17-Day Kunming to Lhasa Overland Tour via Yunnan Tibet Highway

The Gate of Stone Forest

Sani Minority People Dancing and Singing

After breakfast, you will head to the famous Stone Forest, “The First Wonder of the World”. The Stone Forest in Yunnan is vast in area with lots of towering stones with peculiar shapes, creating a picture of stone world.

In the afternoon, you will visit a minority village of Sani People, which is inhabited in the area of Stone Forest for generations. You can dance and chat with the local people and learn the profound and colorful cultures of this minority.

• Drive 80km to Stone Forest Scenic Area
• Altitude: Kunming (1,895m)
• Kunming Business Hotel
• Breakfast

Three Pagodas

Erhai Lake

After breakfast, drive from Kunming to Dali, another popular tourist destination in Yunnan with traditional atmosphere, colorful minorities’ cultures and beautiful landscapes. There are three famous attractions you will pay a visit in Dali: Three Pagodas, Erhai Lake and Dali Old Town.

The three pagodas are independent, forming a a symmetrical triangle which is rare in China. Erhai Lake is one of the seven largest fresh water lakes in China. And the Dali Ancient Town boasts ancient architectures with the original design, the grand city wall, the traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses and the streams running through the city.

• Drive 20km to Three Pagodas Park
• Altitude: Dali Ancient Town (2,052m)
• Dali Ancient Town Hotel
• Breakfast

Dali Ancient Town Street

Lijiang Ancient Town

Take a slow walk in Dali Ancient Town to enjoy the serenity and beauty of it. Dnd drive to Jianchuan to pay a visit to Shaxi Ancient Town. After the tour, drive to Lijiang Ancient Town.

• Drive about 188km to Lijiang
• Altitude: Lijiang (2,400m)
• Lijiang Ancient Town Hotel
• Breakfast

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Baisha Village

Today, you will pay a visit to the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is the largest snow mountain in the southernmost of the Northern Hemisphere with a height of 5,596m. You can take the cable car to the top of this mountain and enjoy the happiness of the height.

Then head to Baisha Village to observe closely at the murals combining the cultures of Han, Tibetan and Naxi people. After that, head for Black Dragon Pool Park and Naxi Dongba Culture Museum where you can learn Naxi pictograph character and explore the rich Naxi minority culture.

• Drive about 30km
• Altitude: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m)
• Lijiang Ancient Town Hotel
• Breakfast

The First Bend of Yangtze River

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Today, you will be transferred to Shangri-La. While on the way, you will have a chance to view the First Bend of Yangtze River and Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.

• Drive about 175 km
• Altitude: Shangri-La (3,280)
• Shangri-La Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Songzanlin Lamasery

Bitahai Lake

After breakfast in Shangri-La County, head for the Songzanlin Lamasery. It is located in a area of an altitude of 3,380 meters and is the largest Tibetan Buddhist lamasery in Yunnan Province. Then take a stroll along the bank of Bitahai Lake and Shudu Lake.

After that, pay a visit to a local Tibetan family to have a little chat with the local people to learn about the lifestyle and culture of them.

• Drive about 10km
• Altitude: Shangri-La (3,280m), Songzanlin (3,380m)
• Shangri-La Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Panoramic View of Lijiang Ancient Town

The Street of Lijiang Ancient Town

In the Morning, we will drive to Deqing County through Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. The scenery along the way is fantastic and if the weather permits, you can see the Baimang Snow Mountain clearly.

After a short stop at Benzilan Town, we will keep driving to Feilaishi. You could take some shots at the first bend of Jinsha River, Dongzhulin Monastery and Baima Snow Mountain.

• Drive about 200km, about 5 to 6 hours
• Altitude: Deqin (3,400m), Feilaisi (3,400m)
• Feilaisi Guesthouse
• Breakfast

Markham in Chamdo

salt pans at lancang riverside

After breakfast, we will drive northward along the Lancangjiang River and cross the border between Tibet and Yunnan at Yanjing. Then, we will join in the Sichuan-Tibet highway southern route after 111 kilometers from Yanjing to Markham.

• Drive about 215km, about 8 to 9 hours
• Altitude: Markham (4,371m)
• Markam Business 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 158km to Zogang
• Altitude: Zogang (3,750m)
• Zogang Business 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 Business Hotel
• Breakfast

Ranwu Lake

you can see the most beautiful landscapes in 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 to Bayi. 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 chancve to see the grand peak of Mt. Namche Barwa (7,756m).

• 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.

• Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
• Breakfast