Camping with nomads

In this tried-and-true trip to the best locations in and around Xining, you’ll experience both modern and traditional life in the Tibetan regions of Qinghai Province. Rub shoulders with pilgrims in crowded temples, watch monks debate Buddhist philosophy at Rongwo Monastery, and learn how Tibetan nomads live their daily lives. We’ll camp together with Tibetan nomads in remote areas of the vast grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau.

We’ve been successfully organizing this Camping with Tibetan Nomads tour for over 10 years, and we confidently say it’s one of the most immersive ethnic tours in Qinghai Province.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Xining – Shachung Monastery – Lo Dorjee Drak Caves – Rebkong (2,480 m) | 230 km

We begin by driving east to visit Shachung Monastery, perched on a massive cliff by the Yellow River. The views of the river’s winding bends across a wide-open valley are breathtaking. Shachung is renowned as the first monastery of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He received his first monastic vows and spent his youth here before journeying to Central Tibet.

Next, we follow the Yellow River for 18 km to the Lo Dorjee Drak Meditation Caves, located beneath another massive cliff. This sacred site has long been used by yogis and hermits. If you’re interested in meditation, it’s a powerful place to sit quietly in an ancient cave.

We then drive to Rebkong (Tongren) via a new highway winding through deep valleys. Rebkong is the cultural heart of Tibetan art and home to both Buddhist and Bon monasteries. We’ll visit Senggeshung Yagol (Upper Wutun) and Senggeshung Magol (Lower Wutun) to see sacred statues and Rebkong thangka paintings, considered the finest in Tibet.

Day 2: Rebkong – Mayshul Forest – Tsekog Grassland – Camp Site (3,660 m) | 150 km

In the morning, we visit Rongwo Monastery, the largest in the region and the center of Gelug Buddhism in Rebkong. Originally a Sakya monastery with around 1,000 monks, today it belongs to the Gelug school and is home to over 400 monks.

From here, we drive southwest through the Mayshul Forest, a pristine and untouched woodland west of Rebkong. As we ascend a zigzag mountain road, the landscape opens up to high-altitude grasslands—the beginning of the nomadic region. We’ll see herds of yaks and sheep and camp near a Tibetan nomadic family.

Tonight, you’ll have the chance to stargaze or even try night photography under the vast and clear sky.

Day 3: Nomad Life Experience – Drive to Guide (1,800 m) | 210 km

Spend a full day immersed in nomadic Tibetan life. Join families in herding yaks and sheep or help with cheese, yogurt, and butter making. Observe and take part in tasks like milking yaks, feeding newborn calves, cooking on open stoves, and sharing stories with nomads.

You might also get the chance to ride a horse,

our guide leading the group

or even a yak! For quiet time, we’ll take a short hike up a nearby hill or walk across the wide grasslands. In the afternoon, we drive to Guide, a beautiful riverside town along the Yellow River.

Day 4: Guide – Achung Namdzong Nunnery – Kanbula National Park – Xining | 190 km

Today we visit Kanbula National Park, known for its dramatic red cliffs, deep canyons, forests, and turquoise lake. We’ll hike among these striking landscapes and visit a small nunnery and meditation caves tucked into the cliffs.

Later, we ascend into Tibetan villages offering stunning views of the lake nestled deep in the valley. We’ll make several scenic stops on our descent before driving back to Xining, marking the end of our unforgettable journey.