5-Day Lanzhou Xiahe and Langmusi Tour

Sun Buddha of Langmusi Temple
Sangke Grassland of Xiahe
Labrang Monastery in Xiahe
Yellow River Mother Statues

Tour Outline: 5 Days & 4 Nights
Lanzhou (1N) - Langmusi(1N) - Xiahe(1N) - Lanzhou(1N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

“Langmusi” is a Tibetan town known as “Takstang Lhamo” in Tibetan, which straddles the border of the Sichuan and Gansu Provinces in central China. There are two major cultural influences here: one is Tibetan Buddhism and the other is the traditional Tibetan nomadic way of life. If you have more interests, we recommend you do riding or trekking to experience the traditional nomadic life and community, unique to this part of the world.

This tour starts from Lanzhou and covers the highlights of southern Gansu: Langmusi, Labrang Monastery, Sangke Grassland, and more. If you have more time, we recommend you have a discovery trip on the ancient Silk Road from Lanzhou, to Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and to Kashgar.

[Langmusi] Visit the Tibetan Buddhism and explore the traditional Tibetan nomadic way of life in Langmusi;
[Sangke Grassland] It is a natural prairie which looks like a green carpet rife with numerous colorful flowers;
[Labrang Monastery] Witness the monks studying and debating about Buddhism in the monastery;
[Yellow River] Visit the First Bridge on Yellow River, Yellow River Mother Statues and Yellow River Ancient Waterwheels Park.

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Lanzhou Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Lanzhou Zhongshan International Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Lanzhou downtown. The rest of today is free for you to explore Lanzhou city.

Drive 70km from airport to downtown
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m)
Lanzhou business hotel
Meal: NO

Day 2: Lanzhou - Langmusi (391km)

The Sunrise of Langmusi Temple

The Scripture Hall of Langmusi Temple

After breakfast, we will start on the 391km drive trip to Langmusi from Lanzhou. The road is composed of two sections: 230km Lanlang Highway and 161km G213. The driving trip gradually goes from the loess plateau slowly to Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with sea level increasing higher and higher, and the Muslim culture gives away to Tibetan culture.

After arriving at Langmusi in the afternoon, go to have a lunch and then head to visit Kirti Gompa, one of the two monasteries, on the southern hill of Sichuan side.

Drive 391km from Lanzhou to Langmusi
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m), Langmusi (3600m)
Internet & Wifi: NO
Langmusi local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Langmusi - Xiahe (185km)

Sun Buddha of Langmusi Temple

Sangke Grassland in Xiahe

Langmusi town is only composed of one main street with a stream known as "White Dragon River" passing by the street. After breakfast, you will go to visit another temple - Sertri Gompa on northern hill of Gansu side.

After lunch, we will drive along the G213 back to Xiahe. Upon your arrival in Xiahe, check in your hotel. and then drive to visit Sangke Grassland, about 18km southwest of Xiahe county. Surrounded by the mountains and cut through by a river in the middle, Sangke Grassland is a natural prairie, which looks like a green carpet rife with numerous colorful flowers. Then drive back to your hotel in Xiahe.

Drive about185km from Langmusi to Xiahe
Altitude: Xiahe (3200m), Sangke Grassland (3000m)
Internet & Wifi
Xiahe local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Xiahe - Labrang Monastery - Lanzhou (232km)

Labrang Monastery in Xiahe

Today, we will drive to visit the Labrang Monastery, one of the "six great monasteries of the Geluk sect of Tibetan Buddhism". The monastery is the most important Buddhism monastery outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Here, you will see the monks studying and debating about Buddhism. After that, drive from Xiahe to Lanzhou, via Linxia which is famed as the "small Mecca".

Drive 232km from Xiahe to Lanzhou
Altitude: Xiahe (3200m), Lanzhou (1520m)
Internet & Wifi
Lanzhou local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Visit in Lanzhou, Lanzhou Departure

After breakfast, we will explore the most popular itinerary along the Yellow River. Visit the First Bridge on Yellow River which has more than one hundred year history. Then head for the grand Yellow River Mother Statues, which stand for the beauty of oriental women. Finally, enjoy an interesting time in the Yellow River Ancient Waterwheels Park.

In the afternoon, be escorted to airport/ train station for your next destination.

Drive 70km from the downtown to airport
Altitude: Lanzhou (1520m)
Hotel: NO
Breakfast

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Lodging: two nights in Lanzhou business hotel, one night in Langmusi local hotel, one night in Xiahe local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary (4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Lanzhou (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Lanzhou from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availability and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!