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 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.