Overland from Sichuan to Tibet 13 nights/14 days Tour(South Route)

Day 1

Place & Transport: Chengdu / Kangding (Dartse)
Today's Activities: Kangding
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Depart from Chengdu, we will drive 150km in express way then we will drive in the green valley along the Qingyijiang River. Of course, the best always the hardest, we have to get over the first natural barriers-Erlang mountain, for the high altitude and bad road conditions, this mountain was called the first barriers between Sichuan and Tibet in the past. But now, with the opening of Erlangshan tunnel the natural barriers become the smooth way. When we get through the Erlang Mountain and pass by Luding. In the afternoon we will arrive at the world wide famous ancient city-Kangding.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Kangding
Today's Activities: Sightseeing in Kangding
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: As far as we know, Kangding city is a very famous city all over the world. It used to be the most important market of Tea-horse trade in the past .The nomadic Tibetan come here to exchanges their animals or animal products with Chinese Han people . And the Erdaoqiao hot spring will rush away all the dust of our travel.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Kangding/Litang
Today's Activities: /
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will drive to Litang. Litang gained reputation of the highest city in all over the world for its sea level of 4200meter .

Day 4

Place & Transport: Litang/Batang
Today's Activities: Haizi Mountain
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Depart from Litang we will get into the Haizi Mountains. It was called as Haizi Mountain but the road condition from east to the west is good. And you will get up to the summit without conscious of. And then we will go down to the Batang which is located in the bank of Jinshajiang River. Here produce many good fruit and they enjoined very high honor in east Tibet. It was said that the apple had been planted by a foreign preacher firstly. And the Christian churches here are still well protected now.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Batang/Markham
Today's Activities: Markham
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: When we get over the Jinshajiang River, we will be in Tibetan Autonomous Administration District, and the Markham County is the first county we meet since we enter in Tibet.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Markham/Paksho
Today's Activities: Dongda Mountains, Nujiang River
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: From Markham to Paksho, we have to get over the Lancangjiang River first. And then the Dongda Mountains (6000meters), via Zuogong to Bangda, we will pass the high land grassland which is located in more than 4000 meters above sea level. Farewell to the grassland, via the famous ninety-nine bending and down to the Nujiang River, this day's trip will be full of challenge. We have to be accustomed to the temperature up and down and the altitude changes at the same time.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Paksho/Pome
Today's Activities: /
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: We will pass Ranwugou ditch, which is an enormous ice glacier. The car have to get through from the glaciers very carefully, it will give us the most exciting impetus but without danger. The Ranwu Lake is the famous high land glacier lake; there is dense forest near the bank accompanied with the clean and clear water in the lake. The shadow of the forest in the lake, the birds play and fly freely near the water. What a fairy land displayed in front of us. The Pome county which located in the dense forest, will take our great attention. The famous Himalaya Mountain is located near this county, so we can easily see the Snow Mountains around the county. The most famous two are Nanjiabawa summit and Jialabei summit.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Pome/Bayi
Today's Activities: /
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: We will drive in the dense forest, and then we will get over one mountains which clad with snow and ice, we arrive another destination. Here lives the primeval Menba and Luoba nationality. Their ways of living are much similar with the Tibetans, but they still keep their primitive way of life and the dwellings. Nyingchi is the most attractive place in Tibet.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Sightseeing in Bayi
Today's Activities: Bujhork Lamalin monastery
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: In the morning, visit the giant cypress tree (also called the king of cypress) and Bujhork Lamalin monastery(belonging to Ningma-pa). In the afternoon, you can stroll in the modern city by yourself.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Bayi/Basomtso Lake
Today's Activities: Basomtso Lake
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will drive to visit Basomtso Lake, it is said to be the copy of Switzerland: stiff peaks, snow mountains, Crystal Lake, green vegetation, island in the small lake. Today you will stay overnight at the bank of Basomtso lake.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Basomtso/Lhasa
Today's Activities: Lhasa
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: Depart from Basomtso Lake, via the Mila Mountains to valley of Lhasa, the grand Potala palace present in the front of you, and you understand that you have entry into the sacred place, Lhasa.

Day 12

Place & Transport: Lhasa Sightseeing
Today's Activities: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark- Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing 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 drop a visit of 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 13

Place & Transport: Lhasa Sightseeing
Today's Activities: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastey
Meals: B,L,D
Detailed Itinerary: 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 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 14

Place & Transport: Departure
Today's Activities: /
Meals: /
Detailed Itinerary: Lhasa to Chengdu or other destination.

Some tips for this trip:

• 1. Do not be afraid of the AMS. This route starts from Chengdu of Sichuan basin, then heading west to higher altitude. Although there are several passes beyond 4000m, there will be no problem due to the short passing time.
• 2. The restaurants along the way can provide simple Chinese and Tibetan food, but you'd better bring some solid food.
• 3. The best travel season for this route is May, June, September and October. Avoiding taking this route in July and August, landslide may occur during the rainy season.
• 4. The driving hour will be long for this tour, and most of visiting will be stay in the vehicle.
• 5. Better do not go outside of the hotel in the night.