10-Day Pandas & Peaks Tour
Chengdu · Zhangjiajie · Guilin & Yangshuo — the nature route: pandas at breakfast, the Avatar mountains, and the Li River. No capitals, all scenery. Tour code: PP-10.
Suggested itinerary at a glance
| Days 1–3 | Chengdu — panda base, teahouses, hotpot, optional Leshan Giant Buddha |
|---|---|
| Days 4–6 | Zhangjiajie — Avatar pillars, Bailong Elevator, Tianmen Mountain, glass bridge |
| Days 7–10 | Guilin & Yangshuo — Li River cruise, bamboo raft, countryside cycling, depart |
Tour highlights
Pandas, awake
We enter the Chengdu base at opening. By 11am the bears are asleep; at 8:30 they're wrestling, climbing and demolishing bamboo.
The pillars above the clouds
Zhangjiajie's Yuanjiajie — the "Hallelujah Mountain" that floated into Avatar — reached by the Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest outdoor lift.
A bridge made of glass
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge, 300 metres above the floor. Optional, obviously. Brave is not mandatory.
Slow days in Yangshuo
The trip ends at raft-and-bicycle pace, which is exactly how it should end.
Day-by-day itinerary
This is a sample itinerary, so you can see what each day actually looks like — the scenery, the meals and where you sleep. On a private trip the order and pace are adjusted to your dates; your confirmed day-by-day plan, with named hotels, comes with your quote. Small-group departures follow this route.
- Day 1
Arrive in Chengdu
Pickup, check-in, and a first Sichuan dinner — your guide will calibrate the chilli to your bravery. An evening walk along the Jin River if the flight was kind: bridges and teahouses lit up over the water.
- Day 2
Panda base & old Chengdu
Early entry to the panda breeding base — at 8:30 the bears are wrestling, climbing and demolishing bamboo; by 11 they're asleep. Afternoon: People's Park teahouse and mahjong-watching, Jinli old street by evening.
- Day 3
Leshan Giant Buddha (optional) or slow Chengdu
Day trip to the 71-metre stone Buddha carved into a river cliff — or a free day for the city's food streets and a Sichuan opera face-changing show at night, where the masks swap faster than you can see how.
- Day 4
To Zhangjiajie
Flight or high-speed train to Zhangjiajie (route varies by season; confirmed at quoting). Evening in Wulingyuan town — tomorrow you wake up next to the pillars.
- Day 5
Avatar mountains
Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain: pillar forests rising through the mist, natural bridges and the Bailong Elevator — the world's tallest outdoor lift — back down. The "Hallelujah Mountain" that floated into Avatar is right here. Go early — mist in the morning, crowds by noon.
- Day 6
Tianmen Mountain & the glass bridge
The 7.5 km cable car up Tianmen, its cliff-edge glass skywalk and the 999 steps beneath the great natural arch — plus the Grand Canyon glass bridge, 300 metres above the floor, if the weather plays along. Optional, obviously. Brave is not mandatory.
- Day 7
To Guilin
Travel day south (flight via a hub or train, confirmed at quoting). Evening by Guilin's Two Rivers and Four Lakes, when the pagodas light up and reflect in the water.
- Day 8
Li River cruise to Yangshuo
The classic four-hour cruise past the ¥20-note view — karst peaks lining both banks, water buffalo on the shore — then check in at Yangshuo.
- Day 9
Yangshuo countryside
Bamboo raft on the Yulong River, cycling between peaks and paddies, an optional cooking class in a farmhouse kitchen. The trip ends at raft-and-bicycle pace, which is exactly how it should end.
- Day 10
Depart from Guilin
Transfer to Guilin airport or station for your onward flight — most people connect home via Shanghai, Beijing or Hong Kong.
What's included
✓ Included
- Car, driver and English-speaking guide in each area (your own car on a private trip)
- 9 nights' hotels at your chosen tier
- Intercity transport listed in the itinerary
- Park entry, Bailong Elevator, Tianmen cable car and Li River cruise
- Meals as marked; WhatsApp support throughout
✕ Not included
- International flights
- China visa, if required
- Travel insurance
- Glass-bridge and optional-activity fees where marked optional
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Deposit & cancellation policy
Deposit & payment: a 10% deposit confirms your booking once you approve the itinerary. The balance is due 30 days before departure; bookings made within 30 days of departure require full payment to confirm.
- 30 or more days before departure: full refund, minus costs already incurred.
- 15–29 days before departure: 70% refund.
- 8–14 days before departure: 50% refund.
- 0–7 days before departure, or no-show: no refund.
- Issued flight, train and cruise tickets are refunded per supplier rules.
If we have to cancel your trip, you receive a full refund. Full terms are sent with your booking confirmation — see also the Booking & Refund Policy page.
Hotels & price
From US$1,990 per person
Starting price per person, based on 2 travelers. Final quote depends on dates and hotel level. Includes 4-star hotels, private guide & driver, entrance fees and intercity trains; international flights not included.
Includes first-timer support: visa-free check, payment setup help and WhatsApp support during your trip.
Quoted per trip (private tour basis, comfortable hotels as standard, named options on your quote; small-group departures also available). Zhangjiajie nights are in Wulingyuan town by the park gate — waking up next to the pillars beats a city hotel an hour away.
Tour FAQ
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate: park shuttles and lifts do the climbing, but expect 8,000–12,000 steps on park days. On a private trip, the routes inside the parks flex to your pace.
When is Zhangjiajie at its best?
April–May and September–October for mist-and-sun drama without peak heat. See the best-time guide.
Can I add Beijing to this?
Yes — that's essentially the Grand Tour shape. Ask and we'll stitch it.