Choose a few bases
Yunnan brings together different landscapes and cultural settings. Start with the kind of stay you want: city time, old towns, countryside or a more varied regional journey. Then decide which places can share the same route without making every day a move.
A first conversation might compare Kunming with time in Dali and Lijiang. These are choices of bases, rather than a promise that all three belong in every visit. If one place interests you much more, give it the extra nights.
Count full days in each place
As an editorial starting point, consider a week for a small number of bases. Compare a two-base plan with a three-base plan after checking the arrival and departure arrangements. The same number of nights can produce very different amounts of unhurried time.
Keep the complete change of base in your calendar, including checkout, transport and reaching the next hotel. Confirm the exact train station or pickup point and the local transfer for each stage.
Choose your landscapes
Dali and Lijiang offer different starting points for town visits and surrounding landscapes. Choose the experiences that matter, then compare the walking, weather and complete journey. A landscape excursion does not need to be added simply because it is on a standard list.
If you do not want highland excursions or long outdoor days, say so while the route is being shaped. The adviser can discuss a different mix of places and time at each base.
Choose a hotel setting
Compare being within a town area with a quieter stay farther from the busiest streets. Ask about the last part of the arrival journey, luggage access, room facilities and the transport needed each day. A photograph of a courtyard is not enough to describe the practical experience.
Leave room for local interests
A market, food visit, craft interest or a slower walk can be a reason to stay longer. Share the experience you want, and ask what can be arranged for your dates. Language, access, hosts and any private visits must be confirmed in the proposal.
Plan the next stop
Use the Yunnan destination page to explore places and articles. If you are also considering Shanghai or Beijing, compare the connection and the nights it takes from your Yunnan stay before adding another base.