Your driver picks you up in the morning. First stop is the panda base – either Dujiangyan (closer to the highway) or Wolong (deeper in the mountains). You’ll get there during feeding time when the pandas are eating and playing. With luck, you’ll see some baby pandas too.
After visiting the pandas, you start the drive to Jiuzhaigou through the mountains. The road follows the Minjiang River valley with views of gorges, traditional Qiang villages, and Tibetan prayer flags. You pass through Wenchuan (site of the 2008 earthquake), Maoxian, and the old town of Songpan. Your driver stops for photos and bathroom breaks.
You arrive in Jiuzhaigou town by evening and check into your hotel.
Overnight near Jiuzhaigou.