This trip takes you into areas far, far away from the usual tourist trail.  But  this  means  groups  share  very  basic  accommodation often with limited access to hot water, and no showers for several days. For those visiting Tibet for the first time, the gradual ascent of  this  route  minimizes  the  effects  of  AMS  (Acute  Mountain Sickness)  and  is  a  good  warm-up  for  wilder  and  harsher adventures!

 

Our journey starts at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the Tiger  Leaping  Gorge  in  Lijiang,  which  are  two  of  the  most famous scenic spots of  Yunnan Province. At the markets you get to know  people  of  the  Naxi  minorities  who  still  carry  their  own colourful national costumes.  

 

We  will  then  head  towards  Gyalthang  (Zhongdian),  which  is situated at the east edge of Himalaya Ranges with an altitude of 3330m  above  sea  level.  The  route  leads  us  through  the Hengduan Range to Dechen. The terrain is rough, taking us over complicated landforms towards  the three river confluences, which border  Sichuan,  Yunnan  and  Tibet.  It  is  at  the  Jinsha  River (upper reaches of Yangtze River)  that we will enter Tibet, then we  will  see  the  Lancang  River  (Mekong)  and  Nu  Jiang (Salween). Continuing westwards, past by Ranwu Lake, and across Lulang  forests, we will at  last we  reach the holy  city… Lhasa.

KunMing flight to Lijiang  Day 1 

 

Arrival in Lijiang, visit the Old Town. 

Free day to explore

Overnight at Lijiang Swiss Snow Inn (2*) or the Guangfang hotel (5*) 

 



Day 2 

 

We will ride bike to visit Baisha, Black Dragon Pool.

 

Altitude: 2400m

 

Overnight at Lijiang Swiss Snow Inn (2*) or the Guangfang hotel (5*)

 

LiJiang – ZhongDian  Day 3 

                                  

Drive 220 km to Zhongdian (also named Shangri-la, on the way visit Tiger  Leaping Gorge,  the  First  Bend of  the  Yangtze  River.    Altitude: 3300m. 

 

Overnight at Longxiang Hotel (2*) or the Holy Palace Hotel (4*)

Day 4   

                                                                              

Visit the Songzanlin Monastery, in the afternoon walk to the Dabao Si Monastery.

The flying streamers around the monastery and the approx. 2 km long Mani-stone will impress you deeply.   

Overnight at Longxiang Hotel (2*) or the Holy Palace Hotel (4*)

ZhongDian – Deqin, 190 km  Day 5   

                

Drive 6.5 hours through parts of the Hengduan Range along the Jinsha River (upper reaches of Yangtze). Have a break in a beautiful small town named  Benzilan. On  the way we will  visit  Dongzhulin monastery,  a famous monastery in Yunnan. Then a small walk around Baiman Snow Mountain and enjoy the far reaching views of Meili Snow Mountain, the highest peak in Yunnan Province, with an altitude of 6740 m above sea level.  This  peak  is  called  Kawagebo  by  Tibetan  compatriots, which means the white snowy mountain in Tibetan language. Regarded as one of the Eight Buddhist Mountains and the Divine Mountain and Holy Land, every year  the  Buddhist  followers  from  Tibet,  Sichuan,  Yunnan,  and Qinghai trek thousands of miles to pay religious homage to it.  In the afternoon arrive  in Deqin, situated close to the border of Yunnan and Tibet.

 

Overnight at Naka Hotel (2*) to see the sunrise of Kawagebo.

 

Deqin - Markam, 220 km  Day 6   

                                  

Drive 7 hours  to Markam. We  travel northwards along  the Langcang Jiang River valley, and the upper reaches of the Mekong River. On the way we will have a break in Yanjin town, the border between Yunnan and Tibet, as it is famous all around Tibet for its salt mines. We will then walk 2 hours along  the Mekong  river and salt mines  to Quzika hot spring. After a hotspring shower and lunch we start again! In the afternoon we reach Markam, where  the Sichuan-Tibet Highway  (Chengdu  - Lhasa) and  Yunnan-Tibet  Highway  meet  (Kunming  -  Lhasa).  Overnight  at

