Who We Are?

Yunnan Eco Tours

Yunnan Eco Tours offers immersive, off-the-beaten-path journeys across one of China’s most biodiverse and culturally rich regions. Our small-group private tours combine eco-conscious travel, local food, and hands-on cultural experiences—from visiting vibrant ethnic farmer’s markets to craft workshops in remote communities. We work closely with local families, support traditional ways of life, and keep sustainability at the heart of every adventure. Whether you’re pressing your own tea cake, foraging wild mushrooms, or dancing with villagers under the stars—this is travel that connects deeply and gives back.

Our Mission

To explore and protect the hidden beauty of Yunnan through responsible travel—supporting local communities, preserving cultural heritage, and treading lightly on the land.

We lead tours that are:

  • Rooted in authentic local experiences
  • Designed with a low carbon footprint
  • Aligned with nature and biodiversity conservation
  • Plant-forward, healthy, and delicious

Why Yunnan?

Yunnan is one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich regions on Earth. Home to 25 recognized ethnic groups and a stunning range of landscapes—from tropical rainforests to snow-capped peaks—it’s a dream for nature lovers and cultural explorers alike.

And yet, much of its beauty remains hidden from the typical tourist path. We’re here to help you discover it—respectfully and sustainably.

Customize Your Tour

What Makes Us Different

  • Locally Led
    We work with village artisans, traditional cooks, farmers, and local guides—not big tour operators. Every experience supports people who live and work in the places we visit.
  • Low Impact
    Our trips feature electric vehicles, zero single-use plastics, and accommodations that prioritize sustainability and local sourcing.
  • Plant-Forward
    Food 80–100% of our meals are vegan or vegetarian, made from fresh, organic, locally-grown ingredients. We support local farmers, reduce food miles, and highlight Yunnan’s diverse food heritage.
  • Hands-On & Heart-Filled
    From making your own macrame bracelet in a Yi courtyard to crafting silverware in a Bai village, every tour includes cultural workshops and meaningful exchanges.
Yunnan Eco Tours founder Leo enjoying a meal with a group of guests from Asia.

Meet the Team

At the heart of Yunnan Eco Tours is a diverse and passionate team of locals, guides, sustainability advocates, and culture lovers who believe in travel as a force for good. We are not a big tour company—we’re a small, grassroots collective committed to creating meaningful, low-impact travel experiences rooted in respect, tradition, and environmental care.

A portrait of Yunnan Eco Tours founder Leo standing in a vegetable garden, holding freshly harvested greens in his hands.
Leo-Founder

Leo has spent the past seven years promoting sustainability and eco-tourism across Yunnan. He has organized hundreds of community-based environmental events and worked closely with villages, artisans, organic farmers, and local organizations. With deep knowledge of Yunnan’s diverse landscapes and cultures, Leo designs each tour to preserve tradition, support local livelihoods, and minimize environmental impact — inspiring travelers to explore Yunnan in harmony with nature.

A portrait of one of Yunnan Eco Tours' collaborators, a Yi artisan specializing in traditional ethnic clothing.
Qu-Yi Ethnic Craftsman

Qu is a recognized inheritor of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Yi Ethnic Clothing in Dali. After years away, he returned to his ancestral village with a clear goal — to help his community sustain their traditions and livelihoods. He renovated his 200-year-old family courtyard house into a workspace and museum dedicated to Yi crafts. Here, local women can work near their homes, practicing traditional embroidery and textile arts without having to leave for jobs in big cities. Today, Qu’s handcrafted works are sold across China and internationally, sharing the culture and craftsmanship of the Yi people with the world.

Hosts, guides & drivers

Our hosts, guides, and drivers are at the heart of every journey, connecting you with the cultures and landscapes of Yunnan. Many are from local ethnic minority communities, offering deep, lived knowledge of the region’s history, cuisine, and traditions.

Kunming driver Cui smiling and enjoying a meal.
Cui-Kunming Driver
Baoshan driver Zhao smiling and enjoying a meal with two Italian guests.
Zhao-Baoshan Driver
Lijiang driver Zhu smiling and enjoying a meal with two guests.
Zhu-Lijiang Driver(Lisu)
Dali/Lijiang driver Mu smiling and enjoying a meal with a guest from the United States.
Mu-Dali/Lijiang Driver(Naxi)
De'ang host Zhao dressed in traditional clothing smiling at the camera.
Zhao-De'ang Host
Naxi host Hekai writing Naxi Dongba pictographic script.
Hekai-Naxi Host
Lisu guide Chu in Lijiang pointing at dried food inside a traditional wooden house.
Chu-Lisu Guide
A Naxi female village guide in Lijiang talking to a guest from the United States.
He-Naxi Guide
A Bulang woman smiling and weaving traditional straw mats, with her mother standing nearby watching.
Yuxinla-Bulang Host
A Naxi village guide standing on a cliffside path with the blue Jinsha River below.
He-Naxi Guide
An Akha man in Xishuangbanna standing and eating a bowl of noodles for breakfast.
Shuosan-Hani Host

Our Collaborators

We proudly work with:

Village artisans
Organic and regenerative farms
Eco-lodges and family-run guesthouses
Independent vegan chefs and traditional cooks
Cultural preservation groups and forest rangers


Every experience on our tours is co-created with people who live what they teach.

A traditional incense artisan in Jianshui smelling freshly foraged herbs.
Lv Baojing-Incense Artisan

Lv Baojing was born and raised in a traditional purple pottery village in Jianshui, Yunnan — a place where clay, fire, and craftsmanship are part of daily life. Surrounded by artisans since childhood, he developed a deep passion for pottery from an early age. Influenced by his family’s background in traditional Chinese medicine, Baojing also grew up foraging wild herbs in the nearby hills. Over time, his love for natural materials and traditional wisdom led him to master the art of Chinese incense making, blending herbal knowledge with artistic expression. Today, he is both a purple pottery artisan and a traditional incense expert, dedicated to preserving and sharing Yunnan’s cultural heritage.

A traditional soy sauce artisan cooling boiled soybeans in a natural setting.
Tianyang-Soy Sauce Artisan

Tianyang comes from a family with a long tradition of soy sauce making. Before moving to Yunnan, he worked as a sculptor. Years ago, he brought this childhood heritage into his new life here, establishing his own workshop dedicated to traditional soy sauce fermentation. Yunnan’s climate—especially its abundant sunshine throughout the year—creates ideal conditions for natural fermentation. Embracing a slow and patient process, Tianyang is always happy to share his craft and philosophy with others. Once you’ve tasted his soy sauce, it’s hard to go back to anything else.

A traditional fermented pear juice artisan standing in front of dozens of pottery vessels used for fermentation.
Tianqi-Pear Artisan

At the source of Erhai Lake in Yunnan is a village dating back to the Ming Dynasty, surrounded by centuries-old pear trees. This is where Tianqi lives and works. This is not a typical tour, but a way of life. Depending on the season, you may walk among the trees, harvest or process pears, take part in natural fermentation, or simply sit by the fire and share tea. Daily life here is slow and grounded in working with the land. There is no fixed schedule or staged experience. Instead, you are invited to take part and experience things as they are. Tianqi follows a simple approach: working with nature rather than trying to control it. Over the years, he has developed a deep understanding of fermentation as a natural process. Products like pear jiaosu (fermented pear juice) and pear paste are made in line with seasonal conditions and local environment. More than products, this is about reconnecting with the land and understanding where food comes from.