15 days Tibet Tour (Sichuan-Tibet via north route)

15 days Tibet Tour (Sichuan-Tibet via north route)

As the capital city of Sichuan, Chengdu is a city of many faces. On the one hand this is an incredibly modern and vibrant place  Tibet Chamdo Tour

 Beijing has a relatively relaxed attitude towards this city. Chengdu has blossomed in terms of affluence and investment. The traditional industries of gold, silver, silk and lacquer. It makes this city one of the most important centers of commerce in the country. Today, skyscrapers dominate the skyline and Japanese cars and western goods are hugely popular and widely available.

This modernization has, no doubt, been helped by the important role that Chengdu plays in terms of education and culture in China. Once one of the most important printing centers in the country, Chengdu has a long history as a destination for learned poets and artists to gather and seek inspiration. The great poet Du Fu made his home here and today there are 14 colleges and an impressive university situated in the city.

Nestled amongst that affluence and development is another side to Chengdu. Traditional wooden Chinese architecture that once dominated this city can still be found in the outskirts although it is fast disappearing. What does still exist, however abundant, is a great street life. Markets and street hawkers fill the streets dealing in everything you could possibly imagine, from snakes and snails to fortunes and foot scrubs.

Many travelers here are simply killing time or passing through en route to Tibet. This is however, a very pleasant city to do just this: feast on some great food and soak up some of the mellow atmosphere in one of the thousands of tea houses dotted about the city.

 

Day 01: Arriving in Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel.

Day 02: Dufu Sward, Zoo, Wuhou Memorial Temple(Wuhou Shrine)
Wuhou might be translated as "minister or war".That was the title given to ZhugeLiang, a famous military strategist of the three Kingdoms period (AD220-280) immortalised in one of the classics of Chinese literature, the tale of the Three Kingdoms.the shrine situated in the southern suburb of Chengdu.the Romance of the Three Kingdoms carries out the stories about ZhugeLiang. Reading these stories even in English translation is a great enjoyment.

Day 03: Chengdu - Wolong - Danba
In the morning we will leave for Danba. We'll cross the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve, where there are about 50 giant pandas bred in a semi-natural environment. After lunch at Wolong, we 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).

Day 04: Danba - Bamei
The local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Danba has long been acclaimed as the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. Visit the ancient block towers in Suopo. In the afternoon drive to Bamei. Pass by Donggu Scenery Spot (the Natural Bonsai Valley), which is situated at the Donggu Village 21 kilometers to the southwest of Danba County. In the valley, the clear Yak River flows through and numerous varieties of plants are well preserved and the lush and damp forests make it hard to view the sky. Many lakes and hot-water pools at the bottom of the valley create a world of steam.Reach Bamei in the late afternoon.

Day 05: Bamei - Kasa Lake - Garze
Drive to Garze, the real cultural and religious center for the Tibetans living in Sichuan. In Tibetan "Garze" means "white and beautiful", named after the famous temple in the county. On the way, have a rest by the Kasa Lake. Upon arrival, visit Garze monastery of the yellow sect (Gelug).

Day 06: Garze - Yihun Lhatso - Dege
In the morning pass by Manigango to visit Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso). Located at the foot of Chola Mountain in Dege County, Xinlu Hai Lake Scenic Spot is 98 kilometers from Garze County and 100 kilometers from Dege County. In the afternoon we visited the Edge Printing House which has always been well reputed as the "Cultural Treasury at the Foot of the Snow Mountain." As the national leading protected entity of cultural relics, it is the biggest printing house in the Tibetan area.

Day 07: Dege - Chamdo
Drive across the Jinsha River (upper reaches of Yangtze) Bridge connecting Sichuan and Tibet heading for Chamdo. We will cross over no less than four passes: Khargang La (4,352 m), Lashi La (4,450 m), Jape La (4,680 m), and Tama La (4,511 m), with clutters of prayer flags waving in the wind on the peaks and friendly nomads waving at us from the grasslands. Straddling the Mekong river, Chamdo (3200 m) was the former capital of Kham in the East-Tibetan area and has a rich history as one of the earliest centers of the Tibetan plateau and home of Kalden Jampaling.

Day 08: Chamdo - Riwoche Jeep 105 km
In the morning visit Galden Jampaling monastery. In the afternoon drive over the Scalpel La pass (4688 m) to Riwoche (3810 m).

Day 09: Riwoche - Dengchen Jeep 185 km
Drive on a 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 Buddhism was introduced into the Tibetan area. Here visit two monasteries: Tengchen and Ritro Lhakhang

Day 10: Dengchen - Bachen - Sok Dzong Jeep 255 km
After master Tsuri La Pass (4200 m) and Shel La Pass (4750 m) we arrive at Bachen, the "big Yak hair tents". Continuing to drive 30 km we reach Sok Dzong.

Day 11: Sok Dzong ?C Naqu Jeep 230 km
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 Shakshuka. Still just 100 km and two other passes have to be mastered before arriving at today's destination Naqu. The northern route of Sichuan - Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (Golmud - Lhasa) meet in Naqu.

Day 12: Nakchu - Namtso Lake - Lhasa Jeep 480 km
Drive on the vast Qiangtang Grassland for Nam Tso. Cross the 5,150 m Lhachen La Pass and reach the Namtso or Tengri Nor along the newly paved way and set up camp at Tashi Dorie peninsula. It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain Nyenchentangla are a couple of lovers, who altogether guard the vast pasture and cattle. In the afternoon drive to Lhasa (3650 m), capital of Tibet Autonomous Region

Day 13: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street
The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark- Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appears on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels
In the afternoon, we will visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet

Day 14: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
About 8km west of central Lhasa is the Drepung, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of the hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, the other is Sera. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.

 

Day 15: Out of Tibet by air or train to the China side, or flight to KTM, Nepal
Your private guide and the car with the driver will see you off to the airport or train station. Your Tour ends.