Traveler Stories
See these journeys through Daniel’s eyes — 16 years of real moments he has captured with travelers from around the world.
Last autumn, we had a couple who almost didn’t choose Western Sichuan. On the drive out of Chengdu, they mentioned they were unsure if it would be too remote and had been considering other destinations.
By the second day in the mountains, that hesitation was gone. At one stop facing the snow peaks, they stood there for a while, then laughed and said, “Now we understand why people come here.” Later, at a simple roadside viewpoint, they stayed longer than anywhere else — just talking, taking photos, and not wanting to leave. By the end of the trip, they said this was the most memorable part of their time in China.
One summer, we had a family of five join us on a Western Sichuan trip — parents with three children. They were very relaxed from the beginning, saying they mainly wanted the kids to experience open landscapes instead of cities.
At one of the lakes, we stopped for a break. The family sat together facing the water, and the father mentioned he rarely saw the children this quiet. They spent quite a long time just sitting there, watching the reflections on the lake and the mountains in the distance.
A couple of days later, at another viewpoint, the father was walking with the two boys along a wooden railing while the younger one stayed close to him. It was a simple moment, but he later told us this part of the trip felt like a real reset for the whole family.
Earlier this year, we had a solo traveler join us who specifically asked if she could include some cycling during the trip. She brought her own gear and was quite experienced, but still curious about what it would feel like at this altitude.
On the day we arranged the ride, we started from a quiet stretch of road with almost no traffic. At first, she took it slow to adjust, but after a while, she was clearly enjoying it — riding ahead, stopping to take photos, then laughing about how different it felt compared to cycling back home. Later, she told us it was one of the most fun and unexpected parts of her trip.
A few years ago, we had a small group who were especially interested in local food, not just eating it, but understanding how it’s made. During the trip, we arranged a stop where they could try some traditional Tibetan dishes together. At first, a few of them were a bit unsure, but after trying a few bites, the mood quickly changed, and it turned into one of the most relaxed moments of the journey.
Later on, we also visited a Sichuan cooking museum, where one of the travelers joined a short cooking session and proudly held up a “Sichuan Cuisine Master” sign at the end. Toward the end of the trip, they even tried making tsampa in a local home, which was completely new to them. They told us these hands-on moments made the trip feel much more personal and memorable.
Around ten years ago, we had a group of university students traveling together through Western Sichuan. They were more like backpackers — simple plans, flexible schedule, and always curious about everything along the way.
They spent time watching locals play mahjong, asking questions, and just sitting there longer than expected. On other days, they stopped at viewpoints, took group photos, and enjoyed the open landscapes. It wasn’t a fast trip, but they told us that was exactly what made it special.
Many years ago, we started bringing travelers to visit a small Yi community, where guests could join in their local celebrations. At the time, some of the young girls who danced with our groups were still teenagers.
Over the years, we’ve returned many times with different travelers. Some of those same girls are now mothers, but they’re still there, welcoming visitors and sharing their traditions. For many of our guests, joining hands, dancing together, and being part of something real — even just for a short time — became one of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of their trip.
Our Happy Traveler!
“We almost skipped Western Sichuan, but it ended up being our favorite part of China. Some of the best moments weren’t even planned.”
“Traveling with kids is not always easy, but this trip felt relaxed. The lake stop was something we’ll all remember.”
“We’ve seen pandas before, but seeing them here felt different. Much more relaxed, and you get to spend real time watching them.”
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