Minimum Guests
2 Person
Activate Day
4 Nights/ 5 DaysA Journey Through Time & Stone: Chongqing's Cultural & Natural Wonders
Embark on an unforgettable expedition into the heart of Chongqing, where ancient human artistry meets breathtaking natural forces. This tour is meticulously designed for discerning travelers who seek to uncover the profound depths of China's cultural and geological heritage.
Your adventure begins at the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stand in awe before a majestic army of over 60,000 statues carved into the cliffs between the 9th and 13th centuries. These exquisite Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian sculptures represent the pinnacle of China's best-preserved cave temple art, telling silent, powerful stories of faith and philosophy.
Next, we journey to another UNESCO site—the spectacular karst landscapes of Wulong. Witness the three colossal Natural Bridges spanning a deep gorge, explore the vast Furong Cave, and ride the Pingange Cableway for panoramic views. This is a land sculpted over millennia by the mighty Yangtze River, offering a masterpiece of limestone formations, sheer cliffs, and underground rivers.
We return to the vibrant metropolis of Chongqing for urban exploration. Experience the city's unique charm at the stilted Hongya Cave, wander through the historic lanes of the Shibati Old Street, and marvel at the modern miracle of the Liziba monorail traversing through a residential building.
This tour is perfect for culture enthusiasts, history buffs, and nature lovers. It is tailored for those who desire more than a superficial sightseeing trip—it is for those who wish to truly understand the soul of a place, connecting with both its man-made marvels and the raw power of its natural world.
Tour Timeline
If you need to increase or reduce the number of travellers, please contact us for customised arrangements.
- Enjoy a private pickup from your airport/train station, with a guide accompanying you and providing support throughout the transfer.
- None
- Private Van
- Transfer from your hotel to Dazu by a private car with an English speaking guide.
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Dazu Arrival
Arrive in Dazu and check into your hotel. This county is home to a series of Buddhist and Taoist sculptures and frescoes dating back to the 7th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dazu offers a rich cultural experience, exploring centuries-old religious art and rock carvings that illustrate the spiritual history and architectural heritage of southwest China.
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Dazu County Treasure Of Beishan Mountains
Visit Beishan Rock Carvings, dating back to the 7th century, depicting Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist beliefs. Explore open-air rock reliefs and cave shrines showcasing intricate artistry and spiritual narratives. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a must-see for cultural explorers seeking ancient Chinese religious art in Dazu.
- Go back to your hotel from Dazu.
- Breakfast , Lunch
- Private Van
- Transfer to Wulong from your hotel by a private car with an English speaking guide.
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Sanqiao National Park
Walk through Three Bridges National Park, home to some of the world’s tallest natural arches. Descend into the valley along the old Tang Dynasty post road, pass a restored relay station, and admire dramatic scenery featured in historical films—a scenic and educational outdoor experience in China.
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Longshui Gorge Ground Seam
Trek through Longshuixia Fissure, a 5km deep valley with cliffs, waterfalls, and streams. Narrow paths offer thrilling views of sheer rock faces, making it a must-visit for hikers and photographers seeking dramatic natural scenery in Wulong’s karst landscape.
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Furong cave
Walk through Furong Cave to witness illuminated stalactites and stalagmites. Explore spectacular underground chambers formed over millennia, showcasing Wulong’s unique karst geology—a fascinating and photogenic adventure for nature and geology enthusiasts.
- Breakfast , Lunch
- Private Van
- Transfer to Chongqing city area from Wulong.
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Hongyadong Folk Scenic Area
Prepare to be amazed by Hongyadong, a magnificent stilted complex cascading down the cliffs beside the Jialing River. Often called the real-life version of the bathhouse from the anime Spirited Away, its tiered towers glow with an ethereal beauty at night.
This architectural marvel, built in the traditional Diaojiaolou style, is a vibrant hub of life. Explore its 11 floors to discover a maze of souvenir shops, local snack stalls, cozy teahouses, and bars—all offering stunning river views. It's the ultimate expression of Chongqing's layered, magical cityscape.
