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Trip Details

10 Days Panda Tracking in Panda Habitat

10 Days Panda Tracking in Panda Habitat

Date: Mar. 27 to Apr. 5, 2024, 2025

Price: From 2670USD/PAX

Trip Focus: Wildlife + Panda

Status: Open to Booking

Route: Chengdu- Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base -Panda Habitat-Chengdu

Trip Code: W008

Overview


 

Giant pandas are solitary animals. It is extremely hard to see them in the wild. So for most tourists, giant pandas in the wild only exist as a myth. Lots of people are always curious about pandas and their companion animals live in the wild. To help people move a few more steps toward this mysterious wildlife, AbsolutePanda provides an adventure tour for tracking wild panda and its companion animals in their habitat. 
The Giant Panda lives in a few mountain ranges in western China, mainly (about 74.4%) in Sichuan province, and its neighboring provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. Panda habitats own abundant biodiversity. There are beautiful mountains with breathtaking natural sceneries, pretty birds singing in the valleys with lavish forests surrounded. 
In this program, we will choose some special routes where giant pandas frequently appear and track along with a reserve ranger in some sites of their habitat. During the tracking, You'll gain comprehensive knowledge about the life of giant pandas in the wild, including their favorite bamboos, the shape of their excrement, the traces they leave behind to attract mates, and much more! Our local expert will teach you how to identify those plants and animal traces. There is a high possibility to spot some endangered and endemic companion animals of the Giant Panda, such as Sichuan Takin, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Yellow-throated Marten as well as some endangered birds. The local ranger and our experienced wildlife guide who know well about panda and their habitat will add great chances for you to see pandas in distance. Please note that due to new restrictions set up after the establishment of China Giant Panda National Park, we can only track in places where the reserve allow us and can not go to the depth of panda habitats as before.

 
Highlights:
 

• We will visit Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base of CCRCGP. We made the change due to consideration of crowds. Chengdu Panda Base now have huge amount of crowds each day, almost impossible for us to get some quiet time by using timing strategy.

• Learn about giant pandas with experts in their habitat. By searching for giant pandas’ traces in their habitat, you will learn a lot about Giant Panda from our experts especially about the life of wild pandas. The local ranger will share the adventurous stories of his encounter with giant pandas with us.
 
• Meet Giant Panda’s companion animals in the wild. There are many fantastic wild animals like Asiatic Black Bear, Sichuan Takin, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer that living with pandas. It will be thrilling to see those lovely neighbors of the panda in their original habitat.
 
• A trip to the mountains will never bore you. You will see many endemic wildflowers along the way and our expert will introduce you to many interesting species. Panda habitat is also the perfect destination for bird watching. You will see many kinds of birds especially pheasants like Golden Pheasant and Temminck's Tragopan in the gorgeous mountain valleys.
 
• Enjoy the hiking in the breathtaking natural sceneries. The climate in the mountains in winter and early spring will be very cold. Most of the programs on this trip will be hiking which requires a high physical ability. The challenge of trekking inside the Panda Habitat itself is a good reason for you to come and join us.

 
Introduction to Trip Destinations:
 

Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Base
Bifengxia Panda Base is located within Bifengxia Scenic Spots in Ya’an city, which is one of the starting points of the Tea and Horse Trade Route. Thanks to the humid and warm climate conditions in this area, the Bifengxia Panda Base has the most natural surroundings compared with other panda bases. The beautiful scenic Bifengxia Gorge is located just beside. The gorges near the panda base are not only scenic but also excellent places to look for birds such as White-crowned Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Whistling and Thrush.

Panda Habitat
The Panda Habitat in the Minshan Mountains is more than pandas. Even it is not easy to spot the Giant Panda in the wild, but there are so many interesting species living in this forest. With the umbrella protection of the Giant Panda, its companion animals like Asiatic Black Bear, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Golden Pheasant, Chinese Goral, Sichuan Takin, Chinese Serow, Reeve’s Muntjac, Tufted Deer, Hog Badger, Yellow-throated Marten, Tibetan Macaque, Eurasian Otter, Wild Boar, Red Panda, Temminck's Tragopan, and Leopard Cat also get lots of benefits. A guided walk through the Panda Habitat will give you an all-around picture of the Panda Habitat with chances to encounter panda and some animals you have dreamed to see.
 
 
How Can We Make This Trip Special?

• A team of passionate guides specializing in photography and wildlife with rich experiences of guiding and solid knowledge about wildlife and local places.

• Can be customized to better meet your travel style.

• 20-plus years of working in the travel industry and serving travelers from all over the world enable us to know how to make great trips for travelers of different travel styles.
 

 

What Makes AbsolutePanda Excellent? 
 

