16 Days Chengdu to Lhasa Overland Tour via Daocheng Yading

Erlangshan Tunnel

Xinduqiao

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.

• Drive 406km, about 7.5 hours
• Altitude: Kangding (2,900m), Xinduqiao (3,300m)
• Xinduqiao Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Litang

Daocheng Yading

Today drive about 8 hours to Daocheng via Yajiang and Litang. Litang boasts of "the Highest Town" for its 4014 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 4000m, view the Maoya Grassland, across the Rabbit Mountain which is the biggest Tibetan Plateau glacier relic, and Haizi Mountain Natural Reserve (4500m).

Upon arrival at Daocheng, check in the local hotel. Daocheng is a county that you will recharge yourself before Yading.

• Drive about 371km to Daocheng, about 8 hours
• Altitude: Yajiang (2,530m), Litang (4,014m), Daocheng (3,700m)
• Daocheng Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Mount Xiannairi at the back of Pearl Lake

Yading Pearl Lake

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 ride a horse to Chonggu Temple and then hike or ride a horse (15 minutes) to the Pearl Lake to view the holy peak - Mt. Xiannairi.

Then be transferred to Yading Village for overnight

• Drive about 118km to Yading, about 2 hours
• Altitude: Riwa Township (2,900m), Yading (3,800m)
• Yading Local Hotel or Folk Hourse
• Breakfast

Chonggu Temple

Hiking to Milk Lake

Try to get up early in the morning and go to Chonggu Temple for watching sunrise, and then ride a horse or ride the local battery car to Luorong Pasture (4150m), which is a natural pasture for the local cattle and horses. Then start your hiking tour up (hiking: 5km) to Milk Lake (4600m) and Five-Color Lake (4700m) for breathtaking views of the three sacred peaks: Mt. Yangmaiyong (5958m), Mt. Xianuaduoji (5958m) and Mt. Xiannairi (6032m). The up-and-down hiking tour will take you about 6 to 7 hours.

Then, we will drive back to Daocheng after visiting Yading.

• Drive about 371km to Daocheng, about 8 hours
• Altitude: Yajiang (2,530m), Litang (4,014m), Daocheng (3,700m)
• Daocheng Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Sangdui village

Benzilan

Today, you will get up early in the morning and depart at Daocheng to Xiangcheng via Sangdui village. You could enjoy different plateau forest scenery and local Tibetan villages.

We will arrive in Benzilan in the late afternoon.

Stay overnight at Benzilan.

• Drive about 271km, about 7 to 8 hours
• Altitude: Xiangcheng (2,865m), Benzilan (2,050m)
• Benzilan Local Guesthouse
• Breakfast

Feilai Temple at Deqin

You can see the Mount Meili from Feilai Temple

Today we will drive to Yunnan Province. Firstly, you will visit see the famous Jinsha River bend. Then we will keep driving to Feilai Temple at Deqin, which is the best place to see the holy Mount Meili. Mt. Meili is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism.

• Drive 97km, about 7 to 8 hours
• Altitude: Deqin (3,380m), Feilaisi (3,400m)
• Feilaisi Local Guesthouse
• Breakfast

Markham in Chamdo

salt pans at lancang riverside

Today, we will drive about 235 northward to Markham in Chamdo, Tibet. You could enjoy the stunning landscape of Lancang River valley en route. When you pass the border between Tibet and Yunnan at Yanjiang, you will arrive at Markham to join the Sichuan Tibet Southern Route to Lhasa.

• Drive about 235km, about 8 to 9 hours
• Altitude: Markham (4,371 m)
• Markham Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Dongda Pass

Zogong

Today, we will climb over the highest mountain pass – Dongda Pass (5008m) along the southern route from Chengdu to Lhasa.

Arrive in Zogong in the afternoon. Stay overnight at Zogang.

• Drive about 158km to Zogang
• Altitude: Zogang (3,750m)
• Zogang Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Bangda

Baxoi

We start our journey from Zogang. Driving upstream, we will firstly arrive in Bangda, a town junction where Sichuan-Tibet Highway crosses Chamdo-Kunming Highway. After acrossing Gama La Pass (4,168m), we will arrive in Baxoi.

• Drive 201km to Baxoi
• Altitude: Baxoi (3,280m)
• Baxoi Local Hotel
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ranwu Lake

Bome

Before arrive in Bome, we will visit Ranwu Lake en route. Ranwu Lake, surrounded by glaciers and snow mountains, is quiet and blue with verdant grassland by the side.

After visiting Ranwu Lake, we will go ahead to Bome, where you could see the most beautiful landscapes along the road.

• Drive 220km to Bome via Ranwu Lake
• Altitude: Ranwu Lake (3,850m), Bome (2,750m)
• Bome Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Mt.Namche Barwa

Bayi town

The whole journey for today is about 222 kilometers. You will climb over Mount Segila (4,702m) and pass by the gorgeous alpine valleys en route. If the weather permits, you could have a chance to see the grand peak of Mt. Namche Barwa (7,756m). 

Then, we will arrive in Bayi and stay overnight there.

• Drive 222km to Bayi via Tongmai and Lulang
• Altitude: Tongmai (1,800m), Lulang (3,285m), Bayi (2,930m)
• Bayi Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Draksum Tso

Lhasa city

In the morning, we will drive to visit Draksum Tso (also known as Basum-tso). You could enjoy the beautiful scenery around the lake, and explore the culture and religions from the Tsodzong Monastery at the Tsodzong island.

After the tour in Draksum Tso, we drive ahead to Lhasa along Niyang River. We will cross the Mila Pass (5,020m) en route, and arrive in Lhasa in the afternoon.

After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest and acclimatize yourself to the high altitude at Tibet.

• Drive about 460km, about 8 to 9 hours
• Altitude: Draksum Tso (3,700m), Lhasa (3,680m)
• Lhasa Business Hotel
• Breakfast

The Splendid Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

After breakfast in your hotel, your personal private will pick you up to visit the splendid Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark in Lhasa. The whole morning is for you to appreciate this world-level architectural work.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Tibetan people from all over the world come here to kowtow in the front of the entrance with their pure heart.

Finally, you can spend some time walking on around the Jokhang Temple in Barkhor Street where is full of religious atmosphere.

• Drive depends on your location of hotel
• Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
• Lhasa Business Hotel
• Breakfast

Drepung Monastery

Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up to visit Drepung Monastery, the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism.

In the afternoon, head to visit Sera Monastery to see the famous scriptures debating in this monastery.

• Drive about 20km
• Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
• Lhasa Business Hotel
• Breakfast

This day is free for you until you head to your next destination or take flight to get back home.