Hiking & Cultural Tours

Important note to all former clients

Thankyou for taking the time to have a look at this new part of our website. This series of pages are under construction. If you have come to these pages as a result of an email that you have received from us, welcome. Some of you will be clients that have travelled with us many times over the years and already aware that Paul has been developing hiking and cultural tours in China. Finally these tours are very close to coming to fruition mainly due to the input that my Chinese business partner Ping who has worked tirelessly to bring all our joint research together.

Our Hiking Tours

You will note that we have used the word “hiking” which we have deliberately chosen. A hiker does not just walk, but visits places of interest, embraces the local food and seeks out places that are fascinating due to their history, culture and customs. A hiker experiences and immerses them selves in a place, not just sees it. To fully appreciate China, you need to use all your senses, sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing – only then will you experience the real China.

Development of our Tours

My partner and I have already spent several weeks exploring a part of China that is seldom visited by overseas tourists, we have already completed many day hikes, explored some fascinating places and made friends with a Tibetan family, that will be very much involved with the cultural side of our hiking holiday. In early November 2024 Ping and I will finalize the itinerary of walks and interesting places we will visit and explore. Our hikes (some of which will be optional for our guests) will operate in both lower altitudes of approximately 2400m to our more remote hikes in areas above 4500 meters, thus ensuring a variety of landscapes and terrain. Day walks, overnight walks and even one that will involve pack horses with a local mountain guide will be a feature of this holiday.

Duration and Cost

This holiday (China content) will be approximately 15 days and the date of our inaugural trip will be commence from Chengdu on the 8th June 2025. At this stage the inclusive cost of this hiking holiday (not including flights to Chengdu and Visa) will be approximately $4650.00

Our Gallery of pictures (so far)

Below this introductory text please find a selection of photos from our first investigative trip in June this year. After much deliberation we have decided on an area in northern Sichuan Province, based in the small ancient, walled city of Songzhou, which is part of Songpan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
Please note we are not publicizing the actual locations of the areas we will walk, as we have a duty to protect these areas from over tourism that is having a devastating affect in many places throughout the world.

The walled city Songzhou its self is fascinating and beautiful and unspoiled by high-rise buildings. However, this will just be our base and it is from here we will travel by private vehicles to the walking areas we have very carefully selected away from the the main tourist areas.

Expressions of Interest

As we expect these hiking holidays to be very popular, we urge you to contact us soon, for further detailed information. Please email Paul@outdoortasmania.com.au or call on 0408 918 249

As early as 10 years ago, National Geographic explained to the world that “the Hengduan Mountains at 30 degrees north latitude are the most beautiful place in China.” And here is the core and most beautiful part of the whole great cross section.

The valley cut out by the great river jumped from 1500 meters to a height of 7556 meters. Sea of flowers, grasslands, lakes, canyons, snow-capped mountains, broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, scrub, glaciers… As the altitude continues to climb, here, you can meet any imaginable scenery.

In our itinerary, there will also be a small minority of places led by the mysterious “horse gang”, so that you can get close to the original horse drivers and listen to the sound of horse gang bells that gradually become the echo of history; Walk into a real Tibetan family, drink authentic butter tea, eat the meat of yaks that grow on the plateau for years, drink the water of the snow mountains, dig precious herbs, graze cattle… . In addition, the intelligent hotel room service will let you eliminate the fatigue of the day, and the national characteristics of the coffee hotel will make you feel worthwhile…

Across the mountains and rivers, across the lake and the sea, to see all living beings, this way, regardless of rain or sunshine, is the best scenery. Look forward to your coming here – 30° North, the heart of the Great Cross. Look at the sum of all things in the world.

The above is my Chinese partners description – I have not changed or edited it as it is both poetic & enticing, The following pictures will introduce you to the area around the city, almost makes me homesick for Songzhou and its people, some of which are now firm friends

As we move higher in altitude (approximately 3200m) the meadows change to open but very walkable ridges that seem to stretch endlessly into the distance, enticing one to explore and follow to one of the valleys.

As the mist descends and obscures our views we descend to the valley far below, a magical area of water falls and moist rain forest where the air is filled with the sound of tumbling water and in the forest the earthy smell of sphagnum is a delight to your senses.

GetZaga Waterfall, known as “China’s first travertine waterfall.” According to geologists, the waterfall is both a liquid waterfall and a solid waterfall.

The so-called solid waterfall refers to the whole waterfall face of the river as a tufa body. Upstream of the waterfall is a lake and downstream is a stepped riverbed.

The upper reaches are lakes and the lower reaches are a series of stepped riverbeds.

Hundreds of layers of travertine ring waterfall and jade string beads, through the three-level travertine steps down, ZagaFalls scenic area. The river is 5 kilometers long.

Zaga Waterfall is a multi-layer waterfall, which is changeable. The highest calcified waterfall in China.

Some Pictures of Songpan

The ancient city of Songpan was built during the Tang dynasty and it was later rebuilt during Ming dynasty. Songpan was an important military post. It was also an important economic and trading center for horse and tea exchange between Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet.

Your Guides Ping & Paul together with our Tibetan friends children

Our Tibetan friends dressed us in traditional dress (to go to a street folk dance) this picture was taken shortly before we arrived at the regular folk dancing events that take place each week in Songpan.

Pine Forest Walks Near Songpan

These lower level pine forest walks are ideal as we are gradually getting acclimatized for our higher altitude walks

High Level Mountain Walks

In November Ping and I will finalize our high level walks and remote wilderness overnight hikes, we will add pictures to this page as we complete them.

Accommodation

All accommodation that we will provide on this holiday will have been personally selected by us, in all cases we will have stayed at the accommodation. All Hotels and Guest Houses (except for those nights spent in tents, approximately three nights) will be of a 3 to four star rating. We feel that comfortable, clean and homely accommodation is very important for our guest. The pictures below is the small hotel in Chuangzhusi, a small quiet town not far from Songpan, but is very close to the main walking areas.

Greetings from China

Hi all, I was going to upload many pictures and additional information to this web page, however this proved very difficult during the days we were in the mountains, however I am going to add several video and pictures over the next few days, whilst still here in China. When I return to Tasmania, there will be considerable more information.