• We are one of the premier travel companies focusing on panda and other wildlife in China.
We use AbsolutePanda as company brand because of our deep love toward panda and our determination to create your absolutely enjoyable panda trips. 
Since 2003, our professional tour leaders and wildlife experts have helped thousands of travelers gain an in-depth understanding of Giant Panda and their companion animals, enjoy stunning scenery all over China and explore the authentic local culture.
 
• Exclusive Quality & Value Guarantee.
We define our quality by well-designed itineraries, stunning destinations, creative interactions, small groups, professional guides, and reasonable prices.
 
• Explore China in comfort and your style.
We understand each traveler is different. In addition to selected accommodations, meals and vehicles, we would like to show you the real China by an authentic experience with incredible wildlife and lovely locals.
 
• We care and share.
We believe the best way to help wildlife is through love and appreciation. By bringing nature lovers to enjoy the beauty of nature in China, we hope that local people can know the value of wildlife and learn how to love and appreciate those beautiful creatures living near their villages.


 

Map

 


Panda Tracking in Panda Habitat Trip Map

 

Itinerary



Outline:
 
Day 1. Arrive in Chengdu. (D)
The airport pick-up. City exploration based on your time of arrival. Overnight: Chengdu
 
Day 2. Chengdu-Panda Habitat. 300km 5.5h (BLD)
Drive to the Panda Habitat after visiting Chengdu Panda Base. Overnight: Panda Habitat
 
Day 3-8. Panda Habitat. (BLD)
Hiking in the Panda Habitat and searching for pandas and its companion animals. Overnight: Panda Habitat
 
Day 9. Panda Habitat-Chengdu. 300km 5.5h (BLD)
Drive back to Chengdu. Overnight: Chengdu
 
Day 10. Depart Chengdu. (B)
The airport drop-off.
 

Details:
 
Day 1. Arrive in Chengdu. Meals: D
The airport pick-up. Based on the time you arrive, we can plan some free city tour programs such as visiting People’s Park to experience the typical laid-back lifestyles of Chengdu or visiting Jinli Street to feel the bustling shopping street with all types of shops selling unique local souvenirs and food stands offering delicious local take-away food.

Overnight: Chengdu

Day 2. Chengdu-Bifengxia Panda Base-Panda Habitat. 300km 5.5h Meals: BLD
Early in the morning, we will visit 
the largest giant panda conservation base in China-Bifengxia Giant Panda Base. It's a large comprehensive tourism base integrating giant panda breeding and scientific research, field release, propaganda education and ecological tourism.
Then we will head to the Panda Habitat and get ready for the hiking days for the wild panda. We will spend some time on the vehicle having an introduction about this panda tracking adventure. Our panda expert will give you a lecture about Giant Panda and its habitat, so you will have a better understanding of this beautiful creature and their companion animals in their habitat of the upcoming adventure.

Overnight: Panda Habitat

Day 3-8. Panda Habitat. Meals: BLD
The panda tracking adventure starts with a hike along the eco loop near our hotel in the Panda Habitat. The Panda Habitat we will visit is a worldwide research base for wildlife and is known for its bio-diversity. There are 430 kinds of vertebrates, 2,422 identified vegetation species, 103 kinds of mammals, and 310 types of birds. Over 60 giant pandas (Report of the Third National Giant Panda Census), more than 1,000 golden snub-nosed monkeys, and over 1,200 Sichuan takins live here.
We will spend around 6 days exploring in the Panda Habitat for the panda. We will hike the whole day in search of mammals, birds, flora, and fish. The Giant Panda, Sichuan Takin, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Asiatic Black Bear, Tibetan Macaque, Golden Pheasant, and the other wildlife share the same habitat with pandas will be on our list of visiting.

Overnight: Panda Habitat

Day 9. Panda Habitat-Chengdu. 300km 5.5h Meals: BLD
In the morning, we will drive back to Chengdu via Qingxi Ancient Village if you are interested. Qingxi Ancient Village served as an important strategic point in defending Sichuan and trade post between Muslims and Han Chinese in history. With a history of more than 1,700 years, Qingxi used to be the county seat of Qingchuan County with a city wall going around the village. The existing buildings inside the Qingxi Ancient Village are Ming and Qing dynasties' styles. We will spend about 30 minutes exploring this quiet ancient town and feel the harmonious coexistence of Muslims and Han Chinese under the same roof of traditional Chinese architecture.

Overnight: Chengdu

Day 10. Depart Chengdu. Meals: B
The airport drop-off.
 
