TTC-K-06: The land of Shangri-La

Nowadays, Zhongdian, a small county in the eastern Tibet of Kham, has been named "Shangri-La"; this trip takes up onto Tibetan plateau to look for the happy land of "Shangri-La" either in the real world or in your mind.

Highlights:

• --The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park;
• --Luding Iron Bridge;
• --Anjue monastery;
• --Ming yak Chorten;
• --Litang monastery;
• --Yading Natinoal Nature Reserve;
• --Xiangcheng monastery;
• --Suntseling monastery
• --Lijiang ancient city;
• --Baisha village;
• --Black Dragon Pond;

Chengdu: 500m
Kangding 2650m
Mt. Erlang tunnel: 3400m
Mt. Kazi La pass: 4360m
Litang: 4100m
Daocheng: 3300m
Riwa: 3100m
Yading: 3700m
Luorong Grazing Land: 4100m
Daocheng: 3300m
Xiangcheng: 2900m
Derong: 2300m
Zhongdian: 3100m
Lijiang: 1900m

Please contact us for pricing information.

Detail program:

Day1: Arrive in Chengdu
After arrives in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.

Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day2: Chengdu to Kangding
Drive 360km on paved road, into hill country and crossing through the Mt. Erlang tunnel, En-route we will stop by to visit Luding Iron Bridge. Then arrive at the gateway town of the Eastern Tibet of Kham - Kangding, which is cradled in a narrow gorge along the raging Dzetuo River. The river's continual rumble can be heard in its alleyways where nomads from the west come to sell Tibetan herbal medicine, Khampa knives, traditional Tibetan garments, and the ever-popular yak butter tea. For centuries the town has held the status of "Gateway to Tibet", after arrive in Kangding take an easy walk in order to acclimatizing to the altitude, visit to Anjue monastery.

Driving hours & distance: 360km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Kangding 2650m, Mt. Erlang tunnel: 3400m

Day3: Kangding to Litang
Drive 285km on paved road; enjoy the beautiful nature view and touring the white Ming yak Chorten, and when drive onto Mt. Gaoershi, if weather permits, the stunning view of the peak of Mt. Minyar Gangkar will be visible. After we arrive in Litang, we are going to visit the Litang monastery, which is just on the northern edge of town and belongs to the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhists. The monastery was founded in 1580 by the third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso on the site. There are three main temples in the compound, of which the oldest seems to be the one on top of the hill, still featuring the wooden construction of the upper rim of the buildings. Inside, you can view several chambers and a bedroom in which the 7th Dalai Lama is said to have resided. Many more famous and influential personal figures were born here, including the 7th Dalai Lama, 10th Dalai Lama.

Driving hours & distance: 285km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Litang: 4100m; Mt. Kazi La pass: 4360m

Day4: Litang to Riwa via Daocheng
Departure from Litang southward to Dzagar holy mountain, stop by to visit the Dzagar temple and the holy cave, over this pass, descending along the river-valley to a vast grassland, one Karma Kagyu sect tibetan religion monastery is located by the east side of the road, an easy walking tour to this monastery, then drive to Daocheng, where turn to Riwa village. Yading, in tibetan it means a place facing to Sun, is located in the area of this village.

Driving hours & distance: 205km on paved road, about 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Daocheng: 3300m; Riwa: 3100m

Day5: Riwa to Yading and return to Daocheng
The three holy mountains of Tibetan in Yading are Chenresig (Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Vajrapani, 5958m). Tibetan Buddhists believe that making a kora (pilgrimage) around these mountains brings great merit, and these three holy mountains represent compassion, wisdom and energy - attributes one must cultivate on the path to enlightenment. From the reserve entrance we will traverse a beautiful wooded pathway leading to the valley, where the holy mountains located, the three holy moutnains of Chenresig, Jampelyang, Chana Dorje can be well enjoyable after about 3 hours hiking from Luorong Grazing Land, which is about 4100m high, if hike is kind of hard to some clients, a horse-riding is an option.

Driving distance & hours: 150km on paved & dirt road; Roughly 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Yading: 3700m; Luorong Grazing Land: 4100m, Daocheng: 3300m

Day6: Daocheng to Xiangcheng
On the same way return to the road intersection, choose the way to southwest onto a pass, then along the dirt road to Xiangcheng that also belongs to the ancient Tibetan province of Kham. Being a necessary overnight-stop on the 'Backdoor'-route to Yunnan, the town is a pleasant place to linger or to serve as starting point for excursions into the surrounding mountain areas. Coming over the mountain passes from either direction, you will at once spot the beautiful villages scattered amongst wheat-field-paddies in the valley ground. Xiangcheng itself consists of an old village paired with a modern Chinese downtown. In this town we are going to visit Xiangcheng monastery, which is newly built, the structure nevertheless conveys the typical Tibetan flair, with monks lingering around the ground and ravens flying over the bell-fitted tiers of the main temple. Perching to the slope at the foot of the temple are the housings of the monks, little cubicles beautifully decorated. Inside the temple there are some beautiful murals depicting the Buddhist way. Behind the temple there is a small cemetery with prayer-flags and white ribbons adorning every bush.

Driving distance & hours: 110km on paved & dirt road; roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Xiangcheng: 2900m

Day7: Xiangcheng-Derong
Derong is an still unknown Kham region, which is located in the southcorner of Kham, we will take a side road trip entering this quiet small town hidden in the mountains, enjoy the nature view on the road, visit to the local market when arrive at Derong.

Driving distance & hours: 170km on paved & dirt road; Roughly 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Derong: 2300m

Day8: Derong to Zhongdian
Drive through the big and small snow covered mountains to reach Zhongdian, which is also called as Gyltang, with altitude of 3300m, once we arrive in this bright town of highland, we are going to visit the Suntseling monastery - The largest Tibetan Buddhist complex in Zhongdian prefecture, and currently there are 700 monk, it has appearance of a small monastic town, and was originally constructed during the 17th century at advice of Dalai Lama V.

Driving distance & hours: 120km on paved & dirt road; Roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Zhongdian: 3100m

Day9: Zhongdian to Lijiang
On the way to Lijiang, we are going to stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge, and then onward to Lijiang, which is the center of the Naxi people, a relatively small minority group with a rich culture. Old Lijiang is an intimate mountain town of stone and tile, laced with swift canals and who has been put recently on the list of the world monument protected by UNESCO.

Driving distance & hours: 220km on paved road; Roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Zhongdian: 3100m, Lijiang: 1900m

Day10: Lijiang
Visit the Baisha village, the ancient capital town of the Naxi Kingdom. In the afternoon, a walk up to the Black Dragon Pond to have a look at the renowned Moon Embracing Pavilion, free time sightseeing of the Old Town of Lijiang.

Day11: Lijiang to the airport for departure
After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timings will depend on the flight schedule).