| DAY01 : Arrive ChengDu
DAY02 : ChengDu / KangDing
Set off from ChengDu early in the morning. Enter WenChuan area – rebuilt after the 2008 earthquake. Visit ancient villages of Qiang and Tibetan ethnic minority and stay overnight at MaErKang. MaErKang was an important trade hub long the ancient tea and horse caravan route. A wide river cuts through the town. Houses stand on the ascending slopes of the banks.
DAY03 : KangDing / LiTang
Leaving KangDing, you will cross the ZheDuo mountain pass at 4298m. if the weather is good, you will be able to see Mount GongGa (Minya Konka), the highest peak of SiChuan, before arriving at XinDuQiao. Here, it is at the cross-roads to DaoCheng YaDing nature reserve. Continue driving to cross another mountain pass GaoErSi and begin your descend down to YaJiang town. Another high-pass JianZiWan at 4440m separates you and LiTang. It takes 3.5hrs to cross this high-pass.LiTang at 4100m is one of the highest town on earth. A grassland plateau surrounded by mountains, it is famous for its annual horse riding festival. We will wake early and go to the Ganden Thubchen Choekorling Monastery for a panoramic view of LiTang. Get your cameras ready! The majestic monastery itself – a Yellow Hat Sect monastery – is an attraction too. If we are lucky, we may catch the intense monks’ debate session.
DAY04 : LiTang / YaLongJiang canyon / XinLong
After breakfast, start driving towards XinLong. XinLong is a laidback town where you can experience the authentic culture of the Khampa Tibetans. Linger, people watch and soak up the atmosphere of this town. You will see rugged Khampa men in their fur hats, equestrian attire, armed with silver carved knives. They may use motorbikes or jeeps but out there in the grassland, they are still superb horsemen like their forefathers.
DAY05 : XinLong / PiCha Valley / TongXiao village
We are entering the forest zone. Deep within is the mysterious 700-year-old Ningma monastery – WoBu Monastery. We will pass through PiCha Gou, a stunning place in autumn, and rest at XinLong county.
DAY06 : TongXiao village / Friendship Grassland / BaiYu
The highlight of the day is Friendship Grassland. Vast and silent, its beauty cannot be described. A relaxing day, enjoy! We will spend the night at BaiYu, a pleasant little town with a splendid local monastery. we will drive to YaQing Si (Yarchen Monastery), located in BaiYu county along the road to GanZi. This is a very exclusive place for Buddhism studies & mediation and thousands of devotees spend many years of their lives learning & reading Buddhism here.
see our picture of YaQing Si (Yarchen monastery) below.
DAY07 : BaiYu / DeGe
DeGe – hometown of legendary Tibetan King Gaersa and famous DeGe Printing Institute. Dege Printing Institute is the largest and one of the oldest printing institutes in Tibet. Its huge collection of about 280 thousand printing blocks is a precious treasure trove of Tibetan life, history and culture. another picture of the huge pile of mani stones at YaQing Si below:
DAY08 : DeGe / XinLuHai / GanZi
After breakfast, we will head towards Mt QueEr (Mount Chola 6168m). On the way, there are numerous monasteries, grasslands and lakes. The Mt Chola highpass is 5050m, and is the highest pass along the 317 route between SiChuan & Tibet. Huge mani rocks stand silently on the coast of the shimmering XinLuHai (YuLong La Lake). The majestic Mt QueEr is at a distance.
After crossing QueEr high-pass, another 40min drive will bring you to a beautiful turquoise alpine lake, XinKuHai (YuLong Lake) at 4050m. Leaving the sacred XinLuHai lake, we will cross the highest pass of the journey at MtQueEr. Spend the night at the beautiful GanZi (Garze) town
DAY09 : GanZi / Sertha
Our journey continues eastwards to the town of Sertha. Larung Gar Buddhist Institute (or Sertha Buddhist Institute) is a striking cluster of red buildings in the remote valleys of Larung near Sertha. It is the largest and most influential Buddhist school, attracting students from all over the world. You will have opportunity to attend some mediation & learning sessions with the lamas such as the one shown below:
DAY10 : Sertha (SeDa) / MaErKang
Set off from Serga after breakfast towards MaErKang, the capital of ABa prefecture. MaErKang was an important trade hub long the ancient tea and horse caravan route. A wide river cuts through the town. Houses stand on the ascending slopes of the banks.
DAY11 : MaErKang / ChengDu
From MaErKang, a short drive brings you into the WenChuan area – rebuilt after the 2008 earthquake. Visit ancient villages of Qiang and Tibetan ethnic minority. Our journey is coming to an end. In a few hours, we will be greeted by the bright lights of ChengDu.
DAY12 : Depart ChengDu |
