Tour Duration: 13 day(s)
Group Size: 2 - 10 people
Specialty Categories: Photography and Videography Ecotourism
Season: March - December
Airfare Included: No

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival/ Chengdu. Arrive in Chengdu. Met at the airport. Visit Wuhou temple, the memorial shrine to Zhugeliang - the Prime Minister and Liubei the King of Shu kingdom.

Day 2: Chengdu/ Kangding. Drive to Kangding, overnight and sightseeing in Kangding. It is 376Km and 6hrs on the expressway from Chengdu to Kangding While traversing the Western Sichuan Plain, you will arrive at Kangding - the capital city of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the afternoon. We can appreciate the idyllic scenery and visit the local people. After dinner, enjoy the hot spring at Erdaoqiao. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 3: Kangding/ Litang. In the early morning, visit Anjue monastery - the very first Tibetan monastery on this trip, an rare chance to see their morning ceremony per day! Drive to Litang. At an altitude of just over 4000m, Litang is one of the highest towns in the world (Lhasa is 3700m). Situated high on a grassy plateau, Litang has the feel of a rough and tumble "Wild West" town. We will also visit the famous Chang-Qing-Chun-Ke'er-Si monastery and pay homage to the living Buddha with a personal interview. The monastery here is now home to 1400 Yellow Hat sect monks. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 4: Litang/ Daocheng/ Yading. Today we will reach the highlight of this journey - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - 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 that the three mountains represent compassion, wisdom and energy - attributes one must cultivate on the path to enlightenment. The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery. We will spend the night in tent hotel. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 5: Yading. Visit beautiful Yading by horseback riding or hiking. From the reserve entrance we will traverse a beautiful wooded pathway leading to a valley set at the foot of the spectacular Mt. Chanadorje. We will pass piles of many stones by the side of the pathway and at the base of the Reserve most stunning vistas. We will also visit Tshonggo Gonpa (Chonggu Si in Chinese) - a small Tibetan temple, which Joseph Rock nicknamed "Bandit Monastery". Continue our hike to the foot of Mt Chenresig, where we will ascend a small but steep hill to view a beautiful mountaintop emerald green lake. We will return to the meadow at the foot of Mt. Chanadorje and spend the night in a tent hotel. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 6: Yading/ Daocheng. We will spend the morning doing a shorter hike or horse ride around the reserve. In the afternoon we will drive back to Daocheng where we will spend the night. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 7: Daocheng/ Xiangcheng/ Zhongdian. Today we will take a long (5 hours, 290km) but scenic drive to Zhongdian (3,300m, 10,000 ft), a small town on the Tibetan Plateau. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 8: Zhongdian. Full day visit of Bita Lake, Songtseling Lamasery Temple and a Tibetan Family. Songzanlin Monastery, or "Little Potala" as it is affectionately known, is a spiritual place that invites you to discover the mystery and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Since the 5th Dalai Lama chose the site through divination in 1679, the monastery has grown into the most important community of its kind in Yunnan. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 9: Zhongdian/ Lijiang. Morning Drive to Zhongdian and stop at Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baishuitai. The Tiger Leaping Gorge: one of the world's four great gorges - is located in Hutiaoxia Town in Zhongdian County, is honored as one of the deepest and most marvelous gorges on the globe. Baishui Terrace, birthplace of the Naxi ethnic minority Dongba Culture. Amid the mountains is a stretch of crystal terrace - the largest area of sinter terrace in China. Spring water flows down from the mountain, leaving crystallized sodium carbonate along its slopes, giving the impression of a marble sculpture. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 10: Lijiang. Full day visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Yak Meadow, Baisha Fresco, Yufeng Temple and Longquan Village. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: The mountain has 13 peaks of which the highest is 18000 feet above sea level. It is a treasure of wild plants and rare animals. The Baisha Mural: With the introduction of the Buddhism, people painted plenty of murals on the walls of temples in the Ming Dynasty. The Yufeng Temple: built in the Qing Dynasty and famous for camellias in the temple. The Longquan Village: A traditional Naxi village. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 11: Lijiang. Full day visit of Black Dragon Pond Park, Museum of Dongba Culture and the old town of Lijiang. The Black Dragon Pool: The park holds the Black Dragon Pool and got name because of it. The pool is listed in the Collections of Famous Pools of China because of its beauty. Dongba Museum: sanctuary of the culture of Naxi ancient culture. The Lijiang ancient town: The town was built in the late song dynasty and the early Yuan dynasty and was listed by the UNESCO on the list of the world's major cultural heritages in 1997. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 12: Lijiang/ Kunming. Free at leisure till transfer to Kunming by air. Visit Golden Temple and Bird and Flower Market. The Golden Temple/ Golden Hall (Jindian) is also called Supreme Harmony Palace. It was built on Singing Phoenix Hill (Mingfengshan) in 1671 during the Qing Dynasty. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 13: Kunming/ Departure. Visit Stone Forest. Transfer to airport for return flight to sweet home. Stone Forest: 90km south of Kunming. Due to a process of weathering and erosion, nature has created an art gallery of stone sculpture here. Includes: (B).

Notes:

Price Includes:

- Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary;
- Meals as listed in the itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner;
- Personal Guide and Driver + Private car/ van for Private Transfer and sightseeing;
- Hotels (twin share bases) as listed in the itinerary;
- Domestic flights (economy class) or trains as listed in the itinerary;
- Domestic airport taxes;
- Service Charge and Government Taxes;
- Luggage Transfers between airports and hotels.

Price Excludes:

- Entry or Exit China International transportation;
- Visa Fees;
- Excess Baggage Charges;
- Personal Expenses;
- Single Room Supplement;
- Gratuities, Tips to guides or drivers.

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