Tibet Homestay, Camping & Festival

Are you interested in joining a special tour in Amdo Tibet?

We’ve created a unique 6-day cultural adventure that includes:

• A vibrant Tibetan Buddhist festival with monks’ Cham mask dance

• An immersive Tibetan homestay experience

• Camping with Tibetan nomads in the grasslands

This tour is not only an opportunity to explore the culture and landscapes of Amdo, but also a meaningful space for cross-cultural exchange between Tibetan families and international travelers.

We warmly welcome you to join this tour!

Itinerary

Day 1 – May 6: Arrival in Xining [2,270m]

Arrive in Xining by plane or train. Our Tibetan guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

If time allows, we’ll visit the Tibetan Medical and Cultural Museum, the largest and most authentic Tibetan museum in the world. Highlights include:

• Giant thangka painting

• Traditional Tibetan medical specimens and instruments

• Astrology, art, calligraphy, and cultural displays

Day 2 – May 7: Xining – Kumbum Monastery Festival – Xining [2,270m] | 60 km

We depart early to witness the Kumbum Monastery Festival, one of the most sacred events in Amdo. The monastery is famous for its Cham mask dance and intricate rituals performed by monks.

Kumbum means “100,000 Buddha Images” and is believed to have grown from the site where Tsongkhapa’s umbilical cord dropped, with a tree whose leaves bear natural Buddha images. After the festival, we return to Xining for the night.

Day 3 – May 8: Xining – Shachung Monastery – Lo Dorje Drak Caves – Rebkong [2,480m] | 240 km

Drive to Shachung Monastery, perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Yellow River—a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path site.

Continue along the scenic Yellow River valley, passing through small Muslim villages before arriving in Rebkong (Tongren), famous for its monasteries and Tibetan art.

Enjoy a Tibetan homestay, where you’ll be warmly welcomed and served a traditional dinner. This is a special chance to exchange stories and learn about everyday Tibetan life.

Day 4 – May 9: Rebkong – Tsekog [3,700m] | 180 km

Morning visit to Rongwo Monastery, founded in the 12th century and now a major Gelugpa institution with over 400 monks.

Then explore the nearby villages of Wutun Si, renowned for Tibetan Thangka painting. You’ll visit homes of local artists and learn about the techniques of this sacred art.

In the afternoon, we head into the high grasslands of Tsekog, where you’ll camp with nomads. Experience their daily lifestyle:

• Herding yaks and sheep

• Milking and making butter/yogurt

• Cooking on nomadic stoves

• Collecting yak dung for fuel

• Exchanging stories around the campfire

You may also have the chance to ride horses or yaks, hike to nearby hills, or enjoy solitude in the vast open grassland.

Day 5 – May 10: Tsekog – Trika [2,100m] | 200 km

In the morning, visit Hor Monastery and a local Mani stone wall west of Tsekog.

Then descend through the grasslands to Trika (Guide), a town with unique red-and-yellow rock formations and a riverside location on the Yellow River.

We’ll visit:

• Jokhang Temple of Trika, considered to carry the same blessings as the Jokhang in Lhasa

• Optional: Minyak Stupa, believed to be one of the oldest in the region, dating back to the time of Tibet’s 41st King

Overnight in Trika.

Day 6 – May 11: Trika – Xining | Departure

Morning drive back to Xining. Tour concludes.

(If you have a late departure, optional stops or extra nights in Xining can be arranged.)

Note: The itinerary is flexible and may be adjusted due to weather or local conditions.