Visit one of the most diverse regions of China – a very different and wonderfully scenic corner of the country. Yunnan Province, “Land of Eternal Spring,” is located in the southern part of the country just north of Burma, adjacent to Tibet and bordering the eastern Himalayas. It is home to 25 different cultures and diverse landscapes. Over the years, this Journeys trip has evolved to include more traditional hospitality in small inns, guesthouses, and lodges as a way to offset and avoid the mass group feeling resulting from growing Chinese domestic tourism, which favors large luxury hotels. Your experience begins on arrival in Kunming with a visit to beautiful local museum where you learn about the city’s 2,200-year history. Fly to historic Dali, home of the Three Pagodas, and learn about the ways of the Bai people. Spend a few days in Lijiang, the architecturally-restored capital of the colorful and artistic Naxi people, before exploring the edge of the Tibetan Plateau on your way to Zhongdian, now officially called Shangri La. You will enjoy local food, fine climate, friendly people, and great Himalayan scenery.
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Great For
Natural Beauty
Traditional Culture
We didn't know what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised everyday. The guides are experts and delightful. We got to experience the culture first hand, interact with children, craftsman and lots of wonderful ordinary people. They were delightful!
Ken and Berta Mount
Upon arrival in Kunming, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Kunming, called the City of Eternal Spring, is more than 2,200 years old. After checking into your hotel, you may have the chance to take a short walking tour across the city to a local bird and flower market, followed by a welcome dinner at a fine restaurant.
Meals
Dinner
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
BDay 2Flight to Ancient Dali & Mt. Cangshan
Fly from Kunming to Dali, a city first opened to foreigners in 1984. Set beside a lake and against a backdrop of mountains, you will observe the local agriculture, enter small temples, and visit local markets. Visit Dali Ancient City and Three Pagodas, a landmark on a hillside northeast of Dali. The tallest of these ancient temples tops 200 feet. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a chairlift up Mt. Cangshan and enjoy the fresh air, wildlife, and the bird’s-eye view of the Dali area. If you like, you can do some hiking at a relaxed pace. This evening, browse around the ancient part of town on foot. Dali’s historic quarter, with its stone houses and narrow streets, offers a rare look into what old China must have looked like. Overnight at a hotel with typical Bai architecture located in the old town.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Centrally located hotel
CDay 3Chouchen, Grottoes & Shaxi Village Stay
You depart Dali and drive along the foot of Cangshan Mountain to Jianchuan County. Along the way, visit Chouchen village, known for its tie-dyed fabric weavers. You also visit Stone Bell Hill, an ancient complex of cave grottoes nestled on the edge of the pine-forested mountains. It is here that the monarchs of Dali’s Nanzhou Kingdom chose to build their Buddhist temples between the seventh and ninth centuries. Explore the grotto temples while appreciating their fantastic frescoes depicting Nanzhou Kings meeting with Persian envoys and Indian Buddhist teachers. These frescoes also reveal aspects of Nanzhou life at that time. You spend this night at Shaxi village, allowing you the chance to explore an ancient town untouched by modern development or tourism. Your accommodations will be a hundred-year-old house converted into a guesthouse with modern facilities.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
DDay 4Sideng Street & Timeless Lijiang
After breakfast, you visit Sideng Street, which is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the heart of rural Yunnan as you wander around “Old Tibet” roads of tranquil scenes of mud brick villages, bamboo groves, rivers, and paddy fields. You will get a true sense of timelessness as the way of life here has remained unchanged for centuries. After lunch, you head out on the road for Lijiang. Set at a refreshing altitude of 7,800 feet, Lijiang is the capital of the Naxi Autonomous prefecture. Its charming old center is a world of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. Arrive in time for dinner. Overnight at a Naxi style hotel, converted from a hundred-year-old courtyard, located in the heart of the Old Town.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
EDay 5Lijiang Heritage & Jade Dragon Mountain
Lijiang is the capital of the Naxi people, a small but fascinating ethnic minority known for their matriarchal society, their pictographic language, and their distinctive music. They are believed to be descended from the Qiang, a Tibetan tribe that once lived in the northwest mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai. Traditionally, Naxi women have managed trade and commerce, while men have been musicians, gardeners, and child-rearers, and today Naxi society is largely run along those lines. You may be able to recognize the Naxi women by their traditional embroidered capes, blue blouses, and trousers covered with blue or black aprons. The Naxi language is completely pictographic and only Naxi shamans are taught how to write it. Famed botanist Dr. Joseph Rock prepared the first dictionary of Naxi language during the decades he lived in Lijiang and he also became the world’s expert on Naxi culture. You will visit his old home which has been turned into a museum of his works. Another worthwhile stop is the Naxi Dongba Museum. Visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and enjoy beautiful views of 18,000-foot-high Yulong Shan (Jade Dragon Mountain) reflected in the waters of Black Dragon Pool. Visit Black Dragon Park, explore Lijiang Old Town and the Square Market. Attend a concert of traditional Naxi music. The Naxi are the last people in China to play Song Dynasty tunes derived from Taoist scriptures.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
