Volunteer Tours 
to the Giant Panda Research Center in China

Next Panda Tour Oct. 9 - 18, 2008

2009 Panda Tour Dates: May 8 - 17, Sept.11 - 20, Oct. 16 - 25

Special Panda Tour including Beijing and Xian May 19 - June 1, 2008, click here for details
 To view our "Lavish China" VIP China+PandaTour click here
To view our "Everest Base Camp Trek+Panda Tour click here

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Recently we had some concerns expressed regarding traveling to China to volunteer with the pandas because of the Olympic Protests taking place. The three remaining tours this year in May and in October are not affected by these problems. Participants are nowhere near Tibet and need not to be fearful. It is our own opinion that these protests which for the most part take place in other countries including the United States are most unfair to the Olympic Athletes. Having been competitive skiers ourselves we know how hard an athlete has to work and the sacrifices that must be made to get to the top. For Protesters to take advantage of the free publicity is shameful and cheap.  If any of these people would be asked to pay for the broadcast time to publicize their grievances no one would put up a red cent. This said, to make a trip to work with the pandas is as fantastic an experience as it always was. 

Special arranged tours to do volunteer work at the Giant Panda Bear Research Center in Wolong in southwestern China

By special arrangement with our partner Joe Zhou in Beijing and the Giant Panda Research Center we have set up special volunteer tours which are only available through us. Since we have an overwhelming interest in tours which concentrate on the pandas only, we designed this tour for those whose interest are the pandas only.  If you would like to also visit Beijing and Xian, we have an optional tour to visit Beijing, a special excursion the Great Wall with an overnight stay in the former Imperial Summer Retreat  of Chengde and Xian. Details and the itinerary are below.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart USA for your flight to Beijing.

Day 2 - Evening arrival in Beijing. You will be met by our Chinese tour host to be transferred to the hotel.

Day 3 - After a leisurely breakfast embark on a city tour of Beijing. In the evening enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner in the most famous restaurant specializing in Peking Duck. B L D

Day 4 - Today you will fly to Chengdu in southwestern China.  Drive directly to Wolong after arrival.BD

Day 5 - After breakfast you will attend a lecture with one of the directors of the center and receive your keepers uniform, your passport to go in and out of the research facility as many times as you please.  After the lecture you will start your volunteer work.  You will be assigned a "Master"  one of the keepers of the center who will assist you and show you what needs to be done.  The facility is open to tourists almost all who are Chinese from neighboring provinces, but who are restricted to certain path that lead along the Panda enclosures. However, you will be one of the staff and you are allowed into all restricted areas, getting in close contact with the bears. Some of your chores will be to help sweep the immaculate panda bins, take bamboo to the hillsides behind the bins, and best of all, feed the bears by hand. They are gentle creatures and will take a slice of apple from you without ever touching your hand. After your working sessions and in-between you are free to roam about the facility and take pictures.  BLD

Day 6 -  Full day of volunteer work at the center, you will work from eight until about eleven and from 2:30 until about four. At all other times you are free to take pictures and observe the pandas.  BLD

Day 7 - Volunteer work  is is on the itinerary in for the morning. In the afternoon  you will have the special privilege to enter the panda kindergarten and play with several of the young pandas. In the evening a "thank you" dinner together with your "Masters" will take place where you will receive a certificate of having been a volunteer from the center's director. BLD

Day 8 - After breakfast there is time to spend some time to take pictures and say goodbye to your panda. Then you will bid Wolong goodbye and return to Chengdu. The evening is free to rest or take a walk along the river just a short distance from away from the hotel. BL

 Day 9 - This morning transfer to the airport to fly to Shanghai, China's largest city with a population of 17 million people. After arrival in Shanghai you will be met by your local guide. After depositing your luggage at the bus take the world's fastest train (up to 430 km an hour) to the city.  Enjoy lunch, then visit the Yu Garden in the old section of Shanghai after which the blue willow porcelain was patterned. The evening is free to pursue your own interests. B L

Day 10 - Transfer to the airport for your return flight to USA.

