SCYTS-009: OVERLAND TOUR FROM THE HOMETOWN OF GIANT PANDAS TO THE HOLY CITY OF LHASA (A: 23 DAYS)

This epic journey through Sichuan, across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa and
Kathmandu, has attracted explorers and adventurers, pilgrims, traders and even missionaries for hundreds of years. The journey is a long one, and requires a certain dedication on the part of the traveler, as well as a certain resilience to bumps! We have rich experiences of this route and know exactly what is required in terms of transportation, accommodation, and red tape, not to mention the fascinating sights along the way.

The first leg of this great overland adventure takes us to Dartsedo, the
historic border town and gateway to Tibet. After the relaxing in the nearby hot springs we head north to Kanze which currently boasts the largest monastery in Kham and then continue to the sacred lake of Yilhun Lhatso and finally the cultural center of Derge where we can relax for a day on the banks of the upper Yangtze.

In Chamdo we'll visit Kalden Jampaling Monastery which dates from the 15th
century , and forms the focal point of this important market town at the
confluence of two tributaries of the Mekong River.

At this point our route takes the northern road to Lhasa, over the Tanlen Tawen Range to Riwoche and Tingchen, an important center for the old Bon religion. We drive across high passes and verdant pastures, where village monasteries cling to the rock face, and where nomads pasture their flocks.

Day 1:Arrive Chengdu: Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. It area is 12,000 square km, with a
population of 9 million.                      Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 2:Chengdu:Visit the open markets and it's traditional tea houses. Visit the Sichuan Embroidery Factory and admiring how the workers there working in the traditional way. Visit the Panda Breeding Center of Chengdu.
                                             Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 3:Chengdu to Yaan (150km) Drive through fertile farmlands.
                                                Overnight at Yaan Hotel
Day 4:Yaan to Dartsedo (230km):Into hill country. Cross Erlang Mountain to the old caravanserai of Dartsedo on the Gyarong Ngulchu River.
                                           Overnight at Kangding Hotel
Day 6:Dartsedo to Dawu(240km)Ngachu Monastery, traditional market, hot springs.After lunch head north to Dawu via Pel Lhagon Monastery.
                                                Overnight at Dawu Hotel
Day 7:Dawu to Kanze (158km)Along the Shechu valley, past the peaks of Khawalungr, and over high nomadic pasture to Kanze Monastery.
                                              Overnight at Kanze Hotel
Day 8:Kanze to Manigango (94km)Along the Yalung river to Beri and the pastureland around the strategic town of Manigango. Yazer Monastery.
                                               Overnight at Kanze Hotel
Day 9:Managango to Dege via Yilhun Lhatsa (107km)Past sacred Yulhun Lhatso  lake, over Trho-La Pass (4916km),and through alpine gorges to Khorlomdo Sakya Temple and Dege Town.        Overnight at Dege Hotel

Day10: Dege to Toba (230km)Cross the Yangtze and a couple of 4,000 metre passes to Wara Gompa and the Jomda Valley.   Overnight at Toba Hotel
Day11: Toba to Chamdo(115km)Cross the Jape-La Pass(4680m) to Chamdo, capital of Eastern Tibet situated on the upper Mekong River.
                                             Overnight at Chamdo Hotel
Day12:Chamdo: Eastern Gateway to central Tibet. Explore the market and the 15th century monastery.                 Overnight at Chamdo Hotel
Dat13: Chamdo to Riwoche(134km)Cross the Tanlan Taweng range(4501km)and descend through beautiful meadows to Riwoche Dzong. Short journey to Taklung Kagyu Temple.              Overnight at Riwoche Hotel
Day14: Riwoche to Tengchen(143km)Drive through gorge country to Takzham Nyingma Monastery and the Kyilkhar Geluk Monastery.
                                           Overnight at Tengchen Hotel
Dat15: Tengchen: Visit the "Black Hat"Bonpo Monastery and Tengchen Kha Village.                            Overnight at Thengchen Hotel
Day16:Tengchen to Gyaruptang (110km)Along the upper Salween over Sher-La Pass (4840m)to Gyaruptang.          Overnight at Gyaruptang Hotel
Day17: Gyaruptang to Nagchu(378km)Good road past the hill-top monastery at Sok Dzong through nomad pastures to Nagchu.
                                              Overnight at Nagchu Hotel
Day18: Nagchu to Lhasa(325km)Short ride to Lhasa and the comforts of the Tibet Hotel. After lunch the Jokhang Temple, Barkor marketplace and the old quarter.                       Overnight at Lhasa Hotel
Day19-21: Visit the Holy City's greatest sites: Jokhang temple, Potala and
Norbulinka Palaces, the Gelukpa monasteries of Sera and Drepung and of course the Barkor Market. We also offer short visit to the Art School, the hospital of traditional medicine, and Lhasa's interesting leather factory.         Overnight at Lhasa Hotel
Day22: (Flight) Lhasa to Chengdu             Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day23: (Flight)Chengdu to Hong Kong or other places  END OF TOUR