Tour Description

Western Sichuan - Pandas, Snowy Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau 7-Day Bike Tour

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

Jeff and Kathy at the top of Balangshan (4,523 m, 14,835 ft)

Western Sichuan - Pandas, Snowy Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau 7-Day Bike Tour

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

This 7-day cycling tour begins and ends in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. This tour is designed as a moderate to challenging ride. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 61 km or 37 miles. There will be a support vehicle to transport luggage (and cyclists when needed). This tour will visit both well-known and little-known sights and will appeal to those who have cultural, social and geographical interests.

On the first day, the group will meet in Chengdu in the morning to transfer gear into panniers and store excess luggage at the hotel. We will take transport to the starting point 100 kilometers from Chengdu. This puts us on a quiet road leading into the Wolong Panda Reserve. We will spend the night in Wolong and visit the Panda Research Center the following morning when the pandas are the most active and have plenty of Panda photo opportunities.

On the second day, group will head up to Balangshan Pass (partially using transport) through the Wolong Nature Reserve. The pass is at 4,523 meters (14,835 feet). Yaks can be seen grazing on the slopes tended by Tibetan herdsman. At the top of the pass we will then coast down into a gorgeous valley to Rilongguan, at the base of Four Girls Mountain. We will spend a day in the area hiking and cycling around this scenic area.

Wori Defensive Tower On the third day we will cycle (mostly downhill) to visit the village Wori with an impressive defensive tower and then on to Xiaojin Xian where there is a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque and a Catholic Church where Mao spent some time on the Long March. The group will end up in Danba, located on the Dadu River, a major tributary to the Yangzi. Along the way we will visit a lamasery and a Tibetan Buddhist Temple.

The fourth day, the group will go from Danba and head south along the Dadu River to the town of Kangding partially using transport. Kangding is a well-known Tibetan town straddling a fast-flowing river. We will visit a Tibetan temple and soak in a hot-springs bath.

On day five, we will go from Kangding to Moxi cycling over a 4,200 meter pass then head down along a river valley to Moxi combination of bicycle and transport.

We will spend the sixth day exploring Hailuogou Glacier Park. This is home to the breath taking 7,556-meter (24,784 ft) Gongga Mountain and the glacier flows that tumble down off its slopes. We will get an up close view of the glacier and if we are lucky also get a glimpse of spectacular peaks which are often shrouded in clouds.

On the last day, we will cycle downhill from Moxi to the Dadu River to Luding, a historic place where Chairman Mao crossed the river with his Red Army on his Long March. Afterwards, the group will get transported over the Erliang Mountain (through a tunnel) and then back to Chengdu, concluding the tour.

Photos and Cycling Travelogue in Western Sichuan

Mark Jay's Bike Tour in Western Sichuan

Some Photos Highlights in Western Sichuan

A Travelogue in the Western Sichuan.

Itinerary

Day	Location	Cycling Distance KM/Miles	Total Distance KM/Miles	SICHUAN PROVINCE
1	Wolong	41/25	141/86	Take transport to the starting point 100 kilometers, then cycle into the Wolong Nature Reserve. Visit the Pandas the following morning.
2	Rilongguan	50/31	98/60	Partially using transport, head to Balangshan Pass (4,523 meters or 14,835 feet) then cycle down to Rilongguan at the base of the Four Girls Mountains.
3	Danba	120/73	120/73	Cycle mostly downhill to Danba stopping in Wori and Xiaojin to visit defensive tower, Tibetan and Buddhist Monastery and a Catholic Church.
4	Kangding	77/47	139/85	Partially using transport, cycle down the Dadu River valley and then up to Kangding.
5	Moxi	65/40	65/40	Partially using transport, cycle up to a 4,200 meter pass and then down to Moxi.
6	Moxi	0/0	25/15	Explore Hailuogou Glacier Park.
7	Chengdu	25/15	268/163	Cycle downhill to the Dadu River and then to Luding, a historic place in Mao's Long March. Visit the historic bridge and then take transport back to Chengdu, concluding the tour.
	Total Distance	383/234	955/582

Details

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

Start location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Finish location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Tour type: This is a vehicle-supported tour.

Geographical location: Southwest China Elevation range: 1,640 feet (500 meters) to 14,835 feet (4,523 meters)

Terrain: Flat, rolling and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Moderate - a support vehicle will be used when needed.

Total cycling distance: Approximately 522 miles (856 km): Average distance per ride day: 37 miles (61 km).

Days: 7

Nights: 7

Climate: The best time to tour is in the Spring and Fall.

Group size: 1 - 6

Private room supplement: US$290

Rental bike: US$0 (included).

Accommodations will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-3 star variety. At least once it will be necessary to use a no-star hotel.

The prices are for double occupancy rooms, and will vary depending on the number of people who participate. This tour is limited to no more than eight people. This will permit more flexibility in the program and allow more spontaneity for taking photos or exploring villages along the way.

Prices include the following:

1. All hotel accommodations for 7 nights.
2. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
3. All group land transportation costs (buses, boats, and taxis) including a support vehicle to accompany the tour.
4. All group entrance fees.
5. Bilingual bike tour guide to accompany the group throughout the tour.
6. Rental bikes (US$0) and related biking gear including helmets, gloves, bike bags and raincapes.

This will be a vehicle-supported ride.

If you decide to do something on your own, you will be responsible for those costs.

Cost: Prices depend on the total number of people going on the tour and the time of year. Below are the price per person (pp) and quoted in US dollars (US$) for non-holiday periods*:

Group size:
1 person: $2,680
2 people: $2,070pp
3 people: $1,710pp
4-6 people $1,390pp

* Holiday Periods require a 30% surcharge to the basic price due to increased costs of hotels and transportation. Tours with overlapping dates will be prorated. These periods are: Chinese New Year (Feb. 7, 2008) from Feb 1-17, 2008 and (Jan. 26, 2009) from Jan. 19 to Feb. Feb.2, 2009; Labor Day Apr. 24 - May 10; and National Day Sep. 25 - Oct. 10.

An announcement of the cost of the tour will be made to the group 45-days prior to the start based on the number of registered members.

A deposit of $500 per person is required. Submission of a deposit will guarantee your place on the tour. Balance is due at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the tour and payable by credit card, wire transfer, or personal check.

Read some

Testimonials from our Clients

Click here to send a note of interest or to request additional information

For general ride information that applies to all rides, please visit out FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and the General Info page.