LAND TOUR COST:  $2370
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:  $425
AIR FARE: Check with us for special fares on Cathay Pacific Airways from New York or San Francisco, or we can offer special fares on other carriers. If you arrange your own air fare or use frequent flyer miles double check the departure and return dates without before ticketing.

EACH TOUR IS LIMITED TO 15 PARTICIPANTS - 

INCLUDED in the tour are:  8 night first class hotel accommodations, daily breakfast,lunches and dinners as per itinerary, transportation in deluxe air conditioned 28-passenger buses,  domestic air fare, all sightseeing and entry fees as mentioned in the itinerary, airport transfers,  domestic airline tickets including airport fees, English speaking local guides with special knowledge of the areas visited, tips to guides and bus drivers, and the services of our Chines hosts and of Posh Journeys. 

NOT INCLUDED:   International air fare, passport and visa fees, alcoholic drinks with meals , add-on airline tickets from other cities, and any item not specifically mentioned in this itinerary.

AIR FARE: Both Air China and United have non-stop flight San Francisco/Beijing and non-stop return flights from Shanghai. You can check with us for best available fares or you may do your own air arrangements.

Optional Tours

Beijing and Xian + Panda Tour Dates for 2008
Departure from U.S. is:
May 5 - Oct. 5 
Tour cost is for a minimum of 4 participants, if there is less than 4 a surcharge will apply.

Day 1 - Arrive in Beijing where your local guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Day 2 - Relax over breakfast, then set out to see Beijing. Visit the Forbidden City, the former Royal Palace, Tiananmen Square and the imposing Temple of Heaven. In the evening have dinner in a romantic little palace located on the shores of Beihai Lake not far from the Forbidden City. BLD

Day 3 - Depart Beijing after breakfast to drive to a remote section of the Great Wall which you will have mostly to yourself.  After a walk along the wall enjoy a picnic before you continue to the former summer retreat of the Ching Dynasty Emperors in Chengde.  Chengde is seldom visited by western tourists,  with many palaces and pagodas in the royal garden and replica of the Portola Palace in Tibet.  BLD

Day 4 - Return to Beijing where you enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner this evening. B L D

Day 5 - Fly to Xian. After arrival you will be met by your guide to be transferred to Xian. En route visit the Tiny Terra Cotta Warriors which have been found in recent years in one of the many tombs that cover the Xian plain. They are exceptional and seldom visited by other tours. After a late special lunch the evening is free to pursue your own interest. You may want to attend a performance of the Tang Dynasty show, an exceptional show that rivals any Las Vegas production show.  BL

Day 6 - The day will be spend visiting the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum which always exceeds expectations and is an astounding sight, considering that the statues have been buried beneath the museum for more than 2000 years. In the evening enjoy a Xian Dumpling dinner, a specialty of this region of China.  BLD

Day 7 - Fly to Chengdu to meet the rest of the panda volunteers, see the itinerary above.

Land Cost per person: $1550
Single Supplement: $320
If you sign up within 60 days of departure surcharges for hotels and airlines may apply. A $50 bank transfer fee applies to any payment we receive after 60 days before departure.

INCLUDED in the price are domestic airline tickets and departure taxes from Beijing to Xian (the Xian/Chengdu portion is part of the panda tour), 6--nights first class hotel accommodation (one night in Beijing is part of the panda tour), breakfast lunch and dinner daily, private guides and drivers, sightseeing as described, all entry fees for included attractions, tips to tour guides and drivers.
NOT INCLUDED are additional meals, alcoholic drinks and soft drinks that are not included with meals and any item not specifically described in this itinerary.

CONTACT US FOR OTHER OPTIONAL TOURS AND EXTENSIONS OR PRIVATE TOURS

Posh Journeys
530 E. Patriot Blvd. #172
Reno NV. 89511
Tel./Fax 775-852-5105
E-mail: contact@poshjourneys.com