Don’t Panda to the Scots – see them in their own back yard!

BASINGSTOKE, U.K. - Aug. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- New direct B.A. flights to Chengdu in China from 22^nd September good news for panda spotters!

Edinburgh Zoo has been accused of artificially inseminating its Giant Panda Tian Tian for commercial gain rather than for conservation or educational reasons.  

The best place to observe pandas is in their own backyard, China, and on day five of Bamboo Travel’s ‘Taste of Sichuan’ trip, you are driven to the Bifengxia Panda Base for a day's volunteering to look after the Giant Pandas.

With the guidance of a researcher, you will help to clean their enclosures, collect the pandas from their bamboo grove and feed them.

There also will be a chance to hold and cuddle a baby panda and take photos (a charge is payable locally for this experience).  At the end of the day you will receive a certificate for your volunteer work.

The itinerary also includes the capital of Chengdu, with a visit to the Giant Buddha at Leshan, which was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907AD) plus a chance to try the street food during a city tour.

The final part of the holiday is spent in the north of Sichuan to explore the Jiuzhaigou National Park, famous for its scenery of ice blue lakes and pine forests.

Also included in this unspoilt part of China is a two night stay in the historic town of Songpan to explore the Mouni Valley and surrounding Tibetan villages either on foot or horseback.

The holiday, which can commence on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Sundays, costs from £2895 pp (two sharing) which includes the new direct flights with B.A. from Heathrow to Chengdu, 11 nights' B&B in hotels (plus 6 lunches), all transportation, private tours and an English-speaking guide.

The tour can also be combined with a visit to Lhasa and the Tibetan Plateau.

For further information or to make a booking call 020 7720 9285 or visit www.bambootravel.co.uk.