Charm of Amdo and Kham in Western Sichuan

Home > Discovery Tour in Tibetan Areas Kham and Amdo

13 Days Private Tour Chengdu – Taoping – Guer Gou – Aba – Rangtang – Luhuo - Garze - Yilhun Lhatso – Dege – Maisu - Pelyul - Yarchen Gar – Cuoka Monastery and Cuoka Lake - Xilong – Larima - Daofu - Tagong – Danba – Siguniang Shan – Wolong - Chengdu

The landscape of the Tibetan area Kham and Amdo is characterized by over 6000 m high mountain ranges, plateaus and deep gorges of mighty streams. Farmers and nomads live in the mountainous Kham. Monasteries with shiny gold roofs and castle-like houses with defensive towers, mani stones with colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind and the unmistakable black yak hair tents are scattered across the expanse of wild plateaus where snow-covered peaks surmount. Flower-strewn alpine meadows, forests, crystal-clear rivers and lakes give the mighty scenery a soft appearance. White clouds float in the deep blue sky and submerge the landscape in soft shadows.

The Tibetan cultural areas are divided into three parts: Tibet Autonomous Region/ Xizang, Amdo in the northeast (large part of the provinces of Qinghai, south Gansu and northwest Sichuan) and Kham in the southeast (Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet, Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai, west Sichuan and northwest Yunnan). This discovery tour takes you through the Tibetan areas Amdo and Kham in western Sichuan which includes the Aba (Ngawa) Autonomous Prefecture of Tibetan and Qiang Minority and the Ganzi (Garze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. This area is characterized by many green mountains and extensive pastures. Lush plants thrive here and numerous wild animals live here, many of which are rare specimens such as Panda, Snub-nosed Monkey and David Deer. There are also a number of medicinal plants and mineral resources. And the area is particularly rich in water resources. In this area you will feel different religious atmosphere from Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), because both Nyingmapa Sect and Jonangpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism dominate in this area.

On this trip we would like to recommend the hidden cultural and natural highlights in the Tibetan areas Amdo and Kham in western Sichuan: Aba, Rangtang, Ganzi, Dege, Baiyu, Yarchen Gar, Tagong, Danba, Siguniang Shan, Panda in Wolong...

Highlights

Charm of Amdo and Kham in Western Sichuan

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Chengdu

Enjoy Chengdu leisurely daily life, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park

Arrive in Chengdu, capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Pick up and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), they are the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, tea houses, restaurants and guesthouses concentrate here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers". Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old tea house, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table, the tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.

Overnight at Boyun Jinjiang Hotel

Tea House in People’s Park

DAY
2

Chengdu - Taoping (1528 m) - Bipenggou - Gu’er Gou

Stockaded Village Taoping of Qiang Minority

In the morning we drive to the Stockaded Village Taoping of Qiang Minority. More than 2,000 years ago, the nomadic Qiang people moved from the adjoining areas of Shanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces to the Minjiang River valley in Sichuan and gradually developed from a nomadic to an agricultural society. Intelligent Qiangs made use of the nearby rocks from the mountains to build solid stone residences and blockhouses to defend themselves from invasions by other nationalities. These stone residences and blockhouses were built with neither designs nor blueprints, relying only on experience passed down from ancestors and taught by senior villagers. The entire stockaded village of the Qiangs is neatly arranged. Residences and blockhouses are scattered here and there, varying in height and in a pattern of an eight-trigram battle array. Having withstood winds and rains, earthquakes and thunderstorms for hundreds and even thousands of years, they are still in good condition. Afterwards drive to Gu’er Gou by Bipenggou.

224 km
3 hours 16 minutes
Overnight at Guergou Weiquan Shanzhuang Hotel (2279 m)

Breakfast

Village Taoping of Qiang Minority

DAY
3

Gu’er Gou - Aba

Nangshig Monastery

In the morning drive to Aba (Ngawa). On the way enjoy the beautiful landscape. Aba means people from Ngari (Ali) in Tibetan. In this area all the sects of Tibetan Buddhism remain and exist in harmony. Visit Nangshig Monastery, located at a hillside to the northeast of the Aba County. Nangshig Monastery is one of the biggest Bon monasteries in China and has a history of about 900 years after it was built in 1107. At sunset, enjoy a panoramic view of Nangshig Monastery and Aba County.

