Photograph Giant Pandas, Golden Monkeys & Dramatic Mountain Landscapes
When you're on a quest for a truly unique nature photography adventure, China is calling. You'll come home with rare images of wildlife and landscapes few travelers are privileged to see. In secluded nature reserves and national parks deep within the Minshan Mountains of Sichuan, great rivers and gorges dissect lush forests sheltering some of the world's most endangered creatures. This is the last wild habitat of the giant panda, which subsists on the bamboo protected in these sanctuaries. Supported by WWF, these little-visited wilderness enclaves also harbor rare moon bears, golden snub-nosed monkeys, shaggy takin, Chinese goral, blue sheep and exquisite birds, including the golden pheasant. Developed with our own Photo Expedition Leaders and local Chinese guides, our singular itinerary reveals Chinese nature at its most entrancing—plus cultural highlights like traditional Tibetan villages and the Terracotta Army in the ancient city of Xi'an. We also include close-up panda photography at China's renowned research and breeding bases.Trip Highlights
Extended Visits to Four Panda Research & Breeding Bases
Watch and photograph giant pandas at close range at four world-renowned panda research centers, each offering a unique setting and visitor experience
Photograph Endangered Wildlife at a Remote Wild Panda Sanctuary
Special permits allow us into a virtually unvisited reserve where elusive wild pandas live and breed freely—we don't expect to see them, but other rare wildlife is on view
Close-Up Photography with Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys
Get delightful images of endangered golden snub-nosed monkeys, charming blue-faced primates found only in a small area of temperate forest in central China
WWF In Action
Photograph a Hidden Side of China as You Travel “Behind the Scenes”
Book any other photo tour to China, and you’ll likely shoot the classics: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square. We, however, approach China differently for nature photographers. On Nat Hab's one-of-a-kind Photo Expediton, you'll go deep into hidden wilderness spots few Westerners can access—including native wild panda habitat and a spectacular national park in western Sichuan that's virtually unknown outside China. You'll also get to document authentic scenes of rural and village life, rarely included on standard tours. Find our more about makes our China photo odyssey so exceptional:
- A Rare Opportunity to Search for Wild Giant Pandas
We hold exclusive permits to enter a remote, little-visited nature reserve, with access to areas where wild giant pandas live and breed freely. Though their numbers are few in this vast reserve and they are highly elusive—we won't expect to see them—it's a thrill to be able to look for them in their native wild habitat. - A Virtually Unvisited Reserve Offers Exclusive Wildlife Photo Opportunities
In addition to wild pandas, the reserve described above is home to many other species including red panda, blue sheep, civet, leopard cat, Tibetan and rhesus macaque, muntjac, serow, moon bear, golden and Sichuan takin, and more than 150 species of birds, including the golden pheasant. Due to a half-century of protection from hunting, they are often visible from roads and trails. However, it is important to note that vegetation is heavy, weather can affect wildlife visibility, sightings are highly unpredictable, and we generally see wildlife at a distance. - Get Close-Ups of Giant Pandas on Four Separate Panda Bases Visits
If it's panda photos you're after, we're certain no other tour offers the panda immersion this one does. We make sure you get all the close-range shots you hope for. On four separate panda base visits, you'll photograph pandas in different settings, from enclosures ensuring good close-ups to natural, open environs where pandas may climb trees or otherwise engage in typical "in the wild" behavior.
- Photograph Golden Monkeys in a Mountain Nature Reserve
China's other hallmark species is the golden snub-nosed monkey, and we include a visit to a golden monkey reserve where a large habituated troop provides endless entertainment from just feet away. Though they are not truly "wild," neither are they enclosed, and we are thus able to get wonderful close-ups of their wizened faces and charming behavior. - A Full Day for Nature Photography in Siguniangshan National Park
We spend the entire day photographing the dramatic scenery of Siguniangshan National Park as we traverse the high-altitude Shuangqiao Valley, ringed by snow-capped peaks, including Four Sisters Mountain, rising to 20,000 feet. Colorful geological features, mirror-like lakes, pagodas and prayer flags make for captivating photography subjects. Few if any western travelers regularly set eyes on this stunning landscape. Our Expedition Leader offers guidance along the way to help you get exceptional shots. - Photograph Scenes of Traditional Tibetan Culture
Our travels include an overland traverse along the edge of the sprawling Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where small villages, prayer flags and chortens dot the landscape. We'll learn more about this deeply traditional culture, which offers a dramatic counterpoint to the urban Chinese setting of Chengdu. - Visit Ancient Xi'an to Photograph the Terracotta Army
Of course, we would not omit the chance to visit this extraordinary archaeological site, where you'll have a chance to get close-up shots from a wide range of angles of the thousands of hand-carved warriors, horses and chariots unearthed here more than 2,000 years after their intricate creation—no two statues are exactly alike! - Our Small Group Allows Us to Adapt to Changing Conditions
Because we limit this trip to 10 guests, you’ll get plenty of personalized attention and photography coaching from our Expedition Leader. A small group also means we’re able to get everyone up and out early in the morning to chase the best light. We’ll have the flexibility to remain at a site longer if it shows a lot of photographic potential, or move on to a new destination if it doesn’t. - An Accomplished Photographer Expedition Leader, Plus Expert Local Guides
Your Nat Hab Expedition Leader is not only a naturalist but also an expert nature and wildlife photographer, offering tips and techniques for challenging forest photography conditions, with plenty of time and enthusiasm to answer all your questions. We are also accompanied by an outstanding Chinese naturalist guide. With a tremendous depth of experience, plus additional training and resources provided by WWF’s top scientists, our staff will make your trip a learning adventure as well as a photography quest. See Expedition Leader bios with traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders. - Accommodations Selected to Optimize Photo Opportunities
From a quiet group of mountainside chalets in a remote nature reserve where other travelers are few, to a simple hotel in a traditional ethnic village on the Tibetan Plateau, our comfortable lodgings place you in close proximity to the highlights of each region we visit, whether that's wildlife, evocative landscapes or scenes of traditonal life. - Dine on Outstanding Local Cuisine
While photography may be your primary interest, food lovers will be thrilled by the culinary delights you'll discover. Sichuan provinc is famed for its piquant cuisine, and offer a wide selection of restaurants and dishes, carefully selected by our local Chinese guide to appeal to Western palates and preferences. Since food is typically served family-style at a large round table, multiple tastes and dietary preferences can be catered for (though be sure to make special needs known to us ahead of time). We make a point to choose locations that are popular with local people, for a truly authentic Chinese dining experience. - An Opportunity to Volunteer with Panda Care When Conditions Permit
At Dujiangyan Panda Base, we may have an optional opportunity to help with aspects of the pandas' care. This could involve preparing their food or other tasks that place us directly into the daily activities of the pandas' caregivers at this research base. Please note that this volunteer opportunity is intermittent and depends on the pandas' situation at the time, and it will not always be available. - Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Photography Expedition
Natural Habitat Adventures offers an exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise. - Feel Good About the Way You Travel
We all care about the planet, and you can travel with us knowing that the emissions from your trip are 100-percent carbon-offset. Natural Habitat Adventures is the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company and a leader in sustainable practices throughout its operations abroad and at home. - Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
