Xining. (D)
Upon arrival in Xining airport, you will meet with guide and driver. Then proceed to downtown to welcome dinner and stay overnight in Jianyin Hotel.
Dari - Maduo (Golok - Amdo). (B,L,D)
Day long drive through vast grassland, arrive in Maduo by the head water of Yellow River. Stay overnight in local government guest house.
Day 17: Rest day in Yushu. (B,L,D)
Rest day in Yushu
Xining-Ta’ersi. (B,L,D)
You will visit Ta'ersi (Kumbum Monastery) in the early morning, of which was built in 1560 to commemorate the birthplace of Tsongkhapa - the founder of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Free on your own in the afternoon.
Xining - Qinghai. (B,L,D)
Today you will visit Qinghai Hu, the largest salt lake in China, often called Kokonor in Mongolian and Tso Ngonbo in Tibetan, it all means the same, the Blue Lake. In Chinese mythology, this is the west edge of the universe.
Xining - 14th Dalai Lama’s Home - Tongren. (B,L,D)
Today, we will drive through some Muslim areas to Tongren. A detour will take us to visit 14th Dalai Lama’s home. Also, we will have chance to visit 10th Panchen Lama’s home. Stay overnight in Repkong Hotel or similar.
Tongren - Xiahe. (B,L,D)
You will visit a couple of local monasteries and surrounding villages - the home of Repkong School of Tibetan Fine Arts i.e. sculpture, painting, wood-carving and appliqué. Proceed to Xiahe, upon arrival stay overnight in Overseas Tibetan Hotel.
Xiahe. (B,L,D)
Today you will explore Labrang Monastery, one of the 6 largest Yellow Sect monasteries - might be the most intact monastic institute all over Tibet, and its surroundings.
Xiahe - Langmusi. (B,L,D)
You will firstly drive to Langmusi, a monk’s village on the border of Gansu and Sichuan. Overnight in Langmu Hotel.
Langmusi-Ruo'ergai. (B,L,D)
Firstly you will visit the monasteries and surrounding village in Langmusi. In the afternoon, drive to Ruo’ergai, one of the most fertile grasslands for Tibetan nomads, situated by the upstream of Yellow River. Stay overnight at Ruo'ergai Hotel.
Ruo'ergai - 1st Bend of Yellow river/Aba. (B,L,D)
Visit local monastery in the morning, and drive to Aba - the museum of monasteries also the current center of Bon religion. En route, You will have chance to see the 1st bend of yellow river. Stay overnight in Aba Hotel.
Aba. (B,L,D)
Today you will visit the largest Bon monastery in Tibet, and explore all the other kinds of monasteries.
Aba - Rangtang. (B,L,D)
You will drive to Rangtang, the hidden kingdom of Jonangpa, finding the mysterious monasteries along the road. The Joangpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism escaped Central Tibet from the 5th Dalai Lama's prosecution and found its home in Rangtang. Stay overnight in government guest house.
Rangtang - Seda (Amdo - Golok). (B,L,D)
Today, our objective in Seda is to visit the world's largest Buddhism Academy – Serthang Larung, the home for over 10,000 monks. Overnight in government guest house.
Day 13: Seda - Banma. (B,L,D)
oday, You will cross the Sichuan-Qinghai border to visit the hidden Dodrubchen Monastery. Also, we will discover the largest Stupa of Tibet and mysterious Achonggya Monastery, one of the forgotten Jonangpa Monasteries. Stay overnight in government guest house.
Banma - Da’ri. (B,L,D)
On the way to Da’ri, stop over for a brief visit to roadside Dogongma Monastery. Upon arrival in Dari,visit the Traling Monastery with its charnel ground serving sky burial for nomads from all parts of Golok. Stay overnight in local government house(basic).
Day 16: Maduo - Yushu (Amdo - Kham). (B,L,D)
Day long drive through vast grassland on a elevation, climb over the Bayankala mountain pass - the watershed between Yangtze and Yellow rivers. Stay overnight in Yushu Hotel or similar.
Day 18 - 19: Yushu Festival. (B,L,D)
Yushu is the largest settlement of Khampa Tibetan, where annually holds one of the 3 largest horse racing festivals in Tibet.
Yushu-Shiqu. (B,L,D)
Drive cross Qinghai - Sichuan borderline and get to Shiqu - Tibetan nomads home. Today, a number of monasteries along road worth you to visit. Stay overnight in Shiqu’s government guest house.
Day 21: Shiqu - Maniganguo. (B,L,D)
Heading to Maniganguo, a crossroad village, very much alike a Wild West town in Hollywood movie. Before you arrive there, you will have a side trip to visit the most sacred Nymapa power place - Zhuqin Monastery. You may check up the possibility to stay in the monastery’s guest house, otherwise proceed to Maniganguo for overnight.
Maniganguo - Ganzi - Xinlong. (B,L,D)
Travel day to Xinlong, the home town of Khampa warriors, the ruins of Female Dragon Castle. Overnight in local government guest house (no WC).
Xinlong - Litang. (B,L,D)
Earlier arrival in Litang, and visit the nearby monastery. Overnight in Highland Pearal Hotel or similar (the decent hotels are always not well secured during the festivals, as the officials and their guests always have the priority to check in despite of tour groups bookings).
Litang. (B,L,D)
Litang, was the birthplace of the 7th and 10th Dalai Lama. Visit to festival site and local market.
Litang - Tagong - Bamei. (B,L,D)
Tagong village is the most sacred site in Eastern Kham, the monastery there is the last one of the earliest 108 Tibetan monasteries founded by Princess Wenchen in the direction of China. Bamei, the birthplace of 11th Dalai Lama and the crossroad to Kham and Gyarong areas. Roadside guest house (no WC).
Bamei - Danba (Kham - Gyarong). (B,L,D)
Drive to Danba, the frontier of the ancient kingdom of Gyarong Tibetans. Until 1949, the tribes of Gyarong were organized into 18 petty kingdoms. They were experts at building fortified towers and became famous for their heroic resistance against the introduction of the Gelukpa Sect. They also kept the powerful armies of Emperor Qianlong at bay for more than 10 years during the 18th century. Upon arrival, visit the surrounding villages. Gubao Hotel.
Day 27: Danba - Mt. Siguniang. (B,L,D)
Today you will visit the Alpine like Mt. Siguniang National Park. Stay overnight in Mt. Siguniang Hotel.
Mt. Siguniang - Wolong. (B,L,D)
Drive to Wolong Panda Reserve, by crossing over the last mount pass, Tibet - its people, culture and landscape are fading from our horizon. Upon arrival in Wolong, we will pay a brief visit to the Panda Rehabilitation Center. The impressive Vertical mountains, clouds and gnarled trees, the landscape in Wolong Panda Reserve is like the Chinese brush painting. Stay overnight in Panda Inn.
Wolong - Dujiangyan - Chengdu. (B,L,D)
On the way to Chengdu, we will visit a World Heritage Site, the ancient irrigation project in Dujiangyan, which is the most sustainable irrigation system in the world, having been functioning since 227 BC. Farewell dinner in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn, situated in the heart of Chengdu. Overnight in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn.
Chengdu. (B)
Free at your own, overnight in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn.
