Summary
Yunnan-Tibet Highway is an important access to Tibet overland. It was put into use in 1973, with a total length of 1,930 km starting from Jinhong city of Yunnan to Duopuma of Qinghai. Besides, it is connected with Sichuan-Tibet southern highway (G318). Part of the Yunnan-Tibet highway was Tea Horse Road in ancient time. So Yunnan to Tibet overland is possible for you. Meanwhile, you can choose to travel from Kunming to Lhasa overland, or Lijiang to Lhasa overland, or Shangri-la to Lhasa overland.
Day 1 Kunming Arrival
Sightseeing and Activities:Kunming Arrival
Accommodation:
Meals:
Arrive at Kunming airport , pick up by the tour guide and drive to city for checking your hotel.
Day 2 Kunming-Dali ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Stone Forest , Guandu Ancient Town
Accommodation:
Meals:
You will drive 86 km to the Stone Forest. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the Stone Forest is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. After lunch drive back Kunming to visit the Guandu Ancient Town which is a famous historical & cultural town in Kunming; it keeps the main architectural style of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. After dinner, take the overnight train to Dali.
Overnight in the Train, comfortable sleeping berth
Day 3 Dali ( L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Three Pagodas, Cruise in Erhai Lake, Xizhou, Dali Old Town
Accommodation:
Meals:
Arrive at Dali railway station. Meeting with your guide , then you will visit the Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery which has a history of over 1,800 years located at the foot of Cangshan Mountain facing to the Erhai Lake. After lunch, you’ll cruise in Erhai Lake by the small boat to the Jinsuo Islet in the east Erhai Lake. There are 200 Bai ethnic families around 1000 people in Jinsuo Island. In Erhai Lake cruise, you will enjoy the green Cangshan Mountain and the Three Pagodas from a far as well as lots of birds and seagulls flying over the lake.
Later , you will head for Xizhou Town to fully appreciate Bai-style traditional architectural courtyards, taste their fragrant Three-Course Tea and explore their distinctive culture. At last, you will visit the Ancient Dali Town, walk around the Foreigner Street and enjoy the relax time with local people. After climbing up to the City Wall of Dali, you will have panoramic view of the Erhai Lake.
Day 4 Dali -Lijiang ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Black Dragon Pool , the Dongba Museum, Lijiang Old Town
Accommodation:
Meals:
In the morning, drive about 180KM (2.5hrs ) to Lijiang with the beautiful farmlands and ethnic villages on the way. Afterward, you’ll head for the scenic Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Museum to explore the rich Naxi minority culture. In the late afternoon, explore Lijiang Old Town.Lijiang Old Town has a history more than 800 years; it was listed as the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997.
Day 5 Lijiang ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baisha Mural , Shuhe Old Town
Accommodation:
Meals:
Enjoy the sunrise of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Lijiang Ancient Town in the morning, drive about 30KM to Ganhaizi Meadow(3100M), you will take the sightseeing bus for a short visiting through the Baishuihe River, take the chairlift up to visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The cableway will be arranged according to the condition of the mountain. You will hike around1 hours in the original forest in Spruce Meadow (3200M).
Afterward, Move to Basha Villge to Visit the Baisha Mural about 600 years old, which is one part of the World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO 1997. Finally explore Shuhe Old Town. Nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 6 km northwest of Lijiang old town, Shuhe was once a staging post at ancient Tea & Horse Road. With an altitude of 2440 meters above sea level, it is a tranquil town with a population of about 3000 people. Along with its sister town Lijiang, it is also part of the UNESCO Heritage site
Day 6 Lijiang-100KM-Tiger Leaping Gorge-100KM-Shangri La( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Lijiang-100KM-Tiger Leaping Gorge-100KM-Shangri La
Accommodation:
Meals:
From Lijiang, you'll drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, visit the Iron Chain Bridge,the Red Army's Long March Memorial Monument in the Shigu town. You will have an experience of the floating from the First Bend of the Yangtze River to Longpan Town, after one hour floating, meet the driver and transfer to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river. Afternoon, you'll head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian which is welknown as the paradise destination for every tourist. -- Tiger Leaping Gorge is on the Jinsha River of the upper reaches of the Yangtze, located 105 kilometers south of Shangrila County. The gorge is 17 kilometers long with a drop of 213 meters.
