Vietnam & China: Hanoi to Kunming by Rail

Tour, Escorted tour
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Vietnam & China: Hanoi to Kunming by Rail

Explore rice terraces, alpine cities, Tibetan towns and plunging canyons on this 11-day adventure. Start in Hanoi’s alleyways slurping bowls of pho, then get to know H’mong culture on a hike through Sapa’s misty rice fields. After crossing into China, travel through the wrinkled peaks of the Hengduan Mountains on a bullet train to Shangri-La to make yak butter tea with a Tibetan family, visit a Buddhist monastery and spin one of the world’s largest prayer wheels. Hear the thunderous flow of the Jinsha River in Tiger Leaping Gorge, follow the footsteps of tea traders and learn how to write ancient Naxi Dongba characters. Wrap up in Kunming, AKA the City of Eternal Spring.

Activities
  • Sapa - Sapa Church
  • Sapa - Sunset Walking Tour
  • Sapa - Street Food BBQ Dinner
  • Sapa - Rice terrace hike
  • Shangri-La - Dukezong Old Town walking tour
  • Shangri-La - Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
  • Shangri-La - Tibetan family with lunch
  • Tiger Leaping Gorge - Guided trek (X2)
  • Lijiang - Old town walking tour
  • Lijiang - Naxi family visit and Dongba calligraphy writing
  • LIjiang - Baisha old town visit
Highlights
  • Hike through Sapa’s famous rice terraces and get to know H’mong culture and traditions over a delicious home-cooked lunch with a local family.
  • Ride a high-speed train to Shangri-La City to explore the halls, murals and gardens of Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, then learn how to make yak butter tea with a Tibetan family in their home.
  • Hear the roaring Jinsha River as you hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge – one of the world’s deepest river canyons – where the snowy peaks of the Jade Dragon and Haba mountains rise almost vertically above the canyon.
  • Visit the historic towns of Lijiang and Baisha, once key stops on the Tea Horse Road, and try your hand at writing ancient Dongba characters with a Naxi family.
  • Experience one of the world’s best high-speed rail networks, where modern trains reach up to 350 kmh (217 mph) for comfortable and efficient travel across China.
Interests
  • Rail Tours
About Intrepid Travel
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We've been taking travellers around the globe and connecting people from all walks of life since 1989.

That's over 30 years of adventures, visiting new places and old friends, and countless, unforgettable moments. More than 30 years of changing the way people see the world on small group trips with like-minded explorers and a local leader to show you around.

But to us, it's about more than just seeing the world, it's about experiencing it. It's about feeling its pulse and the shared rhythms of Intrepid people all over the world. To be Intrepid is far more than a lust for travel, we're an antidote to loneliness. We connect people to the heartbeat of adventure and the soul of the planet.

Mar 03, 2026 through
Jun 23, 2026
Jun 19, 2026 7:00 PM
10 Nights from
$2,410.00 (USD)
Per Person
Various departures
Jul 07, 2026 through
Aug 25, 2026
Aug 21, 2026 7:00 PM
10 Nights from
$2,700.00 (USD)
Per Person
Various departures
Sep 08, 2026 through
Oct 13, 2026
Oct 9, 2026 7:00 PM
10 Nights from
$2,410.00 (USD)
Per Person
Various departures
Itinerary Image

Itinerary

Day Destination
1 Hanoi
2 Sapa
3 Sapa
4 Border crossing/Kunming
5 Shangri-La City (3200m)
6 Shangri-La City
7 Tiger Leaping Gorge
8 Tiger Leaping Gorge/Lijiang
9 Lijiang
10 Kunming
11 Kunming
Prices are per-person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted.