Zero-Distance Contact with Red Panda
Join this red panda keeper program to meet adorable red pandas at close range. You can go behind their enclosure fences to feed and pet them with love and care!
Days
2
Price
US$599 p/p
Best For
Nature fans
Best Time
Apr. to Oct.
Tour Highlights
We have just returned from an amazing trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Our travel adviser Albee Ning prepared a wonderful itinerary taking us to great locations with creative activities highlighting local culture.
We traveled with Asia Highlights (Lissie was our agent) several years ago when we went to Saigon, and the experience was so positive, we automatically went to Asia Highlights again for an extensive trip to Southeast Asia.
Itinerary Details
Remember the anthropomorphic red panda Master Shifu from Kung Fu Panda? In contrast with their giant black-and-white kin, red pandas are smaller in shape and more active and playful. Close contact with them during this tour.
You will be driven for approximately 3 hours from Chengdu to Wolong, which is a distance of 120 kilometers (75 miles).
Explore the Wild Pandas' Habitat Led by a Tibetan Guide (2½ Hours)
At about 11:30am, you will have a quick meal before meeting your guides, who are expecting you. There will be a seasoned Tibetan hiking guide as well as your English-speaking guide, just to ensure your safety in the woods and to have a better experience.
Dengsheng Gorge is located in the outer ring of the nature reserve. It is not only a haven for wild giant pandas, white-lipped deer, and red pandas but some rare birds also live there. Take the 5-kilometer (3-mile) repaired path and hike for about 3 to 5 hours while appreciating the natural beauty.
Access the Staff-Only Surveillance Center and Pay a Nighttime Visit to the Pandas (2 Hours)
Have dinner in the dining hall at Wolong Panda Center and then enter the staff-only surveillance center. Around August to September, you will have the chance to see mother pandas and their babies through the monitors. A professional panda keeper will be there for you to consult with.
Spend the night in a hostel neighboring the base. There will be no other tourists around to disturb you while you are visiting these lovely creatures. Your guide and a panda keeper will accompany you.
Meal provided: lunch
The current red panda breeding center was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake that occurred in 2008. The Wolong Panda Center now serves as a field training area and is not available for use by the public.
Morning Cleaning and Feeding (2 Hours)
Under the guidance of professional panda keepers, you can enter the enclosures of the red pandas. Feel the group of playful creatures surrounding you and pet them if you want to.
Later, help clean up their living quarters, supply them with fresh food, and sweep away the feces and leftovers.
Have a rest and walk around the panda base — you can also see some giant pandas there.
Afternoon Keeper's Activities (2 Hours)
Dine with the staff in the canteen and, after lunch, watch an educational documentary about the life cycle of a panda.
After lunch, another round of feeding and cleaning is waiting for you. This time, you will make some cakes for the adorable pandas. A certificate of honor will be awarded to you as a sign of appreciation for your efforts toward the cause of panda protection.
Head back to Chengdu at about 4pm — it will take a 3-hour drive to reach your hotel.
Price Includes
Price from: $599 (Tour code: gh-cd-10)
Trip Notes
All keeper programs in the area are flexible and can be customized.
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, and extend or shorten it to suit your schedule.
For example, you can attend all the panda keeper programs (for giant pandas, red pandas, and panda cubs) during your Wolong trip.
Why Travel with Global Highlights During the Pandemic
- Tailor-made experience: All of your ideas/needs will be carefully considered to create your ideal trip.
- Worry-free planning: Your 1:1 travel consultant in Asia will take all the uncertainty out of your planning, helping you navigate any travel restrictions.
- No-risk booking: 100% refund policy! (prior to 3 weeks before departure, more details)
