Home - Tours - Drive to Lhasa - 17 days Qinghai/Tibet adventure via Yushu and Baqing
17 days adventure travel to Tibet from Xining via Jyekudo, Sok and Nakchu
Xining - Mardo - Jyekundo - Riwoche - Dingchen - Sok - Nakchu - lake Namtso - Lhasa
Day01: Arrive in Xining
Fly to Xining from other city, met and transferred to hotel.
Day02: Xining sightseeing
Drive 25km to Ta'er monastery (located in Huangzhong county), it is the biggest monastery in Qinghai(of Gelupa order) which was the birth place of Chongkhaba (founder of Gelupa). In Xining city, visit the Dongguan Muslim temple (one of the 4 most famous Muslim temple in China).
Day03: Xining to Korkolor lake
Drive to the far west end of the lake by the northern side of the lake via Haiyan county and Gangcha county. Korkolor lake (Qinghai lake) is the biggest salty and holy lake in China west. It has a water over 4400 square kilometers. Enjoy the day there on taking boat for sightseeing.
Day04: Korkolor lake to Gonghe county
Leaving Lake for Gonghe by the road on the southern side of the lake passing by Heimahe and Daotanghe. Visit Chapucha mosque at Gonghe.
Day05: Gonghe to Mardo
Enjoying and taking photos along the way. The Yellow River flows by Mardo town, the first bridge over Yellow river is at here.
Day06: Mardo to Yushu (Jyekundo)
Passing the Bayankhara mountains, at the pass, overlooking the vast valley below. Before arriving Yushu, visit the Xiewu monastery and its local houses; visit Daka monastery (of Kagyulpa) and Gyanha Mani gallet at Xinzhai village.
Day07: Yushu sightseeing
Visit Batang monastery (of Kagyulpa) at Batang village and the wide grassland. Every year the grand Yushu Kham horse racing festival will be held here. And visit the tem[ple for princess Wencheng and Gyiegu monastery (of Sakyapa).
Day08: Yushu to Nangqian county
There are a lot of forests in Langqian county, many Kagyulpa monasteries scattered in the forests. In history, Yushu area was the resurging place for Buddhism after the time of Tibetan king - Dhamo. At Nangqian, visit Longxhi monastery.
Day09: Nangqian to Riwuqi
Riwuqi and Dingchen counties are very important to Tibetan Buddhism, esp. for the Bon religion after its defeat in the Mid of 9th century (when it was defeated by Buddhism and lost its control over the royal family and Tibet). At Riwuqi, pay a visit to Chagyiema hall and Riwuqi monastery at old town of Riwuqi. The view in the new town (which is built by river in a valley) is charmful.
Day10: Riwuqi to Dingchen (240KM)
At Shagong village, there is a famous Zizhu monastery (of Bon religion) which is biggest Bon religion monastery in Kham area. Dingchen in history was an important refugee for Bon religion after its defeat in 9th century. visit Zizhu monastery
Day11: Dingchen to Bachen to Suoxian (Sok)(255KM)
Drive to Suoxian, visit SuoKhetsan monastery
Day12: Suoxian (Sok) county to Nakchu (230KM)
Nakchu is the most important and biggest town in the Northern grassland of Tibet highland. Four road meet here (taking Naqu as the center, to south is Lhasa, to the north is to Golmud, to the west is to Gar and to the east is to Chamdo). From 1st to 10th day of every August, there is a grandest horse racing festival at Nakchu. Visit Xiaoden monastery at Nakchu (of Bon religion).
Day13: 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. It is a worth place to visit.
Day14: Namtso lake to Lhasa (240KM)
Passing Yangbajing geothermos fields and the Duilong river to Lhasa. On the way (60km before Lhasa), go and visit the Tsupu monastery (of Kagyulpa). Tsupu monastery is the home monastery of Kagyulpa order.
Day15: 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.
Day16: 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.
Day17: 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:
- Xining - Mardo - Jyekundo (Yushu) - Riwoche - Chamdo - Bangda - Basu - Bomi - Bayi city - Lhasa
- Xining - Dulan - Golmud - Tuotuohe - Tanggula Pass - Amdo - Nakchu (Naqu) - Dangxiong - Lhasa