14-day Kham Area Private Tour In West Sichuan From Chengdu

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu

Stop At: Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley Commercial Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, home town of giant panda. Picked up by the local guide at the airport and transferred to a hotel. In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), they are the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, teahouses, restaurants and guesthouses concentrate here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers".
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Chengdu Renmin Park, No.12 Shaocheng Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu 610015 China
Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table, the tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Day 2: Chengdu - Dujiangyang - Wolong - Siguniang Shan Town

Stop At: Dujiangyan Irrigation System, On the Minjiang River at the west of Dujiangyan, Dujiangyan 611830 China
In the morning drive to Dujiangyan to visit the Irrigation System, which was built around 250 BC by Li Bin, a governor of Shu Prefecture in Qin State. The great project still works well today after more than two thousand year’s function, which not only puts an end of the water disaster to the local people but also makes Chengdu Plain “the land of abundance”. While visiting the water conservation work, you may find that the methods of harnessing the river the ancient people used are so simple but useful. In 2000, Dujiangyan became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, Wolong Town, Wenchuan County 623006 China
After that drive to Wolong National Nature Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hm². It is one of the China earliest natural reverses, which is rated the preservation zones network of “mankind and living beings” by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). The virgin forest, second bush forest and bamboo groves are very green. There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebras, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant panda, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deer etc. Visit Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 50 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mount Siguniang, At The Junction of Xiaojin County and Wenchuan County, Xiaojin County 624200 China
Then drive to Siguniang Shan Town (former Rilong) through the Balang Tunnel, if the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful landscape of sunset of Siguniang Shan Mountain (Four Sisters Mountain) at the Maobiliang.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Yunshang Hotel

Day 3: Siguniang Shan Town – Danba

Stop At: Mount Siguniang, At The Junction of Xiaojin County and Wenchuan County, Xiaojin County 624200 China
If the weather is good, you’ll get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang Shan at Maobiliang at sunrise. The Siguniang Shan Mountain (also Four Sisters Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Four Maidens Mountain) has four over 5000 m peaks, legend has it that each peak represents a girl of the 4 sisters. The highest peak, Yaomei Feng, the youngest girl and at 6250 m, is also known as the “queen of Sichuan's peaks”. Soft hiking in the Shuangqiao Valley (Double-bridge Valley) of the Siguniang Shan Mountain, the scenery is concentrated and charming.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Jiaju Tibetan Village, Zhanggu Town, Danba County 626303 China
Afterwards we will drive to visit Wori Tusi Manor, the former official residence of the local Tusi, a kind of imperial kingship leader. After that drive to visit Tibetan village Jiaju, the most beautiful village of China. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Walking and visiting in the Jiaju village. There are more than one hundred buildings with the same architectural style, a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also in school from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mantuoluo Hotel

Day 4: Danba - Bamei – Tagong

Stop At: Danba Suopo towers, Suopo Town, Danba County 626300 China
Danba has long been acclaimed as the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. In the morning visit the ancient block towers in Suopo. They were made of clay and block and look fine from outside with solid thick walls.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tagong Temple (Lhagang Monastery), Tagong Country, Kangding County 626006 China
Then drive to Bamei, on the way visit the Huiyuan Temple and the beautiful villages. Upon arrival at Tagong, visit the Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sakya Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Bodhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa.
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Stop At: Tagong Grassland, Within Kangding County, Kangding County 626000 China
Then visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Duwang Hotel

Day 5: Tagong - Luhuo - Kasa Lake - Garze (3390 m)

Stop At: Luhuo County, Luhuo County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Drive to Luhuo, visit the Luhuo National Museum and enjoy the Langkajie Thangka Art.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Ganzi County, Ganzi County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Afterwards drive to Garze (Ganzi), the real cultural and religious center for the Tibetans living in Sichuan. In Tibetan "Garze" means "white and beauty", named after the famous in 1552 built temple of yellow sect (Gelukpa) in the county. In Garze visit the Han-Chinese Monastery. It is the oldest architecture in Garze built by Han-Chinese in 1274, the Han-Chinese and Tibetan buildings symbolize cultural integration and solidarity of Han-Chinese and Tibetan people.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Highland Barley Hotel

Day 6: Garze - Dargye – Manigango (3866 m) - Yilhun Lhatso (4017 m) - Dege (3270 m)

Stop At: Ganzi County, Ganzi County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
In the morning visit the Garze Monastery of Gelukpa school, it was originally constructed by the Qosot Mongols in 1662 on a hilltop overlooking their castles of Mazur and Khangsar. The monks will usually debate at around 9 am, it lasts about 40 minutes. 
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Xinluhai, Dêgê County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China
Then drive via Manigango to Dege. On the way visit Dargye Monastery. The Dargye represents the Gelukpa school and was founded in 1642. Pass by Manigango to visit Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso), located at the foot of Chola Mountain (Que’er Shan). It is 4040 meters above the sea level, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 15 meters. There are plateau spruces, firs, Chinese weeping cypresses, azalea trees and meadows around the lake. It is also a preserve for wild animals like white-lipped deer. Short walking by the lake Yilhun Lhatso.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Keluodongxiang, Dêgê County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China
Keep driving through the Chola (Que’er Shan) Tunnel, visit the rock sculpture frescoes in Keluodong village.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Ling Gesar Hotel

