Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou & Mount Emei
Pandas, turquoise lakes and a sacred Buddhist mountain — the unhurried grand tour of Sichuan
From
£2,310pp
About this tour
Sichuan rewards those who linger, and this 18-night journey is built on exactly that principle: four bases, three hotel changes, and time to let China's most beautiful province unfold. It begins with six nights in Chengdu — giant pandas at the Research Base, a UNESCO food evening among hidden local restaurants, the Shu Feng Ya Yun show of traditional Sichuan arts, and free days for teahouses and parks in China's most famously relaxed city. Then the road climbs. Jiuzhaigou, five nights, is a UNESCO World Heritage valley of turquoise lakes, waterfalls and forested peaks that scarcely looks real in photographs and looks even less real in person. A private valley tour and a day trip to the golden travertine pools of Huanglong are the heart of the holiday — taken slowly, because at 2,000–3,500 metres, slowly is exactly the right speed, and rest days either side let you acclimatise and simply enjoy the mountain air. The final chapters descend to sacred Mount Emei — one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains — with a day trip to the 1,200-year-old Leshan Giant Buddha, and finish in Chongqing, the astonishing hillside metropolis where the monorail runs through a building and a night cruise glides beneath the blazing lights of Hongya Cave. It is a journey of pandas, pilgrims and remarkable landscapes, paced for travellers who want to experience Sichuan rather than merely tick it off.
“Designed by Wei Zhang, our China specialist with 14 years of private guiding based in Beijing.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Only three hotel changes in 18 nights — four proper bases with free days after every big excursion
- Private guiding at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong means the altitude days go entirely at your pace
- Pandas, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei without early starts stacked back to back
- Chengdu's UNESCO food scene explored with a guide who knows the hidden dishes
- Ends with the theatre of Chongqing — monorail, ancient town and a two-rivers night cruise
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Chengdu
Chengdu
Very lightBuddha Zen Hotel
Welcome to Chengdu
Chengdu
You arrive in Chengdu, a vibrant city celebrated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. A private transfer takes you to the Buddha Zen Hotel, your home for the next six nights, and you settle in at your own pace.
2Giant Pandas and Morning Discovery
Chengdu
Active morning on gentle park slopes, free afternoonBuddha Zen Hotel
Giant Pandas and Morning Discovery
Chengdu
This morning you head out on the Chengdu Research Base Half-Day Tour, one of the world's most beloved wildlife experiences. The afternoon is yours to relax and take in the rhythm of this fascinating city.
3Flavours of Sichuan
Chengdu
Free day with a gentle evening walking food tourBuddha Zen Hotel
Flavours of Sichuan
Chengdu
This evening you join the Hidden Dishes and Beers UNESCO Food Evening Tour, a wonderful chance to explore Chengdu's legendary culinary heritage through its lesser-known local treasures. The day itself is free — a teahouse in People's Park is the classic Chengdu way to spend it.
4An Evening of Traditional Performance
Chengdu
Free day with a seated evening performanceBuddha Zen Hotel
An Evening of Traditional Performance
Chengdu
Tonight you attend the Shu Feng Ya Yun Evening Show, a celebrated showcase of traditional Sichuan arts including the famous face-changing opera. This graceful performance offers a wonderful window into the region's rich artistic heritage.
5A Day to Savour Chengdu
Chengdu
Free dayBuddha Zen Hotel
A Day to Savour Chengdu
Chengdu
A free day to enjoy Chengdu at your own pace. The city's teahouses, streets and parks invite a gentle and unhurried exploration — Wenshu Monastery and its vegetarian restaurant are a rewarding, easy outing.
6Final Morning in Chengdu
Chengdu
Free dayBuddha Zen Hotel
Final Morning in Chengdu
Chengdu
Your last full day in Chengdu before departing for the scenic highlands of Jiuzhaigou. Take a moment to soak in the city's warm, unhurried atmosphere one final time, and pack a warm layer for the mountains.
7Arrival in Jiuzhaigou
Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou
A long, scenic mountain road dayHoward Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
Arrival in Jiuzhaigou
Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou
You travel by private vehicle from Chengdu into the breathtaking landscape of Jiuzhaigou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its colourful lakes and dramatic mountain scenery. Check in to the Howard Johnson Tian Yuan Resort and unwind after your journey.
8Into the Valley
Jiuzhaigou
Full dayHoward Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
Into the Valley
Jiuzhaigou
Today you embark on a Private Jiuzhaigou Valley Tour, exploring the extraordinary turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls and forested valleys that make this one of China's most spectacular natural destinations. Your private guide ensures a relaxed and personal experience.
9Huanglong's Golden Pools
Jiuzhaigou / Huanglong
The highest day of the tourHoward Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
Huanglong's Golden Pools
Jiuzhaigou / Huanglong
A private trip to the Huanglong Scenic Area takes you to a remarkable landscape of terraced travertine pools and ancient temples set amid snow-capped peaks. Another unforgettable day in the high mountains of Sichuan.
10Time to Breathe
Jiuzhaigou
Rest dayHoward Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
Time to Breathe
Jiuzhaigou
A quieter day to rest and appreciate your surroundings in Jiuzhaigou. The resort's setting amid mountain scenery makes it a wonderful place to unwind between adventures — a deliberate pause built into the itinerary.
11Last Full Day in Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou
Free day at your own paceHoward Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
Last Full Day in Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou
Your final full day to enjoy the natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou before departing tomorrow. Spend it at a gentle pace — a return to a favourite corner of the valley can be arranged, or simply enjoy the mountain air from the resort.
12Arrival at Mount Emei
Jiuzhaigou → Mount Emei
A long travel day, descending to comfortable low altitudeEmeishan Grand Hotel
Arrival at Mount Emei
Jiuzhaigou → Mount Emei
You journey by private vehicle from Jiuzhaigou to the sacred Mount Emei, one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. Check in to the Emeishan Grand Hotel and prepare to explore this remarkable region over the coming days.
13The Leshan Giant Buddha
Mount Emei / Leshan
ModerateEmeishan Grand Hotel
The Leshan Giant Buddha
Mount Emei / Leshan
A full-day excursion takes you to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, a breathtaking 71-metre stone carving dating back over 1,200 years and one of China's most awe-inspiring sights. This is a truly humbling and memorable experience.
14Culture of Leshan and Emei
Mount Emei
ModerateEmeishan Grand Hotel
Culture of Leshan and Emei
Mount Emei
Today's Leshan and Mount Emei Culture Tour offers a deeper immersion into the history and traditions of this sacred area — temples, tea and the living Buddhist heritage that has drawn pilgrims here for centuries.
15A Peaceful Day on the Mountain
Mount Emei
Free dayEmeishan Grand Hotel
A Peaceful Day on the Mountain
Mount Emei
A free day to savour the tranquil mountain atmosphere of Mount Emei before departing for Chongqing tomorrow. The forested slopes and temple bells create a wonderfully serene setting for a restful day — or ask about the cable car to the Golden Summit if the weather is clear.
16Welcome to Chongqing
Mount Emei → Chongqing
Travel dayChongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel
Welcome to Chongqing
Mount Emei → Chongqing
You travel by private vehicle from Mount Emei to the extraordinary hillside metropolis of Chongqing, dramatically perched at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Check in to the Chongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel and get your bearings in this remarkable city.
17The Classic Chongqing Tour
Chongqing
ModerateChongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel
The Classic Chongqing Tour
Chongqing
A full day among Chongqing's icons: ride the famous monorail as it passes straight through a residential building at Liziba, wander the stilted lanes of Ciqikou Ancient Town, and see the city unfold in layers from the river to the ridgelines. Chongqing does nothing by halves — today shows you why.
18Two Rivers by Night
Chongqing
Gentle day, seated evening cruiseChongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel
Two Rivers by Night
Chongqing
A gentle day to explore at your own pace before the evening's highlight: a night cruise where the Yangtze meets the Jialing, with the hillside city rising on every side in a blaze of light. Hongya Cave glowing above the water is a sight few travellers forget.
19Fly Home
Chongqing
Departure day
Fly Home
Chongqing
A private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home, full of the sights and flavours of Sichuan and the mountain south-west.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Deliberately unhurried — four long stays and only three hotel changes in 18 nights, with free days after every major excursion. The Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong days involve altitude (roughly 2,000–3,500m) and boardwalk walking, honestly described below.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Buddha Zen Hotel
★★★★Chengdu, China · 6 nights
A serene courtyard hotel beside Wenshu Monastery in central Chengdu, built in traditional style around tranquil gardens — an atmospheric and genuinely restful base.
- Traditional courtyard architecture
- Beside Wenshu Monastery
- Peaceful setting in the city centre
Howard Johnson Tian Yuan Resort
★★★★Jiuzhaigou, China · 5 nights
A comfortable international resort near the Jiuzhaigou valley entrance, set among mountain scenery — a warm, well-run base for the high-country days.
- Close to the Jiuzhaigou park entrance
- Mountain views from the grounds
- International standards at altitude
Emeishan Grand Hotel
★★★★Mount Emei, China · 4 nights
A long-established four-star hotel in gardens at the foot of Mount Emei, well placed for the mountain's lower temples and the Leshan day trip.
- Garden setting at the mountain foot
- Convenient for temples and hot springs
- Spacious, traditional-style rooms
Chongqing Holiday Riverview Hotel
★★★★Chongqing, China · 3 nights
A four-star hotel above the river in central Chongqing, with views across the water and easy access to Jiefangbei and the night-cruise piers.
- River views over the Yangtze
- Central Chongqing location
- Handy for the night-cruise pier
Enhance your trip
Business-class flight upgrade
+£from £1,650 per person
Upgrade your return international flights between London and China to business class — flat beds and lounge access in both directions.
Mount Emei Golden Summit excursion
+£from £120 per person
A guided cable-car day to the 3,079m Golden Summit, where the gilded Puxian statue rises above a sea of clouds on clear mornings.
