Journeys: Pandas & the Peaks of Zhangjiajie

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
This evening, gather for a welcome meeting and a walk around the famous Bund, an iconic waterfront promenade listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Activity - Take a stroll along the Bund, a waterfront area in the central part of Shanghai, and enjoy its spectacular array of Art Deco style buildings. Shanghai has one of the best collections of Art Deco architecture in the world, so enjoy this magnificent sight. Accommodation - Central Hotel Shanghai

Catch a morning flight to Zhangjiajie–an otherworldly landscape, where 1,000-meter quartzite pillars rise above misty valleys. We'll spend the next 3 nights in this dreamlike region exploring some of China's most incredible natural phenomena.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.Activity - Take an orientation walk of the city where the mountains and the river meet.Accommodation - Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel

Spend the day at the UNESCO World Heritage Site–listed Zhangjiajie National Forest. We'll soar beside the misty peaks on the Tianzi Mountain cable car and stop to admire an amazing view at Yuanjiajie, known as the Hallelujah Mountains, which inspired the Disney film Avatar. Then, drive and do some hiking to see the various lookout points before descending the cliffside in the Bailong elevator–the world's tallest outdoor elevator.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit the stunning Wulingyuan National Forest within the Zhangjiajie National Park. Step into another world and watch as the mist forms around sky scraper tall mountain karsts. Embark on an unforgettable shuttle ride through the park and hike to the Bailong Elevator, the tallest outdoor elevator in the world. Ride the glass elevator to the bottom and admire the incredible views the entire way down.Accommodation - Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel

Head to Tianmen Shan National Park, home of one of the longest cable cars in the world. Take the cable car up Tianmen Shan Mountain to the Heavenly Gate. Gaze through the natural rock arch carving to see the sun shine through and learn of its legendary folklore. For those with an adventurous side, step onto the glass skywalk, a clear bridge that hugs the edge of the cliff to make an amazing view even better. As we head back down to the bottom, the adventure continues with a series of escalators and cable cars for one last chance to marvel at the beautiful landscape.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Spend the day exploring the magnificent Tianmen Shan Mountain National Park, famous for blending natural karst wonders with Buddhist culture and Tujia heritage. Take the cable car up to the top of the mountain, taking in the stunning natural phenomenon around you. At the top, you can purchase an additional ticket to walk across the cliffside glass bridge at the Heavenly Gate. Then take the outdoor escalator down to the bottom.Accommodation - Sunshine Hotel Zhangjiajie

This morning, take a high speed train to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan Province. Later, explore People's Park, the first public park in the city where local life is on full display. Walk through the beautiful green space to see teahouses and lotus ponds while people play mahjong, drink tea and practice calligraphy. Surrounded by koi ponds and bonsai gardens, relish the chance to immerse yourself in Chengdu's laid-back lifestyle. Tonight, the culture-filled day in Chengdu continues with its world-renowned cuisine as the focus. Hot pot is on the menu–a delicious, family-style bubbling broth that cooks meat and veggies for a personalized and incredible soup experience. You'll quickly learn why Sichuan is one of China's most celebrated culinary regions.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Activity - Enjoy a delicious and spicy bowl of Sichuan hot pot in one of China's foodie capitals.Activity - Built in 1911, the People's Park was the first public park in Chengdu. It's the largest green area in downtown. The park features an artificial lake, gardens, teahouses, and is a popular place for locals to enjoy the outdoors.Accommodation - Tibet Hotel Chengdu

Drive out of the city to the Dujiangyan Panda Base, a national conservation and research centre dedicated to supporting the panda population from extinction. You'll have the opportunity to meet with a local conservationist who will share insight into the centre's efforts as well as introduce the pandas. Learn about their habits, diet and behaviour as they play and munch bamboo. Our local expert will share how programs like this research center have improved the population numbers of wild pandas as discussed in the National Geographic article “Giant Pandas 101,”. We'll leave with a newfound inspiration to your own role in wildlife conservation around the world as we return to Chengdu for a free afternoon to explore or rest.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit the popular pandas at the Dujiangyan Panda Base, a conservation and research centre created to provide a space for rescued captive pandas and prepare them to be reintroduced to the wild. Learn about their life cycle and habitat and take memorable photographs of these iconic national treasures. A local expert will introduce you to the pandas and teach us first hand about these amazing yet endangered animals.Free_time - Spend the afternoon free in Chengdu.Accommodation - Tibet Hotel Chengdu

After breakfast, take the train out of the city to the beautiful town of Yangshuo. Nestled between sky-scraping limestone pillars and green rice paddies, enjoy the slower lifestyle where tradition and custom thrive. Life along the Li River is one of the most enchanting and inspiring places in the world, as recognised in the National Geographic book “The 10 Best of Everything: Top 10 Watery Wonders.” Arrive in the evening and enjoy the remainder of the day to rest.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Activity - Enjoy a brief walk through Yangshuo. Get some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs.Accommodation - Yangshuo Green Lotus Hotel

Float down the Li River on a bamboo raft past the towering karst mountains and lush fields for an exciting and tranquil morning. This beautiful place will have you feeling inspired and moved as did poets and painters who have journeyed here before us looking for inspiration. Lunch will be served at Jia Community Restaurant, a G Adventures-supported initiative where local female farmers curate meals full of traditional flavors blended with international cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. After, visit the Qixianfeng Tea Plantation learning about each step of the ancient Chinese art of tea. From picking the leaves, to the traditional techniques of hand-frying passed down through generations, then finishing with a tea ceremony. Today, you'll explore the historic heritage and natural wonder that makes Yangshuo so special.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy a traditional Chinese meal served by rural women working to create new opportunities for their families. Since the migration of men to urban centres is common in rural regions, women and children now have a safe place to gather and learn together at Community Corners, created by the Rural Women's Development Foundation. In Liandaowan Village, you'll enjoy a meal and support women developing new work skills to become self-reliant. This initiative helps to create meaningful employment alternatives to agriculture as a source of income.Activity - Learn about ancient tea production while wandering the plantations and soaking in the beautiful views. Qixianfeng Tea Plantation was voted as the most beautiful highland tea field in China, nestled in Yangshuo's karst mountains. Taste some samples in a tea ceremony and learn about different types of tea from a local expert.Activity - Enjoy a float on the Li River, a centrepiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Take in breathtaking scenery and a taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis. See gorgeous karst mountains peeking out each river bend, water buffalo patrolling fields, and locals reaping rice paddies. Greet school kids and fishermen as they float by on bamboo rafts.Accommodation - Yangshuo Green Lotus Hotel

Board a bullet train for Hong Kong, a city steeped in history, opulence and a unique blend of international influence. Tonight, sit together for a dinner of dim sum (small savoury and sweet dumplings) and yum cha (tea). These flavorful, steamed favorites, a mix of tradition and culinary artistry, are often filled with shrimp, pork, crab roe, pork and more. After dark, make our way to Victoria Harbor for the famous light show–the Symphony of Lights. This dazzling show will light up the already impressive Hong Kong skyline. Then, walk along the harbor and enjoy your last night together.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.Activity - A Symphony of Lights is a daily light and sound show in Hong Kong. It is the world's largest permanent light and sound show according to Guinness World Records.Take a stroll to the harbour for an amazing view of the light show and admire Hong Kong's spectacular skyline.Accommodation - Metropark Hotel Kowloon

Depart at any time.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.