JRSG04 - Yunnan-Tibet Overland

Highlights: Chengdu-Lijiang-Zhongdian-Deqin-Yanjing-Markham-Dzogang-Pamda-Rawok(lake)-Bome-Lunang-Nyingchi-Bayi-Pasum(lake)-Ganden-Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Sakya, Mt. Everest.

Days Programs Overnight Road Description Notes Hotel
1 arrival in Chengdu.  Chengdu 　 Transfer to hotel. Then free time. 3 star hotel
2 Chengdu Chengdu 　 Transfer to Panda Base and Huanglongxi Village. 3 star hotel
3 Morning flight to Lijiang. Lijiang 　 Transfer to hotel. Then free time. 3 star hotel
4 Lijiang Lijiang 　 Transfer to Baisha Frescoes and Shuhe Old Town. 3 star hotel
5 transfer to Zhongdian via Tiger Leaping Gorge. Zhongdian 　 　 3 star hotel
6 Zhongdian Zhongdian 　 Napahai Lake and Village or Pudacuo Natural Park; Plus Songzanlin Lamasary. 3 star hotel
7 Transfer Zhongdian-Deqin. 3480m, 190km. Deqin （德钦） 3rd-class highway is under construction for a wider road. Benzilan is picturesque town alongside Yangtze, a good place for lunch stop. Shusong Nunnery（书松）5 km after Dongzhulin Monastery. Meili Snow Mountain (梅里雪山), Mingyong Glacier is China's lowest glacier reaching some 4000m below the peak of Kawagebo. It is the third holiest mountain in Tibet after Mount Kailash and Namcha Barwa. Meili Hotel （梅里酒店**）
8 Deqin-Yanjing.
3109m, 112km.		 Yanjing （盐井）  Unpaved road follows the Mekong river. Landslides often block the road during the monsoon season. Yanjing means salt-well, it was once the main source of salt for half of the Kham Tibetan areas, which ranged from NW Sichuan down into Yunnan. Natural hot springs（曲孜卡）located on west bank of Mekong. Y2/pax for outdoor pools overlooking the Mekong. Cizong Catholic Church （天主教堂） is being reconstructed. It will be finished in 2003. The original was built start of 20c by French priest. Nowadays it is Lu, a friendly Naxi priest. GH (very basic!) Yanjing Guesthouse. （盐井招待所）
9 Yanjing-Markham.
3500m, 111km.		 Zuogong (左贡)  It is the only region to meet traditional horse caravans on the way. This section is so-call 126 bents or 99 bents. The intersection town where Yun-Tib highway joins the Sich-Tib highway. Gartok Gompa（维色寺）10km before reach Markham (Gelukpa), affiliated to Drayub sub-branch. Liangshiju Guesthouse （粮食局招待所）Offers room with private bathroom.
Markham-Zuogong. 3780m, 173km. the condition of this section of road is unbelievable good for 40km. Zuogong , Overlooks Yu-chu river (major tributary of Salween), amid forests.
10 Zuogong-Bamda.
3780m, 107km.		 Rawok（然乌）   Passes Denpa, ascend to Dungda La (5008). Road continues through grassland along Yu-chu river valley. Gelukpa monastery（田妥寺）founded as branch of Drepung, Stupas along roadside. The Monks are extremely hospitable. (Watch out for the dogs!)
Bamda airport, 50 km from intersection, there are flights to Lhasa & Chengdu.		 GH Peace Guesthouse (highly rec!) （平安客栈）
Bamda-Rawok.
3950m, 190km.  		 ascend to Game La (4618), Alpine forests, road follows Ling-chu valley after its confluence Salween up to Pasho No photos on Salween Bridge for military reason.
Both Bamda & Pasho are good place for dinner stop. Watershed of Salween and Brahmaputra rivers.
Rawok-tso on N-shore of Ngan-tso, shores nice for camping. Take one day off for photos and rest.
11 Rawok-Bomi.
2743m, 127km.		 Tongmai（通麦） Crossing passes, scenery changes, forests more luscious. This stretch very scenic, area famous for its terma (hidden treasure texts). Highway follows Parlung Tsangpo.
Kanam（岗乡）, well known Kanam lake, which shores are good place for picnic and camping. Few hrs circumambulation lake trekking is a suggestion.
Tongme, is small jungle settlement, covergence of Yi'ong Tsang (Brahmaputra) and Parlung Tsangpo rivers.		 Tongmai （国道102道指挥部宾馆） with shared bathroom, but warm & Clean
Bomi-Tongmai.
1700m, 90km.		 crosses entrance to Poto-chu valley, NW to Bakha (Nyingma sect stronghold), then cross Zampa bridge over Parlung Tsangpo at
Kanam. 		 Road follows Brahmaputra, virgin rain forests.
Serkhyim La Pass, crosses serveral 5000+ passes, view of Namche Barwa which is the highest peak of Eastern Himalayas, and it has a towering snow pinnacle shaped like a ritual dagger.
12 Tongmai-Bayi.
3000m, 116km.		 Pasum tso（八松错） Crosses Bayi bridge over Nyang-chu, road follows W bank of Nyang-chu. From Buchu, road goes 26km SW, then cross to S bank of Brahmaputra via Gompa Zamchen bridge. Nyingtri, old county capital. Nowadays, small town on east bank of Nyang-chu, below Mt Bonri. Mountains, forests and lakes spirits pray daily role in people's lives. Nyingtri & Lulang landscape is extremely magnificent, characterized by dense primeval forest, plateau lake, high mountains and deep fertile valleys.

