Limited to 12 Travelers
Meet Pandas Up Close & Search for Rare Wildlife on Remote Nature Reserves
Deep in the Minshan Mountains of Sichuan province, great rivers and gorges dissect lush forests that shelter some of the world's most endangered wildlife. This is the last wild habitat of the giant panda, which subsists on the bamboo protected within a network of remote nature reserves. These little-visited wilderness enclaves also harbor rare moon bears, golden snub-nosed monkeys, shaggy takin, Chinese goral, blue sheep and exquisite birds, including the golden pheasant. Discover a side of China most travelers never experience on our unique itinerary, carefully crafted to reveal Chinese nature at its most entrancing. Enjoy multiple close-up visits with pandas at research and breeding bases, and visit the ancient Silk Road city of Xi'an, where the Terracotta Army has guarded the tomb of China's first emperor for more than 2,200 years.
This trip will be hosted by a SDZWA Wildlife& Conservation Expert
The host for this trip will be a SDZWA expert on wildlife specific to the region. They will be with you every step of the way to educate and inspire you, and to share their passion for nature! Check back for more details.
Trip Highlights
Watch and photograph giant pandas at close range on extended visits to three world-renowned panda research centers—each offering a unique setting and experience
Explore a virtually unvisited national wildlife sanctuary where highly elusive wild pandas live and breed freely—we don't expect to see them, but other rare species are on view
Get close-up photos of endangered golden snub-nosed monkeys, charming, blue-faced primates found only in a small area of temperate forest in central China
See a Side of China Most Visitors Never See.
Google “China tours” and you’ll find plenty that will take you to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Yet virtually no one offers nature adventures, and no one else takes you to the remote, rarely visited wildlife reserves that we do. Nat Hab holds special permits that grant us access into a nature sanctuary that few Westerners—and very few local tourists—ever see. When you visit China with us, leave behind crowds, traffic and polluted city air for wild mountain terrain.
- See Giant Pandas Up Close on Visits to Three Different Sites
Compare China itineraries—we don't think you'll find another that offers this in-depth panda immersion, with unhurried visits to three different panda research bases: Dujiangyan Panda Base, which focuses on rescuing injured and ill wild pandas and disease control; the newly rebuilt Gengda Wolong Panda Center, which integrates scientific research, captive breeding and reintroduction of pandas into the wild; and Dujiangyan Panda Valley, a new facility that is both a panda research and breeding base and a center for conservation education. - Exclusive Access to Search for Pandas & Other Rare Wildlife
This is a genuine Nat Hab privilege: We have secured special permits to visit remote sectors of a totally untouristed nature reserve deep within the Minshan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot that's home to some of the world’s most endangered wildlife. We'll search for giant pandas and moon bears that inhabit the park, though we won't expect to see them, as both are highly elusive. We have better chances to find other rare Chinese animals like takin, goral, serow and golden pheasant, within a completely natural habitat that few tourists have ever laid eyes on—and only a handful of Westerners (mostly other Nat Hab travelers). The terrain is steep and heavily forested, and animals are often sheltered, camouflaged or seen at a distance—but just being in their midst in such a quiet, wild place is a moving experience. - Get Close to Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys
Visit a golden monkey nature reserve where we're sure to have close-up encounters with a habituated family group of these entertaining primates. It's a rare opportunity to see and photograph this endangered species that is endemic to a very limited part of central and southwest China. - Travel with Two Guides for Exceptional Expertise
Our China trips benefit from the leadership of two guides: a native English-speaking Nat Hab Expedition Leader accompanied by a warm and hospitable Chinese naturalist guide who is highly trained in natural history and interpretation, not to mention being our cultural and linguistic "go-between." It's an optimal combination of interpretive guiding, cultural knowledge and personalized attention.
Itinerary
Day 1–12: This 12-day itinerary begins and ends in Chengdu.
Accommodations
Shangri-La Chengdu
Chengdu, China
Located just 25 minutes from the airport in Chengdu’s cosmopolitan Jinjiang District, the gleaming highrise Shangri-La offers spectacular views over the Jinjiang River and glittering city skyline. The hotel’s spacious guest rooms offer luxurious facilities including an invigorating rain shower, plasma screen TV, complimentary broadband Wi-Fi Internet access, mini bar, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and in-room electronic safe. During your stay, enjoy a drink at Mooney’s, the hotel’s traditional Irish pub, take a dip in the indoor swimming pool, or relax with a treatment at Chi Spa, inspired by traditional Asian healing philosophies to restore balance and harmony to the mind and body.
Wild Panda Reserve Hotel
Minshan Mountains, China
Our hotel base at the wild panda reserve provides comfortable accommodations for guests to the remote nature sanctuary we visit in southwest Sichuan Province. All rooms have private bathrooms with toilet, basin and spacious shower. A large dining room offers family-style meals, though guests besides ourselves are generally few. Internet service is available in the main lobby. The hotel is a convenient base for our excursions into some of China’s best wild habitat for giant pandas and a host of other endangered wildlife species that flourish in the deep forests of the Minshan Mountains.
