Nature and Wildlife Photography

This amazing journey begins in Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province, and ventures into the remote and authentic Tibetan regions of Golog and Yushu. These areas are among the most pristine and culturally preserved in the entire Tibetan plateau. Along the way, you’ll travel through stunning mountain and grassland scenery, encounter rare and endemic wildlife, and gain firsthand insight into Tibetan nomadic life, sacred sites, and vibrant spiritual traditions.

Expect to see wildlife such as white-lipped deer, wild yaks, Tibetan antelopes, wild donkeys (kiang), argali sheep, Mongolian gazelles, eagles, marmots, foxes, lynxes, brown bears, snow leopards, Himalayan hares, woolly rabbits, vultures, cranes, bar-headed geese, and the rare Tibetan eared pheasant. This is a tour that combines every highlight the Tibetan Plateau has to offer.

Highlights:

• Tibetan Plateau Wildlife Observation
• Sacred Mountains, Monasteries & Lakes
• Nomadic Culture & Tibetan Spiritual Traditions
• Stunning Landscapes: Mountains, Rivers, and Alpine Meadows
• Light Trekking and Camping in Remote Valleys

Trip Details:

• Duration: 12 Days
• Accommodation: 9 nights in hotels/guesthouses, 2 nights camping
• Altitude: 2,200m – 4,850m
• Best Travel Time: May & September
• Season: May to October
• Tour Cost: Please email us for an exact quote

Itinerary

Day 1: Xining (2,270m)
Arrival in Xining. Meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Time permitting, visit the Tibetan Medical Museum to see the world’s largest thangka and preserved wildlife specimens of the plateau.

Day 2: Xining – Qinghai Lake (3,200m) [180km / ~3 hrs]
Drive to the northern shore of Qinghai Lake. Chance to spot Przewalski’s gazelle, now found only in this region.

Day 3: Qinghai Lake – Drekar Tredzong (3,270m) [190km / ~3 hrs]
Visit Drekar Tredzong, a remote Gelukpa monastery tucked into rocky mountains. Look for blue sheep (nawa) on surrounding slopes.

Day 4: Drekar Tredzong – Mt. Amnye Machen (3,800m) [310km / ~4–5 hrs]
Travel to Amnye Machen, the most revered snow-capped peak in Amdo. Observe Tibetan gazelles and visit the sacred Dongri Tsona Lake.

Day 5: Amnye Machen – Madoi – Twin Lakes – Madoi (4,270m) [320km / ~6 hrs]
Explore the upper Yellow River region. Spot Tibetan wild ass (kiang) and migratory birds near Twin Lakes.

Day 6: Madoi – Yushu / Jyekundo (3,700m) [350km / ~6–7 hrs]
Drive across nomadic grasslands to Jyekundo, a historic Tibetan town near the Yangtze River’s upper reaches.

Day 7: Jyekundo – Rongbo – Chumarleb (4,100m) [230km / ~4 hrs]
Visit Rongbo Black-Necked Crane Reserve, an important summer breeding site. Continue to Chumarleb.

Day 8: Chumarleb – Budongquan (3,900m) [315km / ~7 hrs]
Pass through Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve. Wildlife sightings may include wild yaks, wolves, sand foxes, and Tibetan antelopes.

Antelope

Day 9: Budongquan – Wild Yak Valley (2,780m) [280km / ~5 hrs]
Journey toward Yuzhu Peak and camp in Wild Yak Valley, an area known for its large wild yak population.

Day 10: Wild Yak Valley – Golmud
Morning wildlife photography in the valley. Drive to Golmud in the afternoon. Overnight in Golmud.

Day 11: Golmud – Xining (2,270m) [780km / ~8 hrs]
Return drive to Xining through the scenic Tibetan plateau.

Day 12: Depart Xining
Transfer to airport and departure. End of tour.

Tour Map