18 days overland travel Sichuan - Tibet
(Norht route)
Chengdu - Khamding - Tagong - Dawu - Ganzi - Payul - Derge - Gyangdha - Chamdo - Nakchu - Namtso lake - Lhasa
（to be private tour）
Tour price: US $2780 (covering airfare LXA to CTU)
Day01: Arriving in Chengdu
Meals: no meals -------------------------Hotel: 3* Kangding hotel
Fly to Chengdu from your home or other city in China. Upon arriving, met and transferred to hotel.
Day02: Chengdu to Khamding (360KM)
Meals: B/L/D------------------------------ Hotel: 3* Kalakaer hotel
Drive through the Erlangshan tunnel (4.17km long) to arrive at Khamding. On the way there, passing by the famous scenery - Hailuogou glaciers which is at the eastern side of Mt. Gongha (7556m). In Khamding city, visit Anjue monastery.
Day03: Khamding to Daofu to Luhuo (255KM)
Meals: B/L/D ------------------------------Hotel: Luhuo Kasa hotel
Drive over the Zheguoshan pass (4298m) to Xinduqiao where the beautiful local houses and the nice site for viewing Mt. Gongha attract tourist. At Targong, visit Targong monastery and Muyha pagoda temple, and enjoy the impressive snow peaks of Mt. Yalha (3890m) and Paojiashan (5400m). then going on driving to Luhuo
Day04: Luhuo to Ganzi (100KM)
Meals: B/L/D ------------------------------Hotel: Ganzi hotel
At Luhuo, visit Luhuo Lingque monastery.
Ganzi is an important city on the northern Sichuan - Tibet road, visit Ganzi monastery which was once the ruling center of the Gongsha family over this land. The Shangghen Renpoche (3rd) is now the religious top leader of Ganzi monastery and Litang monastery.
Day05: Ganzi to Payul (Baiyu) (230KM)
Meals: B/L/D ------------------------------Hotel: Baiyu hotel
Drive through the Haizi mountain to Baiyu which is located by a river in a deep valley, on the way there, lush forests and peaceful villages make your tour impressive. At Changtai, visit Mengyi monastery, upon arrival at Baiyu, visit Baiyu monastery.
Day06: Baiyu to Derge (140KM)
Meals: B/L/D -------------------------------Hotel: Quola hotel
On the way to Derge, visit Palpun monastery which is the largest and most important Kagyulpa monastery in Kham area of Sichuan province. Following upstream of Jianshajiang river to Gato bridge, then swift to east to Derge town.
Day07: Derge sightseeing
Meals: B/L/D --------------------------------Hotel: Quola hotel
Derge is famous for its huge collection of Buddhism scriptures and books, esp. for its printing boards (wood made). Visit the Derge printing house and Gengqing monastery (Sakyapa order).
Day08: Derge to Chamdo (340KM)
Meals: B/L/D --------------------------------Hotel: Chamdo Hotel
Crossing Garto bridge over Jinshajiang river (which is the natural division line between Sichuan and Tibet). Just crossing the bridge is the Shenchenlangtsa holy mountain. At Tonpu, turn to the south to enjoy the unmatchable view along the Tsaqu valley. (55km in and then going back to Tongpu village). Because of its forests, many engravers working Derge printing house (major in wood carving) come from here.
Day09: Chamdo sightseeing
Visit Chamdo monastery (Qiangbalin monastery) which is the biggest Gelupa monastery and the biggest one in the eastern Tibet, enjoys a high reputation among believers.
Day10: Chamdo to Riwuqi (100KM)
Meals: B/L/D --------------------------------Hotel: simple guesthouse
Visit the Chajiema grand hall of Riwuqi monastery which belongs to Kagyulpa order, famous for its special structure and outlooking. The local Khamba people thought it as important as the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. By Tibetan Calendar, the 6th month will see the hosting of a grand festival.
