Avatar Mountains Tour

• Arrival in Guangzhou

  Upon arrival, you will be met by a driver holding a welcome sign and transferred to your hotel.

  Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 PM. Early check-in may be possible subject to room availability.

  After settling in, the group will meet in the hotel lobby and set off on their first tour of Guangzhou:

  • A walk along Beijing Road — a lively pedestrian street lined with shops, cafés and street vendors, where you can experience the vibrant atmosphere of old Guangzhou.
  • A visit to a Buddhist temple — one of the city’s most beautiful and spiritually significant landmarks.
  • A stroll through Huacheng Square, surrounded by impressive skyscrapers and contemporary architectural masterpieces.
  • A visit to the iconic Canton Tower — the symbol of Guangzhou, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city illuminated at night.

  In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

  Accommodation: Guangzhou
  Meals: Dinner

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will leave Guangzhou and travel to Yangshuo — a region renowned for its dramatic limestone peaks, green valleys and scenic rivers.

  The mode of transportation will depend on the group size. Groups of up to five guests will travel by comfortable private vehicle, while groups of six or more will take a high-speed train.

  Upon arrival in Yangshuo, you will ride a cable car to a picturesque mountain summit. As you ascend, spectacular views of the karst mountains and emerald valleys will unfold below — some of the most beautiful scenery in this part of China.

  At the top, enjoy a walk across the glass bridge and visit an observation platform offering sweeping views of Yangshuo’s remarkable natural landscape.

  After the excursion, check in to a hotel overlooking the impressive karst peaks.

  In the evening, you may choose to attend the renowned Liu Sanjie show, created by acclaimed director Zhang Yimou. This large-scale open-air performance transforms the river and surrounding mountains into a natural stage. Music, artistic lighting, mist, moonlight and reflections on the water combine to create a truly magical atmosphere.

  Accommodation: Yangshuo
  Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, travel to Xingping, a historic riverside town surrounded by the famous karst peaks of the Li River region.

Your introduction to this scenic area begins with a boat trip along the river. As you cruise through the landscape, green mountains, peaceful riverbanks and dramatic limestone formations reflected in the water unfold around you — views that have become an enduring symbol of Southern China.

Next, climb to a viewpoint overlooking the stretch of river featured on China’s 20-yuan banknote. From here, you can admire one of the country’s most recognisable panoramas and capture memorable photographs.

Continue with a walk through Xingping’s historic quarter. Its narrow lanes, traditional houses and old façades preserve the quiet charm of a small Chinese town.

At sunset, return to the banks of the Li River for a traditional cormorant fishing demonstration. A local fisherman and his trained birds will show a method passed down through generations. Framed by the evening light, river and mountains, this experience becomes one of the most atmospheric moments of the journey.

Accommodation: Xingping
Meals: Breakfast

• In the morning, travel into the mountains to Dazhai, a traditional village surrounded by some of Southern China’s most remarkable scenery.

  Upon arrival, check in to a hotel overlooking the Longji Rice Terraces. Their graceful curves descend along the mountainsides like enormous natural steps, often disappearing into clouds and mist. This extraordinary landscape was shaped by generations of local farmers over approximately 650 years.

  A walk through the village offers a glimpse into everyday rural life. Many of the fields are still cultivated by hand, preserving farming practices that have been passed down for generations.

  Dazhai is home to the Red Yao community, known for its colourful traditional clothing and distinctive customs. Long hair holds special cultural significance: at around the age of 18, young women traditionally take part in a symbolic haircut ceremony and preserve the cut hair for their elaborate hairstyles.

  One of the day’s highlights is a journey beyond the usual tourist routes. Accompanied by local residents, you will follow a little-known path to a secluded viewpoint on the quieter side of the terraces, revealing panoramas that most visitors never see.

  Accommodation: Dazhai Village
  Meals: Breakfast

  Please note: the terraces are covered in vibrant green during summer and turn golden before the autumn harvest. Outside the rice-growing season, the scenery takes on a different character but remains beautiful, with misty mountains and the authentic atmosphere of village life.