Extra nights in Chengdu or Chongqing
+£from £75 per person per night
Add pre-tour nights in Chengdu to recover from the flight, or extend in Chongqing at the end.
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,310
per person · 2 sharing
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£675 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- Return international flights from London
- 18 nights' hand-picked accommodation across four bases
- Chengdu Research Base half-day panda tour
- Hidden Dishes and Beers UNESCO Food Evening Tour
- Shu Feng Ya Yun evening show ticket
- Private Jiuzhaigou Valley tour
- Huanglong Scenic Area private trip
- Leshan Giant Buddha day trip
- Leshan & Mount Emei culture tour
- Chongqing Classic full-day tour, including a ride on the famous monorail
- Chongqing Two Rivers night cruise
- Private road transfers Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou → Mount Emei → Chongqing
- Daily breakfast
- All private airport and hotel transfers
- Full ATOL 10205 financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required — including cover for travel to 3,500m)
- China visa fees
- Lunches and dinners not stated
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Wei Zhang
Wei was born in Beijing and grew up exploring the hutong lanes of the old city with his grandfather, who spent weekends taking him through the Palace Museum. He studied Chinese history at Capital Normal University, then spent six years as a guide at the Palace Museum, where daily contact with imperial art and artefacts gave him a depth of knowledge few private guides can match. He moved into private touring in 2010 and has worked with Holidays to Asia exclusively since 2015. His English is warm and precise, his patience with questions unlimited, and his ability to make thousands of years of Chinese history feel genuinely personal — rather than overwhelming — is the quality guests mention most in their reviews.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
Tourist visa (L visa) required for British citizens. Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). Fee approx £155. 4 business days standard processing. Full guidance provided with booking confirmation.
Currency
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB/CNY). £1 ≈ 9 RMB. Credit cards accepted at all hotels. Mobile payments (WeChat Pay) essential for independent spending — Wei helps set this up. Bring some RMB cash.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional in Chinese culture but is appreciated in the tourism industry. Guides: £20–25/day is appropriate. Hotel staff: 20–30 RMB per service. Drivers: 50–100 RMB per day.
Electricity
220V, 50Hz. Type A (flat two-pin) and Type I (Australian-style) sockets. A universal travel adaptor covers all needs.
Health & vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations. Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus recommended. Tap water not safe to drink throughout China — bottled water provided at all hotels. This itinerary reaches altitude: Jiuzhaigou 2,000–3,000m and Huanglong about 3,500m. Travellers with heart or lung conditions should consult their GP before booking, and travel insurance must cover travel to 3,500m.
Flights
Fly London to Chengdu (TFU) — direct services operate several days a week, or connect via a Gulf or East Asian hub. Return from Chongqing (CKG) via a hub. Open-jaw flights for this itinerary are included and arranged by us.
Local transport
Private vehicle throughout — Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou, on to Mount Emei and finally Chongqing, with regular comfort stops on the longer mountain drives. Park shuttle buses and cable cars operate within Jiuzhaigou and at Huanglong. All airport and hotel transfers included.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China?
Yes — British citizens require a visa to visit China. The standard tourist visa (L visa) is obtained from the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre before travel, costs approximately £155 and is valid for 10 years with 30-day stays. We provide full visa guidance with your booking confirmation.
How high is Jiuzhaigou, and will the altitude affect me?
The Jiuzhaigou valley sits at roughly 2,000–3,000m and the Huanglong pools reach about 3,500m — high enough that most people notice breathlessness on stairs and slopes, though serious altitude sickness is uncommon at these heights when you take it slowly. The itinerary is built for acclimatisation: a gentle arrival evening, boardwalk walking at your own pace with a private guide, a cable car at Huanglong, readily available oxygen canisters, and a full rest day afterwards. Travellers with heart or lung conditions should consult their GP before booking, and we are always happy to talk it through honestly.
When is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou?
October is the valley at its most celebrated, when the forests turn gold and crimson around the turquoise lakes — our October departures are timed just after the Golden Week holiday to enjoy the colour without the worst crowds. April–June brings snowmelt-full waterfalls and wildflowers; September offers clear air and warm days. Winter is beautiful but cold, and some park sections close.
How much walking does this tour involve?
Typically 2–5km on excursion days, almost all on boardwalks, temple paths and town lanes, with park shuttle buses and cable cars doing the climbing at Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. Free days between the big excursions mean you are never walking hard two days running. At Leshan you can view the Giant Buddha by boat rather than the 200-step cliff stairway.
I am travelling solo — is this tour suitable?
Yes. As a private escorted tour there is no group pace to match — the guides and drivers are yours alone, which matters particularly on the altitude days. A single supplement of £675 applies, covering sole occupancy of all rooms throughout.
What is the weather like across the route?
Expect three climates in one holiday. Chengdu and Chongqing are mild and often overcast, warm from April and genuinely hot in high summer. Jiuzhaigou is mountain weather — sunny days of 15–22°C in season but chilly mornings and evenings, so pack layers and a warm jacket even in May. Mount Emei is temperate and can be misty, which suits its temple atmosphere rather well.
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