Arrive Guilin
Elephant Trunk Hill and Two Rivers & Four Lakes night cruise.
Meals: D4-star hotel, Guilin
Guilin · Yangshuo · Longsheng
Guilin & Longji Rice Terraces 5D4N
The essentials plus a night in a stilted lodge above the Longji terraces — golden rice waves at dusk, sea of clouds at dawn, plus Zhuang & Yao minority culture.
Route snapshot
5 days
Guilin → Guilin
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Group size
2–6 travelers
Activity level
Moderate
Pace
Moderate pace
Route
Guilin → Guilin
PhotographersNature loversFamilies with kids
Highlights
- Longji Jinkeng terraces + stilt-house overnight
- Sunrise over terraces from Xishan Shaoyue viewpoint
- Huangluo Yao 'Long-Hair Village'
- Full Li River cruise to Yangshuo
- Impression Liu Sanjie outdoor show
May-June for mirror-like flooded terraces, late September to mid-October for golden harvest.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
- Day 2
Full Li River Cruise
4.5-hour cruise to Yangshuo, Silver Cave, evening on West Street.
Meals: L/D4-star hotel or boutique guesthouse, Yangshuo - Day 3
Yulong River · Impression Liu Sanjie
Bamboo raft and countryside cycling; river-stage show in the evening (seasonal).
Meals: L/DSame as the previous night - Day 4
Longji Rice Terraces
Drive to Jinkeng terraces, cable car to Golden Buddha Peak, overnight in a stilted lodge, Yao long-table dinner.
Meals: L/DTiantou Village-view guesthouse (simple facilities) - Day 5
Terrace Sunrise · Departure
Sunrise over the terraces, Long-Hair Yao village, return to Guilin and departure.
Meals: L—
What the route looks like across four seasons
Use these seasonal notes to choose the travel window that matches the scenery you want.
Golden harvest terraces
Late September to mid-October the terraces turn gold — the single best photo window of the year.
What’s included
- Hand-picked hotels with daily breakfast
- Private vehicle with driver
- English-speaking local guide
- Admission tickets to listed sights and experiences
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 local emergency support
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Single-room supplement
- Personal expenses and optional activities
- Gratuities for guide and driver (optional)
Questions travelers ask
When is the best time to take this tour?+
May-June for mirror-like flooded terraces, late September to mid-October for golden harvest.
What is the stilted lodge like?+
Authentic wooden Yao lodges with terrace views but basic soundproofing and bathrooms — we brief all guests before booking.
Guest feedback
What travellers said after this route
Quotes are shown as written, in the traveller’s own words.
“I have travelled in Asia for twenty years and expected to be managed. Instead I got a route with real texture and a guide happy to argue about which dumpling shop was better.”
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