Taktse Yungdrungling Bon, road into Nyingtri passes through Takste town, approached via turnoff on left below. There is a 2000+years old juniper tree, sacred to Bon btw Nyingtri to Bayi.

Bayi is the bigest city in Eastern Tibet, many 3stars hotals, supermarkets ect. 		 Tibetan tents on its shores serve as guest lodges.
Bayi-Basongtso.
3100m, 160km.		 Going on 2nd-class highway. Only 40 km detour to Pasum tso is bad condition road. Pasum tso, a wonderful view of the jade-green lake, 16 km long by three km wide, girded by steep forested slopes, and with the Tsodzong Island positioned like a pearl at its center. The flat-bottomed ferry boat is drawn across to the island by an overhead cable. 
13 Basongtso-Ganden. 3200m. Lhasa Turn-off at Lamo, about 7 km detour to Ganden Monastery. Ganden monastery was found in 1409 by Tsongkhapa on the Gokpori ridge of Mount Wangkur, overlooking the south bank of the river. Ganden was the first and foremost Gelukpa monastery, constructed by Tsongkhaoa himself.  Lhasa Yak Hotel 
Ganden-Lhasa.
3500m, 320km(Basongtso-Lhasa) .		 　 Arrive in Lhasa.
14 Lhasa Lhasa 　 Lhasa, free day. Lhasa Yak Hotel 
15 Lhasa Lhasa 　 Potala Palace , Sera Monastery, Norbulinka  Lhasa Yak Hotel 
16 Lhasa Lhasa 　 Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street Lhasa Yak Hotel 
17 Lhasa-Tsedang(3500m) Tsedang 　 Enter Yarlung Valley, the birth place of early Tibetan agriculture culture. Samye Monastery, the earliest Buddhist Monastery in Tibet, built 1300 years ago. Tsedang Yulong Holiday Hotel
18 Tsedang-Gyantse(4100m) Gyantse 　 Yongbulakang Palace, Trandruk Monastery, via Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse Dzong Castle, Pelkor Choede. Gyantse Hotel
19 Gyantse-Shigatse-Sakya Sakya 　 Go to Shigatse via Karub La Glacier, visit Tashilungpo Monastery,arrival in Sakya in the afternoon. Sakya Monastery is called the Second Dunhuang in China. Sakya Manosarovar Hotel
20 Sakya-Shegar-Dingri-Mt Everest. Mt Everest  　 Go to Shegar (New Dingri county)via Lhatse. Then continue to Dingri where you can buy sea creature Fossil specimens.Arrival in Rombuk in the evening. Rombuk Guesthouse
21 Mt Everest-Zhangmu Zhangmu 　 　 Caiyuan Hotel
22 leave Zhangmu in the morning. 　 　 　 　

 

Including:
1. Accommodation with daily breakfast based on twin share at hotels as mentioned(except where there is no twin room).
2. From Day1 to Day 6: A/C nice coach for all excursions(where bus needed) and  transfers apt/htl and vice versa.
3. From Day 7 till Day 22, Jeep for the whole trip, 4 pax in one jeep at most. 
6. From Day1 to Day 6: Local English speaking guide for excursions only. On the way Lijiang-Zhongdian, no guide.
7. From Day 7 to Day 22, Local English speaking guide for the whole trip.
4. Free of charge for one TL from foreign tour operator in single room with same services as inclusive for pax.
5. Domestic flights with airport tax and fuel surcharge: Chengdu/Lijiang.
8. Tibet permit.
 
Excluding:
1.Other expenses not mentioned. Entrance fees, all lunches and dinners are to be paid on the spot.
 
Note: 
1. This trip is available from April till Oct.
 
2. This trip takes you into areas well away from the usual tourist trail. But this mean groups share very basic accommodation often with limited 
   access to hot water, no showers for several days, pit toilets, simple food with very little spoken or written English. Landslides or vehicle malfunction
   may cause disruption to the trip. There are some long travel days, often on rough dirt roads. 





                


 

Henan Tourism Group Co. Ltd (Dragon Explorer)
Add: 288 Chengdong Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Tel: 86-371-68262769  Fax:86-371-68262777 email:info@joychinatravel.com