Tour Description

Western Sichuan 6-Day Bike Tour to Danba

Dates: Thursday, August 23 to Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Mark, Peter and Rainer at a Stupa

Western Sichuan 6-Day Bike Tour to Danba

Dates: Thursday, August 23 to Tuesday, August 28, 2007

This 6-day bicycle 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 70 km (43 miles). On some days we will use vehicle transport to supplement the cycling to get us to the next destination. This will be a vehicle supported tour and riders will carry only day-use items on their bikes. 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 night before the first day, we will meet the group at the airport and transport to your hotel.

On the first day, we will take transport to the starting point 45 kilometers west of Chengdu at Chongzhou Baitou and start riding to Dayi Anren about 15 km. In Anren, we will visit the Liu Landlord Manner and have lunch. After lunch, we will cycle 20 km to Chonglai for a snack and then 18 km to ancient town of Pingle where will spend the night.

On Day 2 we will cycle 20 km to Ganxi then drive about 100 km to Lushan. From Lushan we will cycle 80 km to Yaoji Dam, then drive 25 km to Yaoji Forest Station.

Big climb day! Starting at 2,450 m cycle 36 km up to the pass at Jiajinshan at 4,200 m (about 6 hours) then down the pass 44 km to Xiaojin Xian where there is a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque and a Catholic Church where Mao spend some time on the Long March.

On the fourth day, the group will cycle an easy 60 km to 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. We will then explore the hills in the afternoon visiting defensive towers dotting the surrounding hills.

Payback time. Drive back to the top of Jiajinshan Pass, then cycle down, down, down to Baoshan. Transport to Ya'an and then cycle to ancient village of Shangli.

On the last day there will be an easy 30 km cycle to a low pass and then fun ride down to Jiaguan. We will transport to the Chengdu airport by early afternoon. End of tour.

Bike Trip to Danba Travelogue and Photos

Itinerary

Day	Location	Cycling Distance KM/Miles	Total Distance KM/Miles	SICHUAN PROVINCE
0	Chengdu	0/0	26/16	Meet group members at the Chengdu airport, then transport to the hotel.
1	Pingle	50/31	109/68	Transport to Chongzhou Baitou then cycle to Anren. Visit Lui Landlord Mannor. Then cycle to Pingle.
2	Yaoji Forest Station	100/62	222/138	Cycle 20 km to Ganxi, then transport to Lushan and cycle to the Yaoji dam and transport 20 to the Yaoji Forest Station.
3	Xiaojin	84/52	84/52	Climb 36 km to the Jiajinshan Pass (4,000 m) and then cycle down to Xiaojin.
4	Danba	60/37	60/37	Cycle an easy 60 km downhill to Danba in the morning. Then visit the defence towers in the afternoon.
5	Shangli	80/50	334/207	Transport to the top of Jiajinshan, then cycle down to Baoshan. Transport to ancient town of Shangli.
6	Chengdu	50/31	120/75	Cycle up to a low pass and then down to Jiaguan. Transport to the Chengdu airport. End of trip.
	Total Distance	424/263	955/593

Details

Dates: Thursday, August 23 to Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Start location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Finish location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Tour type: Support vehicle will be provided for some of the tour - riders will carry only their own day gear.

Geographical location: Southwest China Elevation range: 500 m (1,640 feet) to 4,000 m 13,120 feet)

Terrain: Rolling and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Moderate to challenging - alternative transportation will be used when needed

Total cycling distance: Approximately 424 km (263 miles): Average distance per ride day: 70 km (43 miles). Cycling will be supplemented with vehicle transport on some days to reach the next point of interest or destination.

Days: 6 Nights: 6

Climate: The best weather for touring is in the spring and fall. Historic weather information is available from the link above.

Group size: 1 - 8

Private room supplement: US$180

Rental bike: US$0 - included in the cost of the tour.

Accommodations will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-3 star variety. Two nights will be in a simple guesthouse. 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.

Tour includes the following:
1. Bilingual bicycle tour guide to accompany the group for the duration of the tour
2. All hotel accommodations (double occupancy)
3. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included)
4. All group transportation costs which includes three support vehicles
5. All group entrance fees to attractions
6. Mountain bike rental, including helmet, gloves, and raincape

Bicycle rental is included in the cost of the tour. This includes a mountain bike with front suspension, panniers, gloves, raincape, and helmet.

This will be a vehicle-supported ride.

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

Tour Cost: Depends 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:
Group size: 1 person: $1,850
Group size: 2 people: $1,320 pp
Group size: 3 people $1,250pp
Group size: 4-8 people $1,060 pp

* 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 $300 per person is required. This is fully refundable up to 45 days prior to the start of the tour. 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.

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