Day 1: Xining – Kumbum Monastery – Qinghai Lake
Drive to Kumbum, a famous monastery outside of Xining. Kumbum is home to over 600 monks and has some great hills around the monastery to hike. From Kumbum, head to Qinghai Lake, the biggest lake in China. Stay at a hotel or guesthouse on the shores of the lake.
Day 2: Qinghai Lake – Dredzong Monastery
Take pictures of the blooming yellow flowers along the shores of Qinghai lake and visit the nomads herding yaks and sheep. Drive to Dredzong Monastery and stay nearby.
Day 3: Dredzong Monastery – Jyekundo (Yushu)
Drive to Serdzong, a remote Buddhist monastery set on the side of a rugged mountain at over 3600m. Dredzong provides excellent hiking opportunities. Continue on to Jyekundo, a large town populated almost entirely by Tibetans.
Day 4: Jyekundo
There are many famous sites around Jyekundo, including a picturesque local monastery and an enormous pile of carved stones featuring Tibetan prayers.
Day 5: Jyekundo
Spend the day hiking, bartering in the Tibetan market, eating traditional food, and visiting nearby sites like a white stupa at the edge of town.
Day 6: Jyekundo – Sershul (Shiqu)
Visit Sershul Gompa, a monastery and meditation center.
Day 7: Sershul Dzogchen Monastery – Manigango
On the way out of Sershul, visit one of the most important Nyingmapa monasteries in Tibet, Dzogchen Monastery, which was founded by the 4th Dalai Lama in 1684. Stay the night in Manigango, a small trading town for nomads.
Day 8: Manigango – Dege
Visit the beautiful lake Yihun Lhatso, a place that locals consider holy and continue on to the famous Chula Mountain 6168m. Drive over the mountain pass at 5000m and then down to Dege.
Day 9: Dege
Visit the Parkhang Printing House, one of the most important Buddhist scripture printing houses. Discover manual printing, which is done with carved wood blocks. Visit Gonchen Monastery and Tangtong Gyelpo temple.
Day 10: Dege-Pelyul (Baiyu)
Visit Palpung Monastery (Babangsi), a Karma Kagyupa’s monastery established by Taisitu Rinpoche in 1727, and Katok Dorjeden Monastery, one of the oldest Nyingmapa monasteries in Tibet.
Day 11: Pelyul – Garze (Ganzi)
The drive from Pelyul to Garze provides great view of mountains, rivers, forests and grasslands. Yaks and sheep can be seen along the way. Garze is a small trading town where Tibetan people from surrounding areas such as Dege, Nyarong, Pelyul and Amdo come to buy goods. Visit Garze Monastery, which was originally built in 1642.
Day 12: Garze – Litang (4200m)
Surrounded by deep green hills and plains, snowcapped peaks, and fortress-like Tibetan homes at the center of the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Litang is one of the highest elevated towns in China. The Litang Monastery, is located on the north side of the town, was built by the 3rd Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso. Litang is famous for being the birthplace of 7th and 10th Dalai Lamas.
Day 13: Litang – Lhagong (Tagong)
Check out the fantastic view of Lhagong Monastery, where there are many chortens (stupas). Circuit the chortens and temples with local pilgrims and take pictures of the spectacular chorten on the hillside above the road, where pilgrims enter the monastery grounds.
Day 14: Lhagong to Dartsedo (Kangding)
The mid-sized town of Dartsedo is the capital of the Ganzi Prefecture. Though much of Dartsedo has been urbanized, it is possible to visit a few monasteries around town and catch great views of snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Day 15: Dartsedo – Danba
Danba is the home of the Gyarong Tibetans, a Tibetan tribe slightly different from those of other Tibetan regions. Visit some of the rock-made houses scattered on the slopes of mountains. Gyarong Tibetans’ dress is unique; though most men wear casual clothes, the women still wear colorful embroidered headscarves and elaborate belts and aprons.
Day 16: Danba-Chengdu
Day 17: Depart Chengdu
Your driver will drop you off at the Chengdu airport.
Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.