FDay 6Tiger Leaping Gorge
Head further north today, driving though Naxi farmlands and villages and enjoying the extremely picturesque backdrop of Jade Dragon Mountain. Tobacco, apples, rice, corn, beans, and sorghum are grown in this region. Visit the village of Stone Drum, or Shigu, at the First Great Bend in the Yangtze River. Here you can see the marble plaque shaped like a drum that commemorates a 16th century Naxi victory over a Tibetan Army. Also stop at famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world, where you have the option of hiking three to five hours, depending on which section you choose. If you prefer not to hike, your driver will stand by and take you by road to your hotel located in the middle of the gorge.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
GDay 7Crossing the Tibetan Plateau
After breakfast, you drive out of the gorge and proceed to the Tibetan Plateau to Shangri-La. This road journey takes you higher and higher, where you’ll spend some time at altitudes of over 9,000′. The road travels through mixed forests, then up into alpine and rhododendron forests, then into a rich grassland valley on the Tibetan Plateau. You will stay at a Tibetan style hotel with modern facilities.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
HDay 8Shangri-La
Shangri-La, formerly known as Zhongdian, is the capital of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is located in the southernmost part of Kham, or East Tibet, traditional land of the tall, turbaned Khampa horsemen. Today, Shangri-La is principally a Tibetan township but has Han Chinese people as well as a smattering of Bai, Hui, and Naxi minorities. Historically, the town was a trading center between Tibet, Burma, and India. Mule caravans once made journeys to conduct commerce between the regions. One of the major trade items was “brick tea” from Yunnan, in demand by Tibetan nomads and farmers. You will visit the spectacular Ganden Sumsanling Monastery, built at the instruction of the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Currently, there are over 800 monks still living and practicing here. This picturesque site, located on the top of a hill, is very similar in style to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Afterwards, visit Ringha Temple, with its Five Wisdom Buddhas, built on a sacred hill thought to have healing powers. You can take a walk around the hill and enjoy the incredible views of the Shangri La Valley. You will also visit a Tibetan family where you have the opportunity to sample some Tibetan “yak butter tea”, enjoy a delicious Tibetan “hot pot” meal and spend time dancing with the locals.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
IDay 9Drive to Deqin
Drive about two hours northwest through stunning scenery to Deqin (10,712 ft). This region is part of the enormous new Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site created through the assistance of the Nature Conservancy. The road offers spectacular mountain views. You will stop at the 17th century Dongzhulin Monastery, the second largest in the region. There may also be time to visit the Shusong Nunnery. The region is famous for the production of bowls made from local azalea wood. Return to Shangri La where you may have the opportunity to enjoy a horse and rider acrobatic show.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
JDay 10Flight to Kunming
Fly back to Kunming and spend the day visiting some of the local attractions, including the fifth century Bamboo Temple (Qiongzhu Si). This temple houses figures of some 500 arhats that were carved between 1883 and 1890 by Sichuanese sculptor Li Guangxiu and his apprentices. Each arhat, like the Terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an, were given a different facial expression and pose. It is thought that some of these arhats were carved in the images of the sculptor’s friends and enemies. Also visit the Minority Museum, a great place to learn about the history of Yunnan and where you will find ethnic relics and handicrafts as well as colorful costumes from the 25 minority nationalities in Yunnan.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
KDay 11Kunming City Tour
Today you visit Western Hill and Green Lake Park. Western Hills, also known as “Sleeping Buddha Hills”, is a great place to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. There are a number of temples built along the hillside including Huating Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Yunnan. The Sanqing Pavilion is built along the cliffs of Luohan Hill about 1000 feet above Dianchi Lake. The Pavilion appears as a “Castle in the Air” and a good place to enjoy panoramic views over Lake Dianchi. Today you have the day to explore as you like. Green Lake Park contains 4 small lakes that are linked by bridges built in traditional Chinese style. This is also a lovely place for taking a leisure stroll. You may even witness folk music performed by the locals. Alternatively, you can have this day free to perhaps do some last minute shopping or exploring. Or, consider an excursion to Stone Forest (Shilin), located about 40 miles outside of Kunming. This 96,000 acre stone forest contains an interesting assortment of karst formations of all shapes and sizes that jut out the ground (additional cost).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
LDay 12Depart Kunming
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Consider adding on an excursion to Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong.
Meals
Breakfast
Lodging
None
Anticipated plan; actual route and program may vary.
Visit one of the most diverse regions of China – a very different and wonderfully scenic corner of the country. Yunnan Province, “Land of Eternal Spring,” is located in the southern part of the country just north of Burma, adjacent to Tibet and bordering the eastern Himalayas. It is home to 25 different cultures and diverse landscapes. Over the years, this Journeys trip has evolved to include more traditional hospitality in small inns, guesthouses, and lodges as a way to offset and avoid the mass group feeling resulting from growing Chinese domestic tourism, which favors large luxury hotels. Your experience begins on arrival in Kunming with a visit to beautiful local museum where you learn about the city’s 2,200-year history. Fly to historic Dali, home of the Three Pagodas, and learn about the ways of the Bai people. Spend a few days in Lijiang, the architecturally-restored capital of the colorful and artistic Naxi people, before exploring the edge of the Tibetan Plateau on your way to Zhongdian, now officially called Shangri La. You will enjoy local food, fine climate, friendly people, and great Himalayan scenery.
Upon arrival in Kunming, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Kunming, called the City of Eternal Spring, is more than 2,200 years old. After checking into your hotel, you may have the chance to take a short walking tour across the city to a local bird and flower market, followed by a welcome dinner at a fine restaurant.
Meals
Dinner
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
BDay 2Flight to Ancient Dali & Mt. Cangshan
Fly from Kunming to Dali, a city first opened to foreigners in 1984. Set beside a lake and against a backdrop of mountains, you will observe the local agriculture, enter small temples, and visit local markets. Visit Dali Ancient City and Three Pagodas, a landmark on a hillside northeast of Dali. The tallest of these ancient temples tops 200 feet. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a chairlift up Mt. Cangshan and enjoy the fresh air, wildlife, and the bird’s-eye view of the Dali area. If you like, you can do some hiking at a relaxed pace. This evening, browse around the ancient part of town on foot. Dali’s historic quarter, with its stone houses and narrow streets, offers a rare look into what old China must have looked like. Overnight at a hotel with typical Bai architecture located in the old town.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Centrally located hotel
CDay 3Chouchen, Grottoes & Shaxi Village Stay
You depart Dali and drive along the foot of Cangshan Mountain to Jianchuan County. Along the way, visit Chouchen village, known for its tie-dyed fabric weavers. You also visit Stone Bell Hill, an ancient complex of cave grottoes nestled on the edge of the pine-forested mountains. It is here that the monarchs of Dali’s Nanzhou Kingdom chose to build their Buddhist temples between the seventh and ninth centuries. Explore the grotto temples while appreciating their fantastic frescoes depicting Nanzhou Kings meeting with Persian envoys and Indian Buddhist teachers. These frescoes also reveal aspects of Nanzhou life at that time. You spend this night at Shaxi village, allowing you the chance to explore an ancient town untouched by modern development or tourism. Your accommodations will be a hundred-year-old house converted into a guesthouse with modern facilities.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
DDay 4Sideng Street & Timeless Lijiang
After breakfast, you visit Sideng Street, which is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the heart of rural Yunnan as you wander around “Old Tibet” roads of tranquil scenes of mud brick villages, bamboo groves, rivers, and paddy fields. You will get a true sense of timelessness as the way of life here has remained unchanged for centuries. After lunch, you head out on the road for Lijiang. Set at a refreshing altitude of 7,800 feet, Lijiang is the capital of the Naxi Autonomous prefecture. Its charming old center is a world of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. Arrive in time for dinner. Overnight at a Naxi style hotel, converted from a hundred-year-old courtyard, located in the heart of the Old Town.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
EDay 5Lijiang Heritage & Jade Dragon Mountain
Lijiang is the capital of the Naxi people, a small but fascinating ethnic minority known for their matriarchal society, their pictographic language, and their distinctive music. They are believed to be descended from the Qiang, a Tibetan tribe that once lived in the northwest mountains of Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai. Traditionally, Naxi women have managed trade and commerce, while men have been musicians, gardeners, and child-rearers, and today Naxi society is largely run along those lines. You may be able to recognize the Naxi women by their traditional embroidered capes, blue blouses, and trousers covered with blue or black aprons. The Naxi language is completely pictographic and only Naxi shamans are taught how to write it. Famed botanist Dr. Joseph Rock prepared the first dictionary of Naxi language during the decades he lived in Lijiang and he also became the world’s expert on Naxi culture. You will visit his old home which has been turned into a museum of his works. Another worthwhile stop is the Naxi Dongba Museum. Visit the Black Dragon Pool Park and enjoy beautiful views of 18,000-foot-high Yulong Shan (Jade Dragon Mountain) reflected in the waters of Black Dragon Pool. Visit Black Dragon Park, explore Lijiang Old Town and the Square Market. Attend a concert of traditional Naxi music. The Naxi are the last people in China to play Song Dynasty tunes derived from Taoist scriptures.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
FDay 6Tiger Leaping Gorge
Head further north today, driving though Naxi farmlands and villages and enjoying the extremely picturesque backdrop of Jade Dragon Mountain. Tobacco, apples, rice, corn, beans, and sorghum are grown in this region. Visit the village of Stone Drum, or Shigu, at the First Great Bend in the Yangtze River. Here you can see the marble plaque shaped like a drum that commemorates a 16th century Naxi victory over a Tibetan Army. Also stop at famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world, where you have the option of hiking three to five hours, depending on which section you choose. If you prefer not to hike, your driver will stand by and take you by road to your hotel located in the middle of the gorge.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Local guesthouse