Day 7: Dege - Pelyul (3006 m)

Stop At: Dege Parkhang Sutra-Printing House, No.17 Wenhua Street Gengqing Town, Dege County 627250 China
In the morning visit the Dege Printing House which has always been well reputed as the cultural treasury at the foot of the snow mountain. It is the biggest printing house in Tibetan area. Another program is visit the Dege Gonchen, meaning “temple”, a monastery of Sakya sect. It was built in 1448, today about 300 monks live here.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Baiyu County, Baiyu County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
In the afternoon drive to Pelyul and visit Pelyul Monastery (Baiyu Si) nearby the county seat. This famous Nyingma Sect monastery had played a great role in history and held many subsidiary temples. Then enjoy the grandiose panoramic view of Pelyul Monastery from a hillside when the weather is good.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Dongcha Culture Hotel

Day 8: Pelyul - Yarchen Gar - Garze (3390 m)

Stop At: Yarchen gar, Baiyü County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China
Today drive back to Garze (Ganzi), on the way visit the Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si) of Nyingma sect, a big nuns’ world! About 20000 nuns live, learn and meditate here. With 4000 meters above sea level, Yarchen Gar is the largest meditation place for women in the world. After reaching parking lot at Yarchen Gar, walk about 10 minutes to the hillside at the north of Juemu (a title for nun in Tibetan) Island. There is a vast Padmasambhava statue, and in the southwest orientation, you can overlook the grand panorama of whole Yarchen Gar and even Juemu Island. Then go downhill to riverside along small wooden houses where nuns practice meditation. One the way, everywhere you can see that these nuns are sitting in meditation, or scripture debating, or reading quiet, or chatting and relaxing. Here, the nun’s low and small meditation houses are very intensive and covered the whole peninsula. You can have a walk here and immerse yourself in the pure religious atmosphere of nuns' meditation place.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Highland Barley Hotel

Day 9: Garze - Xinlong - Tsoka Monastery - Tsoka Lake (3800 m) - Litang

Stop At: Cuoka, Sêrxü County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China
Tsoka Monastery (Cuoka Si) and Tsoka Lake (Cuoka Hu) in Mari Village, Xinlong County are our destinations today. Tsoka Monastery has inherited the tradition of Karma Kagyu Sect and Nyingma Sect, and Tsoka Lake, a freshwater lake with only 3 square kilometers, is meaning “the black lake water in rubbles” in Tibetan. The lake water is very clear as jasper and reflects the blue sky, white cloud, greenery, green hill, red and white monastery buildings. And after “processing”, it will reveal in a more charming condition. You will be affected by its splendid appearance and spiritual power. Afterwards drive to Litang which is known as "world highland city" with an altitude of 4014 m above sea level. Litang is the homeland of 7th Dalai Lama, and some other living Buddhas were also born in Litang. In late July or early August, a grand horse racing festival will be held in Litang and last about 7 days, which attracts many domestic and foreign visitors.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Snow Land Love Song Hotel

Day 10: Litang - Daocheng – Shangri-La Town

Stop At: Litang County, Litang County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
In the morning visit Litang Monastery (Changqingchunke'er Monastery) lying in the western suburbs of the city. The monastery was originally under the control of the Bon religion but converted into a Gelug Sect monastery in 1580 in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) by the third Dalai Lama. Today, it is the largest monastery of the Gelugpa in south Kham.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yading Nature Reserve, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Daocheng County China
Keep drive over Mt. Haizi and pass by Daocheng to Shangri-La Town, where the highlight of this journey is - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Xiannairi, Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Yangmaiyong, Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, Vajrapani, 5958m). The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Day 11: Shangri-La Town - Yading - Shangri-La Town

Stop At: Yading Nature Reserve, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Daocheng County China
Full day explore the natural beauty of Yading. Drive 30km to Longlongba – the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. Start trekking tour to Chonggu Monastery and next proceed to Xiannairi Mountain with a mystery Dumu Lake at its mountain foot. Then trek to Luorong Cattle Farm, which is located among Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji and Xiannairi Mountains. Finally, back to Longlongba and drive back to hotel.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Day 12: Yading - Daocheng - Litang - Yajiang - Xinduqiao

Stop At: Xinduqiao Town, Kangding County 626002 China
Today drive to Xinduqiao via Litang and Yajiang, a small town on the road juncture where the northern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and the southern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) meet. If the weather is good, enjoy the panorama view of Mt. Gongga (7556m) from the viewing platform.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Fanyin Aman Art Hotel

Day 13: Xinduqiao - Kangding – Luding - Chengdu

Stop At: Luding Bridge, On Dadu River, Luding County 626100 China
Drive back to Chengdu via Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. On the way visit Luding Chain Bridge. Luding Chain Bridge (Iron Chain Bridge) on the Dadu River is a treasure of Chinese ancient architecture. The bridge was built in the 44th years of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1705) in order to enhance the connection of Tibetan culture. On May 29th, 1935, the Chinese Red Army reached Luding Bridge during the Long March. Facing a hail of bullets, the Chinese Red Army, with 22 warriors as the pioneers of the commando, destroyed the bridge’s guards in one fell swoop, which is an important historical monument of the Communist Party of China.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4*Xingliang Hotel

Day 14: Leave Chengdu

Stop At: Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan
Travel to next destination.
Today transfer to airport or railway station, leave Chengdu.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.