Beautiful, inspiring and forbidding—discover the ancient Tibetan Kham region of Ganzi in western Sichuan. Travel deep into the heart of this land of rugged hillsides, towering mountains, endless grasslands and Tibetan spirituality, culture and beauty. Begin your journey with a visit to Bifengxia Panda Base for your first taste of Sichuan's spectacular countryside. Work your way west to the incredible peaks and valleys of Siguniang Shan and discover the Tibetan and Qiang minority villages of Danba. Bring your walking shoes as this tour includes lots of hiking in incredible surroundings!
Day1 Chengdu (includes dinner)
Your guide will meet you at Chengdu Airport. Look for him or her holding a Ctrip sign as you come out of your arrival gate and together you will drive to your hotel.
Day2 Chengdu-Baoxing: Bifengxia Giant Panda Center (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
8:00 a.m. Depart from Chengdu for Baoxing.
On the way, you'll stop to visit Bifengxia Giant Panda Center. Located deep in the mountains the Bifengxia Panda Base is the perfect panda habitat and China's iconic black and white bears are very active in the area. You'll see them lolling around and munching bamboo in a simulated environment which is as close to their natural environment as it gets. It is also exceptionally beautiful and there are lush green forests, waterfalls and soaring gorges to explore.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Baoxing.
Day3 Baoxing-Siguniang Shan (Rilong) (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
8:00 a.m. Depart from Baoxing for Siguniang Shan (Rilong).
In the afternoon you'll visit Shuangqiao Valley (Two-Bridge Valley). The most accessible valley in the Siguniang Shan or "Four Maiden's Mountain" area, Shuangqiao Valley is notable for its extensive Alpine grasslands and meadows, interesting rock formations and views of Four Maiden's snowy peaks. A wooden plank path makes for pleasant walking as you explore the length of the valley and take in the surrounding sights and scenery.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in the local area.
Day 4 Siguniang Shan: Haizi Valley & Changping Valley (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
In the morning you'll visit Haizi Valley (Pond Valley). Renowned for its 10 crystal-clear lakes formed by glacial movements thousands of years ago, Haizi Valley is a rugged and challenging hike but the scenery is rewarding. Reach heights of 4,200 m (13,650 ft) and discover the picturesque surroundings reflected in the tranquil Alpine lakes where prehistoric fish still lurk!
In the afternoon, head to Changping Valley (Long-Peace Valley). Home to a large Tibetan population and a gorgeous waterfall, explore the the valley floor via wooden walkways that pass between its gently sloping and heavily forested sides.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in the local area.
Day 5 Siguninag Shan-Danba (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
8:00 a.m. This morning you will go to Danba, where the mountains soar up to 3,000 m (9,845 ft) above sea level over pleasant little river valleys with sturdy painted wooden Tibetan homes perched upon the cliffs.
Visit the beautiful Tibetan villages of Zhonglu, a quaint mountain town filled with traditional architecture. Later pass by Jiaju and Suopo, a small mountain community where squat stone buildings and ancient stone watchtowers dot the landscape.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Danba
Day 6 Danba: Jiaju & Suopo Villages (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Today you will visit the "Valley of Beauties"—a moniker that apparently makes reference to the Tibetan ladies but is equally applicable to the scenery.
Explore the fortress-like houses of Jiaju Tibetan village, white turrets topping off the squat, square buildings. You'll also discover the fantastical watchtowers of the Qiang minority inSuopo (or Sopo). The Qiang have lived for centuries in such stockades, the towers by their homesteads originally serving as storage silos and defensive lookouts that helped guard against ill-intentioned outsiders, especially marauding Gyarong Tibetans. Others were designed with different purposes in mind: some stand alone along the hills, placed in areas of strategic importance or on hilltops as fire beacons.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Danba.
Day 7 Danba-Kangding: Tagong Temple (includes breakfast, lunch & dinner)
In the morning you will travel from Danba to Kangding.
Pass through the vast expanse of the Tagong Grasslands, green meadows surrounded by snow-capped peaks and dotted with Tibetan herdsmen and tents, where the average altitude is 3,500 m (11,482 ft).
Here you will stop and visit the Tagong Temple. Home to a well-known monastery, the Tagong Temple is one of the most famous in Ganzi, due to the Sakyamuni Buddha figure housed there since the late 7th century. According to legend, the statue was part of the young Tang Princess Wengcheng's dowry but she left the figure after it fell out of her baggage and whispered that it would like to stay in Tagong. Miraculously untouched by the Cultural Revolution, the building is notable for its four towers, painted green, red, yellow and white respectively. The monastery is still very active with festivals during all four seasons and a strong community of monks that number anywhere form 50 to 200 depending on the circumstances.
Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kangding.
Day 8 Kangding-Chengdu: Mugecuo Lake, tour ends (includes breakfast & lunch)
This morning you'll head back Chengdu, visiting Mugecuo Lake on the way.
Also know as "Wild Man Sea," this is the largest mountain lake in northwestern Sichuan, 2,000 m (6,561 ft) above sea level. 5 km (3.1 mi) long, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) wide, it covers an area of 3.2 sq km (1.24 sq mi), and sinks to 70 m (230 ft) at its deepest parts. The surrounding mountains with their thick poplar and redwood forests, playful Tibetan antelopes and wild deer make for a beautiful backdrop.
Lunch will be in a local restaurant.
You'll return to you hotel or be dropped off at the the airport at around 6 p.m..
