Yushu and Litang Horse Race Festival annually are two of the largest horse festivals in Tibet. This is a well-designed cultural expedition to map the eastern frontiers of ancient Tibet Empire. We will have chances to encounter with the colorful Amdo, Kham, Gulok and Gyarong ethnic groups of Tibetan people, also visit each group’s homelands, their cultural and spiritual places i.e. the magnificent monasteries and sacred mountains. Moreover, we will take part in their celebrations of the two festivals.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 (8 July): Xining 60KM 2250M/ASL (D). Arrival in Xining airport, meet with guide and driver. Proceed to downtown, welcome dinner and overnight in Jianyin Hotel***
Day 2 (9 July): Xining/Ta’ersi 60KM 2400M/ASL (B, L, D). Visit Ta'ersi(Kumbum Monastery) in the early morning, of which was built in 1560 to commemorate the birthplace of Tsongkhapa - the founder of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Free on your ownin the afternoon.
Day 3 (10 July): Xining/Qinghai Hu 350KM 3400M/ASL (B, L, D). Qinghai Hu is the largest salt lake in China, often called Kokonor in Mongolian and Tso Ngonbo in Tibetan,it all means the same, the Blue Lake. In Chinese mythology, this is the west edge of the universe.
Day 4 (11 July): Xining/14th Dalai Lama’s Home/Tongren 300KM 2900M/ASL (B, L, D). Today, we will drive through some Muslim areas to Tongren. A detour will take us to visit 14th Dalai Lama’s home. Also, we will have chance to visit 10th Panchen Lama’s home. Stay overnight in Repkong Hotel** or similar.
Day 5 (12 July): Tongren/Xiahe 120KM 3000M/ASL (B, L, D). We will visit a couple of local monasteries and surrounding villages - the home of Repkong School of Tibetan Fine Arts i.e. sculpture, painting, wood-carving and appliqué. Proceed to Xiahe, upon arrival stay overnight in Overseas Tibetan Hotel*
Day 6 (13 July): Xiahe. Explore Labrang Monastery, one of the 6 largest Yellow Sect monasteries - might be the most intact monastic institute all over Tibet, and its surroundings.
Day 7 (14 July): Xiahe/Langmusi 240KM 3200M/ASL (B, L, D). Drive to Langmusi, a monk’s village on the border of Gansu and Sichuan. Overnight in Langmu Hotel*
Day 8 (15 July): Langmusi/Ruo'ergai 100KM 3400M/ASL (B, L, D). Visit the monasteries and surrounding village in Langmusi. In the afternoon, drive to Ruo’ergai, one of the most fertile grasslands for Tibetan nomads, situated by the upstream of Yellow River. Stay overnight at Ruo'ergai Hotel*
Day 9 (16 July): Ruo'ergai/1st Bend of Yellow river/Aba 290KM 3400M/ASL (B, L, D). Visit local monastery in the morning, and drive to Aba - the museum of monasteries also the current center of Bon religion. En route, we will have chance to see the 1st bend of yellow river. Stay overnight in Aba Hotel**
Day 10 (17 July): Aba (B, L, D). Visit the largest Bon monastery in Tibet, and explore all the other kinds of monasteries.
Day 11 (18 July): Aba/Rangtang 195KM 3300M/ASL (B, L, D). Drive to Rangtang, the hidden kingdom of Jonangpa, finding the mysterious monasteries along the raod. The Joangpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism escaped Central Tibet from the 5th Dalai Lama's prosecution and found its home in Rangtang. Stay overnight in government guest house*
Day 12 (19 July): Rangtang/Seda (Amdo - Golok) 164KM 4000M/ASL (B, L, D). Today, our objective in Seda is to visit the world's largest Buddhism Academy – Serthang Larung, the home for over 10,000 monks. Overnight in government guest house*
Day 13 (20 July): Seda/Banma 145KM 3900M/ASL (B, L, D). Today, we will cross the Sichuan-Qinghai border to visit the hidden Dodrubchen Monastery. Also, we will discover the largest Stupa of Tibet and mysterious Achonggya Monastery, one of the forgotten Jonangpa Monasteries. Stay overnight in government guest house*
Day 14 (21 July): Banma/Da’ri 170KM 3900M/ASL (B, L, D). On the way to Da’ri, stop over for a brief visit to roadside Dogongma Monastery. Upon arrival in Dari,visit the Traling Monastery with its charnel ground serving sky burial for nomads from all parts of Golok. Stay overnight in local government house(basic).
Day 15 (22 July): Dari/Maduo (Golok - Amdo) 330KM 4300M/ASL (B, L, D). Day long drive through vast grassland, arrive in Maduo by the headwater of Yellow River. Stay overnight in local government guest house*
Day 16 (23 July): Maduo/Yushu (Amdo - Kham) 310KM 3700M/ASL (B, L, D). Day long drive through vast grassland on a elevation of over 4000m/asl, climb over the Bayankala mountain pass - the watershed between Yangtze and Yellow rivers. Stay overnight in Yushu Hotel** or similar.(the decent hotels are always not well secured during the festivals, as the officials and their guests always have the priority to check in despite of tour groups bookings).
