Most visitors spend a day in Jiuzhaigou Valley mainly because the entrance ticket is only valid for a day, and with the help of sightseeing bus, one can explore most of the highlights in the three valleys. But there is no doubt you can only explore on the surface if you only spend a day in the valley. As a national park covering 72,000 ha and distancing over 31 mi, there are up to 114 turquoise pools and lakes, 47 tranquil springs, 17 groups of waterfalls, 11 rapids and 5 beautiful tufa shoals. Thus, we encourage you to spend two days in the valley so that you explore Jiuzhaigou further, closer and deeper, and enjoy some leisure and scenic walking.
The scenic area of Jiuzhaigou consists of four major areas which are Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley, Rize Valley and Nuorilang Waterfall. They are connected by well-paved roads and wooden walking trails with total length over 37 mi. To enjoy a comfortable and scenic walking, you can spend one day walking the Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley, and the other day walking Rize Valley. Sightseeing bus will be used to transfer between those sections without walking trails
Day 1 Chengdu - Huanglong - Jiuzhaigou Valley
Today's highlight: Huanglong Valley
Welcome to the fairyland Jiuzhaigou. Upon arrival at Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport, you will be greeted by our local tour guide and driver who will then transfer you to Huanglong Valley directly (40 km/1hr).
Situated in the Minshan Mountains in northwestern Sichuan Province, Huanglong Valley has one of three most outstanding travertine lake terraces in the world, which is 3.6 kilometers long, and lies under the grandiose peak of Xuebao Peak (Snow Treasure Mountain: 5,588 meters) like a yellow dragon. This is how the valley gained the name of Huanglong (Yellow Dragon). The travertine scenery was created by geological evolution for thousands of years, including glacial revolution, terrane movement, chemical reaction, climate changing, etc. At the top (3556 m) of the valley lies the best highlight - Five-Color Ponds consisting of 693 ponds of different sizes, shapes, colors, dazzling like beautiful emeralds. Huanglong Valley is also renowned for superlative sceneries of snow mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, wild forests, etc. as well as an important habitant of Giant Pandas and Snub-nosed monkeys. All these magnificences of nature helped Huanglong gain the title of World Natural Heritage Site in 1992.
It usually takes about 6 hours to hike from the entrance to Five-Color Ponds, then return to the entrance. To save energy and time, you will take a quick cable car directly to the top, and then walk down the valley to enjoy the scenery. After about 3-hour sightseeing in the valley, you will leave the park and drive about 2 hours to Jiuzhaigou to check in your hotel.
Useful tips: 1) some attractions in Huanglong valleys are located over 3500 meters above the sea level, which may cause high altitude sickness for some travelers. You’d better walk at a slower pace. If you feel hard to breathe or headache, you can go to the Oxygen Bars to rest and take oxygen; 2) Huanglong cableway is not operational in winter; 3) there is no restaurant in the valley, you can bring some food or snacks, or have lunch after exiting the park.
Huanglong Five-Color Ponds
Huanglong National Park Landscape
Day 2 Jiuzhaigou Walking: Zechawa Valley / Shuzheng Valley ( B )
Today's highlights: Long Lake, Five-color Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall, Shuzheng Lake, Tiger Lakes, etc.
After breakfast, you will take a sightseeing bus from Jiuzhaigou Gate to the top of Zechawa Valley to start sightseeing and hiking, which is helpful to escape from the tourist groups who usually travel from the lower area to the top. Get off the sightseeing bus, then walk on plank road to visit Long Lake which is the longest and widest among all lakes in Jiuzhaigou. With its amazing blue water and green color on the lake, it’s one of the ideal site to take photos. Then you will walk down about 1 kilometer along plank road to visit Five-color Lake. Due to the different mineral concentration, the water in different depths create different color spectrum from pale blue through aquamarine to emerald green. Leave Five-color Lake and go to hop on a sightseeing bus to Nuorilang Water Fall area where you can take some rest and have lunch.
After lunch, you will go to visit the iconic attraction of Jiuzhaigou - Nuorilang Waterfall. As the widest calcified waterfall in China, Nuorilang Waterfall is about 300 meters wide and 20 meters high. Overlooked in the opposite viewing pavilion, it looks like a white screen pouring down with a roaring sound. Leave Nuorilang, take a sightseeing bus to Rhinoceros Lake to start your hiking down along Shuzheng Valley to Reed Lake on route there are over 19 lakes of different sizes and many waterfalls, including Shuzheng Lakes, Tiger Lakes, Flaming Sea, Shuzheng Waterfall, Shuanglonghai Waterfall, etc. As you walking along the way, you can enjoy the great nature with traditional Tibetan villages. Lastly, hop on a sightseeing bus back to the entrance, and transfer back to your hotel.
Nuorilang Waterfall in Golden Autumn (October)
Beautiful Long Lake in Summer (August)
Five-color Lake in Zechawa Valley
Day 3 Jiuzhaigou Valley Hiking: Rize Valley ( B )
Today's highlights: Five-flower Lake, Mirror Lake, Wild Forest
Today's highlight is the most beautiful valley of Jiuzhaigou - Rize Valley. After breakfast, you will take a sightseeing bus to the end of Rize Valley where your walking tour starts. With a total length of 18 km, the route links Nuorilang Waterfall and Virgin Forests. Here are all colors of the lakes like a kaleidoscope, fairyland tranquil and abstruse, or mystic mirror. Waterfalls here have the tallest drop. Beaches look like treasure house. Virgin forest reach to the sky...luckily, you are going to enjoy them all during today's walking. You will hike more than a half day from the top to the Nuorilang. Then take a sightseeing bus to the park entrance and return to your hotel. Your Jiuzhaigou walking tour ends.
