Tibet and Kham

Qintai Street – Qingyang Taoist Temple – Teahouse

Arrival in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Walk through the old town along Qintai Street, where ancient residences have been transformed into boutiques and restaurants.

Lunch in the city, with a tasting of the famous mapo tofu. Note: Sichuan cuisine is known for its bold and spicy flavors!

Visit to Qingyang Taoist Temple, the largest of its kind in the region. A short break at a traditional teahouse to enjoy local tea and soak in the atmosphere.

Dinner in the old quarter. Overnight at the hotel.

Kangding – Panda Base – Luding Bridge

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for Kangding via a scenic road flanked by striking rock formations, dense forests, and waterfalls.

Visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, then enjoy a walk through a lush valley with crystal-clear rivers.

Lunch en route, then pass through the 8.6 km-long Erlang Shan Tunnel.

Visit the famous Luding Bridge, a key historical monument, especially during the Long March of the Red Army.

Arrival in Kangding in the afternoon, the former capital of Kham.

Traditional dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Tagong Monastery – Prayer Flag Hills – Grasslands

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit a monastery en route to Tagong, crossing the Zheduo Pass (4,290 m).

Explore Tagong and its surroundings: the grand monastery, a prayer-flag-covered hill, and surrounding grasslands.

Meet with local nomadic families.

Lunch and dinner during the visits. Overnight at the hotel.

Primary School – Muya Golden Stupa

After breakfast, visit a school founded in 2006 by the NGO ASENT to support local education.

Continue to the Muya Golden Stupa, offering a stunning view of Mount Yala.

Lunch, then return to Kangding. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Tsetang – Mindroling Monastery – Rest

Breakfast. Flight to Lhasa via Chengdu.

Meet your guide and transfer to Tsetang, the cradle of Tibetan civilization.

Visit Mindroling Monastery, then rest at the hotel to acclimatize to the altitude.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Samye Monastery – Yongbulakang Palace

Breakfast followed by an excursion to Samye Monastery, the first built in Tibet under King Trisong Detsen, inspired by India’s Odantapuri University.

Walk through the Tibetan village of Samye. Lunch, then visit Yongbulakang Palace, considered one of Tibet’s oldest structures.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Yamdrok Lake – Palkhor Monastery

Depart for Gyantse with a stop at the sacred Yamdrok Lake (4,441 m), known for its stunning turquoise waters.

Lunch en route, cross the Karola Pass (4,200 m) with views of glaciers.

Arrive in Gyantse (3,900 m) and visit Palkhor Monastery.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Barley Mill – Pala Manor – Tashi Lhunpo Monastery

Visit a traditional barley mill, then the aristocratic Pala Manor.

Arrival in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city and home of the Panchen Lama.

Visit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, a major Gelugpa Buddhist center.

Lunch, dinner, and overnight at the hotel.

Brahmaputra Valley – Incense Factory – Norbulingka

Scenic drive to Lhasa along the Brahmaputra Valley.

Visit an incense factory, then Norbulingka, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama.

Lunch, dinner, and overnight at the hotel.

Drepung and Sera Monasteries

Visit Drepung Monastery, one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa. Return to the city for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery, famous for the monks’ public debates in its garden.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Potala Palace – Jokhang Temple – Barkhor Street

Visit the iconic Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the tomb of past Dalai Lamas.

Continue to Jokhang Temple, the holiest Buddhist sanctuary in Tibet.

Stroll through Barkhor Street, a bustling pilgrimage route and traditional market.

Dinner with a Tibetan folk show. Overnight at the hotel.

Sky Train

Transfer to the train station to board the “Sky Train” to Xining (24 hours), the world’s highest railway (maximum altitude: 5,072 m).

Meals and accommodation on board at your own expense.

Ta’er Monastery – Flight to Chengdu

Arrival in Xining. Lunch, then visit Ta’er Monastery.

Flight to Chengdu. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast, then transfer to the airport for your return flight.

End of the tour.