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Shibati Traditional Street
Step back in time at Shibati, a beautifully restored historic ladder street that captures the essence of old Chongqing. Its name, meaning "Eighteen Steps," comes from the series of stone stairways that once connected the city's upper and lower towns. Stroll through its labyrinth of alleys, where traditional Bayu-style architecture houses teahouses, craft shops, and galleries. While the area has been modernized for visitors, it retains the vibrant spirit and layered history of a mountain city neighborhood, offering a perfect blend of nostalgia and contemporary culture.
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Liziba
A must-see marvel in Chongqing! Witness the mind-bending moment when Light Rail Line 2 seamlessly roars through the heart of a residential high-rise. It's not just public transit; it's a stunning fusion of the city's mountainous terrain and ingenious urban planning. Capture this iconic spectacle—the ultimate symbol of Chongqing's "8D magic."
- Breakfast , Lunch
- Public Transportation
- Enjoy a private drop-off from your hotel, with a guide accompanying you and assisting throughout the transfer to your airport/train station.
- Breakfast
- Private Van
Accommodation
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
Tour Price
Based on a private tour for 2 people including accommodation, local transportation and guided sightseeing/activities. Price may vary depending on the itinerary, travel date, number of travellers and selected hotel category.
Price Excludes:
- International flights
- The meals not mentioned in the trip plan
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance, and repatriation insurance
- Optional excursions, activities, and optional tours
- Reservations marked as "reserved by traveler" are reservations that the traveler is responsible for directly.These items are not reserved or supported by kimkim and are included in the trip plan just for completeness.
- Any charges due at the hotel include local city taxes
Clients Reviews
We had an absolutely amazing trip!!! Every detail was meticulously planned by Ben. From our great drivers and guides to having the last seat of the bullet train reserved for our extra luggage. I never would have thought of doing that but it was a huge help since we bought a lot of souvenirs! Peter was our guide in Tokyo and Mt Fuji and he took the most beautiful photos of my daughter and I. It was so nice to be in the pictures instead of behind the camera and I am so thankful for those memories.We ate at several local restaurants that were fantastic and we were the only tourists there. I would never have found these places without my guides Peter and Takizawa.Peter and Takizawa went above and beyond my expectations as guides and Ben was so accommodating to my teenage daughters many requests and planned everything out so perfectly. The drivers were always on time and let me know their plate numbers and names on WhatsApp. They always offered to carry our luggage and were very polite. The cars were always clean and they drove safely. I was so happy that I didn't have to drive in that insane traffic!I could never have planned this on my own and I am so happy that I chose Three Bears Travel!
Miriam P.
May 02, 2026
I worked with Ben for a number of months to personalize a very special trip to Japan. He could not have been more accommodating, and he answered every question in a timely manner. He made wonderful suggestions, and we weren’t disappointed anywhere along the line. We had three different guides, Ursula, Sorata, and Pitt - each lovely and knowledgeable. We enjoyed spending our days with them very much. Everything promised was delivered, and even more. Ben even arranged for a birthday cake for me - a delightful surprise. Our time in Japan was filled with wonderful memories, beautiful experiences, and gracious interactions. We can’t wait to come back!
Karen K.
May 02, 2026
We had such a memorable time in Japan. Ben really understood what my family's interests were and chose fantastic locations and experiences for a first trip to Japan. Our guid in Tokyo, Yoko was very knowledgeable and efficient at zigzagging us all over the city.In Kyoto, Ursula was amazing and was able to sneak in a few extra stops to maximize the sakuras at their peak. She was also helpful in giving us some tips on where to go in Osaka.
Lauren M.