GDay 7Crossing the Tibetan Plateau
After breakfast, you drive out of the gorge and proceed to the Tibetan Plateau to Shangri-La. This road journey takes you higher and higher, where you’ll spend some time at altitudes of over 9,000′. The road travels through mixed forests, then up into alpine and rhododendron forests, then into a rich grassland valley on the Tibetan Plateau. You will stay at a Tibetan style hotel with modern facilities.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
HDay 8Shangri-La
Shangri-La, formerly known as Zhongdian, is the capital of Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is located in the southernmost part of Kham, or East Tibet, traditional land of the tall, turbaned Khampa horsemen. Today, Shangri-La is principally a Tibetan township but has Han Chinese people as well as a smattering of Bai, Hui, and Naxi minorities. Historically, the town was a trading center between Tibet, Burma, and India. Mule caravans once made journeys to conduct commerce between the regions. One of the major trade items was “brick tea” from Yunnan, in demand by Tibetan nomads and farmers. You will visit the spectacular Ganden Sumsanling Monastery, built at the instruction of the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Currently, there are over 800 monks still living and practicing here. This picturesque site, located on the top of a hill, is very similar in style to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Afterwards, visit Ringha Temple, with its Five Wisdom Buddhas, built on a sacred hill thought to have healing powers. You can take a walk around the hill and enjoy the incredible views of the Shangri La Valley. You will also visit a Tibetan family where you have the opportunity to sample some Tibetan “yak butter tea”, enjoy a delicious Tibetan “hot pot” meal and spend time dancing with the locals.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
IDay 9Drive to Deqin
Drive about two hours northwest through stunning scenery to Deqin (10,712 ft). This region is part of the enormous new Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site created through the assistance of the Nature Conservancy. The road offers spectacular mountain views. You will stop at the 17th century Dongzhulin Monastery, the second largest in the region. There may also be time to visit the Shusong Nunnery. The region is famous for the production of bowls made from local azalea wood. Return to Shangri La where you may have the opportunity to enjoy a horse and rider acrobatic show.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Tibetan style hotel
JDay 10Flight to Kunming
Fly back to Kunming and spend the day visiting some of the local attractions, including the fifth century Bamboo Temple (Qiongzhu Si). This temple houses figures of some 500 arhats that were carved between 1883 and 1890 by Sichuanese sculptor Li Guangxiu and his apprentices. Each arhat, like the Terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an, were given a different facial expression and pose. It is thought that some of these arhats were carved in the images of the sculptor’s friends and enemies. Also visit the Minority Museum, a great place to learn about the history of Yunnan and where you will find ethnic relics and handicrafts as well as colorful costumes from the 25 minority nationalities in Yunnan.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
KDay 11Kunming City Tour
Today you visit Western Hill and Green Lake Park. Western Hills, also known as “Sleeping Buddha Hills”, is a great place to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. There are a number of temples built along the hillside including Huating Temple, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Yunnan. The Sanqing Pavilion is built along the cliffs of Luohan Hill about 1000 feet above Dianchi Lake. The Pavilion appears as a “Castle in the Air” and a good place to enjoy panoramic views over Lake Dianchi. Today you have the day to explore as you like. Green Lake Park contains 4 small lakes that are linked by bridges built in traditional Chinese style. This is also a lovely place for taking a leisure stroll. You may even witness folk music performed by the locals. Alternatively, you can have this day free to perhaps do some last minute shopping or exploring. Or, consider an excursion to Stone Forest (Shilin), located about 40 miles outside of Kunming. This 96,000 acre stone forest contains an interesting assortment of karst formations of all shapes and sizes that jut out the ground (additional cost).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Centrally located 4 star hotel
LDay 12Depart Kunming
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Consider adding on an excursion to Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong.
Meals
Breakfast
Lodging
None
Anticipated plan; actual route and program may vary.
China is a developing country whose infrastructure, values, customs and standards differ from what you are used to at home. Please bear this in mind as you are traveling in this exciting country and respect the fact that you cannot impose your standards and expectations on the culture there.
This difference in standards also means that you might, at times, be inconvenienced by some things are beyond our control, such as train delays (although these are rare). The easiest way to overcome any problems that might occur is to be open minded.
We are happy to have you participate in a Journeys International program!
Please read these terms and conditions thoroughly. They contain information that will be important to your planning and guide how we will handle any circumstances that may change in the midst of planning or while a program is underway. If after reading our materials and talking with our staff you decide to participate in a Journeys International program, please send us your deposit along with your completed Reservation Form and Explorer Information Forms. Important: Your booking is only complete once we receive your deposit, completed Reservation Form, and completed Explorer Information Form, and once we have confirmed that space is available.
