Xining to Chengdu Overland Tour
Xining to Chengdu Overland Tour
In this tour you will drive 1200 km overland through some of the most classic scenes of Amdo Tibet as you journey from the Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. This tour is a favorite among both local and foreign tourists because it highlights some of the best and brightest monasteries on the Tibetan Plateau as well as the nomadic life on the high plains that revolves around them.
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 11 day
- Group Size
- 2-15
- Trip Type
- Cultural Trips
- Trip Location
- Amdo Tibet, Kham Tibet, Sichuan
In this tour you will drive 1200 km overland through some of the most classic scenes of Amdo Tibet as you journey from the Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. This tour is a favorite among both local and foreign tourists because it highlights some of the best and brightest monasteries on the Tibetan Plateau as well as the nomadic life on the high plains that revolves around them.
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 11 day
- Group Size
- 2-15
- Trip Type
- Cultural Trips
- Trip Location
- Amdo Tibet, Kham Tibet, Sichuan
As you travel from Xining to Chengdu you will experience quaint Tibetan villages, bustling monasteries, impressive rocky canyons, the wild high grasslands, and, of course, the “Yellowstone Park” of western China, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve with bright blue pools, dramatic waterfalls, bubbling hot springs and perfectly snow mountains.
MONASTERIES
Full of fascinating cultural artifacts such as traditional paintings known as thangkas, we’ll delve into the religious significance of Tibetan Buddhism in the local culture and watch monks engage in Buddhist-style debates. The tradition of clapping hands during debates symbolizes the bringing together of practice (the right hand) and wisdom (the left hand), to achieve deep understanding and clarity.
TIBETAN NOMADIC CULTURE + LIFESTYLE
Our program takes participants through the remote regions of Amdo Tibet into the high grasslands and monasteries that are the heartbeat of Tibetan nomadic culture. Eat a cup of tart yak yoghurt, walk under the tall golden spires of monastery halls and giant Buddhas, and trek through rugged mountains to discover how nomads have kept their ways alive for centuries in the midst of an often unforgiving high-altitude environment. With the opportunity to stay with nomads, we’ll have insight into their daily routines and learn to appreciate the richness of their culture.
TREKKING ON THE GRASSLANDS
Amdo’s rugged terrain and steep altitude will provide plenty of opportunities for physical challenge. While there is always a risk of mild altitude sickness, we have built the itinerary to acclimate slowly and properly with time. With good health and a general level of fitness things should go smoothly. Every effort is made to ensure your wellbeing and safety, and as long as you stay healthy, hydrated, and get enough sleep, you should experience little discomfort due to altitude.
Day 1
9:30am- Meet your guide, just after baggage claim inside the airport arrivals terminal (or in your hotel in Xining)
9:45am – Depart Xining, drive 2.5 hours to Rebkong, a small Tibetan town at 2,700 meters
12:00 noon – Arrive for lunch in Rebkong
1:30pm- In the afternoon explore Rebkong Longwu Monastery, one of Qinghai’s largest and most influential monasteries with over 800 monks.
4:30pm- Sample some yak yoghurt and check into your hotel in Rebkong
6:30pm – Authentic Tibetan dinner at a nearby restaurant
8:30pm- Sleep in a hotel in Rebkong
Day 2
8:00am – Eat breakfast at hotel in Rebkong
9:00am -Spend the morning exploring the Thangka paintings of Wutun village- famous for some of Tibet’s most outstanding Buddhist art.
11:30am – Lunch in Rebkong
12:30pm – Depart Rebkong to drive to Labrang at 2,900 meters
3:30pm- 2 hour Thangka painting workshop with Tenzin Dolma, a professional Thangka artist who speaks fluent English. Learn about Tenzin’s passion for art as well as her unique art school that teaches painting to underprivileged youth.
5:30pm – Check into hotel in Labrang, rest
6:30pm – Eat Tibetan style dinner then walk around Tibetan district for souvenirs
8:30pm – Settle in hotel in Labrang
Day 3
8:00am – Eat breakfast in hotel in Labrang
9:00am -Early morning walk to Labrang Thangka wall to see Tibetan pilgrims prostrating around the monastery
9:30am – Tour Labrang Monastery, the most influential Gelugpa monastery outside of the Lhasa region
12:30pm – Lunch in Labrang
2:00pm- Set off from Labrang to drive to Langmusi at 3,200 meters
4:30pm – Arrive in hotel in Langmusi, check in, rest.
6:00pm – Authentic Tibetan dinner in town
Day 4
8:30am – Eat breakfast in hotel in Langmusi
9:0am – Depart on horse trek to the grasslands
12:30pm – Eat lunch in a Tibetan tent
1:30pm- 1 hour hike back down to town
3:30pm – Return to Langmusi town and transfer to Langmusi Tibetan nomad tent stay. Nomad activities in the afternoon
5:30 pm – Eat with Tibetan nomads
7:00pm – Nomad tent stay in the grasslands
Day 5
8:00am – Eat breakfast in tent stay, experience nomad activities in the morning: milking yaks, making butter, herding sheep
9:30am – Depart nomad tent stay to hike above the Langmusi Monastery for an excellent view of the town. Hike to 4,000 meters
12:30pm – Eat a picnic lunch on top of the mountain
6:30pm – Return to Langmusi town to hotel to clean up and rest
7:30pm – Dinner and rest
8:30pm – Sleep in hotel in Langmusi
Day 6
8:00am – Eat breakfast in tent stay, experience nomad activities in the morning: milking yaks, making butter, herding sheep
9:30am – Depart nomad tent stay to hike above the Langmusi Monastery for an excellent view of the town. Hike to 4,000 meters
12:30pm – Eat a picnic lunch on top of the mountain
6:30pm – Return to Langmusi town to hotel to clean up and rest
7:30pm – Dinner and rest
8:30pm – Sleep in hotel in Langmusi
Day 7
8:00am – Eat breakfast in hotel in Zoige
9:00am – Drive 160km from Zoige to Songpan
12:30pm – Lunch in Songpan. Songpan, known in Tibetan as Zungchu, is a mid-sized town lying at an elevation of 2,860 meters in northern Sichuan’s highlands. Songpan is Sichuan’s gateway to the marvelous Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and its astounding blue pools and “stepped” waterfalls.
