Yunnan Herbal Medicine Study Tour 2027

At a glance

Date16 August 2027

MeetThe tour begins in Kunming and concludes in Dali. The meeting hotel, recommended arrival time and airport transfer details will be provided to confirmed participants before departure.

Duration10 days

About this tour

Explore herbal medicine through the landscapes and traditions of Yunnan

Join Dr Simon Feeney, Zoey Gong and the Empirical Health team for a professionally curated 10-day journey through Kunming, Chuxiong and Dali.

Designed for Chinese medicine practitioners, students and herbal professionals, the tour explores how medicinal plants, growing environments, regional knowledge and cultural tradition intersect. During Yunnan’s wild mushroom season, participants will visit Chinese medicine hospitals, herbal medicine companies, a medicinal-plant research centre and growing farms, with guided mushroom and medicinal-herb foraging.

Encounters with Bai and Yi communities provide further insight into how place, climate and culture influence the cultivation and use of medicinal plants.

This is an educational immersion offering professional insight, meaningful connection and a rare opportunity to experience herbal medicine closer to its source.

Experience

Tour route & stops

Kunming → Chuxiong → Dali. Planned stops include wild-mushroom and produce markets, Chinese medicine hospitals, Yunnan Baiyao, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, a medicinal-plant research centre, mountain foraging locations, herbal growing farms, manufacturing facilities and Yi and Bai cultural experiences.

Included

What’s included

Individual accommodation throughout the tour; organised ground transport and intercity transfers within the itinerary; daily breakfast and selected group meals; guided educational, clinical and cultural visits; hospital observations; herbal medicine company, research and farm visits; guided foraging experiences; selected treatments; and professional guidance from Dr Simon Feeney and Zoey Gong.

Preparation

What to bring

Comfortable walking and hiking shoes, lightweight weather-appropriate clothing, a rain jacket, sun and insect protection, a refillable water bottle, a small daypack, personal medications, and all required passport, visa and travel documents. Any additional requirements for hospital or professional visits will be confirmed before departure.

Getting there

Transport information

Organised ground transport between scheduled activities and tour destinations is included. Depending on the location, the group will travel by private bus or on foot. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to Kunming before the tour and their onward travel from Dali after the tour.

Meeting point

The tour begins in Kunming and concludes in Dali. The meeting hotel, recommended arrival time and airport transfer details will be provided to confirmed participants before departure.

Please arrive a little early so the group can depart together.

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Payment & Cancellation Terms

A $750 AUD / $560 USD non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on the tour.

You may choose to pay the remaining balance in full or by an agreed instalment plan. All tour fees must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure, by 5 July 2027.

If you are paying by instalments, payments must be made by the nominated due dates. If a scheduled payment is unsuccessful or overdue, you will have 7 days to bring your account up to date. If payment remains outstanding after this period, Empirical Health reserves the right to cancel your booking and offer the place to another participant.

Because accommodation, transport, guides and other program costs are committed in advance, cancellation fees increase as the departure date approaches.

Cancellation schedule

More than 90 days before departure: deposit retained; remaining payments refunded.
60–90 days before departure: deposit retained plus 25% of the remaining tour fee.
43–59 days before departure: 50% of the total tour fee is non-refundable.
42 days or fewer before departure: the full tour fee is non-refundable.

Where we are able to successfully fill your place from a waiting list, we may provide a greater refund at our discretion, less any non-recoverable costs and administration expenses already incurred.

We strongly recommend arranging comprehensive travel insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed, including appropriate cancellation cover.

Your guide

Dr Simon Feeney and Zoey Gong

Dr Simon Feeney is a Chinese medicine practitioner and the founder of Empirical Health, with extensive experience in Chinese herbal medicine, education, sourcing and manufacturing. Zoey Gong is a chef and educator whose work explores Chinese food therapy, herbal traditions and regional culture. Together with our bran manager Todd Fraser, they will guide the professional and cultural learning throughout the tour.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I check the latest entry requirements?

Check the latest official travel and entry guidance before departure.

What if I am not travelling on an Australian passport?

Entry and visa requirements vary by passport and personal circumstances. Please confirm the requirements that apply to you.

Do I need a visa to travel to China?

