Yunnan: Route du Thé & Chevaux, Festin Culinaire Inoubliable

I took this tour with Daisy in April 2023 and had a brilliant time. The tour is curated perfectly, giving you the opportunity to experience the best sights along the ancient tea & horse caravan road and the food is wonderful throughout. Daisy was a friendly and super knowledgeable guide, she made sure I got lots of the food I love and had loads of knowledge about the area and its history. I’d thoroughly recommend doing this trip with Lost Plate (and Daisy!)

It's not just the food (but oh! the food!). It's also the activities and the philosophy of travel. Lost Plate organizes small groups guided by experts, staying in boutique hotels, eating at family run restaurants, and enjoying experiences that aren't possible either with big bus tours or as an independent traveler.  Why not just travel independently? Well, in large part because travel in China is hard right now. It's not a real vacation if you're spending all your time worrying about health codes, trying to find hotels that allow foreigners, or figuring out the when and where and how for COVID tests. But even if China lifted all travel restrictions tomorrow, I'd still travel with Lost Plate because they're just that good. Groups are small enough to fit around one large table, eating family style, trying a few (or lots of) bites of well over a hundred dishes over the course of a week. Even a well-practiced eater like myself couldn't sample that variety while traveling on my own. And don't worry, if there's a dish that's a hit with the whole table, your guide will order seconds (or thirds)! Activities are also designed to appeal to those who want unique and varied experiences. Yunnan isn't a place where you go with a checklist of sights to see like you might in Beijing or Shanghai. It's where you go to enjoy the minority (non-Han) cultures and the scenery and the pace of life. Lost Plate has created an itinerary that keeps you engaged and interested but not so busy you can't catch your breath. Highlights include walking through multiple adorable and historic old towns, visits to a tiny shop to see how they handmake their famous stuffed bread, an optional hike well away from the crowds at Tiger Leaping Gorge, and a local market tour followed by a cooking class using the very freshest ingredients.  Hotels were also a highlight for me, with each of them offering something memorable, from a 500-year old history to some neverending views. Not places you'd ever stay if traveling with a big bus tour of 30+ people.  If you want to explore some of the best that Yunnan has to offer, I can't recommend this tour enough. And if you think organized tours aren't for you, let Lost Plate change your mind.

Lost plate tours brings together likeminded travellers who love trying new foods and being outdoors. Small groups (maximum 10) allows for a personalised service where we could move at a pace not so different than if we were on our own. We were very fortunate to have Daisy as our lead guide and Brian supporting. I cannot fault their manner and willingness to ensure our trip was memorable.

This was definitely one of the top three trips of my life - the others being an epic Sagrada Valle tour (think Manchu Picchu) and a storied Indian wedding (think Taj Mahal). The difference is that those trips were planned with groups of friends, and this one I went on "alone"... but our group of strangers soon became friends due to the detailed planning and care put into the itinerary and activities. I am usually an extemely independent traveler, so I was shocked by how much I enjoyed this trip, but the activities are perfectly curated so that the group time is well spent and there is free time each day for one to go out and explore on one's own. What makes this tour so special is the care and effort put into it by each member of the team; you can tell they truly want you to have an amazing experience. The sights were unbelievably gorgeous, the food adventures sooooo delicous, varied, and soooo much fun, and the itinerary included so many optional activities (bike rides, hikes, bookstores, cafes, crafts, cooking...) that perfectly complement to all that delicious food. Moreover, the company founder, Ruixi, shared just the right amount of cultural, historical, and food-related information at just the right time, so I learned a lot. I also loved that while the focus was on food, it wasn't just about eating: we explored markets, participated in cooking classes, and learned about various food-related traditions. Lost Plate will even take care of you if you aren't the easiest person to eat or trave with. In fact, the company founder, tour guides, and driver made adjustments to fit the needs of the group, which was extremely thoughtful. For example, I have a gluten intolerance, and the guides let me know what foods I should be aware of. In another example, I easily get car sick, so the Lost Plate team came up with a locally sourced innovative cure which not only prevented car sickness, it also provided a fun distraction for me and the group. I didn't have to worry about anything for the entire trip, every moment was a delightful surprise, and Ruixi even helped me plan the day I came early and the days after I left. This trip is worth every penny! I will definitely be joining again.

I loved the way that the trip was planned with many different types of activities in addition to delicious food. There was a tie dye activity, cooking classes, historical tours, biking and hiking, and also options for enjoying the night life as well. It was truly a beautiful and wonderful experience packed with fun and good food! Timings were flexible and every need was accommodated. Our guides were also very knowledgable, friendly, and fun! It was truly a dream trip for me.

We spent a wonderful week touring ancient towns from Dali to Lijiang and enjoying fabulous food and experiences. We saw and ate amazing things that we would never have experienced if we had traveled without this tour. Our guides Ruixi and Longjiao were very attentive and informative, and our driver Agwan was professional and thoughtful. We stayed in unique small hotels and guest houses in breathtaking locations. Lost Plate helps make experiencing China so much more accessible and I would highly recommend this tour. They did/do extensive planning to find really special places to visit and they are open to feedback and accommodations. Thank you for a great holiday!

Our first time to Yunnan and a great introduction to the best part of China. As ever with LPFT, there was a well thought through and executed itinerary with some off the beaten places (and dishes) that you’d never find in your own. Highlights included the mountain bike and the cycling around Shaxi and all of Dali!

We had a magic 8-day trip through Yunnan with Lost Plate Tours with two families. With 4 adults and 4 teenagers (12-15), there was a little something for everyone to enjoy. Our Guides Ruixi and Alison went above and beyond to help us - even before the tour officially started! We arrived a couple of days before the tour and 4 of us needed to visit a doctor (not COVID related, don't worry!). They accompanied us to the hospital, helping with translation and ensuring we got all the medication we needed. So! On to the tour! Overall, something I loved about this trip was how relaxed it was. You didn't feel you were being rushed from place to place, and there was enough downtime built in that you could chill out. If you wanted to explore, you could go ahead. If you needed some relaxation time in your room, that was fine too. FOOD As a food tour primarily, I can say we were not at all disappointed! Something that made this trip special for me included getting to try regional foods that I would never have been aware of without their expertise. The bacon dish in Lijiang was a teen favourite, as were the many (and varied) potato dishes. But each region we visited had unique dishes to sample, and there was always plenty to eat. A highlight for all of us was our final meal in Dali - the giant platter. Unforgettable! Now that I am back in Beijing, I am craving some Yunnan specialities! ACCOMMODATION The guest houses at each location were fantastic. Beautiful, spacious rooms that are locally owned and operated. Trust that Lost Plate knows what foreigners appreciate in a guest house. ACTIVITIES I thought the range of activities we got to do, really catered to a range of interests. From shopping and market tours to cooking classes, hiking, tie-dyeing and clay cat sculpting, our families were engaged and interested throughout.

Everything on this trip was so well curated by Lost Plate: gorgeous, small local yet comfortable guesthouses; excellent choices of local food establishments, some more formal, some street food; terrific & knowledgeable trip leaderswho shared lots of information about the places we visited and the cuisine we ate; a well-thought out pace -- plenty of free time (but with suggestions of what to do) and some worthwhile activities as a group; and beautiful Chinese countryside. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Lost Plate and this tour to anyone!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our week long adventure through Yunnan with Lost Plate! Our tour guides Brian and Evon were fabulous. It was so nice to take out all the guess work of traveling to a new place and we were able to fully trust them with getting us to great food and places to see. They took us to some spots that we’d never really find on our own. We’d love to do one of their other multi-day trips in the future!