8 Days Chengdu Daocheng Yading Tagong Danba Loop Tour

Xiannairi Mountain and Pearl Lake
Milk Lake in Daocheng Yading National Park
Tagong Monastery under Yala Snow Mountain
Xinduqiao Golden Terek Bostan in Autumn
Danba Beauties are Performing with unique Jiarong Tibetan Costume
The Gudiao of Suopo Diaolou Group

Tour Outline: Chengdu (1N) - Xinduqiao (1N) - Riwa (1N) - Daocheng - Yading (1N) - Daocheng (1N) - Xinduqiao (1N) - Danba (1N) - Chengdu

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

Daocheng Yading Natural Reserve is noted as "the Last Shangri-La" and "the Last Pure Land on the Blue Planet" for unique original natural sceneries, a number of snow-capped mountains, glacier-red lakes, and forested valleys. This loop tour will take you to explore the real Shangri-La in the world.

In the tour, you will also visit the paradise of photographers - Xinduqiao, drive on the beautiful Tagong Grassland, and see different Tibetan people and unique ancient Diaolou in Danba.

[Xinduqiao] Be honored as the paradise of photographers; boasts of stone Tibetan houses, villages, wooden bridge, hills, clean brooks, and all of them built a picture of harmony;
[Daocheng Yading] Be nicknamed as "the Last Shangri-La" for its natural beauties: mysterious monasteries, forests, pastures, snow-capped peaks, lakes and Tibetan villages;
[Tagong] Visit the most important pilgrimaging place of Kangba Tibetans - Tagong Monastery, and drive on the beautiful Tagong Grassland;
[Danba] See different Tibetan people and also their unique Danba ancient stone towers.

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: Chengdu Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu downtown. The rest of the day is yours to relax and have a good rest.

Direct International Flights to Chengdu

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport offers more than 65 international airlines ranked the fourth domestic airline after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The direct airlines directly link Chengdu with Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, New York, London, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anchorage, Paris, Frankfurt, Seoul, Bangkok, Tokyo and more.

Stay overnight in Chengdu

Day 2: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao (406km)

Erlang Mountain Tunnel

Xinduqiao Golden Terek Bostan in Autumn

After breakfast at your hotel in Chengdu, we will start your journey in western Sichuan. Drive on the Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway to the so-called "Rain City" - Ya'an; turn to G318, you will enjoy the beautiful natural sceneries. After driving through Erlangshan Tunnel, a sunshine day with blue sky will turn out, and then you reach to the Dadu River Grand Canyon which is the largest one in western Sichuan.

Passing through Zheduo Mountain Pass, tourists can see Tibetan villages scattering on both sides of the road, and a river flows slowly along the village. After about 7-hour driving, we will arrive in Xinduqiao which is honored as "the Paradise of Photographers" for overnight. Xinduqiao enjoys a splendid scene in spring and autumn.

Stay overnight in Xinduqiao

Drive 406km, about 7.5 hours
High Altitude: Kangding (2900M), Xinduqiao (3300m)
Internet & Wifi
Xinduqiao business hotel
Breakfast

Day 3: Xinduqiao - Yajiang - Litang - Riwa (410km)

The Local Herdswoman and Yaks on Maoya Grassland

The Sister Lakes of Haizi Mountain

Today drive about 8 hours to Riwa (Shangri-la Town) via Yajiang, Litang and Daocheng. Litang boasts of "the Highest Town" for its 4,014 meters over sea levels, and it is an important religious city in Tibetan plateau with strong nomadic features and atmosphere of traditional Tibetan life. On the way, we will cross two high mountain passes at an elevation of over 4,000m, view the Maoya Grassland, across the Rabbit Mountain which is the biggest Tibetan Plateau glacier relic, and Haizi Mountain Natural Reserve (4,500m).

Upon arrival at Riwa, check in the local hotel. Riwa is a small town that you will recharge yourself before Yading.

