a yunnan yoga retreat

www.bespoketravelcompany.com [email protected]

A YUNNAN YOGA RETREATMay 23-28th 2021

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ABOUT THIS TRIP

TRIP LENGTH: 6 days, 5 nights (Sunday May 23–Friday May 28, 2021)COST: Early bird until April 10th: 10,900RMB/person; 12,000RMB/person thereafter, based on double occupancy; add 2,800RMB for single occupancy. Based on a group of 10.DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low-MediumINCLUDED: Hotels, meals (including tea and mineral water), all transportation, tour guiding, daily yoga classes and workshops, all entrance tickets and one massage per person.NOT INCLUDED: Alcohol or personal expenses, flights, insurance.

We may not know you personally, but we’re going to go out on a limb and say that you need a break. A proper one. If your past year has been anything like ours then we

know a couple of things are probably true. 1) it’s time you treated yourself; and 2) stepping onto the yoga mat was probably the best thing you did last year to stay sane

and happy.

Here at Bespoke we feel the same, which is why this six-day trip in Lijiang and Dali has been created by our frazzled founder and the fabulous folks at Taozi Tree Yoga studio

to be a dream retreat of sorts; a complete getaway for those looking for something special.

The focus of this trip will be on restoring balance, aligning ying and yang, identifying problem areas and returning a new person: calmer, healthier, more rested and with

greater mental clarity to cope with whatever comes next. What’s more, the surroundings couldn’t be more inspiring: Yunnan’s majestic mountains, lush valleys, rare

flowers and rich Tibetan heritage will lift your spirits daily.

We’ll visit practicing temples, take a yoga class on a raised platform overlooking Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, be serenaded by local musicians and even try our hand at tie

dying with the locals. Oh, and let’s not forget all those delicious family-style Yunnan meals – it’s one of the main reasons to go right?


FEATURED HOTELSROCK HOTEL LIJIANG

2,400m above sea level | 3 nights Twin room This well-designed modern hotel in Lijiang’s

Yuhu village is surrounded by mountains, wild flowers and cobblestone paths and is the

perfect spot to begin your Yunnan journey. Full of natural light thanks to an abundance of

floor to ceiling windows, you’ll also have gorgeous views of the countryside wherever

you turn.

DALI SKY VALLEY HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL

2,000m above sea level | 2 nights Twin roomThis hotel is one of our favourites in Yunnan

for its tasteful renovation of a former Bai courtyard home, which manages to retain its

gorgeous rickety wooden feel while still being utterly stylish and comfortable. Quiet, stylish

and understated.


KATERYNA PANASOVSKA

Kateryna Panasovska is a dedicated yogi with over 500 hours of teacher training under her belt. She took her first 200 hours in India at the Ayu-

yoga Eco ashram in 2018 and went on to complete another 300 hours of training with Tymi Howard in Bali in 2019. She's also multilingual, and speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English and German. Kateryna is a star

teacher at Taozi and teaches many of the extremely popular Yoga in the

Park classes as well as Vinyasa classes in Taozi’s Sanlitun studio.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR


DAY 1: May 23rdArrival and transfer to Rock Lijiang. Check-in to the hotel and relax before dinner. We strongly suggest taking Air China flight CA1483 if departing from Beijing to

Lijiang. Stay at Rock includes one in-room massage on Day 1, 2 or 3.

DAY 2: May 24thEarly morning yoga and meditation before walking to Baisha village, eating

lunch and visiting a local schoolyard to enjoy Pu’er tea and be serenaded by local musicians. Afternoon Dosha and The Four Rooms

workshop and evening in the old town.

DAY 3: May 25thTransfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge and take today’s yoga class on the rooftop

platform of the Tea Horse Guesthouse with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for a backdrop. After lunch we’ll take a more challenging hike along a non-touristy

elevated trail of Tiger Leaping Gorge.

DAY 4: May 26thAfter morning yoga and meditation, we’ll head to Xizhou in Dali, enjoy lunch in

this ancient village and then join the locals for a tie dyeing class

DAY 5: May 27thAfter morning yoga and meditation we’ll feast on local Xizhou snacks before

hiking for an hour to the valley housing Wuwei Temple to pay a visit to the local monks. Afternoon Soul Seeds mood boarding workshop at the hotel then dinner

in Dali old town

DAY 6: May 28thFinal early morning yoga class and meditation before transferring to the airport.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW


Arrive in Lijiang

You’ll know you’re in Lijiang the second you step off the plane – breathe in that fresh air and enjoy those big fluffy clouds! We’ll whisk you off to the

Rock hotel so that you can check in, relax, and perhaps even get a massage. Each person on this trip will be given one in-room spa treatment by Rock’s

expert therapists either this evening, tomorrow or the final night in the hotel.

Dinner this evening will be in the hotel before settling in ready to our adventure to begin.

DAY 1DAY 1


MorningRise and shine! This morning we’ll begin the day with a one-hour yoga class and 30-minute

guided meditation exploring the concepts of yin, yang and balance, setting our intentions for the rest of the trip.

