Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour

Stone Forest, roast duck, and Kunming's hidden corners in one day

A ten-hour private tour from Kunming combines Stone Forest's UNESCO-listed rock formations with a traditional Yiliang roast duck lunch, then a customized afternoon exploring Kunming's cultural sites. Hotel pickup and dropoff are included. Your guide speaks English or Chinese and tailors the city portion to your interests: Old Town walking tour, Western Hills cable car, Yunnan Ethnic Village, teahouse tea tasting, or tile-making workshop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stone Forest and Kunming City Tour

• Hotel pick-up
• Private guided tour of Stone Forest
• Lunch at Yiliang roast duck restaurant
• Customized Kunming city tour
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a private guided tour through Stone Forest, the dramatic limestone karst landscape that sits on UNESCO's World Heritage list. After exploring the formations, you head to Yiliang County for lunch at a renowned roast duck restaurant. The preparation method here is distinctive enough that food travelers make the trip for it alone, and halal options are available if you need them. The meal gives you time to rest before the afternoon's final leg.

Once back in Kunming, the itinerary becomes yours to shape. You can walk through Kunming Old Town or Guandu Ancient Town, ride the cable car up to Western Hills and Dragon Gate, visit the Yunnan Ethnic Village, explore the Yunnan Provincial Museum, or browse the Dounan Flower Market. If you prefer something quieter, your guide can arrange a Chinese tea tasting at a teahouse or sign you up for a tile-cat making experience: a local craft activity. Your guide knows the city's history and can point out what matters to you instead of running through a fixed script.

The private vehicle and guide mean no waiting for other travelers or following a group pace. You set the rhythm, and the guide adjusts based on what you want to see and how long you want to linger. The ten-hour window gives you real time at each stop instead of a rushed succession of photo ops.

What’s included

• Private vehicle with hotel pickup and dropoff.
• private guide in English or Chinese.
• customized Kunming city itinerary in the afternoon based on your interests.

Options for this experience

4 options

Stone Forest OnlyGuide in English or Chinese · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:10No tour guide. Duration: 6 hours. Stone Forest only, by private vehicle. Pickup is included.

Private vehicle, no guideGuide in English or Chinese · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:10Kunming city tour without a tour guide. Duration: 10 hours. Stone Forest and Kunming city by private vehicle. Pickup is included.

Guided tour of Stone ForestGuide in English or Chinese · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:10Guided tour of Stone Forest. Duration: 6 hours. Stone Forest only, by private vehicle. Pickup is included.

Private vehicle with a guideGuide in English or Chinese · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:10Kunming city tour with a private guide. Duration: 10 hours. Stone Forest and Kunming city by private vehicle. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:10

AgesAdult (3 to 70 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 19.91

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aether Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private pace through Stone Forest and the flexibility to shape your afternoon around what actually interests you, rather than following a fixed group itinerary. The guide's local knowledge means you get context and suggestions instead of just a list of sites.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What exactly is Stone Forest and why is it worth the trip from Kunming?

Stone Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site of towering limestone karst formations that rise from the landscape like a petrified forest. The private guided tour walks you through the formations, and the site's scale and geological oddness make it one of Southwest China's most distinctive natural attractions.

Is the roast duck lunch included in the price, or do I pay separately?

The roast duck lunch at the Yiliang restaurant is not included in the tour price. You pay for your meal when you order. Yiliang roast duck is a regional specialty known for its unique preparation, and the restaurant is famous locally.

Can I choose what to do in Kunming in the afternoon, or is the itinerary fixed?

The afternoon is fully customized. You can walk Kunming Old Town, take the cable car to Western Hills and Dragon Gate, visit the Yunnan Ethnic Village, see the Yunnan Provincial Museum, browse the Dounan Flower Market, taste tea at a teahouse, or try a tile-cat making workshop. Tell your guide what interests you, and the itinerary adjusts.

Do I need to pay extra to enter Stone Forest, or is that covered?

Stone Forest entrance fees depend on which tour option you book. The Stone Forest Guided Tour option and the Private Vehicle + Guide option both include entry. The Stone Forest Only and Private Vehicle (No Guide) options have different coverage, so check which option you select at checkout.

How much walking is involved, and what's the fitness level required?

Stone Forest involves moderate walking through the karst landscape, and the afternoon activities vary depending on what you choose. The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.