Today, our target is to visit Basumtso Lake and Bayi County. After having an early breakfast at your Hotel in Holy city Lhasa, we will drive to eastern Tibet. 3 hours later, we will pass Mt. Mila Pass (5012m) and then continue to drive to Ghongbujiangda area. After about half an hour's drive following the distributary of Niyang River, we will get to our first destination - Basumtso Lake. The holy lake of Basumtso is also named Tsuogao Lake, which means 'Green Water' in Tibetan. Here the altitude is 3500 meters, and the lake itself covers an area of around 27 square kilometers. The lake is surrounded by mountains, making it look like Jasper lying in the deep valley in Bayi County. We will spend the night in Bayi.

 

After having breakfast in the hotel, we will drive for 4 km to the 'Huge Cypress'. This Huge Cypress has a long history of 2000 years. We will spend a few hours taking pictures and enjoying the natural environment, before driving to the Great Holy Mountain of Sejira via Nyingchi County. Holy Mountain Sejira is snow covered and icy. Mountain Sejira is famous for her azalea and as the best place from which to visit the great Mountain Nankyabawa (7756M)­. You will have a plethora of photo-taking opportunities in this Snow land. After taking pictures, we'll continue to drive to the bushy Lunang Forest in Lunang County, which is known as the 'Eastern Switzerland'. Later, we will arrive at Tongmai natural barrier.

We will reach Bomi County in the late afternoon, entering Southeastern Tibet, staying overnight at the Bomi Hotel, the best hotel in the area.

 

Today we drive from Bomi to Raog. Along the way you will see a nice Tibetan local village, Midui, modern glaciers, giant ice falls, primitive forests, lakes and small monasteries. Enjoy yourselves in these paradises.

 

Raog, 3850m above sea level and covering 22 square kilometers, is famous for her beautiful icy lakes. We'll drive 89 km to Basu, and begin to climb over the Holy Mountain Lujiang (4839m), via 99 crooked roads and over another Rela Mountain Pass (4600 m), before finally reaching Bangda County, where the northern and southern Sichuan-Tibet routes meet. The highest airport in the world is built here, in the vast expanse that is the Bangda meadow. Driving on this flat high land gives you yet another taste of the magnificence of Tibet. After the 110 km journey to Zuokhong County, followed by the highest climb yet over the Dongda Mountain pass (5008m), we will descend down to the bank of the Nanchang River (2800m). Finally, we will rest in a peaceful small village called Zuka.

 

Starting out from Zuka, we climb over the Lhawu Mountain Pass, 4200m above sea level, to reach Mangkhang, the crossroad of Sichuan-Tibet and Yunnan-Tibet route. Another 100 km on, we will reach the Pearl of Tea Horse Passage in Yanjing. The people of Yanjing still employ the ancient methods of making salt from a well today. Upper Yanjing believes in Catholicism, whereas lower Yanjing believes in Tibetan Buddhism, however the two religions have lived in harmony in the region for over thousand years.­   

 

Today we will drive along Lanchang River, entering into Yunnan Province, Deqing County, which is well known because of the nearby Meili Snow mountain, which still retains it's virginity despite many mountaineering teams from all over the world attempting to conquer it. The area has wide range of climates, with well preserved forests, snow capped mountains and glaciers being typical views.   

 

Today, the astonishing Meili Snow Mountain will appear in front of us, with the Thirteen Peaks, about 6000 meters high, fighting to show their charms. The main peak, Kawagebo, is 7640 meters high, the highest peak in Yunnan province.

 

Early morning, start from Deqing county, climb over White-horse Snow mountain, arrive at Benzilan village. Sand terraces are typical views in this village. Crossing over the Jinsha river bridge, we will enter Sichuan province, encountering Kham-Tibetan landscapes.

 

Today we'll be traveling along of the most challenging roads yet, driving 100 meters above a steep valley. Downstream of Jinsha River, we'll see a small town called Sangdui, which lies on the way to the last Shengelira of the world. Through cypress forests and highland meadows, past unique Tibetan villages, we will finally see Yading village in the distance.

 

About 3 kilometers trekking in Yading

We will spend the day trekking, along the way visiting two lakes - one is 'Milk Lake' and the other is known locally as the 'Lake with Brilliant Colors'.

 

From Yading back to Daocheng, you can enjoy a bath in the local hot spring, recharging your body and refreshing every muscle in your body, ready for the next day's journey.

 

We shall climb over Hizituer Mountain and along the Wuliang River into the world famous Maoya prairie, and to the highest city in the world, Litang. The trip is not over yet, as we still need to climb over the Jianzi mountain ( 4653 meters) and arrive at Yalong River valley, when finally we will reach Xindu bridge, a photographer's paradise.

 

Early morning, after breakfast, we will climb over Zeduo Mountain down to the beautiful village of ancient legends, Kangding, and see the deepest valley, Dadu river valley. Traveling along the Dadu River and down to the well-known Gonga Mountain and Trumpet-shell Valley where you can see a modern glacier.

 

A cable car trip to camp 3 to the enjoy sunrise, the grand glacier, waterfall and ice mushroom.­

 

Another tough day's drive: along Dadu River, through the longest tunnel in China (3437 meters), once a most dangerous road. After Erlang Mountain, following the ancient South Silk Road to Tea-Horse Passage, we will stop over in the small town Ya'an for some beautiful raining views, beautiful girls and tasty local fish. Continuing along the Chengdu-Ya'an express way, we will finally reach Chengdu, a city that¡¯s known by the Chinese as a food heaven!

 

 

Early morning wake up to a stunning sunrise, then after breakfast we will travel through the photographer's paradise of Xindu bridge, coming to the beauty of the Tagong Meadow, the first temple that the Wenchen princess encountered on her journey from ancient China to Tibet in the early Tang Dynasty. Tagong Temple is known as the 'Flower Hat Sect'. After the temple, we'll continue to Bamei for lunch, and then into the natural 'Eastern Valley' basin, an area that is typical of Danba Tibetan Culture. Finally a 80km down stream drive to reach Danba county - a county with 1000 forts of unique construction. Enjoy some of the most beautiful Tibetan villages here with the beautiful local Danba girls all around you.

 

Starting out from Danba and travelling via Xiao Jin County, we will enter into the Alps of Orientals, ' 4 Sisters Mountains', where you can enjoy Shuangqiao (Double Bridge) Valley and Changping Valley.

 

An after-breakfast drive over the 4530m pass of Mt. Balang and above the clouds, another 90km descent down to 800m elevation in Yingxiu county, en-route we can visit the largest Panda Breeding Centre 'Wo-Long', where you can see and touch real-life pandas! Visit another wonder, the Irrigation system built up to 2000 years ago, 'Du Jiang Yan', and finally reach Chengdu, a city that's known by the Chinese as a food heaven!