TTC-KT-01: Drive to Lhasa from Lijiang

Highlights:

• --The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park;
• --Xiangcheng monastery;
• --Lijiang ancient city;
• --Baisha village;
• --Black Dragon Pond;
• --Su-he village
• --Moon Embracing Pavilion
• --Ganden Sumtseling Monastery
• --Rawok Tso Lake
• --Segrila Mountain
• --Ganden monastery
• --Potala Palace
• --Jokhang temple
• --Barkhor Bazar
• --Sera monastery
• --Drepung monastery
• --Nechung monastery
• --Drak Yerpa cave
• --Giant Panda Sanctuary

Chengdu: 500m
Lijiang: 1900m
Zhongdian: 3100m
Dechen: 3100m
Markham: 3780m
Paksho: 3900m
Lawu pass: 4360m
Dongda pass: 5010m
Nu pass: 4840m
Pome: 2700m
Nyingtri: 2900m
Lhasa: 3650m

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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 Lijiang
By flight to Lijiang, 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. After arrive in Lijiang, pickup at the airport then drive to check in, in the afternoon drive to Su-he village to visit the ancient village and "Tea-house" Trading Route.

Driving hours & distance: 140km on paved road, about 2 - 3 hours
Altitude: Lijiang: 1900m

Day3: Lijiang
Drive to visit the Jade Dragon Snow moutain in the morning, on the way visit the Baisha village of Naxi Kingdom. In the afternoon, an easy walk journey to the Black Dragon Pond to have a look at the renowned Moon Embracing Pavilion, then free time sightseeing of the Old Town of Lijiang.

Driving hours & distance: 120km on paved road, about 1 hour
Altitude: Lijiang: 1900m

Day4: Lijiang to Zhongdian
Zhongdian is now having another name of "Shangri-La", on our way to Zhongdian, we are going to stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge, then to Zhongdian visit to Ganden Sumtseling Monastery - The impressive structure sits on a hill a few kilometers north of town, was first settled in 1681 by the Fifth Dalai Lama. The temple was restored in 2005 to reflect its passed glories.

Driving distance & hours: 220km on paved road; roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Zhongdian: 3100m

Day5: Zhongdian to Dechen
Dechen, it means "extremely happiness" in Tibetan. Today we will drive crossing Jinsha River again to reach the intersection of Benzi-Lan on the ancient "Tea-house trading route". Then through the Baimang mountain to reach Dechen. Enroute we will enjoy the stunning view of the holy mountain Karwa Karpo, which is also the highest peak in southern Kham, in Tibetan the mountain means "white snow mountain", with elevation of 6740m.

Driving distance & hours: 200km on paved & dirt road; roughly 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Dechen: 3100m

Day6: Dechen to Markham
Along Mekong river upstream entering Tibet, stop by to visit the only remained church, where the Southern Sichuan - Tibet highway & Yunnan - Tibet Highway joint together.

Driving distance & hours: 110km on paved & dirt road; roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Markham: 3780m

Day7: Markham to Paksho
Departure in the morning, appreciate the nature view of southern part of the central Tibet. Onto the first pass of Lawu pass, then descending to the bottom of the valley to reach Mekong river, along this river, via Jueba mountain to the highest spot of this trip - Dongda pass. After reaching at Dzogang. The road jumbs from mountains to the endless pasture to Bangda, via Dora mountain to reach Paksho. The altitude difference is 2500m from the highest to the lowest spot on this day.

Driving distance & hours: 360km on paved & dirt road; roughly 8 - 9 hours
Altitude: Paksho: 3900m; Lawu pass: 4360m; Dongda pass: 5010m; Nu pass: 4840m

Day8: Paksho to Pome
From Paksho, the nature is extraordinarily beautiful, along the road, the snow captured mountain, virgin forest, and farmland mixed together. Reach at Rawok Tso lake, which is about 22 sq km, with altitude of 3850m, this is one of the most beautiful part of the road on this trip

Driving distance & hours: 200km on paved & dirt road; roughly 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Pome: 2700m

Day9: Pome to Nyingtri
After Pome, the road goes into the virgin forest leading to the last nature barrier of Tongmai, where it happens landslide, when it rains, windy, snow… when approaching Lunang County, the mountain of Segrila is kind of coverd by different kind of flowers, by standing on this mountain, Namchak Barwa mountain (7787m) is visile, and to its right, the 14 peaks are all above 8000m, descending from Segrila mountain to reach at Nyingtri.

Driving distance & hours: 190km on paved & dirt road; roughly 3 - 4 hours
Altitude: Nyingtri: 2900m

Day10: Nyingtri to Lhasa
Departure from Nyingtri, enjoy the view along Nyang-chu River after Meldro Gungkar drive to visit Ganden monastery, which is located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Brahmaputra River. Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelukpa tradition. The temple is comprised of over 50 structures. The main halls in the temple are the Main Assembly Hall (or Coqen Hall), Zhacangs, Khangtsens, and Myicuns. After visit to this holy site of Tibetan religion, we will drive to Lhasa - the capital of the central Tibet.

Driving distance & hours: 380km on paved & dirt road; roughly 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day11: Lhasa
Today we are going to visit to Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar.
Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make their way up to the entrance.
The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day12: Lhasa
Today we are going to visit Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries.
"Sera" in Tibetan means Wild Rose Garden since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it, Sera monastery is one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history.
Drepung monastery used to house 10,000 monks, After entering a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet's State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day13: Lhasa to Drak Yerpa cave and return to Lhasa
Drak Yerpa cave: Built on a hillside with more than 80 meditation caves, Drak Yerpa is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. The site had a powerful spiritual heritage, having been visited by Songsten Gampo, Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsoygel, Padampa Sanggye, and Asisha. It was the home of several hundred hermits, monks, and nuns. Tucci in 1949 describes it: "Yerpa appeared suddenly before my eyes as a bend of the road, a cascade of small white buildings along steep overgrown cliffs. One could have thought one was not in Tibet. Giant junipers and tufts of rhododendron topped a thick tangle of undergrowth, brushwood and grass victoriously fighting the hard barrenness of rocks. The cliffs were riddled with burrows and caves, some of which were so high up on the fact of the abrupt hill that it would have been risky to climb them."
For those with a particular interest in Tibetan Buddhism, Drak Yerpa hermitage is one of the holiest cave retreats in Ü region. Many ascetics have sojourned here and contributed to the area's great sanctity. The site is deeply peaceful and has stunning views.

Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day14: Lhasa to Chengdu
By morning flight from Lhasa to Chengdu, after arrive in Chengdu, transfer to Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, one of the most important centers in the world for the conservation of the Giant Panda.

Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day15: Chengdu 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).