5-Day Qinghai Lake Bird Watching Tour

The Bird of Bird Island of Qinghai Lake
The Bird Island of Qinghai Lake
The Jinyintan Prairie in Qinghai Province
Night Scene of Taer Monastery

Tour Outline: 5 Days & 4 Nights
Xining (1 N) - Bird Island (2N) - Xining (1N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

Qinghai Lake (Qinghai Hu in Chinese) is the largest salt lake in China. Covering an area of 4282 square kilometer, it is at 3194 meters altitude and is 151 kilometers by road from Xining. Qinghai Lake region has many islands, including Birds Island, Haixinshan Island, Guchashan Island and Shadao Island, which are the perfect inhabitation of migrat birds.

About 300km away from Xining and one the western side of Qinghai Lake, Bird Island covers an area of only 0.8 square kilometers. The Island is famous for millions of migrant birds living here, in which Larus Ichthyaetus, Anser Indicus Latham and Larus Brunnicephalus occupy most part. The best time to visit is the months from April to July. As the island is filled with nests, this island is called Dan Island.

[Dongguan Great Mosque] Visit the mosque which is one of the "four great mosques in China";
[Jinyintan Prairie] Appreciate the beauty of highland grassland and know the ancient love story of Wang Luobin and the Tibetan girl;
[Qinghai Lake Bird Island] The right months from April to July to see millions of migrant birds on the Bird Island.
[Taer Monastery] It is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa; an important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine.

Best Time to Visit

April, May, June, July, September
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Xining Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Xining Caojiabao Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Xining downtown. If time allows, we will go to visit the Dongguan Great Mosque, one of the "four great mosques in China" (others: Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, Nanguan Great Mosque in Yinchuan and Huajuexiang Mosque in Xian). Then have a good rest in your hotel.

Drive 38km from airport to downtown
Xining (2295m)
Xining business hotel
Meal: NO

Day 2: Xining - Jinyintan Prairie - Bird Island

Jinyintan Prairie

After breakfast in your hotel, your tour and driver will pick you up, and then drive about 260km to the Bird Island Scenic Spot at the western part of Qinghai Lake. On the way, you will visit the Jinyintan Prairie and appreciate the beauty of highland grassland. Jinyintan Prairie comprised of two prairies: Jin Tan and Yin Tan. These two prairies cover nearly 1,100 square kilometers. Jinyintan Prairie is the place in which the love story laid between the famous writer Wang Luobin and the Tibetan girl.

In the afternoon, after you arrive at the Bird Island Scenic Spot, you will start to watch birds and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Qinghai Lake.

Drive 260km from Xining to Bird Island
Altitude: Bird Island (3330)
Internet & Wifi
Bird Island Scenic Spot local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Bird Island Day Tour

The Bird Island of Qinghai Lake

Bird Island Photography Tour

Today you will spend the whole day in visiting the Bird Island, watching birds and enjoying the beautiful view.

Drive in the Bird Island Scenic Spot
Altitude: Bird Island (3330)
Internet & Wifi
Bird Island Scenic Spot local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Bird Island - Xining

The Birds of Bird Island Scenic Spot

The Bird Island of Qinghai Lake

Today you will have more chance to watch birds and then drive back to Xining. After arriving, you will be transferred to visit the Qinghai Museum, which features in three exhibition centers: Qinghai Protoculture, Qinghai Ethnic Collections and Tibetan Buddhism Arts.

Drive 260km from Bird Island back to Xining
Altitude: Bird Island (3330), Xining (2295m)
Internet & Wifi
Xining local hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Xining - Departure

Today you will be transferred to visit the famous Taer Monastery, the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Gelug sect. The monastery is also famous as one of "six monasteries of Gelug", and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. You must not miss the "three treasures of the monastery": mural, barbola and butter sculptures. Every year, there are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here.

Then be escorted to the airport/ train station for your next destination.

Today drive about 94km
Altitude: Taer Monastery (2696m)
Hotel: NO
Breakfast

Price Destals & 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 Xining business hotel, two nights in Bird Island local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking tour guide / 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 Xining (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Xining 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!