China Wild Panda Adventure 2027
March 27 - April 04 , 2027
Group Trip
Off the Beaten Track
Great for Non-divers
Why join this Trip?

Mountain Lodge Twin Room
Double Occupancy
$3,800 per personSingle Occupancy
$4,250 per personInclusions
Exclusions
Trip type
Group Trip
Led by an experienced Bluewater trip leader who will manage the trip logistics and ensure your needs are met throughout. While this trip is designed to optimize your photography opportunities, it is not led by one of our photo instructors and so meaningful photography advice from your trip leader should not be expected.
Read more about the trip
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
Embark on an 8-night Wild Panda Expedition through the remote mountains of Sichuan Province, China, for a rare chance to search for giant pandas in their natural habitat. This overland journey takes travelers deep into less-developed regions, where sightings of wild pandas—while not guaranteed—offer an unforgettable experience for wildlife enthusiasts. Along the way, guests may also encounter red pandas, Tibetan macaques, sambar deer, and other elusive species.
Weather Conditions
Temperature in the mountains is around 0-5C at the lowest and 10-20C at the highest. In Chengdu city, it can be above 20C. A separate clothing list and packing list will be provided.
The following gear is recommended:
Camera (with lens 600 or above) and tripod binoculars (or scope) - 10*42 minimum.
Sample Itinerary
- Day 1 (Mar 27): Arrive in Chengdu and airport transfer to hotel, overnight in Chengdu
- Day 2 (Mar 28): Morning visit to Chengdu Panda Sanctuary and then after lunch drive from Chengdu for 5 hours into the mountains for late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 3 (Mar 29): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 4 (Mar 30): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 5 (Mar 31): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 6 (Apr 1): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 7 (Apr 2): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 8 (Apr 3): Early morning search, go back to lodge to rest, late afternoon search, overnight in mountain lodge
- Day 9 (Apr 4): Early morning search (depending on flight schedules), transfer back to Chengdu to airport
Accommodations
Accommodation Overview
The mountain lodge is simple but modern with ensuite bathrooms. Electricity is available 24-hours and guests can charge phones and cameras, no problem. There is internet and cell reception available after Chengdu, and the only time you may not have reception or internet is when you go into the mountains searching for pandas.
Photo Gallery
How to Get There
Flight Information
Guests should fly into Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), arriving on March 27th. There are direct flights from LAX and Vancouver with Sichuan Airlines. The flight out on April 4th should be booked for early evening to allow for a morning panda search before departure.
Flight Package
Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.
However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.
If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $1,000 to confirm your spot
- Payment 2: $2,000 due 1 September 2026
- Balance due: 1 December 2026
China Wild Panda Adventure 2027
Book now and experience adventure







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