Then it’s time to eat a hearty breakfast before meeting our guide and walking into the ancient Baisha village. Baisha’s old town was once the centre of silk embroidery in southwest of China and therefore one of the most important places on the Southern Silk Road that once ran from

Burma to Lijiang, Tibet, Iran and beyond.

AfternoonAfter lunch in Baisha village we’ll head to the pretty courtyard of a local schoolhouse to sit in the sunshine and sip Pu’er tea as a band of elderly Naxi locals serenade us with local instruments.

Once we’re ready we’ll head back to the hotel for two afternoon workshops: Finding Balance With Your Dosha and The Four Rooms. According to Ayurveda, we are all born with a specific

mind-body type or ‘dosha’. In the first part of the workshop, we’ll discover our individual doshasand learn to determine when they’re out of balance. In the second workshop we’ll learn about the Indian proverb of the Four Rooms (mental, emotional, spiritual and physical) and attempt to

bring each into better balance.

EveningThis evening we’ll enjoy dinner in Lijiang’s bustling but magical old town, making sure to take in

the beautiful lights, canals and wooden buildings after dinner.

DAY 2DAY 2


MorningToday we’ll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before driving for just under two hours to one of Yunnan’s most spectacular spots – Tiger Leaping Gorge – for (what has to be) one of the

most memorable yoga classes you will ever take. The group will be given special access to the platform at the Tea Horse Guesthouse for a

one hour yoga class with the mighty Jade Dragon Snow mountain as the backdrop. While from Lijiang you can only see one of the mountain’s peaks, this spot affords you a view of 13 of them! Today’s class will be a Yin class focused on ‘relaxing into balance.‘

AfternoonWe’ll enjoy a simple lunch of vegetables and rice at the Guesthouse and then set off on relatively challenging 4-hour hike along the gorge, taking the high road away from the

crowds. We’ll pass local Naxi folk who rely on these trails to navigate the canyon, beautiful waterfalls and quaint wooden guest houses.

EveningWe’ll eat dinner in a local restaurant before heading back to Rock for our last night in

Lijiang.

DAY 3


MorningThis morning’s Yang yoga class and morning meditation will focus on ‘stoking the fire’ to

increase strength, stamina and overall flexibility and continue our search for balance. After breakfast, we’ll pack our things and take a 2.5 hour drive across rolling fields and through valleys to the pretty town of Xizhou in Dali. This tiny group of villages with less

than 3,000 Bai minority inhabitants dates back to 580AD and went from military fortress in the 9th Century to a crucial stop on the Tea Horse road during the Ming dynasty famed

for its architecture.

We’ll check into the Sky Valley Heritage Hotel before enjoying a lunch of local specialties and taking in Xizhou’s street life.

AfternoonIn the afternoon we’ll visit the stylish workshop of a family that is expert in the ancient Bai practice of tie-dyeing. We’ll try our hand at this surprisingly complex process and see if

we can match the skills of the local artisans, who have passed down techniques and designs from generation to generation since the 6th Century.

EveningThis evening we’ll enjoy dinner in the village or at the hotel and relax in the beautiful

surroundings of Sky Valley, which sits on the edge of Xizhou, totally away from it all. It’s the perfect place to star gaze and cosy up for the night.

DAY 4DAY 4

DAY 4


MorningThis morning’s yoga class will focus on using breath to find balance, followed by a 30 minute

meditation. We’ll then be treated to a traditional 3-course Bai tea ceremony in the hotel’s courtyard before hiking into the valley to visit Wuweisi. This functioning Buddhist temple is the oldest in the region, dating back to 793AD. Among the 22 emperors of Dali Kingdom,10 of them became monks in the temple. We’ll spend some time wandering the sprawling grounds and interact with the monks to learn more about their life in the temple and how Buddhism

made its way from India to China.

AfternoonThis afternoon we will return to Xizhou and have lunchtime to ourselves to wander around the central square, sample the town’s most famous pancakes and liangfen (included in the price) or head to an eatery of your choice (not included). Whatever you get up to, afterwards we’ll return to the hotel for one final, hands-on workshop: It’s time to declare your intentions to the universe in a beautiful visual display by creating a ‘soul seeds’ vision board. A great way to

reflect on your trip and how you’d like your life to look going forward.

EveningAll good things must come to an end, and tonight we’ll head into Dali’s charming old town for dinner at Chai Mi Duo – a farm to table restaurant serving organic dishes in a cute, bright and breezy setting. We’ll spend the rest of the evening enjoying the old town before heading back

to the hotel.

DAY 5DAY 5


MorningThis morning’s final Yin Yang yoga class will bring together everything we’ve learned over the past week. The group will enjoy one last meditation together with Kateryna

before we transfer to Dali Airport.

DAY 5DAY 6


BookingTo reserve a place on this tour, or if you have any questions, please email us at

[email protected] and we will send you a reservation form and payment instructions. To confirm your place, we’ll request a 50% deposit, with the final payment due four weeks before the tour begins. Please note that the final itinerary may change before departure (including starting in a different location) but we will confirm no later

than eight weeks before the tour.

