13 Days Chengdu to Lhasa Overland

Attraction: Giant Panda Breeding Centre, cute giant Pandas and Red Pandas. This morning our guide and driver meet you at the hotel lobby about 8 am and start the beautiful day with a visit the Panda breeding centre, the cute pandas are very active in the morning and there you will see them rolling, climbing and eating bamboos, Chengdu Giant Panda breeding centre was founded in 1987 with 6 rescued Pandas from the wild and now there are about 83 Pandas rearing in it. You will enjoy the time by seeing both Giant Pandas and red Pandas, you will definitely impress by seeing the newly born Panda cubs in the nursery. After lunch, you have time to pack and prepare for your long overland journey through the Tibet plateau, you will meet your Tibetan guide and drive this afternoon and confirm your departure time of the trip. Overnight in Chengdu

Attractions; Chengdu country side view, Kangding Tibetan town situated in the narrow valley. Today we will drive to Kangding via Ya’an and Luding, the well paved highway ends at Ya’an, then the twisted and narrow road within the gorge sometimes take longer than expected, continues drive through the Mt.Erlang(3437m) tunnel and following river upstream to Kangding. Kangding is the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Prefecture, but in these days more and more Chinese merchants trading in the town and settled there, the river passing in the middle of the town plays and important role during the sunny summer days. You may have a short walk around the street after dinner. Overnight in Kangding.

Attractions; Mt. Zheduo(4270m), vast nomadic pastures, blooming wild flowers, mighty snowcapped peaks. Today we will drive across the Zheduo pass(4270m) and it is remarked by a heap of prayer flags and a stupa, Tibetan pilgrims put prayer flags up on the passes which is considered as most clean spot, further driving into the valley pass by the recently opened Kangding airport, before we get to XinduQiao, you will be impressed by the colorfully designed triangular prayer flags and well carved mantras over the hillside along the road, among Chinese tourist, XinduQiao is well known as heaven for photographers, especially in spring, when the trees along the road shed its leaves with yellowish color, the whole surrounding looks like a great painting and crowds of Chinese tourist occupies the whole region. After hours of drive through ranges of mountain we will enjoy natural lakes and lone nomadic family tents with herds of sheep and yaks on the peaceful pastures. Way to Lithang we will cross over the Jainzi Wan pass(4659m) and by following the route over the ridge experience the distinction of driving on the roof of the world. Sooner, we will get to the days destination Lithang which is located in a high valley, it is famed as the birthplace of the 7th and 10th Dalai Lamas. At your arrival in the town, check in the hotel and explore the local street rest of day. Overnight in Lithang.

Attractions; Plateau nomads and snowcapped mountains, Yangzi river(Drichu) and beautiful valleys. Today we drive continues toward west to Markham via Bathang, wide grassland of the region is home of hundreds of nomads and herds of animals, wild blossoms end of July and August is like huge garden than a pasture. After a short drive from Bathang county, we will cross the Yangzi river bridge and it is borderline to the Tibet Autonomous Region, the check point at the end of bridge will check the documents and permits to enter TAR, then the road goes within a deep gorge and endless mountain views and valleys stop you for photos, the road meet with Yunnan-Tibet highway at Markham and we will spend the night there and you have time to explore around the local bazaar in the town after the dinner. Overnight in Markham.

Attractions; Typical Tibetan villages, stunning views of mountains and Mekong river. Today we will cross over the highest point of the whole journey, the Dongdo-la with altitude of 5108m, then we follow the road along Yachu river which is a tributary of the Salween river and meet spurroad to Chamdo at Pamda, from there the unpaved road cross over the Nujiang mountain(4658m), the dusty road climbing down into the valley with 72 bends could be the worst part of the road, then the road pass through numbers of villages along the stream lead to the small town of Basho which is located right on the road side, it is best place to spend the night in the region. Overnight at Basho.

