Overview

Jiuzhaigou Lakes Experience the other-worldly landscape of Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong and Songpan Old Town on ETC’s 4-day hiking and horse trekking tour. Led by local guide, ride your horse winding jungle trails and through mountainside Tibetan villages, observing local tribe life in this remote region. Make friends with villagers who are dressed in traditional clothes, speak their own distinct language, and has kept their own secrets. What’s more exciting, hike Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong scenic areas to take in the beautiful views of lakes, waterfalls, forests, valleys… 

Customize Your Tour:
☑  Travel Dates  ☑ Your Interests  ☑ Your Travel Style

Day

Most of the flights to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport (also called Jiuhuang Airport or Jiuzhaigou Airport) from Chengdu are in late afternoon or evening. This Airport was built on top of a mountain at 3447.65 meters in altitude. It is 88km from Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and 43km from Huanglong Scenic Area. Due to the late flight, you will be transferred to Songpan Ancient Town, which is 35km with 40min driving, for the first night.

Songpan was first built in Tang Dynasty (AD618-907) and worked 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 Road. Different people came and inhabited here, who are mainly Tibetan, Hui (Muslim) and Qiang people. As the center for horse and tea exchange between Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet, horse caravans played important role in the area. 

  High Altitude Travel Tips   

  • The elevation of jiuzhaigou is about 1900-3100 meters above sea level. Generally speaking, altitude sickness will occur at an altitude of 3000 meters. So be aware of the potential altitude sickness and take some medicine if needed.

After enjoy Tibetan style breakfast in the guesthouse, the guide will take you to meet your horse, who is your companion today. Ride the horse through the ancient town and climb up the mountain to get to a small village named Shangniba, with dwelling houses spreading on the slope and valley like castles. Descend to the valley and continue upstream, you will view the forests with one or two Tibetan houses. Get to Shangniba Monastery, a Sakya section of Tibetan Buddhism monastery. After the visit, continue horse trekking to Dazhai Village, where you will have a picnic lunch. At around 1.30pm, descend by 1.5hrs’ riding and 1hr hiking on your feet (where horse riding is no safe) to your hotel. Transfer to Jiuzhaigou (115km / 2.5hrs) in the afternoon.

  You May Want to Know  

  • Today’s adventure can either be taken as a horse riding or a hiking, though horse riding is highly recommended. Please let us know which you would prefer. 

Meal: B, L

Ride horse trekking through the remote Tibetan villages of Songpan Sichuan

Full day hiking tour in Jiuzhaigou to view this picturesque fairyland. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Chinese national 5A-class attraction - the highest level - Jiuzhaigou valley was severely damaged by the earthquake in 2008. After comprehensive restoration work, it re-opened in the year of 2019 and tourists can enjoy its beauty again. You will take sightseeing bus to the starting point at Shuzheng Valley and walk uphill to Nuorilang Service Center, en route you will see Shuzheng Lakes, Shuzheng Waterfall, Tibetan Village, Tiger Lake, etc. You can have lunch at service center (pay locally), or take your own food for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, take sightseeing bus to Primary Forest (3060m) and walk downhill to view lakes, waterfalls in Rize Valley. If time permits, you can take sightseeing bus to Wucai Pond of Zezawa Valley to see the colorful ponds.

There are well arranged eco-buses in the valley and you can hop on and hop off at any station to make the visit more enjoyable. 

Meal: B

Drive 122km / 2.5hrs to Huanglong Scenic Area after breakfast. Take cable car to the upper station (3473 m) and walk 2km along the plank to the colorful ponds. The Five-Color Pond (Wucai Chi) is the most famous and highest one (3570m), which similar to Plitvice Lakes in Yugoslavia. You will see different colors in the water and change in different time, weather and season. Walking along the path by the ponds, you can view the geological wonders by the water or from a platform with a bird view. Descend the mountain with streams and ponds on the side, which takes around 2hrs for 4342 meters.

Drive to Jiuhuang Airport after the visit and fly back to Chengdu. End of your 4-day Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong hiking and Songpan horse riding tour.

Meal: B, L

Pass by the colorful lakes in Huanglong scenic area

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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