Stay overnight in Riwa

Drive 410km, about 8 hours
High Altitude: Litang (4,014m), Daocheng (3,700m)
Internet & Wifi
Daocheng local hotel
Breakfast

Day 4: Daocheng - Riwa Township - Yading National Park - Yading Village (118km)

Xiannairi Mountain and Pearl Lake

Chonggu Temple

Today after breakfast, we will drive about 2 hours to Yading National Park. On the way, we can enjoy very charming countryside scenery and pay a visit to a Tibetan family in the beautiful Riwa Township (Shangri-La Town). Later, you will get to Chonggu Temple by sightseeing bus and then hike to the Pearl Lake to view the holy peak - Mt. Xiannairi. Then be transferred to Yading Village for overnight.

Stay overnight in Yading Village

Drive 118km, about 2 hours
High Altitude: Riwa Township (2900m), Yading (3800m)
Internet & Wifi
Yading local hotel or folk house
Breakfast

Day 5: Yading Village - Luorong Pasture - Daocheng (trekking or riding)

Milk Lake

Five-Color Lake

Try to get up early in the morning and go to Chonggu Temple for watching sunrise, and then take the local Battery Car to Luorong Pasture. Then start your hiking tour up to Milk Lake (4,600m) and Five-Color Lake (4,600m), or enjoy a horseback riding in this section for breathtaking views of the three sacred peaks: Mt. Yangmaiyong (5,958m), Mt. Xianuaduoji (5,958m) and Mt. Xiannairi (6,032m). The up and down hiking tour will take you about 6-7 hours. Then return to Yading and transferred back to Daocheng for overnight.

(From Luorong Pasture, you can choose to ride a horse up to Milk Lake (4,600m) and Five-Color Lake (4,700m) for sightseeing, and then back. The riding fee is yours.)

Stay overnight in Daocheng

Ride a horse
High Altitude: Chonggu Temple (3,880m), Luorong Pasture (4,150m)
Internet & Wifi
Daocheng local hotel
Breakfast

Day 6: Daocheng - Litang - Xinduqiao (371km)

Today after breakfast, we will drive back from Daocheng to Xinduqiao via the Highest Town - Litang. On the way, you will view the beautiful natural beauties and stop to take some pictures. Upon arrival at Xinduqiao, check in the local hotel.

Stay overnight in Xinduqiao

Drive 371km, about 8 hours
High Altitude: Litang (4014m), Xinduqiao (3300m)
Internet & Wifi
Xinduqiao business hotel
Breakfast

Day 7: Xinduqiao - Tagong - Danba - Jiaju Tibetan Village - Danba (173km)

Tagong Monastery under Yala Snow Mountain

The Entrance of Jiaju Tibetan Villlage

Try to get up early in the morning for watching sunrise of Xinduqiao. Then drive to Tagong, which is surrounded by grassy hills and snowy mountains. You will visit Tagong Monastery, the most important pilgrimaging place of Kangba Tibetans. Then continue to drive to Danba across the Tagong Grassland, which is very beautiful by itself and its surroundings, and on which the sacred Yala Mountain is standing; via Bamei, the scenery along the road is absolutely fabulous.

Danba is a county where you may see different Tibetan people and also their unique Danba ancient stone towers. In the afternoon, you will be arranged to visit Jiaju Tibetan Village. It was selected as one of the most beautiful six villages in China by the Chinese National Geographic Magazine. The village has more than 140 families. More than 200 colorful Tibetan buildings spread over the green mountain under the blue sky, forming a stunning landscape painting. The houses are all distinctive with crown-shaped roofs, red eaves and white walls. Then be transferred back to your hotel in Danba county.

Stay overnight in Danba County

Drive 173km, about 4.5 hours
High Altitude: Tagong (3730m), Danba (1800m)
Internet & Wifi
Danba local hotel
Breakfast

Day 8: Danba - Chengdu (430km)

Today, drive from Danba county back to Chengdu along Dadu River. After lunch at Luding, drive through Erlangshan Tunnel and reach Chengdu downtown in late afternoon. Then be escorted to your hotel or airport/ train station for your next destination.

Drive 430km, about 7.5hours
High Altitude: Danba (1800m), Chengdu (540m)
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: one night in Chengdu business hotel; two nights in Xinduqiao business hotel, two nights in Daocheng local hotel, one night in Yading local hotel, one night in Danba local night;
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 (7 Breakfasts);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Chengdu (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Chengdu from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility 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!