Pricing and Payment
We will confirm your reservations once we receive a non-refundable booking deposit, a Reservation Form signed by each person responsible for payment, and an Explorer Information Form signed by each participating adult or the guardian for each participating child, and if space is available. Custom programs during holiday seasons may require a deposit prior to confirmation. The deposit contributes to non-recoverable costs of holding space and servicing your booking through the stages of preparation, execution, and follow-up and cannot be refunded if you choose to cancel.
We charge an additional planning fee of $250 per program for preparing customized proposals. This fee may be credited to your total cost upon booking, but it is non-refundable if you choose not to finalize your reservation.
Prices are stated in U.S. Dollars, based on double room occupancy, unless otherwise noted. We will send an invoice for your total estimated cost when we send your reservation confirmation. The balance as shown on your invoice is due 60 days prior to your program start date regardless of whether any arrangements are still pending. Although we do our best to avoid increasing prices after we receive your deposit, in some cases it may be necessary to adjust pricing after we receive payment to allow for changes in group size, rooming status, currency exchange rate fluctuations, fuel surcharges and/or other circumstances attendant to the challenges of adventure.
Late payments may jeopardize confirmation of your program participation and in some cases may result in additional fees. If we have not received final payment 30 days prior to departure, then your reservation may be canceled subject to our Cancellation & Refund Policy stated below.
Payment for airfare is required at the time of ticketing. Discounts that may be available are not available toward bookings made through third-party travel agencies, advisors, or planners.
We accept payments by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or check drawn on a U.S. bank account. Paying by credit card offers you certain consumer protections, including the ability to initiate a chargeback if you believe we have committed consumer fraud. You may not use credit card chargeback as an alternative to compliance with your agreement with these terms and conditions.
Late Signups
Early reservations are encouraged! Some programs and flights fill several months in advance. We can confirm your space once we receive your deposit and signed Reservation and Explorer Information Forms. We try, but cannot guarantee, to accept late signups. In the event that we are able to accept reservations fewer than 60 days before a program’s start date, additional fees may apply to cover administrative costs necessary to expedite your reservation confirmation and transmit your program materials. For reservations made fewer than 60 days in advance of your program’s start, full payment is due at the time of booking.
Program Changes
We understand that circumstances arise that lead you to inquire about changes to your custom program, and we aim to satisfy your requests. Once activities and accommodations have been confirmed, we charge a $50 change fee, in addition to the difference in costs for the services booked. When changes are requested less than one week before your program’s start, the change fee is $100. For changes requested after a program has begun, the change fee is $200.
Journeys International reserves the right to change or reprice any program due to acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control. Journeys International cannot guarantee conformity with the provided program plan at any point in time. Among other things, if necessary Journeys International may change the scheduled dates of a program; omit or alter sections of the plan; substitute lodgings, leaders, or conveyances; or change meals, activities, or waypoints; all without notice and without allowance for refunds and with participants bearing the responsibility for increased costs, if any. Should this become necessary, Journeys International will not be liable for extra costs that participants may incur as a result of changes, including but not limited to flight change fees, additional meal costs, or additional accommodations. We strongly recommend that participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, adequate to cover such costs.
Cancellations & Refunds
If you must cancel before your program begins, please notify Journeys International in writing by emailing info@journeysinternational.com or writing to your adventure specialist directly. You may request a refund according to the following schedule. Some programs require additional non-refundable payments beyond this schedule, as noted in the program description. In the case of cancellation, such amounts are withheld in addition to the amounts listed here.
Days Prior to Departure
Cancellation Penalty
61 or more
Non-refundable booking deposit and planning fee, if applicable
31-60
Non-refundable booking deposit and planning fee, if applicable, plus 50% of total land costs above amount of initial deposit
0-30
100% of total land costs
Please note: cancellation of airfare, other transit, lodging, and ticketed tours and activities is subject to the policies of the individual carriers or providers and is not included in the schedule above. Additional cancellation fees are the responsibility of the traveler. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, that includes coverage for trip cancellation or interruption and that may reimburse you for cancellation penalties and extra expenses should a circumstance force you to cancel or interrupt your participation.
Departure is defined as the date on which travelers will leave their home state, province or city, or the program start date as indicated on the program description, whichever comes first. Cancellation date will be considered the date that we receive written notification of your intent to cancel according to the local time observed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Payments due at the time of cancellation remain the responsibility of the participant. No partial refunds are possible for unused hotel rooms, air or land travel, program days, or other sight-seeing arrangements included in the land cost.
If Journeys International cancels or postpones a program before the program starts for reasons completely within its discretion, such as but not limited to insufficient group size, all money for services described in the program description will be refunded in the form of credit towards a future program with Journeys in the same location originally planned, less unrecoverable fees and penalties already paid to airlines, accommodations, or other service providers, or the client may submit a written request for a refund to the original form of payment. If a program’s cancellation is necessary due to acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control, credits and refunds will be issued according to the standard cancellation schedule, less unrecoverable fees and penalties already paid to airlines, accommodations, or other service providers, without regard to whether client or company initiates cancellation or postponement. Once a program begins, there are no refunds for unused goods or services.
