A journey worth looking closer at.
Arrive in Chengdu · Your Sichuan journey begins
Welcome to Chengdu, the starting point for a journey from city life to Sichuan's celebrated mountain scenery. On arrival, take your arranged transfer to the hotel and settle into your room. Today is deliberately kept free of scheduled sightseeing, giving you time to rest after the flight and ease into the days ahead.
Spend the remainder of the day as you wish. If you choose to head out independently, return at a comfortable hour ready for tomorrow's visit to the Panda Base and onward journey to Jiuzhai Valley. Airport transfer service is provided without a guide. Meal arrangements for today are not specified and should be confirmed before travel.
Pandas, mountain roads & the approach to Jiuzhai
After breakfast, begin with one of Sichuan's most endearing encounters: a visit to the Panda Base. Watch for the pandas' distinctive black-and-white shapes among the greenery and enjoy the simple pleasure of observing these much-loved animals in their surroundings. This is a visit to the facility; the animals' activity and visibility will vary naturally on the day.
Later, leave Chengdu behind and continue by road toward the Jiuzhai Valley area. The journey forms a transition between two very different sides of Sichuan, carrying you from the city toward the mountain setting that will frame the next part of the tour. Lunch and dinner are included, and your overnight stay near Jiuzhai provides a comfortable base for tomorrow's full day of scenery.
Jiuzhai Valley · A day written in water and light
Set aside a full day for Jiuzhai Valley, where lakes, waterfalls and forest come together in a constantly changing composition. Look across the water for shades of turquoise and blue, notice the reflections of the surrounding trees, and follow the contrast between quiet pools and flowing cascades. The appeal lies as much in these smaller details as in the wider mountain views.
Today's sightseeing focuses entirely on the valley, allowing its distinctive landscapes to become the visual heart of your Sichuan journey. The precise appearance of the lakes and woodland will reflect the season and weather of your visit; there is beauty in each changing mood. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, and you return to your Jiuzhai-area hotel for a second night.
Tibetan village & mountain scenery · Return to Chengdu
Depart the Jiuzhai area and visit a Tibetan village, adding a glimpse of the region's village setting to the natural scenery of the preceding day. Continue to either Huanglong or Mounigou, with the destination determined by the confirmed arrangements for your departure. If Huanglong is selected, its terraced pools offer a striking continuation of the journey's water-and-mountain theme; Mounigou provides the alternative mountain excursion.
The day then leads back to Chengdu. A second-class high-speed train ticket is included for the scheduled rail segment, with the stations and timings confirmed in your final travel arrangements. After breakfast and lunch on tour, the evening meal is at your own expense. Settle into your Chengdu hotel and enjoy a quieter evening after a varied day of travel and sightseeing.
Sanxingdui & Dujiangyan · Another dimension of Sichuan
After breakfast, turn from Sichuan's natural landscapes to its cultural discoveries. Visit Sanxingdui Museum, where the remarkable bronze heritage introduces a different visual world from the lakes and forests of the previous days. Take time to appreciate the distinctive forms and expressive details of the displays, and let this encounter add a new perspective to your journey through the region.
Continue to the Dujiangyan Scenic Area for the second part of today's programme. Together, the two visits create a day of contrast within the wider itinerary, connecting the museum experience with another of Sichuan's notable destinations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. At the end of the day, return to Chengdu and your hotel for the night.
Leshan Giant Buddha · Onward toward Mount Emei
Today brings you to the Leshan Giant Buddha, one of the journey's most memorable cultural sights. The visit offers an opportunity to appreciate the figure's monumental presence and the setting that surrounds it. After several days of lakes, forests and museum discoveries, this is another change of scale and atmosphere, with time devoted to a landmark that gives this part of Sichuan its unmistakable character.
After the visit, continue toward Mount Emei in preparation for tomorrow's mountain excursion. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today. Your planned accommodation is the listed HUALUXE property or a similar hotel, with the final hotel and its location confirmed before travel. The overnight arrangement positions this part of the tour between the Leshan visit and the following day's Emei programme.
