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

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

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Journey into the Ancient Tea Mountains

Itinerary Description: 10:00 AM Meet your guide in Jinghong and begin your journey into the mountains. Along the way, stop at a local ethnic cultural centre and explore the lively market in Gasa Township for a glimpse into everyday life. 1:00 PM Enjoy a countryside lunch in Menglong before continuing through rubber plantations and rainforest roads into the ancient tea mountains of Mengsong. Spend the afternoon with your host family learning the traditional art of tea making. From plucking fresh tea leaves to pan-firing, rolling and sun drying them, you'll experience every step of producing loose leaf tea by hand. 7:00 PM Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Mengsong Lodge.

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Forest foraging walk, nature lunch and Akha dinner with rattan weaving

Itinerary Description: 9:00 AM Head into the forest with a local guide for a foraging walk around Mengsong. Learn about the edible plants, herbs and other ingredients traditionally gathered from the forest, with locals joining along the way to share their knowledge. You’ll collect some of the ingredients that will later be used for lunch, though not everything needed for the meal will be foraged. 12:00 PM Enjoy a simple lunch in nature, prepared using some of the ingredients gathered during the morning walk. Take some time to slow down and enjoy the forest before returning to the village. 2:00 PM Return to the lodge for some free time and a chance to rest. 7:00 PM This evening, you're welcomed into Atu's traditional Akha stilt house for dinner. Meet a local rattan craftsman and learn about the techniques and stories behind this generations-old weaving tradition. Overnight at Mengsong Lodge.

Itinerary Day 3

Itinerary Summary: Ancient Tea Gardens & Return to Jinghong

Itinerary Description: 9:00 AM Take a final walk through the ancient tea gardens with your host, learning about the history and ecology of these centuries-old tea forests. 11:00 AM Begin the journey back to Jinghong, stopping for lunch along the way. Arrive in Jinghong around 3:00 PM, where you'll end the trip with a guided tasting of local teas before checking into your hotel or departing for your next destination.