14 Days 4wd Tibet Tour From Kunming to Lhasa
Traversing the rich flora of Gyalthang we first descend down to the Yangtze before crossing the three peaks of Jol and entering the Mekong valley. Here we have great vistas of the glaciers of sacred Mt. Khawakarpo. Continuing along the Mekong we see the salt wells of Tsakhalo before reaching Markham where the soil begins to turn red. This is where the southern and eastern routes merge. From here we travel through the Salween valley before entering the Kongpo region with its virgin forests and hidden valleys (Tib. Beyül). We approach Lhasa from Medrogongkar and Ganden monastery.
| Day | Program | Stay in | Meals |
| D1 | Arrive in Kunming, which is known as Spring City, meet at airport and transfer to your hotel. If have time, you could tour Yunnan Ethnic Village Park and Yunnan Minorities Museum. Welcoming dinner with Crossing Bridge Rice Noodle. | Kunming | D |
| D2 | Take a morning flight to Lijiang. The old town has a history of almost a thousand years. Visit Shuhe Ancient Town and Black Dragon Pond Park. Then back to Lijiang, have free time in Lijiang Ancient Town. | Lijiang | B+L+D |
| D3 | Morning drive to Shangri-la. On the way, Visit Tiger-Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest canyons of world, and First Bend of Yangtze River, when the river reaches Shigu Township of Lijiang County, it makes an abrupt turn and flows northward, forming a great V-shaped bend reputed as First Great Bend of Yangtze River. We will visit Songzanlin Monastery, a 300-year-old Tibetan Monastery built by the fifth Dalai Lama. Old Town and highland market. | Shangri-la | B+L+D |
| D4 | Zhongdian to Deqin via the Ganden Dongzhulin Monastery. The drive to Deqin is simply the best way to view the great variety of landscape in the Great Rivers region. Descending to the Yangtze Basin, we stop at Benzilan for lunch, after which we will continue ascending the scenic mountain range of Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. The highest pass, at 4,296meters(14,090 ft), would stand as an altitude test for those visiting the Himalayan mountains for the first time. You need not worry, you will soon be relieved to find yourself arriving at Deqin, the gateway town to Tibet. | Deqin | B+L+D |
| D5 | Deqin to Tibet via Yanjing. Departing Deqin, we travel along the north of Mekong River valley into Tibet. Along the way, we may be able to see the peaks of Kawagebo mountain range on a good day. Mt. Meili (6,740 m/22,113 ft), which straddles the border of Yunnan and Tibet, is the highest peak in the province. Once into Tibet, our first stop will be in the town of 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, 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! | Yanjing | B+L+D |
| D6 | Yanjing to Zuogong. We cross two high passes in this section of the drive, one at around 3,900 m(12,795 ft), the other at 5,008 m(16,430 ft). Driving past local Tibetan houses scattered round the feet of snow-capped peaks, the expressions on innocent Tibetan girls would make you realize that you are one of the first foreign visitors to this isolated region. | Zuogong | B+L+D |
| D7 | Zugong to Basu. We will drive along the deep valleys of the Nu River (the Salween River), which is a long and tough journey. | Basu | B+L+D |
| D8 | Basu to Bomi（Tramog）via Ranwu lake, the lake is a spectacularly crystal blue lake cupped by snow peaks. We will wander along the Poto-chu Valley at Tramog (2,743 m/8999 ft), located deep in the thickly forested gorge of Parlung Tsangpo with glacial waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides. We will go down several hundred meters in altitude as we reach the lowland jungle settlement of Tang-me where the Tsangpo and Parlung Tsangpo rivers meet. | Bomi | B+L+D |
| D9 | Tang-me(Bomi) to Bayi. Waking up to the birds' singing, you will have an unobstructed view of the majestic NamJiabawa peak. After a long 9 hours drive, we will arrive in Bayi, the largest Tibetan town we will have reached at this point. | Bayi | B+L+D |
| D10 | Bayi to Basong Lake. The crystal clear water of the Basong Lake will seem like an oasis to you - another place you would be reluctant to leave. | Basong Lake | B+L+D |
| D11 | Basong Lake to Lhasa. Leaving the lake after breakfast, we arrive at Gongbujiangda in time for lunch. The afternoon will be left open for you to take a gentle walk or explore the nearby glacier. After the 9-day-long challenging overland trip, you will understand why Tibetans regard the journey to Lhasa as one of the most sacred of pilgrimages. | Lhasa | B+L+D |
| D12 - D13 |
We will have
2 full days in Lhasa to make excursions to the following
places: The Jokhang Temple - The Jokhang, originally built in the 7th century and known for its large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha, is the principal Buddhist temple in Lhasa, if not the whole of Tibet. The Norbulingka Palace - A richly decorated complex located in a beautiful garden setting, it has been the traditional summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. This is the very place from which the Dalai Lama fled to exile in 1959. Sera and Drepung Monasteries - The Sera, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings, which sit at the base of a rocky hill, have roofs graced with gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens. The Drepung was once home to 8,000 monks, who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism. We will also visit the lively Barkor bazaar in Lhasa, a colorful congregating place for Tibetan merchants. The 13-story Potala Palace, reputed to contain 1,000 rooms, is one of the world's most remarkable buildings. The palace, which covers the mountain it sits upon, contains hundreds upon hundreds of magnificent thangkas, frescoes and images built in an era when religious art was created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future lives. On the evening of the 17th, we will drive to Shigatse, Tibet's second largest city. |
Lhasa | B+L+D |
| D14 | After a relaxed breakfast in your hotel, transfer to the airport and see you off. | B |
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more than 10 persons: US$/person 6-9 persons: US$/person 2-5 persons: US$/person 1 person: US$ Single Room Supplement: US$/person |
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1. Stay in 4 star hotels. 2. Using minibus when travel and all transfer to hotels. 3. Three standard meals each day (daily buffet breakfast in the hotel). 4. Domestic air fare and airport tax
within Yunnan. 5. The ticket of the main gate for all the scenic spots. 6. English speaking guide (local tour guide). 7. The tour insurance USD36,000 per person. |
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1. International air fare and airport tax. Transportation fee for you to arrive or leave Kunming. 2. All air insurance. 3. Tips to guides and drivers. 4. Single Room Supplement. 5. Personal expenses. |
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1. For child younger than 11 who share one room with parents, the quotation is only 50% of the above price. 2. The price is not available for three
Chinese Public Holidays: |
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