Attractions; Green valleys and snow mountains, Ranwu lake. Today we drive to Pomi via Ranwu lake, the gradual descending in the altitude bring climate changes from dry to moist, forest get thicker along the road, once we get at Ranwu, we stop for a while to view the stunning Ranwu lake that gives you beautiful shots with reflections of the snow mountains in the lake, then for few kilometers along the lake and drive further to Pomi. Overnight in Pomi.

Attractions; Alpine forest valley of Lulang, Mt.Namcha Barwa(7787m), Mt, Gyala Palri(7151m). Today the paved road goes through the beautiful green valleys, but snow mountains appearing far behind the forested mountains and colorful wild blossoms are known as Tibetan Switzerland, the road trace upstream of the Parlung river and Rongchu river, we will cross over the photogenic suspension bridge over the Yigong Tsangpo and then further up to Rongchu valley, the virgin forests and subtropical climate of the area is unique on the Tibetan plateau, then a short drive get us to the gorgeous alpine valley with abundant rhododendron and cypress forest is known as Lulang forest sea and then ascent through a series of switchbacks from picturesque Rongchu valley to the Serkym la pass(4582m), we will stop at the Serkym la scenic spot that give you a perfect view of thorough Rongchu valley and Mt. Namcha Barwa(7787m) and Mt.Gyala Palri(7151m) in the background, then it is only about 60km to Nyintri town. Overnight in Nyintri.

Attractions; Alpine Basum lake, green valleys and typical villages, glimpse of giant Potala Palace. Today we will drive along the Nyanchu river upstream, within the alpine valley we will pass by numbers of villages, en route we will drive to Basum lake which is about 50km turn-off from the main road, apart from the sheer beauty of the lake it is connected with semi-mythical king of the Kham-King Gesar and Indian abbot Guru Rinpoche, there are also several folk stories about the surrounding snowcapped peaks, walk across the board floating bridge to visit the historical Nyinmapa monastery amid the island. Afternoon we will trace back to the main road and continues drive toward west, cross over the Mila pass(5000m) and it will gain several hundred meters in altitude, gradually you will feel the dry plateau climate and the bare mountains are the real feature of the central and western Tibet. Further drive along the Lhasa river, you will be impress by glimpse of Potala Palace from the distant that perching up from the rest of the city. Overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions; Potala palace, Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor street. Today is your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have little head ach which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is important. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the centre of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit inside the temple you have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa since from long time, in the early days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping centre. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions; Drepung monastery and Sera monastery. Today we will visit Drepung Monastery in the morning, once the world's largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots things to see, walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monks’ apartments is more like a typical village. The amazing day will have ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening every day in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions; Namtso lake, Mt. Nyechen Thangla, Lagen la pass(5190m), view of Thangula range and Nomad family. Today we drive to north-west of Lhasa via Qinghai-Tibet highway, tracing the Tibet train track till Damshong and then cross the Lagen la pass by driving further west to Namtso lake, north-western part of Tibet is vast pastures for the plateau nomads since from long time and we call it Jiangthang (Northern nomads land), from ridge of the Lagen la(5190m) it gives you the first view of the amazing Namtso lake vista, the paved road cut through the nomad grasslands and black tents of nomad families can be seen along the road side during summer season, Tashi peninsula is the final destination of the day, in the afternoon you have enough time to explore around the Tashi Do peninsula and surroundings. Namtso lake is one of the Tibet’s three most holy lake and Tibetans makes pilgrimage circumambulation around the lake on some ritual time which takes about a month or less to complete the whole circle, it is world highest salt water lake and second largest salt water lake in China with 70km in length and 30km in breadth (1st largest salt water lake in China is Kokorno lake in Qinghai province). Late afternoon, drive back to Lhasa, en route you will visit a nomad family to experience the yak wool tent from the inside and get you chance to understand little more about their lifestyle. Overnight in Lhasa.

Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station and it is time to say your good bye and depart to your next destination. End the trip officially