Notes:
1. If you need help in arranging a flight to Chengdu from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, or the trip out of Chengdu, please feel free to contact us.
2. If you prefer a better chance for searching Red Panda, here is a Three-Day Extention Tour for your reference:
Day 1. Chengdu-Labahe. 230km 4h Meals: BLD
Today, we will drive to Labahe via Shangli Ancient Town. Overnight: Labahe (1,900m)
Day 2. Labahe Nature Reserve. Meals: BLD
We will spend the whole day searching for Red Panda and its companion animals in Labahe Nature Reserve, which is one of the best places in the world to see wild red pandas in their habitat. In Labahe, we can also search for mammals like Sambar Deer, Tibetan Macaque, Chinese Goral, Leopard Cat, Sichuan Takin, Chinese Serow, and Hog Badger. Overnight: Labahe (1,900m)
Day 3. Labahe-Chengdu. 230km 4h Meals: BLD
Today we will drive back to Chengdu after morning searching for red pandas. Overnight: Chengdu (500m)


 

Dates & Prices



1.   Dates
 
March 27 to April 5, 2024,2025

Email us to tailor-make a tour that can meet your taste, budget, and schedule best.


2. Prices 

The AbsolutePanda team works hard to provide the highest-possible quality tour experiences at a fair price. However, after working in the travel industry for more than 20 years, our team knows that no two travelers are alike in terms of their travel styles, personal interests, choice of guides, and preferences in restaurants and hotels. For AbsolutePanda, our client’s satisfaction is a top priority. To meet the needs of different clients and ensure they enjoy a trip suited to their preferences, you are welcome to email us with specific requests ranging from trip themes, guides, the grade and brand of vehicles, accommodations, restaurants, etc. We will try our best. 

To ensure our guest the best trip, we set our minimum departure number at four and the maximum departure number at ten. That means the group size is 4 to 10 participants. 

The cost for a group of 4 to 10 people:  
2670USD/PAX

Single supplement:
260USD/PAX

The cost includes:
1. Well-chosen vehicles based on the size of the group for the trip with fuel, tolls, airport pick-up, and drop-off included in the price;
2. An English-speaking wildlife guide for the whole trip;
3. A local ranger in the Panda Habitat;
4. Meals listed above as BLD;
5. Bottled water and snacks;
6. Entrance charges listed in the itinerary;
7. China Domestic Travel Insurance;
8. Hotels arranged during this trip.

The cost excludes:
1. Alcoholic drinks during the meal;
2. Extra charges due to change of itinerary from client-side or factors beyond the control of AbsolutePanda such as natural disaster and governmental policy change;
3. Discretionary tips to the guide and driver;
4. All personal expenses, such as laundry service or for personal shopping;
5. Train ticket or airfare to and out of Chengdu;
6. Any items not listed in the itinerary as included;
7. Entrance fee, car rental, or meals during your free time trip;
8. Single supplement.

Notes:
This trip price is based on two clients sharing one twin-bed room in 3-star standard hotels in big cities and local best guesthouses in a remote area. If you prefer to use a private room or we cannot find a roommate for you, then a single supplement will be added to your trip price.


3. Experienced Wildlife Guides

• Philip: A local guide born in the Sichuan Tibetan area with fluent English and basic Japanese, Philip is an exceptional photographer, especially bird photography, and had guided many Snow Leopard safari trips since 2017. Besides being a wildlife guide, Philip also has great knowledge of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, birds, and culinary culture.

• Shay: Shay was born and brought up in the mountainous areas of Chongqing Municipality. Shay got his degree in ecotourism at the prestigious Sichuan University. Shay started serious birding from the beautiful campus of Sichuan University. With the help of academic background in the university, Shay soon became a successful English-speaking bird guide. He is among the first group of professional English-speaking bird guides with an academic background of ornithology. At AbsolutePanda, Shay is an expert guide of birds and mammals. By now, he has successfully guided many avid birders from different countries including Norway, Britain, the US, Sweden, Israel, and Thailand. With Shay as your guide, you will find your trip become incredibly smooth, informative, and enjoyable. 

• Cory: Cory is a plant expert and photo guide of AbsolutePanda. As a native of Chengdu, the place where he was born has beautiful mountains and abundant plant resources. Since his childhood, he has been deeply attracted by the beauty of nature and spent a lot of time exploring nature in the mountains surrounding his hometown. After many years of learning purely out of interests, Cory has accumulated rich knowledge about plants, mammals, and mountains. As a successful plant photographer, Cory has photographed more than two thousand species of wildflowers. His knowledge and passion for plants and photography will make your trip unique and enjoyable. With him as your plant and photography guide, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the nature presented like a roll of traditional Chinese painting unveiled by Cory with his findings and stories behind those beautiful flowers.

Notes: 
1Please note that our guides with specialized knowledge are not always available, especially during our busy season from April to October. If you have an on-planning trip, please contact us as early as possible so that we will reserve the date of our expert guide for you.
2. To our AbsolutePanda team, our clients' overall satisfaction with their trip is the top priority. We can create a different option to make it easier for you to choose a tour that fits your style and budget. If you prefer to travel in a different style than the option we've provided here, please feel free to contact us. 
3. For travelers who hope to tailor-make the programs with their specific travel preferences in mind (transportations, hotels, exclusive privileges, and famous local experts), tailor-making a tour is the best way to ensure your desires are met. Please contact us with your specific needs and we will prepare an itinerary based on your expectations. Once you are satisfied, we will work out the cost and send it to you. Please feel free to ask any questions to learn more.