Day 17 (24 July): Rest day in Yushu (B, L, D)
Day 18 - 19 (25 - 26 July): Yushu Festival (B, L, D). Yushu is the largest settlement of Khampa Tibetan, where annually holds one of the 3 largest horse racing festivals in Tibet.
Day 20 (27 July): Yushu/Shiqu 140KM 4100M/ASL (B, L, D). Drive cross Qinghai - Sichuan borderline and get to Shiqu - Tibetan nomads home. Today, a number of monasteries along road worth to visit. Stay overnight in Shiqu’s government guest house.
Day 21 (28 July): Shiqu/Maniganguo 230KM 3900M/ASL (B, L, D). Heading to Maniganguo, a crossroad village, very much alike a Wild West town in Hollywood movie. Before we arrive there, we will have a side trip to visit the most sacred Nymapa power place - Zhuqin Monastery. We may check up the possibility to stay in the monastery’s guest house, otherwise proceed to Maniganguo for overnight.
Day 22 (29 July): Maniganguo/Ganzi/Xinlong 202KM 3400M/ASL (B, L, D). Travel day to Xinlong, the home town of Khampa warriors, the ruins of Female Dragon Castle. Overnight in local government guest house.(no WC)
Day 23 (30 July): Xinlong/Litang 200KM 4000M/ASL (B, L, D). Earlier arrival in Litang, and visit the nearby monastery. Overnight in Highland Pearal Hotel* or similar.(the decent hotels are always not well secured during the festivals, as the officials and their guests always have the priority to check in despite of tour groups bookings.)
Day 23 - 24 (31 July - 1 August): Litang (B, L, D). Litang, was the birthplace of the 7th and 10th Dalai Lama. Visit to festival site and local market.
Day 25 (2 August): Litang/Tagong/ Bamei 270KM 3500M/ASL (B, L, D). Tagong village is the most sacred site in Eastern Kham, the monastery there is the last one of the earliest 108 Tibetan monasteries founded by Princess Wenchen in the direction of China. Bamei, the birthplace of 11th Dalai Lama and the crossroad to Kham and Gyarong areas. Roadside guest house (no WC)
Day 26 (3 August): Bamei/Danba (Kham - Gyarong) 100KM 1800M/ASL (B, L, D). Drive to Danba, the frontier of the ancient kingdom of Gyarong Tibetans. Until 1949, the tribes of Gyarong were organized into 18 petty kingdoms. They were experts at building fortified towers and became famous for their heroic resistance against the introduction of the Gelukpa Sect. They also kept the powerful armies of Emperor Qianlong at bay for more than 10 years during the 18th century. Upon arrival, visit the surrounding villages. Gubao Hotel**
Day 27 (4 August): Danba/Mt. Siguniang 100KM 3000M/ASL (B, L, D). Visit the Alpine like Mt. Siguniang National Park. Stay overnight in Mt. Siguniang Hotel***
Day 28 (5 August): Mt. Siguniang/Wolong 100KM 2000M/ASL (B, L, D). Drive to Wolong Panda Reserve, by crossing over the last mount pass, Tibet - its people, culture and landscape are fading from our horizon. Upon arrival in Wolong, we will pay a brief visit to the Panda Rehabilitation Center. The impressive Vertical mountains, clouds and gnarled trees, the landscape in Wolong Panda Reserve is like the Chinese brush painting. Stay overnight in Panda Inn**
Day 29 (6 August): Wolong/Dujiangyan/ Chengdu 120KM 600M/ASL (B, L, D). On the way to Chengdu, we will visit a World Heritage Site, the ancient irrigation project in Dujiangyan, which is the most sustainable irrigation system in the world, having been functioning since 227BC. Farewell dinner in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn., situated in the heart of Chengdu. Overnight in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn*****
Day 30 (7 August) Chengdu (B). Free at your own, Overnight in Crown Plaza Holiday Inn*****
Day 31 (8 August): Chengdu/Home (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours and excursions as specified
- Full board, breakfast in each station hotels, lunches and dinners will be eaten at local restaurants
- Personal English-speaking Guide & Driver + land cruiser for private transfers & sightseeing
- Hotels (twin share bases) as listed in the itinerary
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
- Luggage Transportation between airports and hotels
Not Included:
- Entry or exit China International Airfare
- Visa fees
- Excess baggage charges
- Personal expenses
- Single room supplement
- Gratuities, tips to guides or drivers
2 persons - $4880 USD
3 - 4 persons - $3980 USD
5 - 6 persons - $3680 USD
7 - 8 persons - $2880 USD
Single Supplement: $880 USD
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Tibet
China
Cultural Journey
Festival Tours
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