Zhangjiajie 2-Day Private Tour: Elevator & Avatar Mountain

Explore Zhangjiajie’s stunning mesas and hidden scenic spots with expert guides and comfort

A 2-day private tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park with English-speaking guide and hotel accommodation included. Day one covers Yuanjiajie—the landscape that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain—via the Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest full-exposure outdoor lift, then Tianzi Mountain for wide panoramic views. The guide arranges pickup from your airport or train station and suggests the best timing to avoid queues.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and hotel transfer

• Meet guide at airport or train station
• Private van transfer to hotel
• Rest at hotel in Wulingyuan

Day 2 — Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

• Enter Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
• Take Bailong Elevator up Yuanjiajie
• Hike and view South Sky Pillar
• Enjoy scenery at Enchanting Platform
• Descend by Bailong Elevator
• Visit Tianzi Mountain and Helong Park
• Take Tianzi Cable Car down

The Experience

Your guide meets you at Zhangjiajie airport or high-speed railway station with a name plate and drives you by private van to your hotel in Tianzishan Town, near the east gate of the national forest park. You'll stay one night in a boutique hotel or homestay, positioned for the sunrise viewing the next morning. The guide will suggest whether to start early or adjust the schedule based on weather and crowds—cooperation here is what keeps the day from becoming a queue.

Day two starts inside Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You take the Bailong Elevator—the world's highest and fastest full-exposure outdoor lift, a double-deck sightseeing elevator—up to Yuanjiajie. The plateau sits at the heart of what filmmakers called Pandora World: a field of stone peaks towering like bamboo shoots, anchored by the South Sky Pillar, a 150-meter column that inspired the Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar. The Enchanting Platform offers the best vantage point across the stone forest. You descend the same elevator, then head to Tianzi Mountain, a mesa in the northwest where the field of vision opens wide—a perfect location for a panoramic view across the entire nature reserve. You'll see Helong Park, the Fairy Lady Presenting Flowers formation, and Imperial Brush Peak before taking the Tianzi Cable Car down.

The tour includes travel insurance, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle throughout. Your English-speaking guide handles all logistics and timing decisions. Park entry tickets are included in the base price; if you choose the option without tickets, you'll pay the guide 304 RMB per person after meeting. Sunrise viewing depends on weather—if rain cancels it, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund. You must stay in Tianzishan Town for the sunrise to work; arranging your own accommodation elsewhere makes this tour unavailable.

What’s included

• Travel insurance and bottled water throughout.
• comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle with driver.
• professional English-speaking guide service.
• one night's accommodation in a boutique hotel or homestay in Tianzishan Town.
• park entry tickets (on the standard option).
• 24-hour airport or train station pickup and hotel drop-off.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by AvatarPeaks Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving by plane or train and need pickup arranged—the private van and guide handle logistics so you can focus on catching sunrise and covering both mountain areas in one day.

Top questions

What is the Bailong Elevator and why is it part of this tour?

The Bailong Elevator is the world's tallest full-exposure outdoor lift, a double-deck sightseeing elevator that carries you up Yuanjiajie to the stone peaks that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain. It's the fastest way to reach the Enchanting Platform and the South Sky Pillar without a long hike, and you descend the same elevator at the end of that section.

Do I need to book my own hotel, or is it included?

One night's hotel accommodation in Tianzishan Town is included in this tour. You must stay there to participate in the sunrise viewing; if you arrange accommodation elsewhere, the tour cannot be booked. Provide your hotel details in the special requirements section at checkout, or the guide can suggest options near the east gate of the park.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

Sunrise viewing is weather-dependent and may be cancelled due to rain. If weather forces a cancellation, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund. The guide will also suggest the best time to start each day to avoid crowds and work around conditions.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes travel insurance, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, one night's hotel accommodation, and English-speaking guide service. Park entry tickets are included in the standard option. If you book the option without tickets, you'll pay the guide 304 RMB per person after meeting. Meals are not included.

How does pickup work if I'm arriving by plane or train?

Your guide meets you at the arrival hall of Zhangjiajie airport or the high-speed railway station with a name plate and drives you by private van to your hotel. Pickup is available 24 hours. Provide your flight or train details in the special requirements section at checkout so the guide can arrange the exact time and location.

Is this tour suitable if I have health concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or serious heart conditions. If you have medical concerns, contact the operator before booking to confirm suitability.