Chengdu –Danba (330km)
In the morning leave for Danba. We'll cross the Wolong Giant Panda Natural Reserve, where about 50 giant pandas are bred in a semi-natural environment. After lunch at Wolong, cross the foggy Balang Mountain (4,523 meters) and pass by the Siguniang Shan Mountain (four-girls mountain, highest peak 6250 m), late in the afternoon we reach Danba (1900 meters).
Danba – Bamei (85km)
Breakfast in hotel. Today is a big day for sightseeing. Tour around Danba, visit the thousands of ancient blockhouses, drive for about 21km to Donggu Scenic spot, also called the National Bonsai Valley, with stone forest, many lakes and hot water pools at its bottom, creating a sea of steam. Stop in Bamei today.
Bamei – Daofu – Luhuo - Ganze (230km)
Drive to Ganze, which is the culture and religious center for Tibetans living in Sichuan Province. Today is mainly for getting some knowledge of Tibetan people and religion.
Ganze-Dege (202km)
Drive pass Manigange, visit Xinluhai lake(altitude 4040m), 98km from Ganze, trekking along the lake, here you can see plateau spruces, firs, azalea trees, meadows round the lake, after that, drive up to Mt Chola ( que'er shan), cross over the Chola pass (5000m), in the afternoon reach Dege. Visit the Dege Printing House which is the biggest printing house in Tibean area.
Dege –Chamdo (339km)
Today we'll drive across the Jinsha River Bridge, four passes: Khargang(4352m), Lashi la(4450m), Jape la(4680m), and Tama la(4511m), arrive in Chamdo, the former capital of Kham in eastern Tibetan area.
Straddling the Mekong river, Chamdo (3200 m) was the former capital of Kham in East-Tibetan area and has a rich history as one of the earliest centers of the Tibetan plateau and home of Kalden Jampaling.
Chamdo-Riwoche (105km, 5-6hours)
In the morning visit Galden Jampaling monastery. In its earlier prime time there were more than 1000 monks in the monastery. In the afternoon drive over the Zholpel La pass (4688 m) to Riwoche (3810 m). Riwoche means in Tibetan mountain.
Riwoche / Tengchen (185KM,6-7hours)
Drive on very bad road to Dengchen. Dengchen is the center of the Boen-Religion, which is a primitive religion based on ancient witchcraft and the worship to god and ghost, and was spread through the whole Tibet before the Buddhism was introduced into Tibetan area. Here visit two monasteries: Tengchen and Ritro Lhakhang.
Tengchen / Bachen /Sok (255km, 7-8hours)
After master Tsuri La Pass(4200m) and Shel La Pass (4750m) we arrive at Bachen, and continue about 30km you will reach Sok. Sok means Mongolia in Tibetan. Overnight at Sok.
Sok / Nagchu (238km, 6-7hours)
Drive to the Sok Tsanden Zhol village, and visit the monastery of Nyimpa sect - Sok Tsanden Gompa. After that cross over two passes and reach the city of Shakchuka. Still just 100 km and two other passes have to be mastered before arrive at the today's destination Naqu. The northern route of Sichuan - Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (Golmud - Lhasa) meet in Naqu.
Nagchu / Namtso Lake (230km, 5-6hours)
Morning drive on the vast Qiangtang grassland to Namtso, cross the 5150m high Nagenla pass. Afternoon free walking along the lake. Tashi dor Monastery. Overnight at Namtso tent guest house.
Namtso / Yangbachen hot-spring / Lhasa ( 250Km, 3-4hours)
Morning after the sunrise at Namtso, start drive back to Lhasa, en route stop at Yangbachen for hot-spring.
