Drive: 45 min

Arrive at Xining Railway Station or Xining Airport, where you will be met by our Tibetan guide and driver, who will travel with us throughout our time in Qinghai and Gansu Province. Transfer to the hotel. Xining is the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau and the capital of Qinghai Province in northwest China. Visit the Tibetan Medical Museum and see the largest thangka in Tibet. After dinner, we will walk to see the New Year lights in Xining.

Overnight: Xining (L/D)

Drive: 4 hrs

Drive to Rebkong. Rebkong is home to large Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and a Bon monastery. It is also famous throughout Tibet for its artists. On the way, visit Shachung Monastery, which is located on a mountaintop and offers magnificent views of the valley and the Yellow River.

In the afternoon, visit Sanggeshong Mago (Wutun) Monastery. Today’s highlight is the grand thangka display ceremony on a hillside, sharing the blessings of Buddhism with all living beings.

Overnight: Rebkong (B/L/D)

Drive: 45 min

After breakfast, drive to Bongya, one of the Bon monasteries near Rebkong, and attend Bon religious ceremonies.

In the afternoon, we will adjust the program to experience as many village ceremonies and Shaman Festival activities as possible.

Overnight: Rebkong (B/L/D)

In the morning, we will drive about 10 km to Gomar Monastery to witness all the villagers gathering to share breakfast together at the monastery. Perhaps this is the biggest breakfast gathering in the world. Local Tibetans bring their milk tea and breakfast to the monastery, share stories from the past year, and express their hopes for the coming year.

Afterwards, drive to Sanggeshong Mago to enjoy the Cham Dance. The Cham Dance dates back more than 500 years. According to tradition, the Fourth Panchen Lama visited Shambhala through meditation and created the Cham Dance based on the dances of Shambhala. The Fifth Dalai Lama later formalized the dances in the Cham Yig, and each monastery has since developed its own unique interpretations.

Cham performances feature sacred masked dances, sacred music, healing chants, and spectacular richly ornamented multicolored costumes. The dancers use symbolic hand gestures known as mudras to transmit healing powers from the deities. Together with narration and a monastic debate demonstration, the program provides a fascinating glimpse into both ancient and contemporary Tibetan culture.

Overnight: Rebkong (B/L/D)

Drive: 2 hrs

After breakfast, we will visit Rongwo Monastery, the largest monastery in Rebkong and home to more than 800 monks. Alternatively, you may enjoy a short hike in Rebkong.

After lunch, drive to the Ganjia Grasslands. Visit Ganjia Monastery and the caves behind the monastery, followed by a short hike through Ganjia Gorge.

Visit a Tibetan family to enjoy a traditional Tibetan New Year’s dinner. After dinner, drive about 40 minutes to Labrang.

Overnight: Labrang (B/L/D)

Drive: 3 hrs

Breakfast at the hotel in Labrang.

Visit Labrang Monastery, one of the Six Great Gelug monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, and walk the small kora around the monastery.

After lunch, drive about three hours to Taktsang Lhamo (Langmusi). Stop in the high grasslands to look for black-necked cranes nesting in the wetlands of the Tibetan Plateau near Gyanthan Lake, a high-altitude alpine lake.

Overnight: Langmusi

After breakfast in Langmusi, often called “Tibet’s Little Switzerland,” walk to the Thangka Wall.

The highlight of the Monlam Festival is the Sunning of the Buddha ceremony, when a giant thangka is displayed on the mountainside. We will join thousands of Buddhist pilgrims who have gathered since early morning to witness this special annual event. The huge thangka is carried from the monastery and carefully spread across the mountain slope. Pilgrims gather to touch the sacred thangka to receive New Year’s blessings before celebrating with prayers, singing, and dancing.

Visit Sirti Monastery. After lunch, visit Kirti Monastery on the Sichuan side and enjoy a short hike through Taktsang Lhamo Gorge. The trail follows the White Dragon River to its source and is relatively easy as it follows the river.

Late in the afternoon, drive about 1 hour 30 minutes to Luqu County.

Overnight: Luqu County (B/L/D)

After breakfast, drive about 15 minutes to Luqu Monastery to enjoy the Cham Dance and other monastery activities, including the monks’ ceremonial dress, masked dances, traditional prayers, and the ritual offering and destruction of torma (representing evil spirits).

Pilgrims, farmers, nomads, and visitors from near and far receive blessings from a high-ranking lama. Local Tibetans wear their finest traditional clothing during the celebrations.

Overnight: Luqu (B/L/D)

Drive: 2–3 hrs

Drive about 1 hour 30 minutes to Hezuo to visit the Nine-Story Milarepa Temple, which tells the story of one of Tibetan Buddhism’s greatest saints.

After lunch, drive about one hour to Labrang.

In the evening, visit the famous exhibition of yak butter sculptures, which have an almost surreal beauty when illuminated by butter lamps. Visitors traditionally touch the display with their foreheads as a sign of respect.

Overnight: Labrang (B/L/D)

Drive: 4 hrs

After breakfast, join local Tibetans for the ritual procession of the Maitreya Buddha.

The 3-meter-high silk image of Maitreya is carried by monks as they circumambulate (kora) Labrang Monastery. Thousands of pilgrims follow the procession to receive blessings and express their hope of following Maitreya’s teachings when he returns to this world.

Afterwards, drive to Lanzhou.

Overnight: Lanzhou (B/L/D)

Drive: 1 hr

Free time until hotel check-out, followed by a transfer to Lanzhou Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: B/L