suffer from the altitude sickness, you should drink much water,walk slowly and have much more rest. The elevations of Yunnan are as follows: Kunming(1895M),Dali(1976M),Lijiang(2416M),Shangrila(3280M).

2. Ethnic Folk Customs:

Please respect the local ethnic culture when you visit China. There are 55 ethnic minorities in China, you can find 52 of them in Yunnan Province. In this tour, you will experience Bai, Yi, Naxi, Tibetan,Mosuo minorities. You can learn more information about them from "Yunnan Ethnic Minorities".

3. Service Tipping
Giving a tip to someone who serves is a token of gratitude for a job well done.For the person who provides the service, their tip is often a large part of their income.Therefore, it is assumed they will do their best job to get the best tip possible.Unfortunately service tends to fall short quite often and then servers become insulted when the tip does not measure up to their expectations.

As the time flies to 21 century, tipping is no longer illegal in China since 1980s. Tipping for tour guides and drivers in recognition of their good service has become a common practice. Hotel bellboys and house keepers expect your tips as well. It is not customary to leave tips at hotel or local restaurants as the bill usually includes 10-15% service charge. 

.Yunnan Adventure Travel does not include tipping in our quotation as tipping is a personal matter. If you don't know what the proper amount for tipping would be, the following standard is for your reference:

•If you are traveling in a small party like 2 to 5 members, We suggest approximately US $8 to US $10 /per guest per day as tips for tour guide and US $4 to US $6 for the driver and about US $2 to US $3 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

For example, if 2 of you are traveling together and will stay in Beijing for 3 nights, the tip from both of you may be from US$48 to US$60 for the tour guide, US$24 to US$36 for the driver. But, for active tours like hiking, biking, rafting, we suggest you double the tipping.

•If you are traveling in a party like 6 to 9 members, We suggest US $6 to US $8 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $3 to US $5 for the driver and about US $1 to US $2 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

•If you are traveling in a group with more than 10 people, We suggest US $3 to US $5 /per guest per day as tips for the tour guide and US $2 to US $3 for the driver and about US $3 to US $5 for hotel bellboys as a gratitude for their service.

The above is for your reference only, again tipping is a personal matter, you can always adjust the amount based on your satisfaction with the service you get from your tour guides, drivers, bellboys and so on.

4. Weather and Climate:

Yunnan is very nice to travel all the year around. From Kunmin to Shangri-La, you will experience different climate from 1900 to 3400meters above the sea level.

5.Tips for Photography fans
The unique high attitude, exotic culture, highland landscapes and friendly people in Tibet and Yunnan offer perfect photo oppotunities to all those foreign tourists. Here are some helpful tips for travelers with a hope of photography.

Take necessary technical precautions to protect your camera in case of extreme temperatures due to the harsh climate. It's a good idea to take enough film and batteries. Photographing in monasteries is generally allowed; however taking pictures inside the chapels is forbidden or usually charged at extremely high rates to prevent photography. However, Drepung Monastery allows inside photography and charges no fee.

Respect the person you invite to take picture and avoid to disturb them. If it is necessary, you can send them some tiny presents, which is much better than giving them money.If there are some avaricious guys asking you for money when you take pictures in public places. You can refuse to pay money strictly. To take pictures in the hall of the monastery, do remember to ask the lama or monks for permit.

Transfer and Transport Service
Yunnan Adventure has received wide recognition for its transfer service. We provide different vans with good aircondition and skilled driver according the number of clients. With our on-time service, you will never feel alone while traveling through China. We work hard to live up to the slogan's promise "You are not alone in China".

With our private small group tours, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will enjoy flexible tour arrangements and you will have your own tour guide, car and driver in each destination, exclusive to your own group of friends or family. The driver is very skilled and familiar with street in every city as well as excellent service to the clients. You will feel you are at home with our guide and driver.

Our Luxury Car for Families
Yunnan Adventure use only modern air-conditioned luxury cars, vans and small buses on all tours. The comfort and safety of our customers is of utmost importance, so we ensure that all of the vehicles that we use are well-maintained and always very clean.
Groups of 1-2 persons: 5 seats car
Groups of 3-5 persons: 11seats van
Groups of 6-10 persons: 19seats van
Groups of 11-20 persons: 35seats van

Black Taxis and Vans
Probably the first scam you will face begins at the airport or train station with the black taxi drivers - people with unlicensed vehicles that will offer to take you to your destination. Anyone with a Western face will almost certainly be approached by someone coming up to you and saying Taxi! - do not even talk to these people. At the train station, follow the Taxi signs outside to find a line of legal taxis, and make sure that they start the meter when you begin your journey.

At the airport, directly outside of the arrival terminal you will find a line of legal taxis to take for the 30-45 minute trip into the city of Beijing. If you have any doubt as to whether it is a legal taxi or not, check the license plate on the back of the taxi. Around some hotels, airports, bus stations, railway station, you will find some drivers can speak a little English and let you take their cars with lower price, because they  use the "Black Cars"（黑车） in Chinese. Do not take these cheap cars, they do not buy any insurance for the illeagle vans and not get the certificate of tourist van from the goverment, especially you can not get a good service from them.