Air Fares
We can help you to secure air travel arrangements for Journeys International programs. We work with an airfare consolidator to assist in booking the flights that suit your needs. Journeys International and/or the airfare consolidator may charge a ticketing fee for this service. For group programs, if you prefer to fly on dates other than those listed as program dates, or if you arrive at your destination other than at the group arrival time, then you may incur additional fees to cover the separate transfer, contingency, and coordination costs which frequently arise from arrival and departure on flights different from our regular bookings. We will let you know about these fees ahead of time, if they apply. If you must change your air routing after ticketing, there is a charge of $50 per change, in addition to change or cancellation charges levied by the airline.
If you decide to make your own flight arrangements, you must provide Journeys International with a complete copy of your itinerary showing departure and arrival flights and times. You should plan to arrange your own air travel if you are using mileage credit or originating outside North America, but please be in touch with our office before you finalize ticketing so that we may help you to coordinate the correct arrival and departure dates and times. If you arrange your own flights, we can book ground transfers to meet you on arrival in your destination if you wish, and you agree to pay additional costs, as applicable.
Transfers Between Programs
You may transfer between some programs upon written request. More than 60 days before your program start date, the deposit transfer fee is $100 per person plus any cancellation fees charged by airlines, hotels, or ground service providers. 60 days or fewer before the program start date, full cancellation penalties from the original program apply. In the event that Journeys International cancels a program, you may transfer the full amount of your payments to another program without penalty, subject to availability.
Expenses Covered
Normally, our stated total costs include the costs of all guides, leaders, facilities, permits obtained after arrival, lodging accommodations, costs of described activities, food as specified, and all surface transportation associated with the activities described in the itinerary. We do our best to avoid increasing prices after receipt of your deposit, but factors beyond our control might require us to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up.
Expenses Not Covered
Costs not included in the price may include: meals not indicated as included in program descriptions; meals prior to arrival in starting cities; transfers, if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights; soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages; medical expenses, costs of hospitalization, or evacuation from remote areas; laundry; airport departure taxes not included on your airline ticket; accommodations en route to starting cities; visas; airfares; gratuities; and insurance.
If a program must be modified due to medical emergency, acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control, then the participant may incur additional costs that are not included in the program price. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, to cover these risks.
Travel Insurance
Journeys International strongly recommends that you purchase a Travel Protection Plan, or travel insurance, sufficient to protect your investment in travel, personal assets and health during your program. Doing so will mitigate a significant amount of financial risk and decrease your need to worry about things beyond your control. We do not require you to purchase such travel insurance; however, we know many travelers who have benefited from purchasing travel insurance because the insurance carrier assumed risks that would otherwise have been the risk of the traveler. Travel Protection Plans often cover things like theft, baggage loss, trip interruption or cancellation, emergency evacuation, emergency medical treatment, flight delay or cancellation, airline or service provider bankruptcy, jury duty, personal or family sickness leading to cancellation, U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings about terrorism issued for the destination, and other risks as described in the insurance policy. In particular, consider the availability of higher-cost “Cancel for Any Reason” and/or “Interrupt for Any Reason” policies that may allow policy-holders to recoup a significant portion of trip costs under a much wider range of circumstances than standard policies may allow; we have seen travelers benefit from this selection when public health crises, personal turmoil, and civil unrest arose in their destinations. Please note that while we at Journeys will do our best to help you to have a pleasant and successful experience, Journeys International assumes no liability for many of the types of losses described above. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance and you suffer a loss, then you will be responsible for the associated costs.
For your convenience, we will provide a recommendation for an insurance carrier that offers competitive rates and has proven reliable, fair, and prompt in responding to claims, but we can offer no guarantee that our recommended carrier will meet your needs and you are welcome to contact any insurance carrier that you prefer. It is important to obtain insurance immediately upon signing up for your program in order for problems arising from pre-existing conditions to be covered.
All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy that covers you while in your travel destination for the duration of your trip. For some individuals or for some destinations, it may be advisable to purchase a supplemental policy. Contact your provider for coverage details.
Group-Sized Pricing & Group Minimums
Many programs are guaranteed to depart at prices published on our website with as few as two participants. In some cases, it may become necessary to increase prices depending on the size of the group. We do everything we can to make a program operate as planned even with a single participant. Additional costs for small groups vary from program to program. When pricing for a group program is based on the number of participants, staff and guests of Journeys International (such as topic experts, journalists, photographers, leaders-in-training, or others) are not included in the numbers counted to determine the price. Final decision to cancel a program due to insufficient signups is made at least 60 days prior to departure.
Lodging Accommodations
Lodging accommodations are usually double occupancy in hotel rooms, tents, or other facilities as described in trip itineraries. Please contact our office to discuss pricing and availability of alternative accommodations, if desired. We try to honor specific requests for lodging, but in some cases, we may have to book and confirm equivalent-standard accommodations. In rare cases it may become necessary to make same-day or out-of-class substitutions.
