From
NZ $28,070 per person

Founders Tour – Terraces & Temples – A Path to Shangri La

15 days
•
From Chengdu to Kunming
4.0
5 traveler reviews
  • Golden-roofed monastery with intricate details and clear skies.
  • Colorful monastery garden with potted plants and decorative architecture.
  • Potala Palace at sunrise with a road and decorative stupa in view.
  • Monastery with colorful gardens and intricate architectural details.
  • Outdoor group photo with a historic site in the background.
    View all
From
NZ $28,070 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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Plan your adventure:
Operator
Crooked Compass
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 2 - 12
Ages 18+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Travel with Crooked Compass Founder, Lisa Pagotto
  • Observe giant pandas and explore Chengdu’s hidden food scene by tuk-tuk
  • Sip tea in one of Sichuan’s oldest teahouses
  • Walk the ancient towns of Songpan and Jianshui
  • Discover Jiuzhaigou’s lakes and Huanglong’s travertine pools
  • Watch sunrise over the Duoyishu Rice Terraces
  • Enjoy a home-cooked meal with a Hani family
  • Explore the towering formations of the Stone Forest
  • Visit Songzanlin Monastery and dance with locals in Dukezong
  • Experience the alpine beauty and Tibetan soul of Shangri-La

Itinerary

View Full Itinerary
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 2nd April 2026 Arrival in Chengdu
  2. Day 2 3rd April 2026 Chengdu
  3. Day 3 4th April 2026 Chengdu - Jiuzhai Valley
  4. Day 4 5th April 2026 Jiuzhaigou
  5. Day 5 6th April 2026 Jiuzhai Valley to Chengdu via Huanglong
  6. Day 6 7th April 2026 Chengdu to Kunming
  7. Day 7 8th April 2026 Kunming to Jianshui via Stone Forest
  8. Day 8 9th April 2026 Jianshui
  9. Day 9 10th April 2026 Jianshui to Yuanyang
  10. Day 10 11th April 2026 Yuanyang
  11. Day 11 12th April 2026 Yuanyang to Shangri-La
  12. Day 12 13th April 2026 Shangri-La
  13. Day 13 14th April 2026 Shangri-La to Kunming
  14. Day 14 15th April 2026 Kunming
  15. Day 15 16th April 2026 Departure
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Flights
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Crooked Compass

4.0
(5 reviews)

Number of tours

82

Age Range

18 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

80%

Crooked Compass is a boutique tour operator uncovering the world’s best kept...

Read more

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Dr.
    · April 13th, 2024
    excellent, highly recommendable, versatile, not the general kind of tourism one receives mostly everywhere with large groups of boring people. This was not everything spoon fed but for the person who has an interest in a country and doesn't mind the unusual, the different, the out -of-the way experience. We would like to see more but due to the Earth quake we were unable to travel the East Coast of Taiwan but will keep it in mind. Good food, inexpensive, great markets (not just night markets but the artistic markets), good hotels, good driver and tour guide, in short summary, highly recommendable for the person who wants to have an experience outside the famous box. There are plenty of those tours for the boxed-in travelers elsewhere.
    Show more
  • tsippora
    · October 25th, 2023
    Excellent. Mostly addressed my interests, was very well managed.
    Show more
  • Elizabeth
    · July 18th, 2023
    Great tour guide, driver and itinerary.
    Show more

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
  • From Thursday
    2 Apr, 2026
    To Thursday
    16 Apr, 2026
    English
    Filling Fast
    From:
    NZ $28,070 per person
    Multiple Room Types
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Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

Why book with TourRadar?

    • Trusted and vetted operators
    • Rated excellent on
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    • 24/7 customer support
    • Earn $150 in travel credits
    • Free eSim with every purchase

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More benefits
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Crooked Compass with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.
From
NZ $28,070 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 322550

  • Currency
    ¥
    Yuan Renminbi
    China
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for type G.

    Type G
    China
    Type I
    China
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Cholera - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for China. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Rabies - Recommended for China. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for China. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for China. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for China. Ideally 6 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before December 29th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after December 29th, 2025, a minimum payment of $1,150 is required to confirm your booking with Crooked Compass. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Crooked Compass will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Crooked Compass" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
  • People also viewed

Keep Exploring China

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec