Northern Sichuan Adventure Tour– 9 days

This is a gound tour. Some days involve long hours of driving and sitting in the car. Please make preparation in accordance including power bank for your phone, neck pillow, etc while driving. Please remember to have a day pack with you to take necessary items for each day's visit, sometimes including packed lunch or snacks for yourself, drinking water recommended 1L minimum, sunglasses, rainproof, warm-keeping clothes and hat, sun block and lip oil, etc. It is also wise to bring rainproof and warm clothes with you all the time while visiting.

This morning your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Chengdu with a private vehicle. We drive 1.5 hours to Dujiangyan Panda Park* to spend time viewing the delightful pandas. Following this, we drive through Wenchuan county into mountainous areas where traditional Qiang villages and stone guard towers dot the landscape. After a lunch stop, we continue through the Minjiang (Min River) Valley. We enjoy a short break in Songpan Old Town before arriving at our hotel in Chuanzhusi. Chuanzhusi is a small tourist town near Huanglong en route to Juizhaigou.

*For visitors who have already seen Chengdu’s famous pandas this excursion is flexible. If you wish to visit another place of interest, please let us know.*

Total driving around 6-7 hours, visiting 2h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 3000m

Today will be spent at Huanglong Park which is located roughly 30 minutes’ drive from Chuanzhusi. Huanglong consists of a series of stunning limestone lakes at an elevation of over three thousand meters. Due to the size of the park, and the physical exertion required to reach the top lakes, we recommend using the cable car at least one way, usually to go up. Experiencing the glorious scenery involves 2-3 hours of walking down on well-maintained boardwalks next to the lakes. As the total visit time is 4-5 hours there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the unique landscape and to take photos along the way.

Naturally, the cable way can be used for ascent and descent by those who don't wish to walk. Furthermore, at the top cable terminal a transit vehicle is available which makes convenient stops at prominent scenic locations along the walking route. It is important to be aware the park’s high altitude means the air contains less oxygen and unacclimatised walkers may tire easily.

On completion of the visit to Huanglong we will drive for 2-3 hours to Juizhaigou. The road passes Gami Temple where, if possible, we make a short stop to view the village and temple. This evening you are free to wander around and explore the town of Jiuzhaigou.

Total driving around 3-4 hours, visiting 4-5h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 1800m

Today is taken up with sightseeing at Jiuzhaigou. This spectacular national treasure is a UNESCO world heritage site, a AAAAA National Park and the Best Waterscape in China. Water is indeed the soul of Juizhaigou, with over one hundred lakes and large groups of waterfalls scattered over three valleys, all set against a backdrop of wild forest and pure, high, snow topped peaks. You will follow flowing streams to striking waterfalls and gaze at the colourful reflections of trees and mountains in the blue-green lakes.

Today you will be guided through Rize Valley and Shuzheng Valley. The park’s entrance lies at the northern end of Shuzheng Valley which is split into Rize and Zechawa at the Nuorilang Waterfall. Rize Valley is home to numerous beautiful lakes including Grass Lake, Swan Lake, Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, Five Flower Lake, Golden Bell Lake, and Mirror Lake. The lakes are linked by ever more picturesque waterfalls including the Pearl Shoal and Panda Lake waterfalls. To experience the full beauty of Rize Valley includes 8km of hiking and takes about 4-5 hours.

Shuzheng Valley is home to Nuorilang Waterfall, Rhino Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Shuzheng Village, Shuzheng Lakes, Huohua Lake, Reed Lake and Bonsai Shoal. It usually takes around 4 -5 hours, and up to 10km of walking, to see all lakes in Shuzheng Valley. Your 2-day visit will be adjusted according to the season.

After sightseeing, we return to the hotel where you can take a well-earned rest.

Total visiting 7-8h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 1800m

Today we return to Jiuzhaigou to visit the third of its valleys, the Zechawa Valley.

Zechawa Valley is home to the famous Long Lake and the pictureque Five-coloured Lake. Zechawa Valley is the longest valley of Jiuzhaigou yet has the fewest lakes and only Long Lake and Five-coloured Lake are open for viewing. It usually takes around 2 hours to see this valley.

Around 2pm we commence our drive to Zoige (Ruo’ergai) to begin our visit to the home of the semi- nomadic Tibetans, the Zoige Grasslands. This is a strikingly different landscape from Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. The 3-4 hours drive takes us over Galitai Pass and onto the grasslands, where we will have our first glimpse of the vast high plains where the local people herd their yaks and sheep. Check into our hotel and relax.

Total visiting 4-5h, driving 3-4h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 3200m

This morning we take a 1-hour drive to the Flower Lake (Huahai) on the open Zoige Grassland. The local people of Zoige are Amdo Tibetans, many of whom are pious Buddhists that still live a semi-nomadic lifestyle. As we drive to the lake we can stop to see the yaks and photograph the expansive views.

The Flower Lake of Zoige is a giant highland marsh located north of Zoige Town and is a sanctuary to many birds, including several IUCN red listed (endangered) species like the Black-Necked Crane. Summertime it is the best season to visit when the marsh is green and bursting with flowers and life. A visit to the Flower Lake takes around 2-3 hours and involves using in-park transfers to go deep into the marshlands and then exploring the fragile terrain via boardwalks.

After the marshlands, we drive further north to Langmusi. Langmusi is one of the authentic Amdo Tibetan holy shrines near Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan.

