Home - Tours - Drive to Lhasa - 17 days Sichuan/Tibet highway adventure
17 days adventure travel to Tibet from Sichuan
Take northern Route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway
Day01: Chengdu to Xiaojin (360KM) 
Drive to Xiaojin, with a tour to Wolong panda breeding & Research center
Day02: Xiaojin to Daofu to Luhuo (255KM)
Whole day drive to Luhuo, on the way, visit Huiyuan monastery at Bamei
Day03: Luhuo to Ganzi (100KM)
At Luhuo, visit Luhuo Lingque monastery.
Ganzi is an important city on the northern Sichuan - Tibet road, visit Ganzi monastery which was once the ruling center of the Gongsha family over this land. The Shangghen Renpoche (3rd) is now the religious top leader of Ganzi monastery and Litang monastery.
Day04: Ganzi to Payul (Baiyu) (230KM)
Drive through the Haizi mountain to Baiyu which is located by a river in a deep valley, on the way there, lush forests and peaceful villages make your tour impressive. At Changtai, visit Mengyi monastery, upon arrival at Baiyu, visit Baiyu monastery.
Day05: Baiyu to Derge (140KM)
On the way to Derge, visit Palpun monastery which is the largest and most important Kagyulpa monastery in Kham area of Sichuan province. Following upstream of Jianshajiang river to Gato bridge, then swift to east to Derge town.
Day06: Derge sightseeing
Derge is famous for its huge collection of Buddhism scriptures and books, esp. for its printing boards (wood made). Visit the Derge printing house and Gengqing monastery (Sakyapa order).
Day07: Derge to Chamdo (340KM)
Crossing Garto bridge over Jinshajiang river (which is the natural division line between Sichuan and Tibet). Just crossing the bridge is the Shenchenlangtsa holy mountain. At Tonpu, turn to the south to enjoy the unmatchable view along the Tsaqu valley. (55km in and then going back to Tongpu village). Because of its forests, many engravers working Derge printing house (major in wood carving) come from here.
Day08: Chamdo sightseeing
Visit Chamdo monastery (Qiangbalin monastery) which is the biggest Gelupa monastery and the biggest one in the eastern Tibet, enjoys a high reputation among believers.
Day09: Chamdo to Riwuqi (100KM)
Visit the Chajiema grand hall of Riwuqi monastery which belongs to Kagyulpa order, famous for its special structure and outlooking. The local Khamba people thought it as important as the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. By Tibetan Calendar, the 6th month will see the hosting of a grand festival.
Day10: Riwuqi to Dingchen (190KM)
Leaving Riwuqi for Dingchen, visit Zizhu monastery 35 kilometers befor arriving in Dingchen county town
Day11: Dingchen to Suoxian county (255KM)
Drive to Suoxian county, on the way enjoy mountains with strange shape and bare rocks on the top. This place has long been thought to be the holy center of Bon religion in history. In Dingchen are many Bon religion monasteries. visit Suoketsan monastery at Suoxian
Day12: Suoxian county to Nakchu (230KM)
Nakchu is the most important and biggest town in the Northern grassland of Tibet highland. Four roads meet here (taking Nakchu 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 Ganden monastery (of Gelupa). Ganden monastery is the home monastery of Gelupaa 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 4 routes which start from Chengdu and winds its way to Lhasa, the other three are as below:
- Chengdu - Litang - Batang - Mangkang - Bangda - Basu - lake Ranwok - Bomi - Lintse - Bayi - Lhasa
- Chengdu - Bamei - Luhuo - Ganzi - Baiyu - Dege - Chamdo (turn southward) - Bangda - Basu - lake Ranwok - Bomi - Lintse - Bayi - Lhasa
- Chengdu - Litang - Batang - Mangkang - Bangda (turn northward) Chamdo - Riwoche - Sok - Nakchu - Dangxiong - Lhasa