11-Day Xining to Lhasa Overland Tour via Qinghai Tibet Highway

Taer Monastery in Xining

The beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake

Today after breakfast, we will firstly visit the Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Monastery), the most important monastery in Qinghai Tibetan Area.

Then, we will drive about 2.5 hours to the Qinghai Lake, the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China. The lake is the paradise for birds, where you can see more than ten thousand in the summer. It is surrounded by high mountains. At the foot of mountains are the endless beautiful grasslands. So you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking.

Stay overnight in Namtso guest house. You can enjoy the fantastic starry night.

• Drive about 216km from Xining to Qinghai Lake
• Altitude: Qinghai Lake (3,260m), Riyue Mountains (3,520-4,877m)
• Qinghai Lake nearby hotel
• Breakfast

In this morning, you could enjoy the sunrise at Qinghai Lake.

Chaka Salt Lake is a good shooting place.

In the morning, you can have a chance to walk around the Qinghai Lake to enjoy the fresh air and peaceful scenery.

Then, we will drive to Chaka to visit Chaka Salt Lake. Chaka Salt Lake, located in the western part of the Chaka Basin, is the largest salt mine in the world. You can see the sculptures along the lakeside, which formed by salts and brine. It is a wonderful place to take photos in a shining day.

• Drive about 200km from Qinghai Lake to Chaka
• Altitude: Chaka Salt Lake (3,059m)
• Chaka Local Guesthouse
• Breakfast

Chaka Salt Lake-Mirror of the sky

Wild Golmud

Today’s whole journey is about 515.5 kilometers. We will drive westward from Chaka to Golmud. You could enjoy the Gobi sight, oasis in the desert, and so called Treasure bowl on the way.

• Drive about 515.5 km from Chaka to Golmud
• Altitude: Golmud (2,780m)
• Golmud Local Hotel
• Breakfast

Beeautiful scenery on the Qinghai Tibet Highway

Tuotuoheyan under the blue sky

Today we will drive through the Qinghai Tibet highway at the foot of the Kunlun Mountain. You can enjoy the view of cast wilderness and Tsaindam meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Then, we will drive upwards through a steep valley to climb over the Kunlun Pass (4,837m), and then pas by the first by the first bridge over the Yangtze River reach Tuotuoheyan.

• Drive about 420 km to Tuotuohe
• Altitude: Tuotuoheyan (4,533m)
• Tuotuoheyan Local Guest House
• Meals: No

Tangra Yumco is surrounded by mountains

Wild Animals on the Qiangtang Grassland

After breakfast, we will start our journey to cross Tangra Mountain to Nagqu. We will pass by the east edge of Kekexili. Along the way, you could see the wild animals, like eagles, sheep and yaks dotted on the grassland with the snow-capped mountains around.

• Drive about 420 km to Tuotuohe
• Altitude: Tuotuoheyan (4,533m)
• Nagqu Local Guesthouse
• Breakfast

Qiangtang Grassland

Drive pass the Namtso Lake

Today, we will drive across the northern Tibet Qiangtang Grassland. On the way, you can see Nyenchen Thanglha and nomads’ tent of local Tibetans with grazing yaks and sheep around the mountain side.

To get to Namtso Lake, we will drive over the Nagela Pass (5150m). Namtso Lake is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet. You can do a leisure trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island.

• Drive about 390 km to Namtso Lake
• Altitude: Namtso Lake (4,718m)
• Namtso Guesthouse
• Breakfast

The Beautiful Namtso Lake

Yangpachen hot spring

If you are lucky enough, you will see sunrise at Namtso Lake. And you can walk a little bit along the lake side.

Then, we will drive back to Lhasa. You can visit Yangpachen hot spring (option) on the way to Lhasa.

After checking into your hotel in Lhasa, 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 220 km to Lhasa
• Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
• Lhasa Business House
• 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