Day 02   Beijing-Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa.Check into hotel. Test of day is free to relax and acclimate to the altitude.

Day 03   Lhasa sightseeing
Visit Jokhang Temple, built for Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng by
the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo then see Sera Monastery, one of largest in Tibet where you can experience the monks debating. Stay at same hotel.

Day 04   Lhasa sightseeing
Visit the Potala Palace, the most magnificent specimen of Tibetan architecture and historical home to the Dalai Lamas. Also visit the Norbulingka, the Dalai Lamas Summer Palace. Explore the Barkhor Market. Stay at same hotel.

Day 05   Lhasa sightseeing
Visit Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, built in 1416, the Tibetan Museum and more time in Barkhor Market. Stay at same hotel.

Day 06  Lhasa-Namtso lake
Drive through Damshung Grasslands to Namtso Lake, the second largest salt-water lake in China. This alpine sea is surrounded by the 7000 meter high peaks of the Nyenchen Tangula Range. Stay for the night by the lake and enjoy exploring its shores.

Day 07   Namtso lake-Nakchu
Enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the lake, hiuking and exploring. After a lakeside picnic lunch, drive north to Nakchu. Stay in Nakchu.

Day 08   Nakchu-Tuotuohe river
Drive to Tuotuohe through vast grasslands and over Tanggula Mountain pass(5321m)   Nomad tents are plentiful as the Tibetans ride herd on their Yaks and sheep.and their herds of yaks and sheep. Enjoy a stunning sunset near te Yangtze Rivers source. Stay in Tuotuohe.

Day 09   Tuotuohe-Golmud
Drive along the upper Yangtze River to Golmud. You will see wild yak, Tibetan donkey and deer as you cross Kunlun Mountain Pass (4767 m). Stay in Golmud, the largest city in China in area at 12,000 square kilometers.

Day 10   Golmud-Chaka
Drive through the Qaidam Basin, part of the Gobi Desert. You will pass through Kekexili National Natural Reserve and see many Mongolians and their yurts. Arrive at Chaka Salt Lake. This lake has a deposit of 400 million tons of salt, and a 3000 year history of salt mining. Explore this incredible white world on small trains. Stay in Chaka.

Day 11   Chaka-Qinghai lake-Bird island
Drive to Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China covering 4500 square kilometers, with beautiful pasturelands, sand dunes and snow covered peaks surrounding the lake. Explore the western end of the lake and enjoy a lakeside picnic lunch. Drive to Bird Island to watch some of the thousands of migrating birds that stop on this island oasis each year between April and July. Stay for the night.

Day 12  Sightseeing around Qinghai lake
Drive around the southern end of the lake, stopping to take pictures and explore. Spend the night near the southeast end of the lake.

Day 13   Qinghai lake-Maduo
Drive to Maduo via the Dzogan Rawar Gorge  through rolling grasslands, and high mountain passes. Have a picnic lunch along the way.  Stay in Maduo.

Day 14   Maduo-Yushu
Drive to Yushu (Jyekundo), over Bayankala Mountain (5100m) and
crossing the Yangtze River. Visit the Gianak Mani Stone Wall.  Stay in Yushu.

Day 15   Yushu horse racing festival
Visit Tashi Gu Horseracing grounds and enjoy the opening day ceremonies of the Horse Racing Festiva with horse racing, dancing and a traditional dress fashion show. Stay at same hotel.

Day 16   Yushu sightseeing
Return for more horse racing and dancing at the festival. Visit the Temple of Princess Wencheng at the ancient Tang-Tubo Road. She was a Tang Dynasty princess who married Songtsen Gompo, a Tibetan King. Visit Jiegu Monastery, a m major Sakya sect monestary in the Yushu area.  Stay at same hotel.

Day 17   Yushu-Maduo
Drive back to Maduo through high rolling grasslands. Stay in Maduo.

Day 18   Maduo-Maqen
Drive to Maqen. passing Mount Anyemaqen (6282 m), a holy mountain for the Amdo Tibetan people. Stay in Maqen.

Day 19   Maqen-Guide
Drive to Guide following the Yellow River Valley with great views of red clay mountains topped with green grass.. Visit Lajia Monastery, a branch of Sera Monastery is the biggest yellow sect monastery on the Yellow River.  Stay in Guide.

Day 20   Guide-Xining
Drive back to Xining. Visit Kumbum Monastery (Taer si), one of the largest Yellow Sect monasteries in China, and the birthplace of its founder, Tsongkhapa. Its well known for unique Tibetan Buddhist Arts: murals, embroidery, and yak butter sculptures.  Stay in Xining.

Day 21   Fly to Beijing.
Transfer to International flight home.