If you are joining alone for a group program but would prefer a roommate, then let us know! We are often able to match solo participants. If a roommate is not available or if you prefer single accommodation, then you must pay the Single Supplement, if one applies. For some programs it is not possible to guarantee single accommodations.
Assumption of Risk
Throughout any program of Journeys International, certain risks and dangers may arise. These include, but are not limited to, travel by train, foot, automobile, aircraft, raft, boat or other means of conveyance; the hazards of traveling in rough or mountainous terrain; high altitude; undeveloped areas; the forces of nature; civil unrest; terrorism; labor interruption; close proximity to fellow program participants; exposure to illness or virus; and accident or illness in remote areas without means of rapid evacuations or availability of medical supplies and facilities. The unique nature of adventure programs entails inherent risks that may be involved in unique program activities and travel away from home and, in fact, the specific nature of these activities is often a reason for participation. Even if a trip or program is rated “easy” these dangers and risks are present. Journeys International and its agents and operators will have no liability regarding emotional distress, equipment, access to, or adequacy of medical care, evacuation plans, or emergency supplies that may be provided. When you sign the Explorer Information Form, you agree to participate in these activities with full knowledge of the dangers and risks involved and agree to assume all risks, including trauma, sickness, injury, and death.
While Journeys International intends that your experience be safe and comfortable, Journeys does not have legal or operational control or ownership of facilities, staff, services, or transportation providers and acts only as agent for the owners of such facilities, staff, services, and transportation. Journeys International is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act by any such person or entity, nor for any act or inaction of any third party not under its control.
In consideration of the right to participate in Journeys International programs and the service arranged for you by Journeys International and its agents and representatives, you unconditionally and fully assume all risks of bodily injury, death, emotional trauma, property damage, and/or theft, however caused, including those mentioned above, as a result of participation, and release Journeys International, its agents, and its representatives from any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, suits, debts, demands that you may have, including for bodily injury, death, or property damage, loss of income, and other claims.
Fitness to Join
Good physical and mental health are essential for the enjoyment of Journeys International’s programs. It is your responsibility to select/design a trip appropriate to your own abilities and interests. You are responsible for being in sufficiently good health to undertake your trip, and for consulting with your physician for medical advice regarding travel. On some Journeys International programs, participants travel in rugged areas remote from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all programs, especially those involving hiking or trekking. Most programs require some walking. By signing the Explorer Information Form, participants certify that they are fit for rigorous activity and do not have any physical, mental, or other condition that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. It is essential that any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, prolonged travel, high altitude, heat, cold, natural phenomena, or particular foods, notify Journeys International in writing prior to booking. We assume no responsibility for medical care, and we cannot guarantee meeting special dietary requirements or vegetarian needs. Participants may be required to furnish a physician’s statement of good health for some programs.
Journeys International’s or the individual group leader’s or guide’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s fitness to embark upon, or to continue, a program. Journeys International reserves the right to refuse reservations or deny participation to anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a program or certain activities. Once a reservation has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy for the duration of their participation. Proof of such coverage may be required.
Personal Conduct
You are responsible for acting in a manner considerate and respectful of fellow group members and local culture in areas visited.
You are responsible for reading all health-related information provided in advance of the program, adhering to all guidance given by guides and site staff, and conforming to the established standards of personal hygiene to minimize risk of disease. This may include a requirement to wear a face mask when in proximity to other people, whether indoors or outdoors, or other measures intended to limit the spread of disease; failure to do so when requested may result in your dismissal from the program.
Certain activities included in your program may require specific safety precautions. You are responsible for listening to instructions, adhering to guidance, and following the protocols provided for safety throughout the program. If you are unsure about safety precautions, you are responsible for seeking advice. If guides or staff perceive your behavior as risky, uncooperative, or otherwise unsafe, they may remove you from an activity for the safety of yourself and others.
Smoking or vaping are not permitted in buses, cars, below decks on boats, in tented camps, in designated non-smoking areas, or during guided tours and activities. Participants agree not to consume cannabis for the duration of the program and understand that possession or use of cannabis may be illegal and subject to severe punishment in some destinations. Participants agree to follow all local laws in the jurisdiction(s) where the program takes place and acknowledge that Journeys International cannot be responsible for ensuring participants’ compliance nor for any costs or consequences of non-compliance.
Sexual harassment or misconduct of any sort by Journeys program participants is not tolerated. You may not make jokes or sexually suggestive comments or gestures regarding the bodies or bodily activities of fellow participants, program staff, site staff, or any people you encounter during your program. You may not touch fellow participants, program staff, site staff, or any people you encounter during your program unless invited. You may not solicit sexual services during the dates of your participation in a Journeys program.