Apr 26, 2026
THANK YOU for the trip – it was SO well planned, and clearly a LOT of thought went into it. We are so grateful, and we are now big Three Bears Travel fans! We travel a LOT, to all kinds of crazy places! It is unrealistic to travel across the world and expect things to NOT go wrong. What matters, and why we work with travel professionals like you, is to have support and back up when things DO go wrong – THAT is what matters! Three Bears Travel seamlessly fixed an issue on our travels, and they are THE BEST, and you can travel worry-free! Our planner Ben was remarkable - attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, and our guides Roy, H and Piter were exceptional. 10/10, DO recommend! Thank you, team Three Bears Travel, for an amazing experience and incredible 'whatever it takes' service!
John F.
Apr 23, 2026
My wife and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this July and I knew early on that a family of four trip to experience Japan for the first time together would be a once in a lifetime event. I knew well enough that I would not be able to plan and execute such an important trip myself so I feel so grateful that I stumbled upon Three Bears Travel and hit the ground running. Ben was my wonderful trip planner and from the first interaction, he was so extremely helpful and patient with my 1,000s of questions and itinerary changes. I wanted this Japan trip to be something that would be relatively stress free for me and my wife but also contain a variety of activities and experiences that our entire family would enjoy. Working with Ben to plan the entire trip was such a breeze. I felt completely at ease and comfortable with Ben's recommendations and suggestions. Every part of the trip was designed and planned wonderfully. From the meticulous selection of amazing hotels across the spectrum of Japanese styles (ryokan, onsens, apartment-style, mountain resorts) to all the fun hands-on activities for adults and kids alike (sushi-making, samurai museums, sumo shows, etc), this was a trip that none of us will ever forget. And I would be remiss without mentioning our incredible tour guides, Peter and Ursula. Peter was so on task and schedule with us during our Tokyo days and he was so patient and gracious with our children throughout the tours. I can't count how many times he and I would be carrying my napping daughter still in her stroller up and down various train station steps over multiple stations and transfers. He never failed to take care of our every need in this unfamiliar place. We had zero stress with Peter around that allowed us to soak up the joy of the experience 100%. Ursula was our amazing tour guide (and pseudo member of the family) in Kyoto/Osaka. Our family hit it off with Ursula right from the get go and she was always so flexible with our minor changes in scheduling and events as we did our best to adapt to our children's energy levels and attention spans. The extremely hot weather in Japan also put added pressure on everyone but both Ursula and Peter were always ready to lend a hand and make sure we all stayed healthy and happy throughout. This trip was planned as perfectly as I could have imagined and I owe Ben/Peter/Ursula/Kimkim a huge thank you on behalf of my entire family. The next time we want to take another adventurous trip, I would not hesitate for one second to work with Three Bears Travel again. I also highly recommend to anyone who wants to plan a milestone trip like ours without the hassle and stress. Thank you again Three Bears Travel team! Until we meet again!
Eric, Wanee, Easton, and Esther
Mar 10, 2026
Everything went off just as planned, and we were all pleased. Our guides were all great and went out of their way to see that we saw more, especially when they found out that we were not interested in the more highly crowded places. They patiently answered our questions and saw to our needs. Ben, our specialist, could not have been more attentive to our frequent questions and concerns. He was able to change events based on our interests even as the date of our departure approached. The only thing I would have changed is deleted some of the more crowd-impacted locales such as Nikko and put in more off the beaten path trips like our monastery stay in Minobu and the marvelous animated Festival Float museum in Takayama that our guide added in when he picked up on our interest. We learned and enjoyed much more in the less crowded venues, but this is Japan where it is truly hard to avoid the hoards of tourists. Overall, it was a wonderful trip. This is the second time Ben has helped us with a trip, and I will certainly turn to him again for any future trips.
Susan
Mar 05, 2026
Both of our guides were good. One we were with shortly and was a more focused day of getting to many places. He did a good job of coming up with some additional day of options and a great lunch rec. Young we had for 4 days and we really liked her. She was a bit soft spoken /quiet but very nice and knowledgeable and we found if we asked lots of questions we got lots of history and current info about not only the places she took us but also modern Japan life. Really enhanced our trip to learn about the history, shrines and temples. Getting around by train /bus was great for us and she had to work harder than if we had driver to navigate public transport for sure. Hotels were all nice. It was great. The only note is to warn guides we will want lots of restaurant recs (as where we’ll be is not always areas they’ve eaten. We had good luck using tablelog and AI ) and the food at the Hakone onsen was not very good. But we went out for great meals nearby.
