Perfect for family travelers, this 9-day customizable adventure kicks off in Kunming and takes you to two of China’s most breathtaking natural attractions: Yunnan’s sprawling ancient rice terraces and Gansu’s vibrant, one-of-a-kind Rainbow Mountains. You’ll travel in total comfort with your own private guide and driver throughout the trip, with full flexibility to tailor the itinerary to match your family’s unique interests and preferred pace. This carefully curated tour is competitively priced, backed by secure, trusted payments for a seamless, stress-free travel experience.
This one-of-a-kind journey starts in the mild, scenic city of Kunming in southern Yunnan, where you’ll first venture into the mountains to explore thousands of years of layered rice terrace cultivation, a UNESCO Cultural Landscape cherished by the Hani people. After soaking in the lush, golden and blue hues of Yuanyang's terraces, you’ll head north to Gansu, where dramatic arid landscapes give way to the rainbow-striped sandstone hills of Zhangye's famous Danxia landforms. The route blends rich ethnic culture, stunning natural beauty, and private comfortable travel tailored exactly to your family's pace.
Your 9-day Yunnan-Gansu family adventure officially kicks off today! Once you arrive in Kunming, you’ll be escorted to your accommodation to check in and rest after your travels. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in or explore the surrounding area near Dianchi Lake at your leisure. 🏨 Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Kunming Dianchi
Start your day with an included breakfast 🍽️, then travel from Kunming up into the mountains to Yuanyang, the heart of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you arrive, you’ll head straight to Bada Rice Terraces to catch golden hour, watching sunset paint the endless layered terraces in warm light for your first breathtaking look at this ancient wonder. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast 🏨 Accommodation: Oness Resort Yuanyang Terrace
Wake up before dawn today for a magical sunrise visit to Duoyishu Rice Terrace, where morning light turns the water-filled terraces into a shimmering, reflective sea. After your sunrise adventure and an included breakfast 🍽️, you’ll visit Aichun Village to view the famous bright blue rice terraces from the hilltop observation deck, then explore the primitive Hani village of Azheke, which is home to 51 well-preserved traditional mushroom-shaped Hani houses. As the day comes to a close, you’ll head to Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Rice Terrace, the core area of the UNESCO site, to watch another stunning sunset over the terraces. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast 🏨 Accommodation: Oness Resort Yuanyang Terrace
After an included breakfast 🍽️, you’ll begin your journey back to Kunming, with meaningful cultural stops along the way. You’ll browse the lively local ethnic market and bazaar, where you can find unique handmade crafts and tasty local snacks, then stop at a quiet primitive ethnic village to learn about the rich, diverse traditions of Yunnan's many ethnic minority groups. When you arrive back in Kunming, you’ll check into your accommodation for the night. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast 🏨 Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Kunming Dianchi
After breakfast 🍽️, you’ll travel north from Kunming to Lanzhou, Gansu’s historic capital city along the Yellow River. Once you’re settled, you’ll explore Lanzhou’s most iconic landmarks: visit the serene Yellow River Mother Sculpture, walk across the historic Yellow River Iron Bridge, and wander the scenic Lanzhou Waterwheel Park to learn about ancient irrigation technology. End your day with a can’t-miss culinary experience tasting authentic Lanzhou pulled noodles. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast 🏨 Accommodation: Lanzhou Feitian (near Lanzhou University Subway Station)
Kick off the day with an included breakfast 🍽️, then sit back and relax on your private transfer as you travel from Lanzhou to Zhangye, the small Gansu city famous for its otherworldly colored rock formations. Arrive in Zhangye in time to rest and recharge, getting ready for two full days of exploring stunning Danxia landforms. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast
Today is dedicated entirely to exploring Zhangye’s world-famous Rainbow Mountains, the iconic striped Danxia landform that looks like a painter’s palette stretched across the hills. Start with an included breakfast 🍽️, then your private guide will take you to multiple different viewpoints throughout the day, so you can capture incredible photos at different light times as the sun shifts across the colorful sandstone layers. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast
After an included breakfast 🍽️, you’ll spend a full day exploring the unique Binggou Danxia landforms. This less crowded Danxia site features dramatically different geology from the Rainbow Mountains, with one-of-a-kind formations including sculptural rock pillars, natural rock arches, and winding canyon formations shaped by millions of years of erosion. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast
Your unforgettable 9-day family adventure comes to a close today. After an included breakfast 🍽️, you’ll be transferred to the airport or train station for your onward departure, taking with you lasting memories of Yunnan’s terraced mountains and Gansu’s rainbow rock formations. 🍽️ Included: Breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 30, 2026
The private guide and driver setup made this trip completely stress-free for our whole family. We left feeling like we got to see the very best of two of China’s most incredible natural landmarks, and we’d recommend this tour to anyone traveling with kids or older relatives.
February 18, 2026
Our consultant Ethan did an amazing job customizing our itinerary to accommodate our two young kids, who get tired easily on long outings. Our private driver was safe and on time every day, and our guide shared so many interesting local stories that made the trip feel personal. Both the ancient rice terraces and rainbow mountains were even more breathtaking than we imagined.
April 21, 2025
Traveling with three generations of our family can be really tricky to plan, but this customizable tour checked every box for all of us. Our driver had a spacious, comfortable van that let our older parents stretch out on longer drives, and our guide always made sure we stopped for breaks whenever we needed. He also took us to incredible local spots off the main tourist trail, from small rice terrace villages to family-run noodle shops in Gansu. Starting the trip in Kunming was the perfect slow introduction to the region, and we left already talking about coming back for another tour.
March 12, 2025
This 9-day family adventure through Yunnan and Gansu exceeded every one of our expectations.
December 28, 2024
We enjoyed exploring the rice terraces and rainbow mountains with our private guide, but unexpected heavy fog during our visit to the Rainbow Mountains blocked the most iconic views. The team still adjusted our itinerary to make the most of our time, so we still had a great overall trip.
This 13-day private customized tour brings you all of China’s most unforgettable top highlights, spanning 7 incredible destinations including the ancient cultural capitals of Beijing and Xi’an, Guilin’s dramatic karst scenery, and a scenic cruise along the world-famous Yangtze River, ending in dynamic Shanghai. Carefully curated to deliver an exceptional experience at an unbeatable price, this fully tailorable itinerary comes with secure, trusted payment processing, giving you peace of mind for a seamless, hassle-free trip through China’s most iconic sites.
