Terra Incognita \"ter-a-in-kag-net-a"\ [L] (1616): unknown territory: an unexplored country.

China

In search of the Giant Panda


Giant Panda, Foping Nature Reserve, China

11-day expedition

The Giant Panda is a true icon for endangered wildlife. Yet today the future of the Giant Panda is particularly fragile. This peaceful, bamboo-eating member of the bear family faces a number of threats. Its forest habitat, in the mountainous areas of southwest China, is fragmented and Giant Panda populations are small and isolated from each other. Meanwhile, poaching remains an ever-present threat. The Chinese Government has created over 50 panda reserves protecting more than 10,400km² and yet despite these efforts there are estimated to be less than 1,600 Giant Pandas left on earth.

Please join us for an expedition into the heart of the natural habitat of this enigmatic species.

We hope to encounter wild Giant Pandas on this trip.
We will not visit any of the captive "sanctuaries" - this is a trip designed to see Pandas in-the-wild.
Sightings of wild Pandas cannot be guaranteed.


Takin, Foping Nature Reserve, China

2009 Departure Dates:
November 16 to 27

Cost is $5,999 per person

Detailed Itinerary

This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will make a contribution to the Foping Nature Reserve.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.

Day 1: Monday 16th November - Arrive Xi An, China
Everyone should plan to arrive on, or before, the morning of Monday 16th November. You will be met at the Xi An airport and transferred to our hotel where we have lunch and freshen-up. In the afternoon we will visit the famed Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, with visits to Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3, and the Chariot Museum. We will drive back to Xi An in the later afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner at our Hotel this evening.
Overnight at Grand New World Hotel (L,D)


Giant Panda feeds on bamboo, Foping Nature Reserve, China

Day 2: Tuesday 17th November - Xi An city tour
Today we have full day to explore the City with a guided tour to the Shaanxi History Museum, the Wild Goose Pagoda, Jade factory visit and the Old City Wall. We plan to build in some free time to explore on your own. Of course we can also change the sequence of visits, if people are too tired on the first day, and visit the Terra Cotta Warriors today. Dinner this evening is a dumpling Banquet!
Overnight at Grand New World Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 3: Wednesday 18th November - Xi An to Foping Reserve Station
After breakfast we will drive to Foping National Nature Reserve, this reserve located on the south side of the Qinling Mountains has the highest density of wild Giant Pandas ever recorded. We plan to spend the next week here, tracking wild Pandas each day, with the hope of encountering Giant Pandas in-the-wild. We have specifically chosen the month of November to visit as in the late Autumn and early Winter the Pandas come down to lower elevations, and the likely presence of light snowfall should make the Pandas easier to track.

Once we reach the end of the road we must walk into the Station and porters will carry our luggage. The path into the station is an easy walk, but everyone should be in good physical condition as some days the tracking may be quite difficult. Indeed, if you wish to join this trip you should be able to walk up and down sometimes slippery terrain, the trails can be quite steep and scrambling up or down snow-covered slopes may be necessary.
Overnight at Foping Reserve Station (B,L,D)

Day 4-10: Thursday 19th to Wednesday 25th November - Foping Nature Reserve / Panda tracking
Each day we plan to go out in the Reserve with our team of trackers and guides in search of wild Giant Pandas and of course some of the other wildlife found in the area, such as Golden Takin, Asiatic Brown Bear, the elusive Golden snub-nosed monkeys and a wealth of birdlife, including Crested Ibis, pheasants and tragopans. Indeed the Foping National Nature Reserve has recorded some 68 mammal species, 217 species of birds, 38 species of reptiles, 15 species of fishes and over 1,250 species of insects. We will use porters each day to transport some of our gear and take boxed lunches to allow us maximum time out in the reserve.
Overnights at Foping Reserve Station (B,L,D)


Panda habitat, Foping Nature Reserve, China

Day 11: Thursday 26th November - Foping Nature Reserve to Xi An
After breakfast today we say farewell to the station that has been our home for a week and walk back out of the reserve to our waiting vehicle. Then we will drive the several hours back to Xi An and civilization! Tonight we have our farewell dinner back at the Grand New World Hotel where we first began our adventure.
Overnight at Grand New World Hotel (B,L,D)

Cost per person is $5,999
Single supplement is $1,000
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)

Cost Includes:

Not included:

International Air Travel - International air is not included in the price of your trip, but we would be happy to have you work with AirTreks, our preferred preferred provider of international air arrangements. We recommend our customers work directly with AirTreks as they coordinate your international flights directly with Ecotours and enable you to arrive at your destination at the times specified for your tour. Please contact AirTreks at ecotours@airtreks.com for more information on international air travel, a no obligation cost estimate of your international flights and complete international air itinerary planning.

Make sure to mention Terra Incognita Ecotours when you contact AirTreks to receive preferred pricing, and recommended travel itineraries specifically developed for your tour.


Woodland stream, Foping Nature Reserve, China

Travel Information

Thanks for choosing China with Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. It is our pleasure to help you plan for your upcoming ecotour. To ensure that your travel arrangements are made to your satisfaction, please take a few minutes to read through this information.

What you need to have with you on your trip:

Passport: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport, valid for six months from the date of completion of your trip.

It is always a good idea to make a photocopy of your airline tickets and of the pages of your passport that have the number, your photograph and other pertinent information. Keep the copies separate from the originals.

Visas: Please consult the China consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter China. If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining it.

Documents for children under the age of 18, not traveling with both parents: The U.S. government is increasingly requiring that minors under 18 years of age traveling alone, with grandparents, or with one parent/legal guardian only, carry a notarized document signed by both parents or by the parent/legal guardian not traveling with the child. We suggest you obtain such a document (noting the age of the child, relationship to traveling adult(s), dates of travel, and destination) to avoid potential problems. For example, in the case of divorce, the parent with legal custody must sign the permit, and the accompanying adult must carry proof of this fact. In addition, if the child's surname differs from that of either parent, you may want to carry the child's birth certificate.

Emergency Contact number while on your ecotour:
Call COLLECT (813) 289-1049

Practical Information

Currency: The currency of China is the Yen and 1 USD = 6.87 YEN (effective July 2008). Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger stores. US dollars are NOT widely accepted, so we suggest you carry Chinese currency in small denominations for smaller purchases such as taxis, refreshments or other miscellaneous expenses.

Health: All information we obtain regarding health precautions is received from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta at 404.332.4559 or www.cdc.gov.

Please note that Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc., as a travel company, is in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician for medical advice, showing him or her the brochure that indicates the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you leave.

At the present time, no immunizations are required for this ecotour, although the CDC recommends that the normal "childhood" vaccines should be up to date: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR Vaccine), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Perturssia (DTP Vaccine) and Polio vaccine.

Swimming: There may be an opportunity to swim at the Hotel in XiAn for added protection from the sun you may wish to wear a T-shirt while swimming.

Time Difference: China is twelve hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Weather: China is an enormous country and consequently every type of weather is possible. We will be visiting in November and the area we are visiting is in the mountainous interior so temperatures could drop to, or below, freezing, and snowfall is possible. We advise pack clothing that can be worn in layers, and be prepared for cold and/or wet conditions.