1:30pm- Check into hotel in Songpan
2:00pm- Spend the afternoon exploring Old Town Songpan and the Songpan city wall. Possible afternoon horse ride.
6:00pm – Dinner in Songpan
8:00pm – Rest and sleep in hotel in Songpan
Day 8
9:00am- Meet in lobby of hotel after breakfast
9:30am – Depart hotel to drive 145km to Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
1:00pm- Lunch near Jiuzhaigou
2:00pm – Photograph snowy peaks near Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
5:30pm- Dinner near the park entrance
8:00pm- Sleep in a hotel right at the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
Day 9
8:30am – Eat breakfast in hotel
9:00am – Spend the day at Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve. The Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve is one of the most beautiful corners of the Tibetan Plateau. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is filled with amazing lakes, multi-tiered waterfalls and stunning snow-capped peaks. Jiuzhaigou is known in Tibetan as Zitsa Degu གཟི་རྩ་སྡེ་དགུ་. The Chinese name is translated as “9 Village Valley” and gets that name from the 9 Tibetan villages found along the main valley inside the park.
12:30pm – Lunch inside the national park
6:30pm – Dinner near Jiuazhaigou park
8:00pm – Sleep in a hotel near the park entrance
Day 10
8:00am – Wake up, breakfast in the hotel
8:30am- Drive 420km from Jiuazhaigou Nature Reserve to Chengdu.
This about a 8-9 hour drive as we descend off the high Tibetan Plateau and say goodbye to the grasslands and enter the capital city of Sichuan Province. Chengdu is known for the giant pandas and having some of the best (and spiciest) food across all of China.
6:00pm Check into hotel in Chengdu
7:00pm – Closing dinner in Chengdu and final debrief.
8:30pm – Rest in hotel in Chengdu
Day 11
8:30am – Eat breakfast in hotel in Chengdu
9:30am- Check out of hotel.
10:00am -Depart for Chengdu airport or train station.
Price Includes
Your Tibetan Trails journey is designed to provide a seamless and authentic travel experience across the Tibetan Plateau. The tour price includes:
- Accommodation in carefully selected Tibetan boutique hotels, guesthouses, or luxury lodges throughout the itinerary.
- For trekking and backpacking expeditions, all camping arrangements including tents, cooking equipment, pack animals (horses or yaks where required), and support staff. Guests are welcome to bring their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad, though these can also be provided upon request.
- Cultural experiences and nomadic activities as outlined in the itinerary.
- All meals during the tour, typically beginning with lunch or dinner on the first day and continuing through the conclusion of the trip. (Many other travel agencies cut out lunch and dinner for guests to make the prices seem lower, but we believe every traveler should experience the true culinary richness of Tibet and include a generous food budget inside our tours).
- One professional English-speaking Tibetan guide throughout the journey. Our guides have over 15 years of experience with foreigners.
- Private transportation in a comfortable van, SUV, or bus, including all ground transportation specified in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees and permits for attractions, monasteries, parks, and sites included in the itinerary.
- Accommodation and meals for guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Local mountain guides where required for specific trekking routes.
- All required travel permits, legal paperwork, and group insurance required for travel within Tibetan regions.
- Unlimited bottled drinking water throughout the tour.
Price Excludes
The following items are not included in the tour price:
- International or domestic flights and train tickets.
- Personal travel insurance. We require all travelers to obtain their own travel insurance for the duration of their trip. We recommend purchasing coverage through World Nomads or a comparable provider.
- Visa fees, passport fees, and any related travel documentation costs.
- Optional activities or excursions not specifically listed in the itinerary.
- Alcoholic beverages, specialty drinks, and personal snacks.
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, and support staff (recommended for excellent service).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone charges.
- Costs resulting from itinerary changes, flight delays, weather conditions, altitude-related issues, government restrictions, natural disasters, or other force majeure events beyond our control.
Trip Highlights
- Day hikes and horse rides in Tibet’s “little Switzerland”, Langmusi on the border of Gansu and Sichuan province
- Experience authentic Tibetan culture and learn about the rhythms of nomadic life on the grasslands
- Rebkong Longwu Monastery
- Rebkong Wutun Monastery (home to many of Tibet’s greatest Thangka painting artists)
- Some of Amdo Tibet’s most stunning monasteries including Labrang
- Monastery, Taktsang Lhamo Monastery, Kirti Monastery, and Zoige Monastery
- Jiuzhaigou Nature Preserve
- Songpan Old City Wall