Debbie J.
Mar 01, 2026
We just returned from our anniversary trip to Japan, and I can say with complete confidence that booking through KimKim was one of the best travel decisions we’ve ever made. In fact, this is our third trip using KimKim. From the very first planning email to the final farewell in Osaka, the entire experience was seamless, personal, and unforgettable.Ben, our travel specialist, was phenomenal. He helped us build the perfect itinerary—listening to everything we wanted, adding thoughtful suggestions, and tweaking the schedule along the way to fit our style. Thanks to him, our trip struck the perfect balance of culture, food, adventure, relaxation, and those “wow” moments we’ll be talking about for years.And then there were our guides: Peter and Ursula.These two were an absolute gift to our journey.Peter, our Tokyo & Hakone guide, made navigating Japan’s transportation system feel effortless. He taught us subway skills worthy of a Mario Bros. level-up, showed us how to experience Shibuya Crossing like locals, and gave us incredible historical context at temples and shrines. He even congratulated me on my sumo match at the lunch show (yes… I stepped into the ring and no, my training was not focused enough 😂).Ursula, our guide through Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, was equally fantastic. From sake tastings in Fushimi to zen moments at the Golden Pavilion, she blended humor, storytelling, and deep cultural knowledge in a way that made every day feel like traveling with a friend. She helped us navigate the language barrier, made sure we didn’t get lost on trains, and offered endless tips to help us blend in better than we probably deserved. Both guides were great to pack in as much adventure each day while still leaving us with free time to roam and explore on our own.Every single day was packed with memorable highlights, many of which KimKim helped coordinate:✨ Sushi-making with a 4th-generation master (we are now “certified” Nigiri makers and have enough footage for a full-length documentary).✨ A tea ceremony and learning to whisk our own matcha at a university.✨ Visiting a capybara at a café—one of Emily’s bucket list items.✨ Riding the bullet train to Kyoto with snacks in hand and Mt. Fuji peeking through the clouds.✨ Walking through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest and a rickshaw ride through its historic streets.✨ A full cultural immersion day in Fushimi Inari, weaving through the famous vermilion torii gates.✨ A relaxing soak and stay in Hakone with incredible views of Mt. Fuji.✨ Exploring Osaka Castle and ending our trip at the Umeda Sky Building with panoramic nighttime views.And beyond the excursions, the guides helped us handle everything—from ordering meals to using the Suica card. They answered every question, solved every hiccup, and made us feel completely supported the entire way.KimKim didn’t just plan a trip—they helped create a collection of memories that feel like a chapter from our own personal, globe-trotting storybook.If you’re considering a trip to Japan—especially if it’s a special occasion—book with KimKim. Ask for Ben, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get Peter and Ursula too. They helped make our anniversary adventure everything we dreamed of…and then some.Arigatou gozaimasu, KimKim team.We’re already thinking about following the green light to our next chapter.—Ray & Emily
Ray & Emily
Feb 22, 2026
We wanted a customised trip instead of a standard tour group, and Three Bears Travel delivered exactly that. Norman took the time to understand what we liked and built an itinerary around food, shopping, and local experiences. It felt personal and flexible, not like a cookie cutter package.
Tom Harris
Feb 01, 2026
A huge thank you to Louise and Three Bear Travel for crafting such a fantastic Japan itinerary! Every moment was well thought out - whether it was the serene temples of Kyoto, the bustling streets of Tokyo, or the delicious food tours. The guides were knowledgeable, and the accommodations were excellent. We couldn’t have asked for a better travel experience!
Emily Carter
Feb 01, 2026
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