 

ManTso Lake Hotel (2*)

Markam – Banda town via Zuogong County, 258 km    Day 7 

 

We start with a 7 hours drive to Banda town. On the way we cross the Lancang Jiang (Mekong) and overcome three passes: Joba, Lawu (4358 m) and Dongda (5008m). We drive down to Zuogong (3980 m) then drive 80km to Banda town, a town junction where Lhasa connects to the Chamdo-Kunming Highway. The Yu-chu valley lies north of the Salween gorges in the highlands of Tsawagang, where the immense geographic spatial dimensions of the land dwarf our presence. Today we will make many breaks to take photos and enjoy a few small walks.  

Overnight at Banda Guesthouse (1*) 

Danda – Ranwu Lake via Baxu County, 201 km  Day 8 

 

We drive 6.5 hours to Ranwu Lake. Whilst the distance covered is less than 70 km, the terrain is steep, as defined by the 180 switchbacks we will  conquer  when we  cross Gama  La  Pass  at  an  altitude  of  4,618 meters. After we have lunch in Baxu county, we continue to drive for 3 hours to Ranwu lake, a spectacularly crystalblue lake cupped by snow peaks.   

Overnight at Ranwu Hotel (2*)

Ranwu - Bome, 129km  Day 9   

                            

In the morning we visit the Ranwu lake. After our lunch of freshly caught fish,  we  will  drive  3.5  hours  along  the  Poto-chu  Valley  at  Tramog (2743m), located deep in the thickly forested gorge of Parlung Tsangpo with glacial waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides.          

 

Overnight at Bome Jiaotong Hotel (2*)

 

Bome – Linzhi (BaYi), 210kmDay 10   

      

We will drive 5 hours, on the way heading down several hundred meters in altitude as we reach the lowland jungle settlement of Tongmai, where the Tsangpo and Parlung Tsangpo rivers meet. Crossing Serkhyem La Pass (4515 m) we will have spectacular views of Mount Gyala Pelri (7150 m) and Mount Namchak  Barwa (7782 m).  Late  in  the  afternoon we arrive  in  Linzhi  (Nyingchi).  Today we will  take many  breaks  to  take photographs and enjoy short walks.  

 

Overnight at Little Swan Hotel（3*）

 

Linzhi – Lhasa, 390km  Day 11   

                        

After  breakfast we  drive  7  hours  along  the Niyang  River  for  Lhasa.

 

Afterwards we pass through scenic terrain with lush alpine forests and clear snow-melted streams, as well as over the impressing Mi La pass (4865 m) to Lhasa. Late in the afternoon we arrive in Lhasa (3650 m), capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The city  is situated on the bank of the Kyichu River and has  long been the "Holy Land" of Tibet.

Today we will take many breaks to take photographs and enjoy short walks.  

Overnight at Lhasa River Hotel (2*) or Hoshan Hotel (3*)

Lhasa  Day 12   

                                                                      

In the morning we visit Potala Palace, which was originally constructed in 637AD by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as becoming the religious - political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether creative a dense religious and artistic atmosphere  that  impresses every visitor.  In  the afternoon we visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhist region and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come to  worship  every  day.  The  temple,  built  in  647AD,  is  the  earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing  in Tibet. We will  then walk along the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big market with prolific stalls selling local specialties.  

 

Overnight at Lhasa River Hotel (2*) or Hoshan hotel (3*)

 

Lhasa Day 13   

                                                                                

In the morning we visit Drepung monastery, the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established  in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama’s residence. In the afternoon we visit Sera monastery, which was  created  in  1419  and  has  always  been  an  important  Buddhist seminary. As roses are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called ‘The Court of the Wild Roses’. Today still 200 Lamas live there.    

Overnight at Lhasa River Hotel (2*) or Hoshan Hotel (3*)

 

Lhasa – ChengduDay 14 

                                        

Take flight to Chengdu, Sichuan Province. End of trip. 

 

Extra Stay                                                                        

Extra stay at LiJiang  

Extra stay at Lhasa, exploring westwards to Mt. Everest Base Camp