Trip Details, Dates, Prices, etc.
Menu10-Day In-Depth Exploration of the Western Sichuan Plateau: Journey Through Floral Seas and Cultural Sanctuaries
Located in the southwest of China, Sichuan boasts diverse landscapes and complex climates, spanning temperate and subtropical zones, which contribute to its rich biodiversity. Sichuan is part of the Hengduan Mountains, one of the three centers of endemic and rare plant flora in China (the other two being the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Karst region and East Sichuan-West Hubei), and it is also a key and hotspot area for global biodiversity conservation. The region is extremely rich in plant resources, with many endemic, rare, and endangered plants under state protection. In these mountainous regions, the diverse ethnic minorities, who share the same habitats with these unique plants, are known for their colorful costumes, unique architectural styles, and different languages. During our botanical exploration through this magical region, we will take you deep into the alpine meadows and primeval forests of the Hengduan Mountains to search for those rare alpine flowers and other botanical wonders. At the same time, we will also experience the rich Tibetan culture and magnificent natural scenery. Traveling through these beautiful areas, highly recommended by top travel guides like Lonely Planet, you will find your journey always filled with surprises—from discovering beautiful endemic plants to encountering villagers in their traditional costumes, to marveling at breathtaking natural landscapes and visiting authentic Tibetan villages. Each day will be an unforgettable experience.
Trip Highlights:
- Admire the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone-carved Buddha.
- Explore Emei Mountain and enjoy the stunning alpine azaleas and other flowers.
- Experience the ancient charm of Shangli Ancient Town in Ya'an and the wild azaleas in Bifeng Gorge.
- Enjoy a cultural experience at Kangding Mugecuo and learn about the famous Kangding Love Song culture.
- Take in the idyllic landscapes of Xinduqiao, known as a paradise for photographers.
- Discover the Jiarong Tibetan villages in Danba and the local flora.
- Explore the snow-capped mountains, meadows, and lakes of the Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area.
- Visit the ancient irrigation system of Dujiangyan and the serene beauty of Qingcheng Mountain.
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Booking Status | Price | Single Supplement | Group Size | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May.25 to Jun.5, 2024 | Open to Booking | 2,680USD/pax | 320USD/pax | 6 | Local Guide |
| May.25 to Jun.5, 2024 | Open to Booking | 2,680USD/pax | 320USD/pax | 6 | Local Guide |
The cost includes the following:
2. Meals in local popular restaurants.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from the first day to the last day of the trip, nice 3-star hotels in big cities and local best in local places.
5.Bottled water, and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Service charges of this trip include the fees of a professional English-speaking plant guide.
7. China domestic travel insurance.
The cost does not include the following:
2. During this trip, extra charges due to the change of itinerary from the client-side or other factors are beyond the control of WildFloraTour.
3. Flight tickets to the place where our trip starts and from the place where our trip ends.
4. Expenses for visa application.
5. Gratuities to the guide and driver.
Itinerary
D1 Arrival in Chengdu. Meals: D
Arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Free time to explore Chengdu city. Welcome dinner and trip briefing.
Overnight: Hotel in Chengdu
D2 Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emei. Meals: BLD
Drive to Leshan. Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone-carved Buddha. Explore the surrounding areas of Leshan. After visiting the Buddha, proceed to Emei and stay overnight at Leidongping or Golden Summit.
Overnight: Hotel at Leidongping or Golden Summit
D3 Mount Emei - Ya'an. Meals: BLD
Drive to Mount Emei. Explore Mount Emei and admire the alpine rhododendrons and other flowers. Visit Qingyin Pavilion, the Monkey Area, and the Golden Summit. In the afternoon, drive to Ya'an and stay overnight.
Overnight: Hotel within Bifengxia Scenic Area, Ya'an
D4 Ya'an - Laba River. Meals: BLD
Visit Bifengxia Panda Base and hike in Bifengxia Scenic Area to admire the plants. Explore Bifengxia and enjoy the wildflowers. In the afternoon, proceed to Laba River Scenic Area.