Mount Emei · Mountain scenery before the return
Dedicate today to Mount Emei, bringing the journey back to a mountain setting after the cultural encounters of Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan and Leshan. Follow the day's arranged sightseeing programme and take in the shifting atmosphere of the mountain landscape. The appeal of a mountain day often lies in its changing light and mood, with the weather giving familiar scenery a different character from one visit to another.
The exact sightseeing points and any transport arrangements within the mountain will be confirmed for your departure; this itinerary does not promise a particular summit, temple or cable-car journey. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Later, return to Chengdu for your final night, completing a route that has connected Sichuan's wildlife, water landscapes, cultural heritage and mountain scenery.
Farewell Chengdu · The journey continues with you
After breakfast, take your arranged transfer to Chengdu airport for your onward journey. Over eight days, the route has brought together many different impressions of Sichuan: pandas and mountain valleys, the distinctive discoveries at Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei.
Your departure transfer is provided without guide accompaniment. Please share your confirmed flight details with Gala Holidays so the transfer can be coordinated with your onward travel. Arrival and departure airfares are not included in the listed tour services.
Your Day 1 arrival dates.
2026
September
October
November
December
2027
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
These are the listed arrival dates. Availability, operation and the final fare are subject to confirmation. Choosing a date does not confirm a booking.
Your journey, clearly priced.
All amounts are in USD. Adult tour prices are per person based on double occupancy. Tips and service are separately listed; please confirm the complete payable total before booking.
| Fare item | Low · Nov 15–Mar 29 | Mid · Mar 30–Jun 30 & Sep 1–Nov 14 | High · Jul 1–Aug 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult tour fee, per person sharing a room | US$898 | US$948 | US$998 |
| Child age 12 or under, with bed | US$898 | US$948 | US$998 |
| Child age 12 or under, no bed and no breakfast | US$698 | US$748 | US$798 |
| Single-room supplement | US$360 | US$390 | US$410 |
| Tips & service fee, separately listed | US$120 | US$120 | US$120 |
| Pre/post tour hotel, per room per night | US$118 | US$118 | US$118 |
| Extra transfer, per person per trip, minimum two persons | US$30 | US$30 | US$30 |
Cancellation schedule
- More than 30 days before departure: no charge.
- 20–29 days before departure, inclusive: 20% of total tour cost.
- 8–19 days before departure, inclusive: 40% of total tour cost.
- 1–7 days before departure, inclusive: 60% of total tour cost.
- On the date of departure: 100% of total tour cost.
The cancellation table does not specify exactly 30 days before departure; request the applicable written term before payment.
What to expect along the way.
Included in the tour fare
- Seven nights at the listed hotels or similar properties
- Entrance tickets to the attractions listed in the itinerary
- Vehicle services and meals listed day by day
- Second-class high-speed train tickets for listed itinerary segments; precise segment to be confirmed
- Chinese- or English-speaking guide service, except during private airport/station transfers and high-speed rail journeys
- Travel agency liability insurance
- One bottle of water per person per day
Excluded or separately payable
- Services not listed in the itinerary are at the traveller's own expense
- The optional Jiuzhaigou Romance Show is charged separately
- Guide accompaniment on private airport/station transfers and high-speed rail journeys
- Arrival and departure airfares are not included in the listed tour services; ask Gala Holidays to arrange a separate quotation.
Optional experiences
- Jiuzhaigou Romance Show (《九寨千古情》): ¥280 per person, not included in the USD tour fee.
Good to know before booking
- Huanglong and Mounigou are alternative arrangements; the confirmed itinerary will specify which one is visited.
- The Panda Base visit does not include holding, touching or feeding pandas.
- Specific sightseeing points and transport within Mount Emei are subject to the confirmed itinerary; no particular summit, temple or cable car is promised.
- The planned Day 6 hotel is HUALUXE Leshan or similar; the final property and overnight location require confirmation.
- Minimum two travellers; requested dates and availability must be confirmed by Gala Holidays.
- Itinerary, hotels and meals may be adjusted according to actual tour arrangements.
- The seasonal price bands do not provide a rate for August 31; please request a quotation if relevant.
- The cancellation terms do not specify the charge exactly 30 days before departure; obtain written clarification before booking.