Tibet - Mountains and Mysteries
Lanzhou - Xining - Lhasa
A Journey Along the Lesser-Known Route from Gansu to Tibet
About the Program:
Length: 20 days
Min/max: 8/15
Tour type: cultural adventure
To people in the West, Tibet seems like a vision from another world.
It is the fabled land of rebirth and enchantment, where towering snow-crowned peaks soar into an immaculate blue sky, and glacial run-offs give birth to Asia´s mightiest river systems: the Ganges, Indus, Mekong, Yellow and Yangtze.
It is a land of legends and battles, where nomads, shepherds and traders pushed their trails far into the mountains, claimed their kingdoms, and planted their crops in deep valleys or upon narrow terraces gouged out of steep hillsides.
It is the land of Buddhism, which has shaped the people´s character since it was brought from India more than 1500 years ago, and which has inspired the building of countless Lamaist monasteries.
It is also a land coming to terms with change slowly and with difficulty, struggling to define its position and culture within China. It is time to visit this mystical land and to see it in all its guises and realities.
This unusual journey leads you from Gansu province via Qinghai province and through the historical Amdo area into Tibet. You will be amazed by the region´s natural landscape: snow-covered mountains, crystal clear highland lakes, broad meadows, emerald-green forests, peculiar plants and rare wild animals are all in evidence along the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
You will also have an opportunity to visit some of the most important monasteries of the Gelukpa-sect in Tibetan Buddhism such as Labrang, Kumbum, Jokhang, Sera, as well as the magnificent Potala Palace.
This program is neither just a trekking holiday nor a pilgrim journey. Our activities, visits and sightseeing are focused on understanding the people and their culture, not on challenging the imposing terrain. Nature in all its magnificence will be the ever-present backdrop to our every moment in Tibet. We will select the best accommodation and restaurants available.
This will be an experience that will remain with you forever!
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1, Monday - Beijing/Lanzhou
Arrive Beijing and make a same-day connection onwards to Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province in west-central China. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner. D Legend Hotel
Day 2, Tuesday - Lanzhou/Xiahe
We will depart for Xiahe today. 260 km south of Lanzhou is the peaceful Yellow-hat sect Buddhist monastery town of Xiahe. Situated at an altitude of 2905 metres (9530 feet) and surrounded by walking trails up beautiful hilly grasslands, and where only a few tourists travel we will explore the area, visiting nomadic villages en route. B/L/D Labrang Hotel
Day 3, Wednesday - Xiahe
Spend the day in Xiahe. Xiahe is hidden in the southern mountains of Gansu province. Until the 18th century it belonged to Tibet´s eastern Amdo district; today 45% of the population is Tibetan. The village owes its existence to the Labrang Monastery that houses some 1700 monks varying in age from 7 to 80 years old. Every year many Gelukpa (Yellow-hat sect Tibetans), Tibetan Buddhists and other pilgrims come to this monastery, where during its glory days some 4000 monks used to live. A thorough visit to the monastery gives a great educational experience of Yellow-hat sect of Tibetan religion. B/L/D Labrang Hotel
Day 4, Thursday - Xiahe/Tongren
Travel westbound to Tongren and visit Longwu Monastery which was initially constructed in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of the Sakya-sect, and Wutun village the centre of Tibetan Regong-art which is a successful mixture of religious art and folk art. B/L/D Huangnan Hotel
Day 5, Friday - Tongren/Xining
Travel northwest to Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province. This city is mainly inhabited by Tibetans but is also home to Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities.
En route, we travel across the Yellow River and enjoy the magnificent view of Longwu Gorge. The Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization, is the second largest river in China after the Yangtze, with a total length of 5464 km (3395 miles). B/L/D Qinghai Hotel
Day 6, Saturday - Xining/Qinghai Lake
Morning set out to visit Kumbum Monastery (Ta´er Si). Located at Lusha´er Township, 25 kilometres south of Xining city, capital of Qinghai Province. The Monastery covers an area of 144 thousand square metres. It´s a group of buildings constructed on the mountain slope with lofty temples and halls rising one upon another. The palace buildings, Buddhist halls, scriptures rooms, sleeping quarters, as well as courtyards forming an integral whole, enhance each other´s beauty.
The magnificent temples and halls are, in architectural terms, a perfect combination of the Han style of palace buildings with upturned roof-eaves with Tibetan style under-eave walls and decorations. The spectacular Lamasery is scattered with tall ancient trees and Buddhist pagodas.
