Hey all,
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but is it possible that they took a bus or a plane to Luang Prabang or Vientiane in Laos? Kunming has direct flights to these cities, and it's been five legs without visiting a new country. The routes are very popular the last time I checked, although I myself have never been on them. The bus ride, if I remember correctly, is around 24 hours, but through absolutely gorgeous terrain.