who we are
Yunnan Eco Tours is a company deeply committed to sustainability, advocating for a better world through the promotion of delicious plant-forward cuisine and a sustainable zero-waste lifestyle.
Our mission is to unveil the hidden treasures of Yunnan, China, taking our guests to vibrant local areas such as sustainable settlements, traditional villages, and markets that remain undiscovered by many. We strive to spotlight and support local sustainable businesses and traditions, nurturing traditional crafts and enabling others to immerse themselves in the authentic culture of Yunnan off the conventional tourist path.
We provide Our Guests reusable utensils
How We Reduce Carbon Footprint
In our efforts to minimize our carbon footprint, we employ several key strategies:
Experiences:
We exclusively feature experiences provided by local artisans, artists, and villagers, ensuring that most materials and tools are locally sourced to mitigate carbon emissions. Throughout our tours, we actively avoid single-use items, providing reusable bowls, cups, chopsticks, and shopping bags, while encouraging guests to bring their own.
Dining:
Embracing a philosophy of low carbon, healthy, and locally sourced plant-forward cuisine, we adhere to the 80-20 principle, with at least 80% of our meals being vegan, if not fully plant-based.
Transport:
For small groups, we prioritize the use of electric vehicles, leveraging Yunnan’s remarkably clean electricity, which boasts a high proportion of renewable energy sources. Larger groups are accommodated through shared transportation, typically buses.
Accommodation:
We opt for locally owned accommodations over international hotels, often managed by local villagers or businesses. Staff and supplies are locally sourced, and we advocate for the removal of single-use items in rooms, replacing them with reusable and sustainable alternatives. Additionally, we provide guests with travel-size eco-friendly products and encourage them to bring their own.
At Yunnan Eco Tours, we are dedicated to continuously refining and expanding our sustainable practices, ensuring that every journey with us not only enriches the lives of our guests but also contributes positively to the preservation of Yunnan’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
meet our Team
Leo
Founder
Leo lives in Kunming and Dali and is vegan, a zero waste lifestyle practitioner, and off-the-beaten-track traveller. He is the founder of Yunnan Eco Tours. When you can't find him biking around in the city or roaming around in a market, he is probably hiding somewhere in a secluded village.
Li
Guide
Li is passionate about preserving and sharing the food, culture, and environment of the Yunnan mountains where she was born and raised. As co-founder of Mountain Dance Adventure, Li plans and organizes activities that help visitors and locals connect with the Yunnan landscape. Li loves to share the foods of Yunnan that she grew up eating and is known for taking visitors out hunting for delicious (and sometimes bizarre) fruit, vegetables and street food. Li also practices a sustainable lifestyle by commuting by bike, living plastic-free, and practicing Leave No Trace outdoors. Li hopes to inspire others to make sustainable changes that can help keep Yunnan clean and green for years to come.
Coquina Restrepo
Content Writer
Coquina is a content writer for several groups focusing on sustainability and education. She writes about the urban environment, the science behind learning and design solutions for sustainability and learning. Originally from the US, she currently works as an ESL and science teacher in Shanghai. She enjoys teaching literacy through interactive games and books about science. Coquina can speak fluent English and conversational Spanish. When she isn’t writing, Coquina enjoys cycling, urban photography, reading, and creating comic books.
Rachel Dragos
content writer
Rachel Dragos is a writer, educator, learner, and traveller. She is currently based Guangzhou where she teaches chemistry and physics at an international school. She was born outside Boston and lived in Ohio and San Francisco before moving abroad. Rachel joined Green Solutions as a volunteer after attending a wet market vegan tour with Leo in Kunming . When Rachel is not teaching, lesson planning, or writing, you can probably find her reading a book or planning her next adventure.
Morgan oats
content writer
Born and raised in the US, Morgan has always felt a calling towards nature and sustainability and has always felt living simply, sustainably, and in harmony with nature was the best way to live. After graduating college with a degree in international business in 2016, Morgan began his marketing career at a Dutch-based tech company, but ultimately felt his work career was misaligned with his tree-hugging passions. That led him to quit his job at the end of 2019, move to China, and begin working for a solar company, helping the world transition away from fossil fuels. In his spare time, Morgan enjoys spending his time outdoors, hiking, running, and encouraging others to explore plant-based diets and zero-waste lifestyles.
