Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Day Tour: Pandora Scenery

Six to eight hours walking through the floating mountains of Avatar

This full-day tour takes you to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the landscape that inspired the film Avatar, with private transportation and an English-speaking guide included. You'll ride the world's highest outdoor elevator to Yuanjiajie, walk the flat 6-kilometer Golden Whip Stream valley, and explore the sharp sandstone peaks of Tianzi mountain. Pickup and dropoff are included from either Zhangjiajie downtown or Wulingyuan Center. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zhangjiajie National Park

• Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Ride the world's highest outdoor elevator
• Explore Yuanjiajie Avatar Mountains
• Walk along Golden Whip Stream
• Visit Tianzi Mountain scenic area

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or Wulingyuan Center, then heads straight to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: China's first national park and the real landscape behind the film Avatar. The 326-meter outdoor elevator lifts you to the mountain top in just over a minute, cutting through the rock face to reach Yuanjiajie, where the tallest sandstone pillars stand. This is the heart of the park: hundreds of the floating Avatar Mountains cluster here, with Hallelujah Mountain as the centerpiece. The view from the top is the park's most famous vantage point, and it's why the tour builds around it.

From the peaks, you descend to Golden Whip Stream, a 6-kilometer valley walk on a flat, paved path at the base of the mountains. The stream runs between hundreds of differently shaped sandstone formations, and the walk takes about two hours. This is where you see the Avatar scenery from below (a completely different angle from the ridge top), and where the guide will point out the legends and stories locals attach to the peaks. If you're lucky, wild monkeys appear along the stream, adding an unexpected moment of wildlife to the day. The stream is rated as one of China's most beautiful, and the contrast between the high views and this ground-level walk is what makes the full-day route work.

The final stop is Tianzi mountain, where the sandstone peaks are sharper and slimmer than elsewhere in the park. Tianzi means "Heavenly Prince," and the area is an old battlefield from 500 years ago, so many of the scenic spots carry historical stories. The views here are the most dramatic in the park for sheer vertical drama. By late afternoon, the tour returns you to your starting point. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the guide speaks English and can answer questions about both the geology and the local history as you move between sites.

What’s included

• Private transportation to and from the park.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• pickup and dropoff from either Zhangjiajie downtown or Wulingyuan Center.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from Wulingyuan CenterGuide in English · 08:30Exclusive and private tour, 6 hours: the tour begins and ends at your hotel in Wulingyuan Center. Vehicle type is flexible, either a typical car or a taxi, or a temporarily hired car that drives a few minutes to the entrance and back to the hotel. Starting point: Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China; pickup is included

Pickup from Zhangjiajie DowntownGuide in English · 08:00Exclusive and private tour, 8 hours, vehicle size depends on the number of people; pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 56

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Eric Denny Fun Tours-Zhangjiajie

Is this one for you?A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the 6-kilometer walk at Golden Whip Stream and the climbing between sites, so this tour suits travelers comfortable with several hours of walking on varied terrain. The fixed route and timing mean you see all three main areas (Yuanjiajie, Golden Whip Stream, and Tianzi mountain) in a single day, which is why it works for visitors with only one day in Zhangjiajie.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the walk at Golden Whip Stream?

Golden Whip Stream is 6 kilometers long with a flat, paved walkway at the bottom of the valley. The walk between the two ends takes about two hours, and you're walking at the base of the sandstone peaks the whole way.

What is the outdoor elevator and how does it work?

The 326-meter outdoor elevator is built into the rock face and carries you to the mountain top in just over a minute. It's the world's highest outdoor elevator and takes you directly to Yuanjiajie, where the tallest Avatar Mountains stand.

Will I see the Hallelujah Mountain from Avatar?

Yes. Hallelujah Mountain is the major sandstone pillar at Yuanjiajie and the most famous highlighted area in the park. It's the centerpiece of the landscape that inspired the film and is visible from the top of the elevator.

What's included in the tour price?

Private transportation, an English-speaking guide, and bottled water are included. Park entry tickets, lunch and dinner are separate. Pickup and dropoff from either Zhangjiajie downtown or Wulingyuan Center are included in the tour.

Where does pickup happen?

You choose at checkout: pickup from Zhangjiajie downtown or from Wulingyuan Center. The guide will arrange the time based on your arrival. If you're coming in the morning of the tour, let the operator know your flight or train time.