Chengdu to Yushu Overland
The first leg of this great overland adventure takes us to Jyekundo, drive to Jyekudo, where you can relax for a night and explore the world’s largest Mani Stone pile, rolling grassland via Dzogchen Monastery, which is one of the biggest monasteries of the Khagyupa order in the Kham region.
This journey runs on the concealed east Tibet highlands from Chengdu in Sichuan province to Kham Tibet Plateau, along the upper reaches of mighty Yangtze and Mekong rivers in the extreme northwest of Kham flow through spacious grasslands, towering peaks and wooded valleys. The landscapes change frequently! This is the wild and untamed land for the swashbuckling Khampa horseman and authentic nomads. Some richest nomadic pastures could be seen here, plus with a surprisingly large number of monasteries, most of them are truly impressive! And the surrounding area is dotted with array of perennial snow-capped mountains in distance, famous pilgrim sites and turquoise lakes that are well worth for exploration or hike around. Lesser visited by the outside world, unscathed Tibetan traditions still thrive in these rugged and remote mountain region that offer the best travel opportunities to experience the genuine, undiluted Tibetan culture.
Departure Date: From April -December every year.
The costs: Please e-mail us for tour price details.
Duration: 10 days and 9 days.
Day 01: Chengdu—Dartsedo(Kangding) 355kms / 7 HRS
We will begin your Himalayan journey, heading to Dartsedo, today commonly known as Kangding in Chinese; it is one of the main gates between Tibet and China, Dartsedo is also the centre for the tea trade between Tibet and China. Tibetan traders carry herbal medicines from the high Tibetan Plateau to sell in exchange for tea grown in China. We’ll spend the night in Dartsedo.
Day 02: Dratsedo—Lhagang 135kms / 2 HRS
Today we’ll drive to Lhagang, which is a very traditional Tibetan village surrounded by grassy hills. We will pass through those excellent short hillsides and valleys which are filled with romantic stories of legends and gods. By passing through and come closer to the Lhagang Monastery our eyes will catch a perimeter wall of prayer wheels with over 100 stupas of various sizes.This monastery is one of most important pilgrimage sites in Tibet every year there are thousands pilgrims come there to pay respact. we have the oppotunity to spend the night with a local Tibetan family.
Day 03: Lhagang—Drango(luhuo)—Serta Larung Gar 3902kms / 6 HRS
This Monastery is the largest monastic college in entire Tibet, it's home to more than 10000 monks and nuns.It’s the largest and most active Buddhist institutions on the Tibetan plateau, hermitages and dormitories that cover the slopes of a secluded side valley. This Nyingmapa hermitage was originally founded by Dudjom Lingpa in the late 19th century. Stay in the monastery.
Day 04: Serta Larung Gar Monastery (3800m)
Make a Kora around the Monastery; see nuns and monk's debate and prayer section. You will have full day to explore the largest monastery entire Tibet. There is also very good chance to join the sky burial site at Serta Labrang Gar. There is 1 or 2 hours hike up and down to the sky burial site. In the afternoon, you will have chance to help the monastery to light hundreds of butter lamps. Stay overnight in the monastery.
Day 05: Larung Gar – Garze 175kms / 5HRS
Gardze county also has been given to the Autonomous Prefecture of Gardze. Heading to the cultural center of the Kham Region, there are very colorful examples of Tibetan Buddhism and culture; four schools of Tibetan Buddhism can be visited around Gardze. The most important monastery here is Gardze Gonpa, which has been home to over 1500 monks and today there are over 500 monks, practicing Buddhism and meditating here. Once you arrive in Gardze, there are lots of monasteries to explore around the county. We’ll overnight in Gardze.
Day 06: Gardze – Yilhung Lhatso – Dzogchen monastery 190kms / 4HRS
Today we’ll pay a visit to the sacred glacial lake of Yilhun Lhatso (4110m); this lake is one of the most beautiful in all of Tibet. Its shores are filled with carved Mani stones and green forest and rocky mountain surround the lake. Afterward, continue drive to Dzogchen monastery. Once arrive in Dzogchen, visit Dzogchen Monastery, Dzogchen is known as the major pilgrimage site in East Tibet and is one of the largest monasteries of the Nyngmapa school in Kham. It was home to more than 1000 monks, and this site famous for its sacred meditation hermitages around the monastery. Take a hike up into the Dzogchen Valley and visit the holy sites and meditation caves. Stay overnight in Dzogchen Monastery guesthouse.
Day 07: Dzochen monastery – Sershul Monastery (Ch Shiqu) 200kms / 4HRS
Today we’ll drive to Sershul, where there are very rich nomadic pastures and the border with the present day Sichuan-Qinghai province. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Sershul Monastery, which is an important monastery of the Gelukpa school and home to about 800 monks divided into six colleges. We’ll overnight in Sershul.
Day 08: Sershul monastery – Jyekundo (Ch Yushu) 170kms / 4HRS
Today we’ll continue driving to Jyedundo; the town is the capital of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture for six counties. After the earthquake in Jyekundo, this lovely Tibetan style town changed into a modern city. After arrive in Jyekundo, visit Nanpar Nangzen Temple, one of the oldest temple in Yushu area, commonly known as Wenchen Temple in Yushu, which is over 1,300 years old temple in Kham.We’ll spend the night in Jyekundo.
Day 09: Jyekundo (Yushu)
In the morning we’ll pay a visit to Jyekundo Dondrubling Monastery, which used to be home to more than 1000 monks of the Sakyapa order, but today there are only about 150 monks. The location of the monastery is very attractive and once in the monastery you will enjoy excellent views of the whole town. Afterward, we’ll pay a visit to Gyanak Mani-the largest field of mani stones in the whole of Tibet or in the world. You can follow the pilgrims to take the kora and wander around the enormous piles of carved stones and prayer flags. We’ll overnight in Jyekundo.
Day 10: Depart from Jyekundo to your next destination by plane
Our Tibetan guide and driver drive you to Batang airport, end your pleasant overland tour in Kham.
Map coming soon...
