Amazing G318: 10 Days Sichuan Tibet Epic Overland Tour in Small Group

Drive along the legendary G318 — the world's most scenic road → Witness the icy splendour of Midui Glacier (the most accessible glacier in Tibet) → See the stunning emerald Basongtso Lake surrounded by dense alpine forest → Visit the holy Potala Palace and witness Monks' Debating at Sera Monastery

1. Day1

   Chengdu → Kangding (Luding)

   Meals None

   Depart Chengdu and drive west along the G318 through lush river valleys. Cross the famous Erlang Mountain (2,155 m) and enter the Tibetan cultural sphere at Kangding, known for its historic tea-horse trade history and the romantic song ‘Kangding Qing Ge’.

2. Day2

   Kangding → Xinduqiao → Litang

   Meals Breakfast

   Continue west on the G318 and cross the Zheduo Mountain Pass (4,298 m) into the high plateau. Pass through Xinduqiao — known as ‘the paradise of photographers’ — where the light, colour and landscape are extraordinary. Continue through vast grasslands to the high-altitude town of Litang (4,014 m).

3. Day3

   Litang → Baiyu (Daocheng)

   Meals Breakfast

   Drive through rolling high-altitude grasslands populated by nomads and their herds of yaks and horses. Pass through the stunning scenery of southern Sichuan’s Tibetan borderlands en route to Baiyu County, close to the sacred Daocheng area.

4. Day4

   Baiyu → Midui Glacier (Rawok)

   Meals Breakfast

   Cross the Jinsha River into Tibet and drive to Rawok, home to the legendary Midui Glacier — the most accessible glacier in Tibet and arguably one of the most beautiful on earth. The enormous glacier flows down between snow peaks and forest right to the edge of a turquoise glacial lake.

5. Day5

   Rawok → Basongtso Lake (Pome)

   Meals Breakfast

   Drive through the Parlung Tsangpo valley — one of the most dramatically scenic gorges in Tibet — en route to the emerald Basongtso Lake (3,464 m). This sacred lake, surrounded by dense conifer forest, snow mountains and waterfalls, is a national 5A scenic area.

6. Day6

   Basongtso Lake → Nyingchi

   Meals Breakfast

   After breakfast, explore Basongtso Lake and the enchanting Tashi Island with its ancient monastery before continuing west to Nyingchi — Tibet’s most verdant and biodiverse region, often called the ‘Switzerland of Tibet’. En route enjoy the stunning Lalin Expressway with its mountain, forest and river scenery.

7. Day7

   Nyingchi → Lhasa

   Meals Breakfast

   Drive back towards Lhasa along the Lalin Expressway, China’s most scenic high-level highway. The road passes through snow-capped mountains, ancient forests and broad grasslands as the altitude gradually rises back to the Lhasa plateau (3,650 m).

8. Day8

   Lhasa Culture Tour — Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center, Sera Monastery

   Meals Breakfast

   Visit the Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center and experience Tibetan culture through making incense, practising calligraphy and block printing. In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery and watch the vibrant Monks’ Debating session (15:00–17:00, except Sundays).

9. Day9

   Lhasa City Tour — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan-style Featured Dinner

   Meals Breakfast / Dinner

   Explore the world-famous Potala Palace (World Heritage Site), then continue to the sacred Jokhang Temple at the heart of Lhasa. Stroll through Barkhor Street, the ancient pilgrim circuit that is now a thriving market. In the evening enjoy an authentic Tibetan group dinner.

10. Day10

    Lhasa Departure

    Meals Breakfast

    Free morning until your guide escorts you to Lhasa airport or train station for your departure. This ends your epic G318 Sichuan–Tibet adventure.

    Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.