Jinsha Jiang

Day01 Zhongdian/Dechen 190 km

Drive through parts of the Hengduan Range along the Jinsha Jiang (upper reaches of Yangtze). Have a break in a beautiful small town named Benzilan. On the way we enjoy far view of Meili Xueshan, 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 Dechen, situated close to the border between Yunnan and Tibet.

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Day02 Dechen/Yanjing/Markam

Today drive to Yanjing, which was once the main source of salt for half of the Kham Tibetan area, which ranged from northwestern Sichuan down into Yunnan. We will visit to the salt fields and visit the only one Catholic Church in Tibet. Followed by a stop at the hot springs, where each of us could pick our own natural hot bath overlooking the Mekong. Certainly the best way to relax our body for the adventure ahead! Then continue drive to Markam, where the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and Yunnan-Tibet Highway meet (Kunming - Lhasa).

Bangda

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Day03 Markam/Zuogong/Baxoi

Heading for Zuogong (3980 m). On the way we cross the Lancang Jiang (Mekong) and overcome three passes: Joba, Lawu (4358 m) and Dongda (5008m). Then drive upstream to Bangda, 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. While distance covered is less than 100 km and probably half that by the way the crow flies, 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.

Day04 Baxoi/Ranwu/Bome

On the road to Bome, we will stop in Ranwu to cast our lines in the pristine waters of Ngan Tso (Ranwu Lake), a spectacularly crystal blue lake cupped by snow peaks.  After our lunch of freshly caught fish, we will wander along the Poto-chu Valley at Tramog (2,743 m), located deep in the thickly forested gorge of Parlung Tsangpo with glacial waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides.

Ngan Tso

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Day05 Bome/Nyingchi

We will go 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 (4,515 m) we will have spectacular views of Mount Gyala Pelri (7,150 m) and Mount Namchak Barwa (7,782 m). Late in the afternoon arrive in Nyingchi (Nyingtri, Linzhi).

Day06 Nyingchi/Basum Tso Lake

The garrison site Nyingchi is an ideal place for the discovery of two neighbouring high points: From the golden roof of the Gelugpa monastery Buchu to view the unique scenery of the Lamaling temple which is only a few kilometers runway. After lunch we drive to the Basum Tso Lake.

Gandan Monastery

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Day07 Basum Tso Lake/Lhasa

More than 6000 m high snow covered mountains make the lake film like, well, the leading actor is, without doubt, is the island monastery - Tsodzong. We take a boat travel around the island and up to the Tsodzong monastery on it. In the afternoon we drive on along the Niyang river for Lhasa. Afterwards we pass through scenic terrain with lush alpine forests and clear snow-melted streams and over the impressing Mi La pass (4865 m) to Lhasa. Have a visit to Gandan Monastery en route. Late in the afternoon arrive in Lhasa (3650 m), capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The city is situated on the bank of the Kyichu River and has long been the "Holy Land" of Tibet.

Day8 Sightseeing in Lhasa

Today, we will visit the 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. Also today, 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.

Jokhang Temple

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Day9 Sightseeing in Lhasa

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.

Day10 Leave Lhasa

Take flight to leave Lhasa, tour ends.