Overnight: Luming Hotel near Bifengxia
D5 Laba River - Kangding. Meals: BLD
Explore the Laba River Scenic Area, observing the plants in the panda habitat. In the afternoon, drive via Moxi and Yajiageng to Kangding, with flower viewing at Yajiageng.
Overnight: Kangding Xincheng Hotel
D6 Kangding - Xinduqiao. Meals: BLD
Morning bird and flower watching at Erdaoqiao, then drive along the Yala River to Xinduqiao, admiring alpine flowers and natural scenery along the way. Enjoy the pastoral landscape and photography paradise at Xinduqiao.
Overnight: Hotel near Xinduqiao
D7 Xinduqiao - Jiajin Mountain. Meals: BLD
Drive to Jiajin Mountain. En route, visit Jiarong Tibetan villages, admire village scenery, and enjoy flower viewing. Explore Zhonglu Tibetan Village.
Overnight: Guesthouse at Jiajin Mountain
D8 Mount Siguniang - Bird and Flower Watching. Meals: BLD
Drive to Mount Siguniang. Explore the Mount Siguniang Scenic Area, enjoying views of snow-capped peaks, meadows, and lakes.
Overnight: Jiarong Qingcheng Homestay, Mount Siguniang
D9 Mount Siguniang - Chengdu. Meals: BLD
Morning alpine flower viewing at Balang Mountain, then return to Chengdu in the afternoon.
Overnight: Tianfu Airport Enjoy Hotel, Chengdu
D10 Departure from Chengdu. Meals: B
End of the trip, depart from Chengdu.
Introduction to Trip Destinations:
Siguniang Mountain
Siguniang Mountain, located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is a renowned destination known for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich biodiversity. It consists of four peaks, the highest being Yaomei Peak at 6,250 meters above sea level. The area is characterized by its stunning alpine scenery, lush valleys, and a variety of wildflowers, including numerous orchid species. Siguniang Mountain is also home to several endangered species, such as the Sichuan golden monkey and the giant panda. The area offers excellent opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, and flower photography, particularly in Shuangqiaogou Valley, where the vibrant colors of the orchids can be appreciated.
Mount Emei
Bifeng Gorge
Xinduqiao
Tour Guides
We will arrange one of our best flower guides for this trip who has rich experiences of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides for your references.
Cory Li
Cory Li, co-founder, and general manager of WildFloraTour is a super fan of nature, especially for flowers. His passion for nature grows from the beauty of greens in the little boys' eyes. As a native of Sichuan Chengdu, he has spent a lot of time exploring nature in the mountains nearby his hometown. During his study at Sichuan University, he began to take lots of outdoor activities like hiking and mountain climbing and started to study knowledge about flora by himself. After graduation, he even spent more time in the wild than office exploring wildflowers in Sichuan and nearby provinces with other nature lovers and photographed about two thousand wildflower species. He even found several new distributions of some endemic species and even some new species of plants along with some other nature lovers. He loves to share his findings and stories behind the photos with other nature lovers on the internet and became a “flora idol” in southwest China. He never expected becoming famous out of this, he just enjoys sharing the beauty of those lovely flowers with others.
Philip
As a half Kangba Tibetan, Philip is the founder of WildfloraTour and is native of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He has a deep love for his Kangba Tibetan heritage and the land where he was born and raised. Philip's career has gone from mining technician to teacher, to translator, and finally to a guide and tour operator. Along the way, Philip discovered his passion and love for helping tourists understand the beauty and history of his people and homeland. Philip is known for his ability to plan and execute unique and exciting adventure trips exploring the sights off the usual tourist routes. He is active, open-minded, and adventurous and always ready to share interesting and useful information with his clients. As a travel professional working in this field for more than 15 years, Philip believes travel is an art and a process of learning and discovery. Each trip is a unique artistic work created with knowledge and expertise based on the resources available and the interests and tastes of travelers. To help more people to understand the unique resources in panda habitats and neighboring areas, he established Wildflora to bring his educational fun-filled tours to more people eager to explore and learn about China. Besides, Philip is an active and knowledgeable birder and a dedicated photographer.
Besides, one of WildFloraTour's local guides in Southeast China will participate in this trip to ensure a high-end traveling experience.