What’s Included• All guiding, yoga classes and workshops

• Twin room accommodation in Lijiang and Dali (including a 1 hour massage at Rock)• All vehicle transfers• Entrance tickets

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner• Gratuities for the guide

• All other activities included in the itinerary

What’s Not Included• Flights to Lijiang and from Dali

• Alcoholic, soft drinks and coffee should be paid separately• Personal expenses incurred at your hotel

FINAL NOTES ON THIS TRIP

mailto:[email protected]


TERMS & CONDITIONS

Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. does not own or operate any entity which is to provide goods or services. It purchases transportation, restaurant, ground handling and other services from various independent suppliers and individuals. All such persons and entit ies are independent contractors. As a result Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. is not l iable for any negligent or wil l ful act of any such person or enti ty or of any third person. Similarly, i t is Bespoke Travel Company Ltd.'s policy that no fees for our services should be paid directly to third party suppliers by the customer. Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. is not l iable for any cash misplaced or misappropriated by any third party.In the event of i l lness or other unforeseen circumstances on the part of the third party supplier result ing in non-provision of services, Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. wil l endeavour to find a similar replacement, or should a suitable replacement not be available, all monies paid for the service shall be refunded to the customer.

In addition and without l imitation, Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. is not responsible for any injury, f inancial or physical loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether result ing from but not l imited to acts of god or force majeure, i l lness, disease, acts of war, civi l unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activit ies, criminal or terrorist activit ies of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of any means of transportation or for failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time. Similarly, there are many inherent risks in tours such as great wall hikes, which can lead to i l lness, injury, or even death. These risks are increased by the fact that tr ips take place in remote locations, away from immediate medical facil i t ies. Passenger assumes all such risks associated with participating in any such tour.

Insurance and Safety: Each guest of Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. should obtain ful l insurance coverage for accident, loss or injury during any tour undertaken. During the tour, the tourist assumes all r isks related to participation of the tour. Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. is not l iable to any guest for any direct, indirect or consequential damages.

Amendments: Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. wil l endeavour to assist i f the customer requests any date/time changes more than 24 hours prior to the date of service. Changes are subject to availabil i ty of suppliers and are free of charge provided any additional fees or charges arising from the amendment are payable by the customer. Amendments to the it inerary, other than date/time changes, wil l be bil led at Bespoke Travel Company Ltd.’s standard Trip Customisation rate of 800RMB/hour, except in the case of last minute bookings and changes (see above).

Overdue Payments: Payments that are more than 2 weeks overdue wil l incur an additional late payment fee amounting to 10% of the total invoiced amount each week unti l the invoice is paid in ful l.

Covid-19 Group Tour Cancellation Policy: Due to Covid-19, Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. recognises that plans may change unexpectedly. In the event of an outbreak in the region you are traveling from (e.g. Beij ing/Shanghai), you may be required to provide a negative nucleic acid test at your own expense in order to travel / be accepted at the group's chosen hotel. In the event that the hotel refuses to accept foreign and/or Chinese guests even with a negative test, the tour wil l be cancelled and you wil l be refunded according to the Covid-19 Sudden Outbreak Cancellation Policy laid out below.

If the region (not province) we are traveling to is deemed medium or high risk by the Chinese government, and we are subsequently no longer able to visi t the sights/hotels included in the it inerary, the trip wil l be cancelled and the Covid-19 Sudden Outbreak Cancellation Policy wil l also apply. However, in the event that the region we are traveling to is deemed low risk by the authorit ies, and the destination hotels included in the it inerary are sti l l accepting both foreign and Chinese guests, the trip wil l go ahead and the standard Group Tour Cancellation Policy wil l apply. Please note that if you choose not to travel, not to take a Covid test or are advised not to by your company/organisation less than 28 days before the tour, we wil l not be able to issue a full refund.The customer must give Bespoke Travel Company Ltd. notice of any cancellation in writ ing. The following charges are payable by the customer in accordance with the number of days prior to the service date notice is received by Bespoke Travel Company Ltd.

Sudden Outbreak Cancellation PolicyDays prior to service date Percentage payable to BespokeFrom booking to tour date 0%

Standard Group Tour Cancellation PolicyFrom booking to 28 days before 50%27-14 days before the tour 80%14 days or less before the tour 100%

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution: These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these terms and conditions shall be resolved through consultations. If the consultations do not lead to an agreement within thirty (30) days of the commencement of consultations, any party has the right to submit the dispute exclusively to the Arbitration Center. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with China’s administered arbitration rules in force when the notice of arbitration is submitted in accordance with these rules. The seat or legal place of arbitration shall be in China. The arbitration award shall be final and binding. The parties agree to be bound thereby and to act accordingly. The parties hereby waive any right of appeal on the merits and/or any point of law.

Bespoke Travel Company Ltd.Head office: Office 07A130, 7th Floor, No.10 Jintong Xi Lu, Chaoyang District, Beij ing, China 100020 Hong Kong: Room 1501(228) 15F Spa Centre, 53-55 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong KongTel: (00 86 10) 6084 4456 // Email: [email protected]: www.bespoketravelcompany.com

a yunnan yoga retreat

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