Chengdu Pandas & Guilin Landscapes

Chengdu · Guilin · Yangshuo · 7 nights

Seven nights from Chengdu to Yangshuo, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Seven nights across three stops: Chengdu for three nights, Guilin for two and Yangshuo for two. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Giant Pandas; Li River Cruise to Yangshuo; Karst Country by Bicycle and Bamboo Raft; and Teahouses, Sichuan Food and Opera. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: a keeper-led morning at the Chengdu panda research base, then karst-river sunsets in Yangshuo. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

A keeper-led morning at the Chengdu panda research base, then karst-river sunsets in Yangshuo
Giant Pandas, Chengdu
Teahouses, Sichuan Food and Opera, Chengdu
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, Guilin
Karst Country by Bicycle and Bamboo Raft, Yangshuo

Day by day

Your Itinerary

8 days

01
Day 1 · Chengdu
Arrival in Chengdu
Arrive at Tianfu or Shuangliu airports, 40-70 minutes by road to the centre and transfer privately to your base. Time today to settle into a teahouse in People's Park and watch the city slow down.
- Private transfer via Tianfu or Shuangliu airports
- Settle into a teahouse in People's Park and watch the city slow down
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Chengdu
Giant Pandas
An early start at the Chengdu Research Base, when the pandas are active and feeding, with the conservation programme explained properly.
- Chengdu panda research base at opening
- Red panda enclosures
- Conservation centre exhibits
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Chengdu
Teahouses, Sichuan Food and Opera
People's Park teahouse culture, a Sichuan cooking class or market walk, and a Sichuan opera evening with its face-changing act.
- People's Park teahouse
- Sichuan cooking class or market walk
- Sichuan opera face-changing show
Meals:
BL
04
Day 4 · Guilin
Chengdu to Guilin
Fly or take the high-speed train into Guangxi's karst country. On arrival, walk the Two Rivers and Four Lakes waterfront under the lit pagodas.
- Fly or take the high-speed train into Guangxi's karst country
- Walk the Two Rivers and Four Lakes waterfront under the lit pagodas
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Guilin
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
The four-hour cruise through the karst peaks between Guilin and Yangshuo, the landscape printed on the 20-yuan note. Winter low water can shorten the route.
- Li River cruise
- Xingping and the 20-yuan viewpoint
- Arrival at Yangshuo
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Yangshuo
Guilin to Yangshuo
Arrive by Li River cruise or the expressway down from Guilin. On arrival, cycle out of town into the karst fields in the late afternoon.
- Arrive by Li River cruise or the expressway down from Guilin
- Cycle out of town into the karst fields in the late afternoon
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
07
Day 7 · Yangshuo
Karst Country by Bicycle and Bamboo Raft
Cycling the Yulong river valley between the peaks and a bamboo raft downstream, with the cormorant fishermen on the Li in the evening.
- Yulong river cycling
- Bamboo raft drift
- Cormorant fishing demonstration
Meals:
BL
08
Day 8 · Yangshuo
Departure from Yangshuo
An early river morning before the road back to Guilin. Private transfer to Guilin airport in good time for your onward flight.
- An early river morning before the road back to Guilin
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

When are the pandas most active?+

Early morning, especially at feeding time. Your visit to the Chengdu research base starts at opening.

When is the best time for the Li River?+

April to October for green landscapes; summer brings heat and rain. Autumn is clear and comfortable.

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for China?+

Yes. A tourist visa is needed before travel.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.