Entry requirements can change and depend on your passport. Participants should check current requirements before booking and again before departure.

Is airport transfer included?

Airport transfer is included on arrival at the designated time and again on the final day.

Do I need to arrange my own international flights?

Yes. Participants are responsible for arranging their own international flights to and from the tour’s designated start and end locations. Recommended arrival and departure times will be provided so you can plan your flights around the group schedule.

Is internal travel within China included?

Organised travel between cities and ground transportation outlined in the itinerary are included in the tour price.

Are all admissions and educational visits included?

Yes. Admission to all scheduled hospitals, universities, museums, pharmacies, herbal markets, farms, processing facilities and other educational visits included in the official itinerary is covered by the tour price. Optional activities or visits undertaken outside the organised program are not included.

What level of walking and physical activity is involved?

This is an active professional study tour involving regular walking, standing and travel between locations. Some visits may involve stairs, uneven surfaces and extended periods on foot. Participants should be comfortable with a moderately active daily schedule.If you have mobility or accessibility requirements, please contact Empirical Health before booking so we can discuss whether the itinerary will be suitable.

How are dietary requirements handled?

Participants will be asked to provide dietary requirements after booking. We will work with hotels and restaurants to accommodate allergies and dietary needs wherever reasonably possible. Because the tour travels through several regions and includes group dining experiences, we cannot guarantee that every dietary requirement can be accommodated at every location. Participants with serious allergies should contact Empirical Health before booking.

Are meals included?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the tour, except for personal snacks or optional purchases outside the organised meals.

Is accommodation twin-share?

No. The tour package includes a private room for each participant throughout the tour, so you will not be required to share with another attendee.

If you are travelling with someone and would prefer a twin-share room, please let us know after booking. While we cannot guarantee this arrangement, as it depends on each hotel’s room availability and configuration, we will do our best to accommodate your request wherever possible.

Does this include GST?

Yes, the price includes GST.

How many places are available?

To maintain the educational quality of the experience and allow meaningful access at each location, the tour will initially be limited to15 participants. Additional places may only be released if capacity allows.

When is the remaining balance due?

The remaining tour balance must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure. If you would like to pay by instalments, please arrange this with Empirical Health in advance. All instalments must be completed by this deadline.

What standard of accommodation is included?

The tour includes comfortable, quality hotel accommodation selected for its location, facilities and suitability for the group itinerary. Specific hotels will be confirmed in the final itinerary provided to registered participants.

What happens after I pay the deposit?

Once your deposit has been received, your place on your selected tour will be reserved. We will then contact you with:

A participant information form
Payment options and the remaining balance schedule
Questions about rooming preferences and dietary requirements
Recommended international flight arrival and departure times
Travel preparation and packing information
The detailed itinerary as arrangements are confirmed

NOTE: Your deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total cost of your tour.

Payment & Cancellation Terms

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. The deposit amount is listed on each tour’s booking page. You may pay the remaining balance in full or by an agreed instalment schedule. All tour fees must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure.

If a scheduled payment is overdue, you will have 7 days to bring your account up to date. If payment remains outstanding, Empirical Health may cancel your booking and offer your place to another participant.

Cancellation fees increase as departure approaches due to committed travel and program costs. Please refer to the full cancellation terms provided at booking.

When can I depart at the end of the Yunnan tour?

You may depart after the scheduled activities on the final day or extend your stay. We will confirm the departure location and recommended flight times once the itinerary is finalised, so please check with us before booking your return flights.

What time should I arrive in Kunming on the first day?

Please plan to arrive in Kunming by approximately 2:00 pm on Day 1, allowing time to transfer to the hotel before the welcome dinner and tour briefing at 5:30 pm. Airport transfer arrangements will be provided before departure.

Where does the Yunnan tour begin and end?

The Yunnan tour begins in Kunming and ends in Dali. Please arrange your flights to arrive in Kunming and depart from Dali.

When can I depart from Dali?

The tour concludes in Dali after the farewell lunch, which begins at 12:30 pm on the final day. Please plan for a late afternoon or evening departure, allowing enough time for your airport transfer and check-in, or extend your stay. You’re also welcome to skip the farewell lunch if you need to depart earlier.