Five-flower Lake in Rize Valley
Arrow Bamboo Lake in Rize Valley
Day 4 Jiuzhaigou Departure ( B )
Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport drop off
Today is free for you until your tour guide and driver escort you to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to Chengdu or other destination. Next destination ideas: 1) By Air: if you don't want to return to Chengdu, you can take flight to Xian, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, etc, from Jiuzhaigou Airport; 2) By Land: if you want to extend your trip from Jiuzhaigou, you can travel northward to Hongyuan, Ruoergai, Langmusi, even Gansu and Qinghai Province.
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1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Dear Jack,
I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.
"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"
Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth
Hi Jack!
It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!
Hi Jack,
we will be happy to when we get back to Shanghai It was a great trip and Kevin was a wonderful guide!
Lisa
Hi Jack,
Absolutely fantastic trip. We enjoyed every moment and the guides were all really good.
I might only have one more year in China and I would like to see more. I believe that the best way for me is smaller trips leaving Thursday evening and returning Sunday.
Soren
Hi Jack,
Thank for our trip. Well organised. Driver & guide were super ! We have been lucky to have a sunny weather and the lantern festival! And not toooooo cold, only if you compare to the week before !
Helene
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
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There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Huanglong Five-Color Ponds
Huanglong National Park Landscape
Jiuzhaigou Autumn - Nuorilang
Beautiful Long Lake in Summer (August)
Five-color Lake in Zechawa Valley
Five-flower Lake in Rize Valley
Arrow Bamboo Lake in Rize Valley
Based in Chengdu (only 1hr’s flight to Jiuzhaigou) with more than 1360 good reviews on Tripadvisor, we always master the first-hand travel information of Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong Valley and other beautiful places in the region. We know what is the best way to visit Jiuzhaigou no matter you travel solo or with your family and friends; Our private tour packages assure you the highest standards with great flexibility, comfort and personalized arrangement. You will your personal travel consultant, professional tour guide and a private vehicle which only serve for your party - nobody else. All-inclusive tour package to let you enjoy the best of Jiuzhaigou WORRY FREE.
Jiuzhaigou is located in northern Sichuan Province in southwestern China. It is about 450 km north from Chengdu city, approximately 1 hour’ flight or 7~8 hour’s driving. Generally speaking, if you travel solo, or travel with kids, or want a more comfortable trip, you are suggested to take flight to get to Jiuzhaigou. If your time is not on budget, or want to experience more places along the road, driving is the best option for you.
A Jiuzhaigou tour usually starts from Chengdu. You can take the early flight so that you have at least a half day to explore Huanglong Valley before heading to Jiuzhaigou. Stay in a hotel close to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Valley. Day 2 can be a full day exploration in Jiuzhaigou Valley. With the help of sightseeing bus, you can visit most of the beautiful attractions in the three valleys of Jiuzhaigou in a full day. Day 3 is for you to leave Jiuzhaigou. If you prefer a land-driving tour, you need 4 days. Day 1 is to drive about 7~8 hours from Chengdu to Songpan or Chuanzhusi, two towns near Huanglong Valley; Day 2 is to visit Huanglong Valley and drive about 2 hours to Jiuzhaigou for accommodation. Day 3 is a full day spent in Jiuzhaigou Valley. Day 4 is to drive back to Chengdu from Jiuzhaigou. There are some stops along the driving to take rest, sightsee and have lunch between Chengdu Jiuzhaigou driving. If you arrive at Jiuzhaigou from other cities, we can pick up you at the airport either.
Staying overnight in Jiuzhaigou Valley is not allowed due to environment protection. Travelers usually stay in the Goukou (Jiuzhaigou Valley Entrance) area where hotels options are flexible from 5 stars to 3 stars. China Discovery only uses those hotels with convenient amenities, fine services and great reputations. Most of them are 5-star and 4-star hotels located near the Goukou area where you can also get easy accesses to food street, shopping malls, banks, etc. We will also take care of the private transfers between hotel and the scenic area for you.
Some attractions in Huanglong valleys are located over 3500 meters above the sea level, which may cause high altitude sickness for some travelers. You can take high altitude sickness prevention medicine about 2~3 days before your tour. During your tour, you’d better walk at a slower pace. If you feel hard to breathe or headache, you can go to the Oxygen Bars in Huanglong Valley to rest and take oxygen; The altitudes of Jiuzhaigou valley is lower than Huanglong. The altitudes of most of the attractions in Jiuzhaigou are below 3000 m. With the help of sightseeing bus and rich oxygen density, the chance is small to get high altitude sickness.
Jiuzhaigou is open all year around, but the best time for travel is from June to November. The most beautiful scenery comes in late September and fade in middle November when the forests turn to colorful, waters are clean and weather is most enjoyable. Winter is a good time for photography of snow world. It is also less-crowded and money-saving. March to May is not a very good time. The weather is great but some pools, lakes and waterfalls may be dried-up.
Jiuzhaigou has a plateau climate with lots of sunny days and huge temperature difference between day and night. The temperature in spring is still a little cold and you need to prepare sweater and coat to keep warm. The summer of Jiuzhaigou is cool, and wearing a T-shirt or pants is enough. But rain gear, sun-screen and moisturizer are a must-taken items with you in summer. In Autumn, You can take a long-sleeved blouse with a light coat at day time and thick clothes at night. If you plan a winter travel, you need to wear thicker clothes, like down jacket or cotton wadded jacket together with thick sweater in it. You can ask your travel consultant for more detailed weather information and tips.
Chengdu / Huanglong / Jiuzhaigou
Chengdu / Huanglong / Jiuzhaigou / Chengdu
Chengdu / Huanglong / Jiuzhaigou
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