Day11: Riwuqi to Dingchen (190KM)
Meals: B/L/D----------------------------------Hotel: simple guesthouse
Leaving Riwuqi for Dingchen, visit Zizhu monastery 35 kilometers befor arriving in Dingchen county town
Day12: Dingchen to Suoxian county (255KM)
Meals: B/L/D --------------------------------Hotel: simple guesthouse
Drive to Suoxian county, on the way enjoy mountains with strange shape and bare rocks on the top. This place has long been thought to be the holy center of Bon religion in history. In Dingchen are many Bon religion monasteries. visit Suoketsan monastery at Suoxian
Day13: Suoxian county to Nakchu (230KM)
Meals: B/L/D --------------------------------Hotel: 3* Nakchu Xinyuan hotel
Nakchu is the most important and biggest town in the Northern grassland of Tibet highland. Four roads meet here (taking Nakchu as the center, to south is Lhasa, to the north is to Golmud, to the west is to Gar and to the east is to Chamdo). From 1st to 10th day of every August, there is a grandest horse racing festival at Nakchu. Visit Xiaoden monastery at Nakchu (of Bon religion).
Day14: Nakchu to Namtso lake (260KM)
Meals: B/L/D ----------------------------Hotel: simple guesthouse by lake
Namtso is the biggest lake in Tibet, and the second holiest lake in the pilgrims' hearts, its elevation is 4718m, beside it is grand Nyianchen Tanghula mountain, its peak (of 7162m) can be clearly viewed from the lakeside. Around the lake is huge and vast prairie. It is a worth place to visit.
Day15: Namtso lake to Lhasa (240KM)
Meals: B/L/D ---------------------------------Hotel: 3* Xiongbala hotel
Passing Yangbajing geothermos fields and the Duilong river to Lhasa. On the way (60km before Lhasa), go and visit Ganden monastery (of Gelupa). Ganden monastery is the home monastery of Gelupaa order.
Day16: Lhasa sightseeing
Meals: B/L/D ---------------------------------Hotel: 3* Xiongbala hotel
In the morning, visit the grand - looking Potala Palace, which was built in the 7th century for the King. In the afternoon, visit Jokhang temple and stroll in the famous local bazaar - Parkhor street.
Day17: Lhasa sightseeing
Meals: B/L/D ---------------------------------Hotel: 3* Xiongbala hotel
Visit Tsepung monastery which is the biggest monastery in Tibet. Then visit Sera monastery and Norbulingka which can give you deep impression of Tibet arts and civilization.
Day18: Lhasa to your destination by air
Meals: B ----------------------------------------Hotel: no
Take morning flight to your next stop.
End of the tour
QUOTATION: US $2780 (covering airfare LXA to CTU)
Price covers such service: (1) accommodation charge till the last night of the tour; (2) All meals in the tour, Breakfasts are served in hotel; (3) 4WD Land cruiser and 7 seats Business coach; (4) land travel insurance; (5) all meals and accommodation to the driver and the guide; (6) tour commission; (7) air ticket charge to Chengdu from Lhasa
Price excludes such service: (1) scenic entry admission along the way, you pay when you go and visit; (2) personal expenses; (3): hospitalization and first aiding charge; (4): airfare charge to Beijing, Xi'an or Kathmandu from Lhasa
when the tour ends, but you want to further tours to other parts of Tibet, such as to Gyangtse, Shigatse, Samye monastery, Mount Everest and even exit China into Nepal; based on your tour destination and your holiday, we can arrange you different length of trips. for this, please contact tibetmap@tibetmap.net
1. Pictures of the vehicle to be used for running this tour; you can decide which type of land cruiser you wish to use by clicking to view the vehicle's picture
A. 4WD Land Cruiser TOYOTA 6200 (old style, which had been out of use since the end of 2005);
B: 4WD Land Cruiser TOYOTA 4500_ Prado /EFI (Not licensed in Tibet tourism fields)
C. 4WD Land Cruiser TOYOTA 4500 ( Modeled in 1996 and 1998, the best land cruiser available in present Tibet tourism)
D: 4WD Land Cruiser Mitusubishi
E: 4WD China made Beijinig Jeep
F. Mini Van 9 Seats (Jin Bei /Delika /Fulika type)
G. 17+2 Seats Coach for group (Coaster /19 or 20 seats coach)
H. 23 seats Hino (non air conditioned)
I: : 27+2 Seats Coach for group (Jin Long)
J: : 27+2 Seats Coach for group (Yu Tong)
K: : 4 seats Small Vehicle for transfer in city area
L: : Local Taxi in Chengdu for airport-hotel transfer