Jiuzhou Jindu Hotel
Pingwu, China
The Jiuzhou Jindu Hotel is located near the Bao’en Temple in Pingwu. Comfortable modern rooms feature one queen or two double beds, en suite bathroom and views toward the river. Each spacious room also has air conditioning. Relax in the outdoor pool or retreat to the cafe for a cup of tea. Free Wi-Fi is available in the hotel's common areas, and the on-site restaurant features both Chinese and Western cuisine.
Balan International Hotel
Dujiangyan, China
With its prime location in Balan Square and close proximity to scenic and natural areas, this contemporary hotel is an ideal base for exploration. Spacious, well-lit rooms offer mountain and city views with air-conditioning and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms have large en suite bathrooms with tubs and walk-in showers. Public spaces offer complimentary Wi-Fi and three stylish restaurants offer a range of international cuisine, while the lounge is an inviting space for coffee, tea or cocktails with a view over the river. Relax in the sauna or indoor swimming pool, or get a workout in the state-of-the-art gym.
Jiarong Tibetan Qingcheng Hotel
Sichuan Province, China
Located on a mountainside among traditional Tibetan homes and steeped in regional culture, our simple and charming hotel in Rilong offers a unique opportunity to experience authentic Tibetan culture surrounded by the rhythms of daily rural life. Comfortable guest rooms with modern amenities command spectacular views of mountain peaks. Each room is artistically decorated in a combination of local Jiarong Tibetan and Buddhist styles, with warm wood extensively incorporated. The Tibetan-style restaurant offers a variety of dining choices. In the third-floor bar, savor a hot cup of tea or coffee as you watch a vibrant tapestry of local life unfold out the large window, with people in traditional dress working their farmland and taking care of daily chores around their homes. Our stay offers a special glimpse into the unique culture and heritage of the Jiarong Tibetans, the smallest ethnic group among the four Tibetan cultures in the region, including the Wei, Kangba and Anduo Tibetans.
JoyHub Air Hotel
Chengdu, China
Newly opened in 2021, this sleek luxury hotel offers first-class accommodations at Tianfu International Airport (TFU) for international departures into and out of Chengdu. Built in the round, the steel and glass structure features panoramic windows throughout, with views on the inner courtyard reflecting pool and airport beyond. Our deluxe airport-view rooms are appointed in a soothing palette of neutral beige and soft blues, with clean-lined contemporary furnishings including a sofa and table. From air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a flat screen LCD television to the elegant bathroom with soaking tub, robe and slippers, every amenity is included for your comfort and convenience. Before or after your travels, relax and refresh in the sauna, indoor pool and fitness center. Enjoy a lavish breakfast buffet at the restaurant on site.
Trip Pricing
Trip Price: $14,095 per person based on shared occupancy.
Single Occupancy: For a single room, add $1,995. Contact us to learn how you can avoid the single supplement.
Deposit: $500per person, non-refundable
Group Size
Limited to 12 Travelers
Included
Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and local guides, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, still camera fees, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, passage aboard the bullet train from Xi'an to Guangyuan, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.
Not Included
Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, some alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance.
Physical Requirements
Moderate
In order to participate in this trip, you must be able to walk unassisted (without the use of walking aids) at a steady pace for a minimum of two miles over uneven terrain. While this is the minimum consecutive distance, you must also be prepared for a daily cumulative total of up to five miles per day. On a couple of these active days we will be at altitudes exceeding 10,000 feet above sea level. Our itinerary involves daily walks or hikes of varied lengths over pavement, boardwalks and dirt forest trails that can be muddy, slippery and uneven with roots and rocks (note that all walks can be more difficult to navigate during inclement weather). Some activities involve walking up and down hills, including our visits to the panda bases and the golden monkey nature reserve. Our excursions in Wild Panda Nature Reserve and the Rilong area may require climbing multiple sets of stairs, many without handrails. The trip also involves several walking transfers through crowded train stations, many very early morning starts and long, full days of activities with little down time, all of which can be tiring. Some drives between locations are long (6-7 hours or longer depending on local conditions) and occur on winding roads that are often somewhat rough. During outings, while we will stop at the cleanest and most modern bathroom facilities available, there will often be times when Asian-style squat toilets in basic (and sometimes dirty) local facilities are our only option. Our local assistant will carry a portable toilet seat on legs for those guests who have difficulty squatting.
Mandatory Insurance
Since the areas we travel to on this trip are remote and wild (that's why we go there!), we require medical evacuation insurance for our guests' safety. If you decline the medical evacuation insurance coverage offered by Natural Habitat, we request that you send us documentation of the independent coverage you have selected. We will add the cost of a medical evacuation policy to your tour invoice until you provide our office with proof of coverage including your insurance company's name, contact number and your individual policy number. Thank you for understanding that our policy exists exclusively in the interest of our guests' safety.