"Only 3! Trip.com exclusive pure-play hiking tours in Yubeng/Antelope Valley exposed"

Help! Are there any pure-play tours in Yunnan❓❓❓ Guys, the number of ads for Yunnan tours is ridiculous! I was planning to go to Yunnan and was searching for travel guides, but there were so many ads, and some posts were just trying to get attention. I wanted to book a private tour, but I couldn't tell which ones were good, and there were so many to choose from... But I did some research on independent travel, customized tours, and pure-play tours, so let me share some tips: 1. Pure-play tours are not the same as customized tours. Customized tours are private tours, so they are usually more expensive. 2. Some tours have a driver-guide. These are usually 2–6 person pure-play small group tours. This is the type of tour we booked, and I'll share my experience later. 3. Group tours are the most likely to be scams. Most people who are tricked into going to shopping stores booked cheap group tours. Think about it, you pay 900+ to go to Lijiang and Dali for 5 days, how is it possible that you won't be taken to shopping stores? 4. Some tours don't include meals, and the guide will only make recommendations, so make sure you check carefully (group meals are never that good anyway). - We booked a 2–6 person small group tour, and we went to almost all the big attractions. Our first stop was Dali. Erhai Lake in Dali is amazing, the water is clear, and it reflects the blue sky and the distant Cangshan Mountain. I walked along the lake, feeling the breeze on my face and the sun on my body, it was so relaxing. Then we went to Lijiang. There are many unique shops on the street, selling all kinds of interesting things. At night, the ancient town is brightly lit and bustling. Our last stop was Shangri-La. The grass in Napa Lake was a little yellow, but there were still cows and sheep. I went to a Tibetan village, but I didn't really like the food (I don't eat lamb). But you have to experience Tibetan culture, it's truly a place close to heaven. - Overall, it was a good experience, because I didn't want to worry about the itinerary and accommodation. With a tour, you don't have to worry about these things, everything is arranged for you. There were some small regrets during the trip. For example, we didn't see the golden sunrise at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but luckily we had a reliable guide who told us we could see it in Lijiang Ancient Town. The driver drove very steadily, and gave us detailed introductions to each attraction, as well as reminders. When we arrived at the attractions, we had plenty of free time. Here's a summary for those who want to book a tour: Whether a tour is reliable depends on the deposit. If the deposit is high, run away, you won't be able to get a refund. Make sure you ask if there are any shopping stops, and tell the guide you don't want to go to shopping stores at the attractions. Hotels can usually be upgraded, we were lucky, it was the off-season, so we got a free room upgrade hhh. The tour was good value for money, it wasn't super high-end, but it met our needs for a pure-play tour. And I didn't encounter any bad situations, like being taken to shopping stores. In short, there are pure-play tours in Yunnan, and if you follow my tips, you'll find a reliable one. I hope you all have a wonderful trip to Yunnan.