Day 7 Shangri-La ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town
Accommodation:
Meals:
In the morning, visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. Songzanlin Monastery has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace ', so named because the whole monastery is in the traditional style with mysterious atmosphere.And afterwards you'll visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake in Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park is located in one of the most biologically-diverse regions of the world.. Visit Dukezong Tibetan Ancient Town in the late afternoon, climb up to the top of Guishan Hill or tortoise Hill, you will see the largest Prayer Wheel of the world and have a panoramic view of shangrila county and Dukezong Ancient Town.
Day 8 Shangri-La - Lhasa ( B )
Sightseeing and Activities:Shangri-La - Lhasa
Accommodation:
Meals:
Fly to the holy city of Lhasa, capital of the mystical Buddhist Kingdom of Tibet. Your Tibetan guide and driver will meet you at the airport and then transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure for you to relax and acclimatization. You are suggested to drink some more water and eat some fruit which will help you to acclimate the high altitude. Please do not do much exercise or activities. Please do not smoke and drink alcohol if possible.
Day 9 Lhasa ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Accommodation:
Meals:
In the morning, go to visit the famous Potala palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, you will experience its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc. In the afternoon, pay a visit to the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkor Kora.
Day 10 Lhasa ( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Drepung Monastery/Sera Monastery/Norbulingka Park
Accommodation:
Meals:
We will begin our tour at Drepung Monastery which is used to be the most large monastery in Tibet where lodged more than 10000 monks at its summitin the morning. After that, you will visit the Sera Monastery which is famous for its Buddism scriptures Debating in the afternoon. You will finish today's activity after the Norbulingka Park which is the summer palace of Dalai Lama and later served as the governmental administration center. Today you will experience how the Lama study the Buddism scriptures and also touch the real life of local tibetan people.
Day 11 Lhasa-Yamdrok lake-Gyangtse( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa-Yamdrok lake-Gyangtse
Accommodation:
Meals:
Passing by the green farmland of Nyangchu Valley, Yamdro-tso lakes, Karo-la Glacier roadside at 4960m, we move westwards to the second biggest city of Tibet, Shigatse, the area spiritually hosted by Pamchan Lama. The most important attraction for today is Yamdro-tso Lake, and Kubum monastery in Gyantse. Yamdro-tso Lake is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour and Kubum monastery has a 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome.
Day 12 Gyantse to Shigatse and Sakya( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Gyantse to Shigatse and Sakya
Accommodation:
Meals:
Drive from Gyantse to Shigatse in the morning. In Shigatse, you will visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery where you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world. The monastery itself is abiding place for the successive Penchen Lamas. Then drive to the Sakya county where you can visit the famous Sakya monastery. The most interesting thing in Sakya sect is that the sect do not believe in reincarnation and the head of Sakya sect will wear white cassock and also marry and have children.Then forwards to world highest pass Gyatso-la pass with 5200 m above sea level and take a good rest in Sakya.
Day 13 Sakya - Rongbuk Monastery( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Sakya - Rongbuk Monastery
Accommodation:
Meals:
There is about 5 hours driving from Sakya to Rongpuk. The road is under construction. From Tingri to E.B.C with the very rough road, pass the wild grassland, cross the rapids river and high mountains. If it is in clear weather, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which are 8000m high or more, that is, Mt. Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everes (8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201m) and Mt Mayalu (8463m).
Overnight in Ronguk Guest House or Tent
Day 14 Rongphu Monastery - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse( B , L )
Sightseeing and Activities:Rongphu Monastery - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse
Accommodation:
Meals:
Early in the morning to see the sunrise from Rongphu, then to view Mt. Everest. The scenery is fabulous and splendid. After walking, arrive the place to get on the local bus then use half of an hour to arrive at Everest Base camp (Or you also can trekking to Base Camp around 1.5-2 hours one way. It's more interesting and much warmer, but hard to breath). Hike up to the top of the photo point to take pictures of the splendid Mt. Everest. Then in the afternoon go down from EBC and back to Shigatse.
Day 15 Shigatse to Lhasa Airport, Departure( B )
Sightseeing and Activities:Shigatse to Lhasa Airport, Departure
Accommodation:
Meals:
Drive along the beautiful Yarlung Zangpo River to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your departure flight. End your trip.
What's Include
Transfers and tours with local English speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles.
All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
Accommodation with breakfast as listed.
Overnight train ticket Kunming-Dali.
What's Exclude
International airfare: entry - departure China,
Domestic flight Zhongdian/ Lhasa,
Optional tours.
Tips to tour guides and drivers.
Personal travel insurance.
Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme.
Drinks with meals.
Chinese visa fee.
Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme.