Environmental Stewardship
Journeys International believes that we have a responsibility to protect the earth for future generations. Tourism may be responsible for up to eight percent of annual worldwide emissions of greenhouse gasses. Journeys International advocates that adventure travelers who make environmentally conscious choices when selecting their destinations and activities should also make the environmentally conscious choice to offset the carbon footprint of their travel to compensate for their personal contributions to global climate change. Every Journeys International invoice includes an optional donation to the Earth Preservation Fund’s carbon offset program to be used to purchase and permanently retire certified carbon credits to offset the carbon footprints of Journeys’ program participants. The Earth Preservation Fund purchases carbon credits that have been certified under a reliable third-party standard. Participants who choose to make this donation may also be eligible to claim a tax deduction. There is no penalty for opting out of this donation.
Recording
Journeys International may take photographic, audiographic, and videographic recordings during your program, and may use your image and voice for promotional and commercial use without compensation.
Planning & Preparation Services
We look forward to working with you! After we receive your deposit, we will send you a planning packet containing things like medical and immunization information, visa and other permit forms, a recommendation for travel insurance, packing checklist, reading list, cross-cultural information, and an initial invoice for the balance due. About 3 weeks before your program begins, we will send you a final notes packet including last-minute reminders and contact information for your program. You are responsible for reading all information provided, and for bringing all clothing and equipment noted on the packing list. If you are leaving home before the scheduled trip departure date, please let us know how we can best reach you in case any details change in the days immediately prior to your program’s start.
Please call our office at any time if you have questions about your trip or for additional information.
Duration 12 Days
The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. This is the time period covered by the land cost.
Group Size 2 - 12
The stated range indicates minimum required for guaranteed departure and maximum accepted on the scheduled dates. Exceptions can often be made for private departures.
Comfort Level
Delightful
Charming guesthouses to 4 * hotels
Activity Level
Active
Light hiking, stair climbing, and long drives over rough, mountain roads
Why Journeys International
Our purpose is to understand the journey you are on – not just the vacation you want to take – and to help you on your way.
We are here to help you plan the trip that will move you closer to your goals and help you fulfill your dreams.
We are here to help you plan a more inspiring, more provocative, more breathtaking, more transformational adventure.
We say “adventure” and not “trip” because, for us, a trip is just going someplace else, but an adventure is an experience that takes you someplace beyond your comfort zone – and therefore maximizes the potential for wonder, discovery, and potentially transformation.
Why trust Journeys to plan that kind of experience with you?
Journeys is an award-winning industry-leader with more than 40 years in business planning creative and thoughtful adventures in interesting places around the world
Our staff is professional and devoted, with adventure specialists in Ann Arbor and guides in the field who take pride in traveler satisfaction; many stay with us for decades
Our Ecological Code of Ethics has long stood as a model for others, and our Earth Preservation Fund puts our money where our mouth is
We go to the farthest corners of the earth – you’ll see some pretty remote destinations on our list, and if you want to challenge us with something new, we’ll likely be willing (though we’ll make sure you know if we’ve never experienced it firsthand)
We’re real people like you, starting with the real person who will answer the phone, right through the owner, Robin Pollak, who you can talk to any time you want (or even her parents, Joan & Will Weber, who started the company!)
We ask lots of questions and get to know you as well as possible to we can design the best experience for YOU
Your unique itinerary includes sites, accommodations, activities, and meetings with people hand selected for personal goals, passions, interests and abilities
Your personal adventure specialist stays with you from trip planning through departure to answer all your questions – promptly – and make sure every detail is handled so you are well prepared for your trip
Our partners on the ground in your destination will welcome you as a friend of a friend; we’ve been working with many of them for ages
We’re open and clear, and offer a complete picture of what you can expect while traveling. We don’t want to make an easy sale; we want to make an honest one.
24-hour emergency phone support while traveling
We’ll be excited to hear about the trip when you get back, and take all feedback seriously
Our travelers come back again and again, for five, ten, or more adventures — and they trust us enough to send their friends to us, too
We love what we do, and we love sharing our common passion with you.
Match the trip’s intensity to your ability and motivation.
Gentle
Easy walking, with opportunities for low-key physical activity.
Active
Energetic exploration with optional day hikes, leisurely cycling, or light canoeing.
Vigorous
Day-long active excursions and options for demanding activity in varied environments.
Challenging
Strenuous hiking or other intense activity that may be at high altitude or over rough terrain.
Demanding
Multi-day trekking and other activities requiring endurance or strength. Steep trails. No technical expertise necessary.
Comfort Level
Choose accommodations and amenities that fit your personal style
Simple
Our most natural accommodations. Bath facilities often shared, sometimes rustic.
Delightful
Comfortable and especially personal. Small to mid-sized lodges, typically with private bath.
Superior
Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined artistry, or extra-special settings.
Deluxe
Exclusive or luxury lodges, hotels, or safari camps with fine dining options.
Uncommon
The most indulgent accommodations arranged specially for private trips.
Single Supplement
The single supplement is applicable if a roommate is not available or if single accommodation is specifically requested. While single accommodation is not available on all trips, we will try and honor this request whenever possible.