• After breakfast, travel to a nearby village for an introduction to the culture of the Yao people.

  During a cultural presentation, local women dressed in colourful traditional clothing will share some of their distinctive customs and reveal their remarkably long hair. Hair has deep cultural meaning for the Red Yao: at around the age of 18, young women traditionally take part in a symbolic haircut ceremony. The cut strands are carefully preserved and later incorporated into elaborate traditional hairstyles.

  After the performance, continue by car to the ancient town of Fenghuang.

  As dusk falls, set out on a walk through its historic centre. Stone-paved lanes, wooden stilt houses reflected in the river and small boats gliding quietly across the water create the feeling of stepping back in time.

  Fenghuang, whose name means “Phoenix Ancient Town”, resembles a living open-air museum. Its distinctive architecture, riverside scenery and timeless atmosphere have long inspired travellers, artists and photographers.

  In the evening, the town takes on a different character. Lights illuminate the waterfront, music fills the streets, and small cafés and food stalls begin to welcome visitors. Enjoy time for a leisurely walk, a taste of local cuisine and a relaxing evening.

  Accommodation: Fenghuang
  Meals: Breakfast

• Following an early breakfast, leave Fenghuang and travel by car to Zhangjiajie. The journey takes approximately 3.5 hours.

  Upon arrival, begin exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and its extraordinary mountain scenery. Towering sandstone pillars rise above deep gorges, creating the otherworldly landscape that inspired Pandora’s floating mountains in the film Avatar.

  A highlight of the visit is the Bailong Elevator, whose name means “Hundred Dragons Elevator”. Recognised as the world’s highest outdoor lift, its glass cabins carry you to the mountaintop in just a few minutes while dramatic cliffs and forest-covered peaks unfold outside.

  Continue on foot along scenic mountain trails and viewing platforms. From above, the slender stone pillars appear to float among the clouds, creating some of Zhangjiajie’s most memorable panoramas.

  After the excursion, transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.

  Accommodation: Zhangjiajie
  Meals: Breakfast

• Breakfast at the hotel

Today brings a day of discovery and thrilling experiences.

• Walk across the famous Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, one of the world's longest and highest. It stretches for 430 metres across a deep gorge, more than 300 metres above the ground. The transparent glass beneath your feet creates the sensation of floating in the air and guarantees a thrilling experience.
• Next, visit Golden Dragon Cave, one of China's largest and most beautiful karst caves. Inside are underground rivers, extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites, enormous chambers with stone waterfalls and a boat trip on an underground river.
• Return to the hotel and rest

📍 Overnight: Zhangjiajie

🍴 Meals: Breakfast

• Today you embark on one of the tour's most memorable adventures: a visit to Mount Tianmen, or “Heaven's Gate”, the region's highest point at 1,518 metres.

Today's programme:

• Ascend via the world's longest cableway, 7,455 metres long and taking about 30 minutes. The cabin floats above the city before climbing sharply at an angle of up to 70°, revealing breathtaking views of mountains and gorges.

• Walk along the famous glass “Walk of Faith”, a 60-metre section at an elevation of 1,430 metres. The transparent glass beneath your feet makes it feel as though you are walking through the air.

• Visit the Heaven's Gate Buddhist temple, founded during the Ming dynasty. This sacred place is where monks preserve ancient legends and maintain an atmosphere of spiritual seclusion.

• Continue to Heaven's Gate Cave itself, a natural wonder and symbol of Zhangjiajie. The immense opening in the rock, 131.5 metres high and 57 metres wide, formed as early as AD 263 and is surrounded by many legends.

Descent to the cave:

• Take the convenient escalator or descend the 999 steps. According to local tradition, completing this path symbolises spiritual elevation and a movement towards harmony.

• After the excursion, transfer to Zhangjiajie Airport.

📍 Overnight: Not included

🍴 Meals: Breakfast