The Ta´er Monastery abounds in fascinating Buddhist stories as well as arts and crafts of superb workmanship. Butter sculptures, murals and appliqués are its three unique works of art.
After visiting the monastery, drive over the Sun-Moon-Mountain (Ri Yue Shan) to reach Qinghai Lake.
Qinghai Lake (Lake Kokonor) is the largest salt-water lake in China. It´s a somewhat surreal-looking saline lake and contains huge numbers of fish. The main attraction is Bird Island on the western side of the lake. It´s a breeding ground for thousands of wild geese, gulls, extremely rare black-necked cranes and many other bird species. B/L/D Qinghai Lake Hotel
Day 7, Sunday - Qinghai Lake/Gulmud
Drive through the Tsaidam basin, consisting of desert and scattered oases. This basin lies in the north of the Kunlun Mountain range and the road to Golmud is just along at the foot of the mountain. The Xiangride oasis is the last one seen in this desert. Late in the afternoon arrive in Golmud, which is a civilization centre where Tibetan culture and Han culture meet each other. B/L/D Salt Late Hotel
Day 8, Monday - Gulmud/River Tuotuo
Drive through the vast wilderness and Tsaidam meadow on the Tibet-Qinghai-Plateau along the road at the foot of the Kunlun-mountains and go on upwards by steep valley to cross over the 4837-metre-high Kunlun Pass. Afterwards pass by the First Bridge over the Yangtze River and arrive at the River Tuotuo, which lies in the head stream of the Yangtze River. B/L/D Tuotuo River Hostel
Day 9, Tuesday - River Tuotuo/Naqu
Cross southwards over the Tangra Mountain Range. On the way the eagles, flocks of sheep and cattle, yaks, wild donkeys, snowy peaks, tents of Tibetan nomads altogether form a wonderful, harmonious scene. B/L/D Naqu Hotel
Day 10, Wednesday - Naqu/Lhasa
Driving south towards Lhasa through nomadic pastures, via the town of Dangxiong, we skirt the Nyenchen Tangula Range, abode of the protector deity of that name, and pass through the Yang Bajing Hot Springs region. Arrive Lhasa in the afternoon. B/L/D Shambala Hotel or Xiongbala Hotel
Day 11, Thursday - Lhasa
Morning visit Jokhang monastery, the centee of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet.
Afternoon visit Norbulingka. Located in the west suburbs of Lhasa, this palace-park complex was built in the 18th century and served as the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. B/L/D Shambala Hotel or Xiongbala Hotel
Day 12, Friday - Lhasa
Morning visit the Museum of Tibet. Afternoon visit Sera Monastery and witness the religious debate. B/L/D Shambala Hotel or Xiongbala Hotel
Day 13, Saturday - Lhasa/Gyangtse
Drive to Gyangtse, stopping en route at the spectacular Yalung Tsangpo Gorge.
Arrive Gyangtse in the afternoon and visit the Phalkor Monastery and Kumbum, a spectacular stupa temple. B/L/D Gyangtse Hotel
Day 14, Sunday - Gyangtse/Shigatse
Morning drive to Shigatse. Upon arrival, visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, the most important religious building in the city. Founded in 1447, it was home to the Panchen Lama, the reincarnation of the Buddha of Eternal Light. Also visit the new palace of the Panchen Lama. B/L/D Shigatse Hotel
Day 15, Monday - Shigatse
Spend the day in Shigatse soaking up the local atmosphere. Enjoy the busy local market. B/L/D Shigatse Hotel
Day 16, Tuesday - Shigatse/Tsedang
Drive to Tsedang, ancient capital of Tibet. En route cross the Tsangpo River by ferry to visit the Samye and Mindroling Monastery, the only remaining monastery of the Red Hat sect, the oldest and most unchanged sect of Tibetan Lamaism. B/L/D Tsedang Hotel
Day 17, Wednesday - Tsedang/Lhasa
Return to Lhasa and spend the rest of the day on the Barkhor street nearby Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. B/L/D Shambala Hotel or Xiongbala Hotel
Day 18, Thursday - Lhasa
Morning visit the stunning Potala Palace, which was constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet and which later served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas.
Afternoon a farewell party will be organized with a traditional Tibetan banquet. B/L/D Shambala Hotel or Xiongbala Hotel
Day 19, Friday - Lhasa/Beijing
Early morning transfer to the airport and fly to Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel to rest. B/L/D Kunlun Hotel
Day 20, Saturday - Beijing/home city
Fly home from Beijing and arrive on the same calendar day. If your international flight departs Beijing in the afternoon, the morning will be at leisure. B
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