Langmusi Town lies in a valley straddling the borders of Gansu and Sichuan provinces. The town is famous for the two Tibetan monasteries that dominate each side of its mountainous landscape. On the southern, Sichuan side, is Dacangnama Ge’erdisi or Kirti Temple (also called the Langmu temple) while on the northern, Gansu side, is the Dacanglangmu Saichisi or Serti Temple. These monasteries/temples belong to the Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist sect.

This afternoon we will visit the Kirti monastery and further experience this peaceful mountain village. After the visit we will check in to our hotel and relax.

Total visiting 4-5h, driving 2-3h, easy pace

Overnight hotel by around 3300m

In the morning we will visit the Gansu side of Langmusi where Saici Monastery (Serti Temple) is located. The Saici Monastery buildings are splendid with gold-topped roofs. Behind Saici Monastery there is a sky, or celestial, burial site where the dead, wrapped in burial clothes, are exposed to the vultures. After the birds have completed their work, the bodies are chopped and burned. This sacred Tibetan tradition returns the body to nature. It is a 40-minute walk to reach the site, which can only be undertaken after the morning burial ceremonies are completed.

After the morning visit, we drive around 2 hours over the vast, open Zoige Grassland to Tangke to view the first bend of the Yellow River. At this spot the Yellow River makes a huge loop, the first large bend since its source in the Bayan Har mountains. This arc of river, against the glorious backdrop of grasslands and mountains, attracts many photographers who wait patiently for the perfect shot. The best photographic opportunities usually occur around sunset when light reflects from the river’s surface.

Upon arrival we will have lunch before checking into the park. We will walk up the boardwalk stairs, gaining more expansive views of the bends of the river as we climb higher. Photo lovers may consider spending more time here as this is not a very tightly scheduled part of the tour.

We then drive for around 3 hours to Aba for our overnight stay.

Total visiting 5h, driving 4-5h, easy pace

Overnight hotel by around 3500m

Today we visit Nyenpo Yurtse, a hidden gem in faraway, northern Sichuan at the border between Qinghai and Sichuan Province. This is considered one of the most remote places to visit in China. The drive from our hotel in Aba to Nyepo Yurtse takes at least an hour.

Nyenpo Yurtse, called Nianbao Yuze in Chinese, was listed as a national geological park due to its unique mountain and rock formations. It encompasses dozens of beautiful lakes and spectacular, jagged mountains. Nyenpo Yurtse is located 620km northwest of Chengdu (Sichuan Province) and 600km south of Xining (Qinghai Province). The local Golog Tibetans believe Nianbao Yuze to be their origin place and is central to their version of the Epic of King Gesar, a widespread Tibetan myth that relates the deeds of this cultural hero.

The highest point of Nyenpo Yurtse is 5369 meters above sea level, it is also the highest point of Bayan Har Mountains, a mountain massif that separates the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Nyenpo Yurtse covers an area of 8sqkm and is called “the rock mountains” by local Tibetan people. The altitude of Nyenpo Yurtse park is over 4000 meters and the number of lakes is believed to be over 300, the largest being Ximen Co and Rigan Co. We will visit the southeast (Sichuan) side which is still open. The Qinghai side is currently shut due to environmental issues.

After a 3-4 hour visit in Nyenpo Yurtse we drive to today's overnight stay via the Jiu-Ma expressway, a drive that takes the rest of the afternoon. After arrival and check in at Gu'ergou you can enjoy the famous hot spring baths and wash away the muscle aches and stresses of the days of travel.

Total visiting 3-4h, driving 5-6h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 2200m

Today is a full day visit to Bipenggou Park, a mere 30-minute drive from our accommodation. Once in the park a bus transports us to the upper reaches of the valley before we walk, or if desired use the golf cart, to explore the scenic areas of the park.

Bipenggou is a very popular, year round, tourist attraction in Sichuan. The Bipeng mountains form part of the greater Qionglaishan Range located to the north of the Siguniang Mountains. The park is famous for its beautiful views including wild rhododendron forests, high mountain peaks, waterfalls, and lakes. During autumn the colours reflected in the lakes are breathtaking.

From the valley floor we will see Mt. Dahuang Mt. Banji, (the popular 5000er that people flock to climb) Mt. Lion, the pyramid peaked Mt. Yangmantai, Mt. Jiangjun, Mt. Longya, and further up the valley Mt. Huangguan and Mt. Yutu. We can spend a full day inside the park exploring and photographing at a leisurely pace.

Total visiting 6-7h, driving 0.5h, leisurely pace.

Overnight hotel at around 2200m

This morning a 1-hour drive takes us to Taoping Qiang Village, the best example of the ancient Qiang wisdom. Taoping Qiang Village is the world's best-preserved, inhabited, fortified Qiang village. Watchtowers and dwellings are integrated into the building complex which is renowned for its “natural air-conditioning". The complicated underground water network, extended passages, and the labyrinth-like architectural unity of the buildings and towers has been praised by Chinese and foreign scholars as "living fossils of Qiang architectural art" and "mysterious eastern castles". We can take our time exploring the village and climb up one of the watchtowers to see open views of the village and the surrounding mountain vistas.

After the visit we enjoy a final lunch before continuing our drive back to Chengdu. Before reaching the city, we will visit Dujiangyan Irrigation System. This world heritage site is a complicated, 2000-year-old system that has been used ever since it inception to nourish the vast Chengdu Plain. To explore the core sections of Dyjiangyan Irrigation Park takes around 2 hours after which we will drive back to Chengdu and to your hotel. Tour ends.

Total visiting 6-7h, driving 0.5h, leisurely pace.

Overnight hotel at around 2200m