Tour Duration: 8 day(s)
Group Size: 1 - 8 people
Specialty Categories: Bicycle Touring Mountain/Rock Climbing
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No

This 8-day bicycle tour begins and ends in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. This tour is designed as a moderate to strenuous ride. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 32 miles (51 km). On some days we will use vehicle transport to supplement the cycling to get us to the next destination. Riders will carry their own luggage in their bike panniers. 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. At noon, we will take transport to the starting point 100 kilometers from Chengdu. This puts on a road leading into the Wolong Panda Reserve. We will spend the night at Wolong and visit the Panda Research Center.

For the next two days, the group will head up to Balangshan Pass through the Wolong Nature Reserve. The pass is at 4,550 meters (14,950 feet) above the tree line. On the way up, one night will be spent in a simple guesthouse at 2,730 meters (8,950 feet). This will allow a more gradual acclimation to the altitude. 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 Sisters Mountain.

The following day we will cycle (mostly downhill) 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.

The next day we will cycle 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. In Danba, the group will explore the area including some of the Tibetan Defensive towers the dot the hills around the town.

On the eight day, we will return to Chengdu via bus to the pass, then cycle down to the highway where we will be transported by truck to Chengdu concluding the bike tour.

Your Itinerary

Day 1:Meet group members in Chengdu, then transport to start of ride to Wolong Nature Reserve

(B) (L) (D)

Day 2:Ride through the Wolong Nature Reserve to 2,750 meters (8,950 feet).(B) (L) (D)

Day 3:Cycle to top of 4,550-meter (14,950-foot) pass then coast down to Rilongguan (3,100 meters, 10,200 feet) at the base of Four Sisters Mountain (snow-covered all year) (B) (L) (D)

Day 4:Explore Wori Feudal Lord Tower, Twin Bridge Gorge,Catholic Church, Islamic Temple, Buddhist Temple(B) (L) (D)

Day 5:Visit 500-year old Lamasery, Tibetan Temple (B) (L) (D)

Day 6:Explore Danba area(B) (L) (D)

Day 7:Visit Tibetan Defensive Towers(B) (L) (D)

Day 8:Cycle down from the pass through the Wolong Nature Reserve. Take vehicle transport to Chengdu. End of trip.(B) (L) (D)

Notes:

Prices include the following:

1. All hotel accommodations.
2. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
3. All group transportation costs (buses, boats, and taxis).
Rental bikes are available for $75 including panniers, gloves, helmet and raincape.