Tailor Made Travel: China

20 Days Xining - Sichuan - Yunnan Adventure


ITINERARY:

Xining - Arrival (-/-/D)

DAY 1 Arrive in Xining. Meet your guide and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Xining (B/L/D)

DAY 2 Breakfast at hotel. Drive 25km to Ta'er Monastery (located in Huangzhong County). It is the biggest monastery in Qinghai (of Gelupa order) and was the birthplace of Chongkhaba (founder of Gelupa). In Xining city, visit the Dongguan Muslim temple, which is among the four most famous Muslim temples in China. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight at Hotel.

Xining - Korkolor Lake (B/L/D)

DAY 3 Breakfast at hotel. Drive via Haiyan and Gangcha counties to Korkolor Lake (Qinghai Lake), the largest saltlake in western China. Enjoy a day cruise on the lake. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Camping or overnight at local guesthouse.

Korkolor Lake - Guide (B/L/D)

DAY 4 After breakfast, leave for Gonghe, driving along the southern side of the lake and passing Heimahe and Daotanghe to Guide county. Guide county is located along the banks of the Yellow River. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Guide - Marchen (B/L/D)

DAY 5 After breakfast, drive to Marchen in the morning. Marchen is the political and economic center of Guoluo Tibetan prefecture. It is one of the three Guoluos in Dor - Kham area. Cross Lhagyi Mountain Pass and visit Lhagya Monastery at Jungong. There are many snow peaks around Marchen. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Marchen - Xueshan (B/L/D)

DAY 6 After breakfast, drive to the base camp of Mt. Animarchen (6282m) regarded a holy mountain in Tibet. Arrive at the camp site, an ideal place for watching the snow peak of Mt. Animarchen. Close by are many river valleys, which can be reached by an easy trek. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse or camping.

Xueshan - Marchen (B/L/D)

DAY 7 After breakfast, drive back to Marchen. On the way, enjoy the great plateau views. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Marchen - Dari (B/L/D)

DAY 8 After breakfast, drive southward to Dari and visit the Long En monastery (of Nyingmapa) en route. The monastery is famous for its study of the history of King Gesar. Upon arrival at Dari, go on 15km to visit the Dragon and Lion place, built to commemorate the heroic King Gesa. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Dari - Banmar (B/L/D)

DAY 9 After breakfast, leave for Banmar county. Visit Juelang Monastery (of Juelangpa order). Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Banmar - Serthar (B/L/D)

DAY 10 After breakfast, drive to Ya'ertang Monastery and continue to Serthar Monastery, well known for its Buddhism study and huge building complex. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Serthar - Ganzi (B/L/D)

DAY 11 After breakfast, drive past Luhuo to approach Ganzi (to the northwest of Luhuo County). At Luhuo, visit the Shoulin Monastery. Ganzi is the center of northwestern Sichuan province and an important relay station on the Sichuan - Tibet highway. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Ganzi (B/L/D)

DAY 12 After breakfast, visit Ganzi Monastery, built on top of a hill in the north of town, overlooking the whole town. Visit Dargye monastery (Dajinsi), located about 30km to the west of Ganzi city. Lunch and dinner at local restaurants. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Ganzi - Xinlong - Litang (B/L/D)

DAY 13 After breakfast, drive along the Yalong River Valley, enjoy its nature beauty in the valley. At Litang, visit the Litang Monastery. The 7th Dalai Lama was born around here and stayed here for several years when Tibet was in war in the 18th century. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Litang - Daocheng (B/L/D)

DAY 14 After breakfast, early set out for Yading. Along the way, visit Haizi mountains, famous for its bizzare rock formations. Before arriving at Daocheng, visit the Bangpu Monastery and Zhigong Monastery. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Daocheng - Yading (B/L/D)

DAY 15 After breakfast, drive towards Yading. Today you have to choice between riding a horse or hiking into the valley. Luorong ranch is wide grassland and is surrounded by three snow peaks, two of them are 5958m, and the third is 6032m. Enjoy the sunset at the ranch. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Yading - Daocheng (B/L/D)

DAY 16 Breakfast. The beauty of the snow peaks at Luorong ranch is impressive and wonderful. Ride or hike back to the entrance. Then drive to Daocheng. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guesthouse.

Daocheng - Xiangcheng (B/L/D)

DAY 17 Breakfast. Getting to Xiangcheng, spend some time to enjoy the local dresses and local buildings. Then drive to Niting Valley, spend the rest of the day there (52km to the north of Xiangcheng). Drive back to Xiangcheng town. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Xiangcheng - Zhongdian (B/L/D)

DAY 18 Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Sangphe Monastery (land area over 10,000m, built in 1654), then drive on the winding road through mountains to Zhongdian. Upon arrival in Zhongdian, visit Songzanglin Monastery, the biggest and most famous Tibetan monastery in Yunnan province. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Zhongdian - Lijiang (B/L/D)

DAY 19 Breakfast at hotel. Set off on the Tibet Highway to Lijiang. Stop and discover the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which you will enter by bus before taking a path down to the Golden Sands River. Lunch en route. in the evening, enjoy a Naxi music performance. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Lijiang - Kunming (B/-/-)

DAY 20 Breakfast at hotel. Take a morning flight to Kunming. Tour ends at Kunming airport.