All reviews
Review Author: Dex
Review Date: 18 Aug 2026
Review Body: Apu and Sam were fantastic guides showing us the best the southern Yunnan had to offer. Apu was super knowledgeable about tea and taught us a lot about people and culture that is producing pu'er. Sam was a fantastic guide and driver educating us about the different ethnic groups in the region. We had great meals that were tailored to our diets. This was a great way to explore yunnan.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Anonymous
Review Date: 24 Aug 2026
Review Body: It was a difficult good-bye to Sam who was a marvelous tour guide, - helping us all days, answering all our questions by proving his broad knowledge on history, culture, food, tea traditions etc plus there was a lot of laughter as we had a lot of fun with him. Highly recommend Sam.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: LG
Review Date: 28 Jun 2026
Review Body: I did this trip in May and it was a really interesting and insightful experience to understand the world famous Pu'er tea. We got to see everything from the ancient tea forests, to the processing and packaging as well as the villages and homes that are dependent on the tea. We also learned about the various traditions and culture around tea making and drinking. My favourite part was sitting down to drink tea with one of the tea producing families as they talked about the various types of teas (fermented, raw, white, aged, cake, loose leaf...so many!). It was like a wine tasting but the level of nuance felt even greater.
Apu, our guide, was incredibly knowledgable. He has been roasting and making tea for several years now and knows the families in the tea mountains very well, so is able to tell many stories about their lives. He also has a degree in anthropology with a focus on the various ethnic minorities of Yunnan, so his knowledge is both deep on the academic and experiential level. Would highly recommend!!
Review rating: 5
Itinerary
Itinerary Day 1
Itinerary Summary: Journey into the Ancient Tea Mountains
Itinerary Description: 10AM Pick up at your hotel in Jinghong, then visit a cultural centre for local ethnic minorities and a market in Gasa Township.
1PM Have a countryside lunch in Menglong Town before continuing through rubber groves and rainforest roads into the old tea mountains of Mengsong.
Learn to pick fresh tea leaves with your host family, then try the full loose leaf tea making process, including fixing, rolling and sun drying.
7PM Share dinner in a traditional Akha stilt house, and watch a demonstration of traditional rattan weaving.
- Overnight at Mengsong Lodge.
Itinerary Day 2
Itinerary Summary: Forest birdwatch, short hike and wrap up the day with tea tasting and dinner in Jinghong
Itinerary Description: 9AM Birdwatch on the forest trails with Atu in Bulong Nature Reserve, followed by a 2 to 3 hour hike through the mountain rainforest.
1PM Return to the lodge for lunch and a rest.
3PM Drive back to Jinghong.
6PM Enjoy a guided tea tasting and dinner in Jinghong.
End of trip.
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2D1N Pu’er Tea Journey in Ancient Tea Mountains
Go to the source of Pu’er tea. Make tea by hand with local tea-growing families
5.0
|3 Reviews
Group size
Up to 20 guests
DURATION
2 days 1 night
Booking type
Private trip
MEET UP
Free pick-up
Group size
Up to 20 guests
- Experience highlights
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Accommodation
- Availability
- More Info
- Host
- Reviews
Walk ancient Pu'er forests, stay with a family and learn to make tea by hand
Pu’er is one of China’s most famous teas, but tasting it in a teahouse is very different from seeing where it actually comes from. This two-day journey takes you to the source of pu-er tea, deep into the ancient tea mountains of Mengsong, where families have grown and made Pu’er for generations.Spend the night in the tea mountains, walk among ancient tea trees and learn directly from a local tea-growing family. You’ll pick fresh leaves, pan-fire, roll and sun-dry them by hand, while learning how the forest, age of the trees and traditional methods shape the tea you eventually drink. Your local guide has long-standing relationships with the families here, giving you a more personal look at the people and traditions behind Pu’er.Back in Jinghong, finish with a guided Pu’er tasting and learn how terroir, processing and age change what you taste in the cup. If you love tea, food or understanding where things come from, this is a rare chance to experience Pu’er from ancient tree to finished cup.What to ExpectPrivate 2-day, 1-night trip from JinghongEnglish-speaking local guide throughoutOvernight stay in the Mengsong tea mountainsMake Pu’er with a local tea-growing familyPick, pan-fire, roll and sun-dry tea by handWalk through ancient tea forestsGuided Pu’er tasting back in JinghongMeals as stated in the itineraryGood to KnowBegins with morning pick-up in Jinghong and returns the following afternoonBest for tea lovers, foodies and curious travellers who want to understand where Pu’er comes fromIncludes easy walks on uneven trails through the tea forestsExpect mountain roads, humid weather and comfortable but simple accommodation
Experience highlights
What You’ll be Doing
Day 1:
Journey into the Ancient Tea MountainsDay 2:
Forest birdwatch, short hike and wrap up the day with tea tasting and dinner in JinghongShow Details
What’s Included
English-speaking local guide throughout the experience
All transportation from pick-up to drop-off
1 nights' accommodation at Mengsong
All meals as stated in the itinerary
Guided tea-making experience with a local host family
Birdwatching experience
Visit to an Akha family home and cultural exchange
Entrance fees to all activities and nature reserves included in the itinerary
Not included
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Available Add-ons:
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Who you’re supporting
Community Champion
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Where You’ll Sleep
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 08 Oct 2026
Additional Information
Where we'll meet
Start Point
Free pick-up from Your accommodation or pickup point in Jinghong(Jinghong, China)
- 10:00am
- Notes: Please leave a note with your preferred pick-up and drop-off locations before your trip.
End Point
- End at Start Point(s)
Start & Ends
10:00AM on Day 1 - 03:00PM on Day 2
Suitability / Accessibility
- Vegetarian food available
- Halal food available
- Child Friendly (No Minimum Age)
Cancellation & other policies
Cancellation
To secure your spot, your host will turn away other guests. Because of this, cancellations aren't allowed.Reschedule Policy
Cancellation Policy: More than 30 days before departure: Full refund 15–30 days before departure: 50% refund 14 days or less before departure: No refund If you need to cancel due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, we'll do our best to accommodate a change of travel date where possible, subject to availability.
What to Pack
- Camera
- Cash for personal expenses or souvenirs
- Comfortable hiking shoes with good grip
- Hat and sunglasses
- Light jacket or fleece for cooler mornings and evenings
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- Personal toiletries and medications
- Rain jacket or poncho (weather can change quickly)
- Reusable water bottle
- Small daypack for hikes
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
From
¥3,322.35
/person5.0(3)
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Meet your host
Based in Xishuangbanna, near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, this host is a tea maker and anthropologist who has spent more than 10 years creating small-group journeys in Yunnan’s tea region. Much of his work happens alongside tea farmers and ethnic minority communities, where he helps turn traditional knowledge, handicrafts and tea-making practices into sustainable livelihoods. His experiences are shaped by a simple belief: conservation works best when local communities benefit directly. Travellers join him not for standard sightseeing, but to spend time in villages, learn about tea culture, and meet the people keeping these traditions alive in the forests and mountains of China’s borderlands.
Experience: 11 years
Speaks: Basic English, Fluent English, Chinese
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