 

When you put your trust in our team, we are certain to help you enjoy an unforgettable travel experience in China!

 

Accommodations



AbsolutePanda firmly believes travel is an art. To ensure every trip with us is a great travel art for our clients, the AbsolutePanda team does all we can to consider every possible detail. The choice of hotels is an essential part of making a great trip. After many years of running a travel business, we have built up our network of cooperative hotels at different levels. We understand people are different in the choice of hotels when they travel. If you want to use some specific hotels, please feel free to let us know, we are delighted to book it for you at a competitive price to make the hotel choice better meet your taste, budget and travel style. We can either reserve a hotel with competitive price for you or simply include the hotel into your trip cost if possible. You are welcome to contact us and tell us your requests, we will do our best to create the best travel itinerary for your private use.

If you need help with hotel booking in other big cities of China at different styles and luxury levels (International-brand Hotels, Local Brand Hotels, Economical Hotels), please feel free to email our team at info@absolutepanda.com.


 

FAQs



1. What is the chance to spot a wild panda?
As there are over 60 wild pandas living in the Panda Habitat we will visit, the chance to see them is relatively low compare with other animals like Sichuan takins or macaques. We can usually spot their signs (feces) and we will try our best to help you. In 2020, during and after the quarantine period (Feb. to May ) we got at least three news (Apr.7, May 6, May 12) about people live near panda habitats that spotted wild panda wandering around or visited the river for water. There are more wild panda photos took by the infrared cameras reported by the researchers of the nature reserves recently.
 
2. Why does the tour start in winter or early spring?
Pandas will move to a lower elevation to seek food during winter, and many trees lose their leaves, so we have a better chance to spot them. In late March and early April which is the mating season of Giant Panda. Pandas are more active and can make noise which will help to raise the possibility for us to spot a wild panda.
 
3. What kind of services can AbsolutePanda provide in the wild?
AbsolutePanda guides have years of field experience, they are experts of mammals, ornithology, eco-environment protection, and forestry. We care about your satisfaction and want you to enjoy the trip. We also provide high-end equipments, like Swarovski binoculars, spotting scopes to ensure the quality of the trip.
 
4. Will we see wild pandas during this tour?
While Sichuan is famed as a province accommodating the most substantial portion of the wild panda population (about 74.4%), it should be noted that spotting a wild panda is quite slim due to the small population and unique lifestyle of pandas mostly living inside the bamboo forest. While panda viewings in Panda Habitat have been reported almost every year by visitors and rangers, it is really hard to predict for a particular trip. For us, we will do our best to show you all the possible attractions we see inside this panda habitat and make your trip full of wonderful memories. Pandas live in the place we are going to visit, and we just enjoy everything we have blessed to see there.
 
5. If I am particularly interested in finding birds, is there a way for me to request a specialist as a guide?
Our expert guide for this trip has very good knowledge of panda and the places we are going to visit. As a nature guide, he knows very well about the mammals we possibly encounter in this trip and birds we have a good chance to see. If you request a birding guide for special birds, you are welcome to contact us ahead of the time.

Email us if you have any questions. Read our FAQ



Testimonials



The best travel company I have ever worked with.
Where to begin? I am an international tour leader. This team is our partner company, and for the last 5 years, they have proved time and time again to be by far the best, most meticulous, detail-oriented, experienced, and honest company I have ever encountered. These guys get it- travel is an art. They are focused on the experience, not the profit, and this is very rare in China. The founder, Philip, is one of the top birders and nature experts in Sichuan, and is well respected throughout the province and beyond for all of his efforts to support local culture and conservation of wildlife. He is from a remote Tibetan region and understands how to operate in the wild, unexplored regions of China- the real China. He is an excellent teacher and judge of character and has built an amazing team of loyal guides who cannot be topped. If you travel with these guys, you have made a wise decision. 
--Brad
Date of experience: May 2017
 

Welcome to email us and be our guests to write the feedback for us. Testimonial of AbsolutePanda

 

 

Videos & Photos




Snow in early March inside the Panda Habitat.

 


Enjoy the video of panda's habitat tracking that made by our friend Brad Joseph.

Welcome to email us and share your trip video with us. Video Album of AbsolutePanda
 



Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata)



Primula moupinensis



Mountains in the Panda Habitat.



Tufted Deer



Hiking inside the Panda Habitat.



Panda Poo



Chinese Goral



Asiatic Black Bear



Sichuan Takin



Golden Snub-nosed Monkey



Yellow-throated Marten



Eurasian Otter

Welcome to email us and share your trip photo with us. Photo Album of AbsolutePanda
 


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