Home - Tours - Drive to Lhasa - 11 days Qinghai/Tibet highway travel
11 days adventure travel to Tibet from Xining via Golmud
take the most frequented Qinghai-Tibet Highway to Lhasa via Golmud
Day01: Home to Beijing
Taking flight to Beijing, capital of China, self taking taxi to the reserved hotel in Beijing downtownn area. (If you have never been in Beijing, a 2 days tour is worth, please tell us and we can arrange fo royu; if you had been there before, just one night in Beijing, then take flight to Xining, the political center of Qinghai province.)
Day02: Beijing to Xining by air
Taking flight to arrive in Xining, met and transferred to hotel. In the afternoon, visit the famous Tar'er monastery (built in 1379, site of the birthplace of the founder of Gelupa order of Tibet Buddhism, also one of the 6 biggest and most popular monasteries of Gelupa) and the Dongguan mosque for Muslim.
(if time is not allowed for visit to Ta'er monastery in the afternoon, move it to Day03)
Day03: Xining to Korkolor Lake (Qinghai Lake) to Dulan (326KM)
Climbing over the Sun - Moon mountain and drive past Daotanghe to get close to the Korkolor lake area, spending some time by the lake to enjoy the beauty of it, this lake is the biggest lake in Tibet -- Qinghai plateau and has a water area over 4500 square kms. In which are two famous islands' the Bird island and the Haixin island. In the late afternoon, arriving at Golmud, a big city on desert.
Day04: Dulan to Golmud (360KM)
Driving across the dry, wide and flat Caidamu desert .The view along the road is similar. Golmud (2800m) is a new city and the biggest one in this desert. The Qinghai to Tibet highway passes through it. Around the city is flat and open area, there are little for visit. Golmud is now the construction site for the Golmud -- Lhasa railway project.
Day05: Golmud to Tuotuoheyan (5000m) (410KM)
On the way there, through the 4780m -- high Kunlun pass (one pass of Mt. Kunlun ranges) and over Tsumar'er river and Tongtian river (tributes of the upper reach of yangtse river). 10km to the east of Kunlun pass is Yuzhufeng (Peak Yuzhu, 6178m), from April through to October is the nice season for mountaineering. Here is a nice equipped hospital. The impressive view here is to see the sunrise at the Tuotuohe bridge.
Day06: Tuotuoheyan to Amdo to Nakchu (450KM)
90km to the west of Wenquan (160km to the south of Tuotuoheyan) is the road to Mt. Geladandong (6621m) where the yangtse river originates. Then drive over the Tangghula pass (5231m) to arrive at Amdo (4500m) and Nakchu (4500m) (155km between Amdo and Nakchu). The Sichuan - Tibet highway (by northern route) and Qinghai to Tibet highway meet here. At Nakchu, visit Xiaodeng monastery of Bon religion and the horse race festival (begins on 10th, August every year).
Day07: Nakchu to Namtso lake (260KM)
Namtso is the biggest lake in Tibet, and the second holiest lake in the pilgrims' hearts, its elevation is 4718m, beside it is grand Nyianchen Tanghula mountain, its peak (of 7162m) can be clearly viewed from the lakeside. Around the lake is huge and vast prairie.
Day08: Namtso Lake to Lhasa (240KM)
Passing Yangbajing geothermos fields and the Duilong river to Lhasa. On the way (55km before Lhasa), go and visit the Ganden monastery (of KGelupa). Ganden monastery is the first monastery to Gelupa sect
Day09: Lhasa sightseeing
In the morning, visit the grand -- looking Potala Palace, which was built in the 7th century for the King. In the afternoon, visit Jokhang temple and stroll in the famous local bazaar - Parkhor street.
Day10: Lhasa sightseeing
Visit Tsepung monastery which is the biggest monastery in Tibet. Then visit Sera monastery and Norbulingka which can give you deep impression of Tibet arts and civilization.
Day11: Lhasa to your destination by air/ or by rail
Take morning flight to your next stop; or send you to Lhas railway station, you take train to leave Tibet
There are three routes leading to Lhasa from Xining, the other two are: