Overview
Experience wild and lush Tibetan areas in Western Sichuan
Kham is the wild Tibetan areas in Sichuan, Yunnan and a few of Qinghai and Tibet, which is quite different from the Tibet TAR in many ways. Here is a lush and green place, has higher rain falls and plenty of flora and fauna. Three of mightiest rivers, the Jinshajiang River (upper branch of the Yangtze), Lancangjiang River (Mekong) and Nujiang River (Salween), flow parallel among the huge mountains and deep canyons in this area. Both northern and southern Sichuan-Tibet Highways, as known as one of the most challenging roads worldwide, overland through the western Sichuan and link with Tibet TAR border. This tour will take you in the mountainous, remote but very fascinated western Sichuan, the culturally and geographically core of Kham. You will pass by Kangding, the gateway of Kham,; you will be astonished by the Tibet’s literary heritage in Dege, the cultural heart of Kham; you will take on the grasslands of Litang, the soul of Kham; you will experience the religious holy places of Gantze and Palyu; you will fall under the tranquil villages and pretties Tibetan ladies in Danba. Kham features old growth forests, rhododendron trees, spectacular mountains, canyons, old glaciers and alpine lakes. In this tour, you will have great chances to see all of these picturesque landscapes, some places are even rarely visited by the tourists and the traditions are still well preserved. Meanwhile, you would experience portions of the off-the-beaten-tracks, however, it is still worthy exploring for such jewels on the Tibetan plateau.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Chengdu & City Sightseeing
Day 02 Danba (B)
Day 03 Danba Villages Walk (B)
Day 04 Tawu (B)
Day 05 Manigange (B)
Day 06 Dege (B)
Day 07 Palyu (B)
Day 08 Xinlong (B)
Day 09 Litang (B)
Day 10 Kangding (B)
Day 11 Drive back to Chengdu (B)
Day 12 Chengdu Departure (B)
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Chengdu & City Sightseeing
Upon arrive at Chengdu and transfer to your hotel. Get refreshment in the hotel, we step out for the Wide and Narrow alleys (Kuan Zhai Xiangzi), two ancient streets preserved from the old architectures in Ming and Qing dynasties in Chengdu. In the evening time, enjoy the magical Sichuan Opera and Face Changing Show, the ancient Chinese dramatic art.
Day 02: Danba (B)
Today take the scenic drive to Danba. In Danba, drive to nearby countryside and stay in a tranquil and picturesque village, presents the sumptuous scenery.
Day 03: Danba Villages Walk (B)
Wake up early morning, view the possibly sunrise of Mt. Modor. Then we visit the village for countryside view and renowned ancient architectures that were built by the Qiang people between 800 and 1,200 years ago, it’s hence Danba gains the name of “the Thousand Watchtowers Kingdom”.
Day 04: Tawu (B)
Leave for Tawu by passing through the stunning gorge and valley. On the route, visit Geda Shambaling Monastery. Tonight you will stay in the local Tibetan family, visit their extraordinary house and ornate decorations, chat with the host, learn about their traditions and cultures.
Day 05: Manigange (B)
The road stretches into the wide fertile valley of Kham and through the picturesque farming Tibetan villages, fields of green or golden barley extend on both sides as far as the distant foothills. Visit a few impact monasteries, spend a night in Manigange.
Day 06: Dege (B)
Excurse at a fabulous turquoise-blue lake, the scared alpine lake of Yilhun Lhatso. Then the road takes us uphill and climbs up to 5,050m Chola Pass, the ascent becomes steep, zigzag and dusty, scenes change dramatically from 4,040 meters glacier lake to 4,280 meters watershed of the wild and jagged mountains and then shortly descend into the rugged Dege Canyon from mighty Chola pass. Overnight in Dege, the cultural heart of Kham.
Day 07: Palyu (B)
Visit Barkhang Scripture Printing Press, where stores more than 217,000 hand-carved wooden blocks of Tibetan scriptures and Thangka paintings, houses 70 percent of the Tibetan literary heritage. Later drive to Palyu through the flourish vegetations, along the east bank of Yangtze River. En the route, turn off to a tiny village, where is renowned for the metal works, particularly the crafts of Tibetan knife.
Day 08: Xinlong (B)
Step on the north hill to visit Palyu Monasetery, the Kham region’s influential Nyingmapa lamasery founded in 1675. Then we take the rarely visited part to Xinlong, through the pretty and densely forested gorges. The desolated Yarchen Monastery will be visited on the way.
Day 09: Litang (B)
Visit an oldest and largest Bon sect. temple in Kham. Later take the trail into deep Yarlung valley, the scenes change from alpine landscapes to the verdant broad grasslands are carpeted in edelweiss, gentian and the nomadic black yak tents. Visit Litang Chode and spend a night in Litang, one of the highest towns in Kham.
Day 10: Kangding (B)
Traverse a few main high passes, all is over 4,000 meters, scenes are spectacularly among them. Pass by Xinduqiao, the ‘Paradise for the Photographers’, get fine views for the towering Mt. Gongga (7,556m), the King Mountain of Sichuan. Climb up 4,298m Zhedo Pass, we arrive at Kangding, the seat of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Explore the town for night market.
Day 11: Drive back to Chengdu (B)
Take the scenic drive to Chengdu.
Day 12: Chengdu Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport or the train station according to the schedule.
Experiences & Activities
- Traipse in Gyarongpa villages of Danba & visit the ancient watchtowers
- Lose breath for the alpine Yilhun Lha Tso Lake & 5,050m-high Tro La Pass
- Get insight the Tibet’s heritage of Dege Scripture Press Printing House
- Visit Litang Chode, Palyu Monastery, Yachen Monastery & Gantze Gompa
- Witness the world’s highest town of Litang & warlike Khampa men
