Day by day itinerary:
Day 1: Chengdu
Arrive Chengdu,the bustling queen city of West China and capital city of Sichuan Province. Transfer to the hotel. This evening celebrate your arrival with a Sichuan Food dinner. As an option, see a wonderful performance of "Face changing "and "Flame Spitting -Out"of Sichuan Opera.
Overnight in Chengdu(D)
Day 2: Chengdu / Jiuzhaigou
This morning, see the Chengdu Panda Park, a beautiful panda's habitat, and learn about panda's breeding program with opportunities for photos. Afternoon flight to Jiuzhaigou.
Overnight in Jiuzhaigou(BLD)
Day 3: Jiuzhaigou, UNESCO's world natural herit
Full-day excursion to Jiuzhaigou , UNESCO's world natural heritage, with our picnic lunch. This beautiful national park is famed for its falls, colorful woods in Autumn, snow-capped mountains, Tibetan folk custom and emerald-colored lakes. The green bus will take us to the fork of two valleys. Enjoy hiking on the boardwalks through the virgin forest or on the trails above falls.
Overnight in Jiuzhaigou(BLD)
Day 4: Jiuzhaigou / Ruoergai
Travel to Ruoergai, famed for its Tangka Horses and the First Bend of Nine-turn Yellow River. We'll have our picnic lunch on the endless grassgland with nice views. En route, see Tibetan villages or small towns on walking tour. Explore the source of Yellow River with an opportunity for photos.
Overnight in Ruoergai(BLD)
Day 5: Ruoergai / Lugqu
Head for Luqu, a small town with most population of Hui minortiy people. Browse Huahu(flower lake), a nature reserve for protection of black-necked cranes. We'll have a nice hike in Nymph Valley and see Lamo (known as small Switzerland)monastery,built in 1413, where Tibetan people study Tibetan medicine and Buddhism.
Day 6: Luqu / Xiahe
Journey to Xiahe. En route, possibly, we'll visit Zang'ao(Tibetan dogs) breeding base in Hezuo.See Labrang Monastery, one of most famous Buddhist palces of Yellow Sect in Tibetan Buddhism. A monk guide will show us around this spectacular temple .
Overnight in Xiahe(BLD)
Day 7: Xiahe / Tongren
This morning we'll see a traditional village called Neido near our beautiful tent-style hotel following a Tibetan guide. Enjoy a walk through barley and mustard fields. Talk to locals by a famliy visit. Then with a scenic drive , continue our trip to Tongren. See Wutun (known as birthplace of art in Regong) , a Tu minority viallge famed for its paintings called Tang cards and piles of embroidery.
Overnight in Tongren(BLD)
Day 8: Tongren / Xi'ning
Today,see Longwusi, a famous Tibetan temple and learn about Tibetan Buddhism. Continue to Xining, capital city of Qinghai province. See castles or mushrooms naturally made by wind. Also enjoy walking at the waterfront of Yellow River.
Overnight in Xining(BLD)
Day 9: Xi'ning
Explore Qinghai Lake, China's biggest salty water lake and famed for its Huang Fish. See bird's island and marvel at the beauty of Nanshan Mountain with opportunities to identify wild flowers.
Overnight in Xining(BLD)
Day 10: Xi'ning / Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa. Lhasa, capital city of Tibet, is center of Tibetan politics, economy, culture and religion. With an elevation of over 12,000 feet, it is located on the northern bank of Lhasa Rvier. In Tibetan, Lhasa means"land of gods"or"holy place".
Overnight in Lhasa (BLD)
Day 11: Lhasa
See the highest palace--Potala Palace complex, firstly built in 7th century A.D.. The present one was built by 5th Dalai Lama in 17th A.D.. It became the "winter palace" after the 7th Dalai Lama built Norbulingkha as summer palace.
Visit Jolkhang Temple, built in the mid of 7th century by Tibetan King, Songtsengampo. It is the most sacred place in Tibet where pilgrims often pay a visit. Explore local free market on the Barkhor Street where tourists can buy souvenirs with good prices.
Overnight in Lhasa(BLD)
Day 12: Lhasa / Shigatse
Depart Lhasa for Shigatse via Gyantse .Drive through the Kampala Pass , with an elevation of about 16,000 feet above sea level, to Yumdrok Yamtso Hydropower Station. Stop here for photos of one of the three sacred lakes--Yumdrok Yamtso. Here the scenery is mesmerising. Legend has it that it is the transformation of a goddess. After getting to the Karuola Pass with over 16,000feet above sea level, stop for photos.Continue to Shigatse.
Arrive Shigatse. See Palcho Monastery Palcho Monastery , built in 1418, is a complex consisting of sixteen monasteries of three different sects of Lamaism. Kumbum Pagoda, one of the most magnificent and one of the best-preserved buildings in Tibet, in which many wonderful paintings were made in 15th century by Nepalese craftsmen. Just before arrival of Shigatse, see Shalu Monastery featuring the style of Yuan Dynasty temple ,and it is a rare and unique work of art with a mixturing style of both Tibet and Han.
Overnight in Shigatse(BLD)
Day 13: Shigatse / Tsedang
See Tashilunpo Monastery&Soul Tower of Panchen Lama.
Tashilunpo was built in 1447 by Ganden Drup. In the monastery is enshrined the biggest copper Buddha Statue ---Maitreya Buddha with 90 feet in height. Also see the Soul Tower of the 10th Panchen Lama. After lunch, explore the local free market and carpet manufacturer .
Journey to the granary and cradle of Tibetans---Shannan. See Tibetan villages on the walking tour. Arrive Tsedang.
(BLD)Overnight in Tsedang
Day 14: Tsedang / Lhasa
Explore monasteries of Yumbulakhang, Trandruk, Samye
Yumbulakhang,built by first Tibetan King--Nyatri Tsenpo, is the first palace in Tibet . Enjoy a bird's eye view of the Yarlung Valley.
Trandruk Temple , one of the first-built temples in Tibet, was constructed by Songtsengampo in the 7th century. It is exceptionally noted for one Tang Card on which the image of Goddess of Mercy was made up of 29026 pearls.
Depart Tsedang for Lhasa. We'll cross the highest river in the world--Yarlongtsampo by boat to visit the first Buddhist temple --Samye. This monastery was designed in the architectural styles of a mixture of Tibet, Han and India by the Indian Lotus-born master , according to the Buddhist astrology. Overnight in Lhasa (BLD)
Day 15: Lhasa / Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu. See Chengdu Panda Ecological Park with opportunities for photos and learn about the panda's breeding program. Farewell dinner will be hosted at a special local restaurant.
Overnight in Chengdu(BLD)
Day 16: Chengdu
Departure.(B)
Price Inclusion:
(1)English-speaking guide
(2)land transport
(3)entrance fee
(4)all meals
(5)domestic air
(6)accommodations and permit to Tibet
