14 Days Sichuan to Tibet Tour

Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at Shuangliu International Airport and then escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for you to have a good rest or you can explore around the streets near your hotels.

At night, you can enjoy the welcome dinner with your Tibetan guide and other group members.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will embark on our wonderful journey at around 7 AM. Along the way, we will encounter many amazing sights, passing through Ya’an, Luding, and Kangding. As we travel against the flow of the Dadu River, which is a tributary of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, we will pass by Zheduo Mountain, the first soaring peak of the Tibetan Plateau, located at an elevation of 4,298 meters. Locals refer to it as the first pass of the Kangba Tibetan Area.

Continuing westward along the winding roads, we will eventually arrive in Xinduqiao, renowned as a paradise for photographers. You will be pleasantly surprised to discover that, although there is no specific sightseeing spot, breathtaking views are plentiful along the 10-kilometer stretch of road. The excellent sunlight for photography, vast grasslands, winding streams, golden poplar trees, lush mountains, and Tibetan villages create a stunning landscape.

How was your night in Xinduqiao? It must have been wonderful! The amazing scenery there is everywhere, making it a rewarding experience for travelers. Be sure to take some beautiful pictures before we continue our journey. As we move westward, we'll pass stunning landscapes, heading towards the roaring Yalong River valley and lush forests.

Along the way, we will pass through the famous Yajiang before finally reaching Litang, a city situated on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau at an altitude of 4,000 meters. Litang is characterized by its vast natural grasslands, where you can see grazing yaks, sheep, and nomadic tents scattered across the expansive pastures.

Another highlight in Litang is the Ke'er Monastery, a prestigious Gelugpa monastery located within this vibrant landscape. After visiting Litang, we'll travel through Haizishan Mountain, which stands at 4,700 meters, and venture into the impressive valley regions. By nighttime, we will arrive in Batang County.

Today, as the morning sunlight gently touches your face, we will begin our journey to the Tibet Autonomous Region! Our first stop is a renowned area that spans 300 square kilometers, where the Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nu River flow parallel to each other. This is a truly magnificent sight! Be prepared, though, as this part of the road is also the most challenging. Fasten your seatbelt, have your camera ready, and enjoy the breathtaking views outside your window!

Next, we will continue our journey westward, passing by Lawu Mountain (4,358 meters) and Dongda Mountain (5,008 meters). From the high mountain passes, which are often covered in snow, you can admire the spectacular vista of the zigzagging Sichuan-Tibet highway and the incredible Lancang River winding through the mountainous terrain.

In the evening, we will spend the night in Zogong City.

Today, we will embark on a long journey from Zogong to Rakwa Tso. This trip promises to be more engaging than before, as we will traverse grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and river valleys, and discover many hidden gems along the way. The gentle rivers and vast grasslands are home to herds of sturdy yaks, horses, sheep, and various wildlife.

After a brief exploration of the enchanting grasslands, we will cross Yela Mountain (4,839 meters), known as the most treacherous natural barrier in the Hengduan Mountain Range. Then, we will descend by following the famous Seventy-two Bends until we reach the shore of the Nu River.

As we continue westward, we will be surrounded by soaring snow mountains, pristine forests, and idyllic Tibetan villages. At night, we will arrive at Rakwa Tso, where we will spend the night in a guesthouse beside the lake.

Our tour today will start by exploring peaceful Rakwa Tso Lake which is regarded as a sapphire in Rakwa Tso. Serving as the source of Parlung Tsangpo Lake, Rakwa Tso is a typical seasonal glacial lake in Chamdo. The narrow strip of river stretches westward for about 10km and slowly winds up in a giant canyon.

As we continue our journey from Rakwa Tso, we will follow the scenic road amid dense forest and turbulent Parlung Tsangpo till today's final destination Bomi. On the way, you can tour the spectacular Midui Glacier, widely believed to be the most beautiful glacier in China.

Get your eyes and camera ready, another day for splendid landscapes! Following an open and wide valley (2km wide, 5km long), we move into the canyon of Parlung Tsangpo. After that, we will head to the celebrated Lulang Forest. It is an enchanting forest covering an area of 15 sq km on the plateau. This region is blanketed with vibrant shrubs, spruces, and pine trees. We can visit the Zhaxigang Village, the iconic Tibetan village in Lulang, and meet the locals and enjoy the local snacks, etc.

 At the viewing platform of Lulang, you will be enjoying the panorama of Mt. Namcha Barwa (7782m), one of the most amazing mountains in China. We will make a brief stop at Sejila Mountain Pass (4728m). After passing the Seijila Mountain Pass, we will keep moving westward and arrive in Nyingchi, the biggest city in eastern Tibet.

Today, we say goodbye to Nyingchi as we continue our journey westward to Lhasa, following the Nyang River, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Our first stop is Basomtso Lake, located approximately 360 kilometers east of Lhasa. The lake is situated at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level and originates from the Nyenchen Tangha Mountain, stretching for several kilometers. Snow-covered mountains, glaciers, and trees are beautifully reflected on the lake's surface. 

In the middle of the lake, there are small islands that feature Lamaist temples. After passing Mila Pass, which is at an elevation of 5,013 meters and is the last mountain pass on our road trip, we will finally reach the Lhasa valley. Not long after Dagzê County, the magnificent Potala Palace, perched on Red Hill, will come into view. Our guide will then escort you to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

The tour will begin at the UNESCO World Heritage site, Potala Palace, which serves as the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. This palace-castle complex is a remarkable 13 stories high. It was originally constructed by Zanpu Songzanganbu of the Tubo Dynasty as a marriage palace for Princess Wencheng. Potala Palace is an exemplary representation of Tibetan architecture and embodies the essence of ancient Chinese architecture. Next, we will visit Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site and a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Located in the heart of the old urban area of Lhasa, this Tibetan Buddhist temple was also built by King Songzanganbu. Adjacent to the temple is Bakhor Street, an ancient and sacred site. It is an excellent place to purchase traditional Tibetan souvenirs, with a variety of items such as prayer wheels and jewelry available everywhere.

Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. We will pass by the Gampala pass(4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso Lake(4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then let’s head further west to Gyantse. In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. The final destination today is Shigatse. We will spend one and a half hour on the way to that city, which is the second largest city in Tibet.

Today we will drive to Shegar. On the way, we will have a stopover in Lhatse for you to enjoy your lunch. If the weather is clear enough, we will see the profile of Mt. Everest. Don't worry if you are not satisfied with this glance, since later we will have a better chance to encounter Mt. Everest! Today is not for the peaks, while we are anyway on the way to the Everest Base Camp. That's why you will enjoy the excellent view of the five highest peaks in the world when we pass by Pang la Pass--one of the highest passes in Tibet.

What a fantastic day today! In the morning, we will head out early to watch the sunrise over Everest Peak, provided the weather is good. Are you planning to climb Mt. Everest? If not, be sure to add that to your wish list for your next trip to Tibet! For now, let's say goodbye to Everest Base Camp and continue with our schedule to visit Rongbuk Monastery, a unique place where nuns and monks live together. Later today, we will drive back to Shigatse.

Today we are going to explore the Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, which was built in 1447. This monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. After lunch, we will drive back to Lhasa.

Breakfast, Then transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your sweet home.It has been a great Tibet holiday and we look forward to seeing you in another China trip!