Overview

Travel with ETC local guide, embark on a horse trek in Songpan and you will be rewarded with sheer beauty of the diverse West Sichuan landscape. From more than millennium-old town to striking mountain vistas, ride your horse trekeking through remote Tibetan villages to Mounigou Valley. Witness the breathtaking wildness and rurality, pass by lakes, Karst caves, encounter warm Tibetan people, and camp at Gan Haizi for rare tranquility. Also join local horse keeper to prepare traditional horse caravan breakfast. What an interesting and unforgetable travel experience!

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Day

Welcome to Songpan, located 35km away from Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport. It was an ancient town first built in Tang Dynasty (AD618-907) and served as an important military post as it was at the border with Tibetan Empire. It was also an important economic and trading place on the ancient Tea Horse Trail. Different people, soldiers, merchant travelers, came and inhabited here, mainly Tibetan, Hui (Muslim) and Qiang people. As the hub of horse and tea exchanging, horse caravans played important role in this area in the old time.

Arrive in the afternoon and you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the ancient town by private car. Free at leisure for rest of the day and you can take a walk to the ancient town. Stay overnight in Emma’s Guesthouse. After dinner at Emma’s Kitchen, it’s the time of English corner. It will be highly appreciated that you can prepare a short English class for local children.

Wall through the ancient street of Songpan

Enjoy Tibetan style breakfast in hotel and then meet your horse team. Depart at 8:30 for Mt. Yaogou at 3600 meters above sea level. When descending to Mounigou Valley, you will walk instead of riding for the sake of safety. View the peak of Mt. Minshan along the way. Enter Kuangquanshui (Mineral Water) scenic area, one of the branches of Mounigou Valley via Zhongzhai Village. Yes, there is a top mineral spring in this area, which boasts the same quality of Evian in France. After picnic lunch, visit lakes, Karst caves, mineral spring and get to Gan Haizi camping site overnight.

  Camping tips: 

  • Travel time: May – early October
  • Camping outfit: It is suggested to take your own sleeping bag

Meal: B, L, D

Cook traditional horse caravan breakfast with horse keeper and enjoy a special breakfast in the picturesque wild. Continue the horse riding to Shangzhai, a Tibetan Village in Mounigou Valley after wards. Enjoy the rural scenery along the way and see ancient mill, Tibetan girls, sheep and yak groups grazing. After picnic lunch at high land, ride your horse back to Songpan and arrives at around 3pm. Meet your driver and continue your trip to Jiuzhaigou.

Meal: B, L

Take in the beautiful scenery of Mounigou Valley

What's included

  • 1-on-1 Travel Consultant

    Your China based expert listens to your wishes carefully, provides professional advice, ensures unlimited itinerary revisions before done and 24/7 helpline service while traveling.

  • Private Local Guide and Driver

    Your guides are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and your drivers are professional, polite and patient. They are very flexible to accommodate your personal needs and happy to show you the local attractions, history, culture, foods and real life. 
    Private transfers from hotel to attractions, airport or train station are also included.

  • Accommodation to Suit Your Preference

    We hand pick hotels ranging from luxury 5 star, superior 4 star to comfortable 3 star. Luxury or cozy boutique hotels and budget guesthouses are also among your choices. You could decide where to stay to meet your taste and budget.

  • Gourmet Meals

    Most of the hotels we select offer both Western and Chinese buffet breakfast. Lunch and dinner included are arranged in selected restaurants to taste authentic Chinese cuisine and local specialties. Thus you may also have a unique food tour.
    Meals specified in itinerary as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.

  • Attractions and Activities Listed on the Itinerary

    Our city tour packages have included the (first/main) entry to all attractions and the expenses of activities on the itinerary (except the optional activities).

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