Explore Wild Pandas' Hometown
Enjoy an adventure in the outer ring of the reserve as you meet cute pandas in the breeding base and feed them at close range.
Days
4
Price
US$2,459 p/p
Best For
Discovery-seekers
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
Your private guide and driver will be expecting you whether you set off from your hotel, the airport, or a train station.
You will be transferred from Chengdu to Wolong, which is about a 3-hour drive.
Short Break at the Earthquake Memorial Site (1½ Hours)
A 3-hour drive can be very tiring so you will have a short break at the 2008 Earthquake Memorial Site.
Explore the Wild Pandas' Habitat Led by a Tibetan Guide (2½ Hours)
At about 11:30am, you will have a light meal and then meet your guides, who are expecting you. There will be a seasoned Tibetan hiking guide as well as your English-speaking guide for 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 for some rare birds too. Take the 5-kilometer (3-mile) repaired path and hike for about 2 to 3 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 watch mother pandas and their babies through the monitors. A professional panda keeper will be there to advise you.
Spend the night at a hostel that neighbors the base. There will be no other tourists around to disturb you at night while you are visiting the lovely creatures. Your guide and a panda keeper will accompany you.
Your day as a panda keeper starts at 8:30am. Along with the professional panda staff, you will see how important it is to protect this endangered species and will experience their daily routine, just like a true panda keeper.
Cleaning and Feeding in the Morning (2 Hours)
Clean up the pandas' living quarters and remove the feces, refill their enclosures with fresh bamboo, and remove the leftovers. Have a rest and walk around the breeding center with your guides, who are very enthusiastic about panda protection. They know this base inside out and some of them have had the experience of live streaming the pandas' daily lives on Facebook and YouTube.
Afternoon Keeper's Activities (3 Hours)
Dine with the staff in the canteen. After lunch, watch an educational documentary about the life cycle of a panda.
Afterward, another round of feeding and cleaning is waiting for you. This time, you will make some cakes for the pandas. A certificate of honor will be awarded to you at the end of this program as a sign of appreciation for your efforts toward panda protection.
Head back to Chengdu at about 4pm, which takes about 3 hours by car.
Have some breakfast in your hotel then your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport.
Price Includes
Price from: $845 (Tour code: gh-cd-8)
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)