255 km
4 hours 52 minutes
Overnight at Duomei Linka Hotel (3290m)

Breakfast

Nangshig Monastery

DAY
4

Aba - Bangtuo Monastery - Rangtang Village

Nyingmapa lamasery Bangtuo and Jonangpa lamasery Rangtang

Drive to visit Nyingmapa lamasery Bangtuo. Bangtuo Si was already famous for the throngs of choerten built from the 17th century up to 1910. The oldest of the Bangtuo choerten was built in 1618 and shelters a small number of 17th century murals. Then drive to the nearby Rangtang (Dzamthang) Monastery, the chief institution of the Jonangpa school, where you can visit the Juenang Cultural Center and Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Institute.

152 km
3 hours
Overnight at Gabala Homestay (3529 m)

Breakfast

Bangtuo Si Monastery

DAY
5

Rangtang Village - Luhuo (3250 m) - Ganzi

Sirin Kar Monastery of Kagyupa school. Xuantianxiuka Tibetan Village. Kasa Lake. Garze Monastery

Drive to Garzi via Luhuo, on the way visit the Sirin Kar Monastery (Zengke Si) of Kagyupa school, which was founded in 1954 by a lama named Nisheng, enjoy the beautiful landscape along the road. Then visit the Xuantianxiuka Tibetan Village which is on a steep cliff, with a long history and mysterious legends. Along the road, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wengda,Luhuo and Kasa lake. After that, visit the Garze Monastery of Gelukpa school, it was originally constructed by the Qosot Mongols in 1662 on a hilltop overlooking their castles of Mazur and Khangsar. The monks will usually debate at around 4 pm, it lasts about 30 - 40 minutes.

256 km
4 hours 30 minutes
Overnight at Mazhaga Hot Spring Hotel (3390 m)

Breakfast

Sirin Kar Monastery (Zengke Si)

DAY
6

Garze - Manigango (3866 m) - Xinluhai (4017m) - Dege

Dargye Monastery, Xinlu Hai Lake, Dege Sutra-Printing House

Drive to Dege. On the way at Shengkang Village, you may encounter the Khampa elderly person with long white hair and white beard, then direction for Dargye Monastery (Dajin Si), which represents the Gelukpa school and was founded in 1642. Pass by Manigango to visit Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso), located at the foot of Chola Mountain (Que’er Shan). It is 4040 meters above the sea level, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 15 meters. There are plateau spruces, firs, Chinese weeping cypresses, azalea trees and meadows around the lake. It is also a preserve for wild animals like white-lipped deer. Short walking by the lake Yilhun Lhatso. Keep driving to Dege. Visit the Dege Sutra-Printing House (Derge Parkhang) which has always been well reputed as the cultural treasury at the foot of the snow mountain. It is the biggest printing house in Tibetan area. Then visit the Gengqing Monastery (Dege Gongchen).

183 km
3 hours
Overnight at Wangqinda Hotel (3270 m)

Breakfast

Kasa Lake

DAY
7

Dege - Hepo - Maisu

Tibetan knife workshop, family workshops at Maisu

Head for Maisu Town of Dege, on the way visit Tibetan knife workshop of local Tibetan family at Hepo Town of Baiyu, which is known as the "Armory of King Gesar". Hepo's Tibetan knife production follows the manual workshop mode of family style. Each family has its own characteristics: the types of knife include waist knife, curved knife, dagger, etc, the scabbard is divided into silver shell, copper shell and iron shell, and various patterns such as flying dragon, walking phoenix and precious stone silver flower are carved. In Maisu, visit family workshops like copper casting, wood carving, black pottery, Thangka drawing, color painting, etc. Visit the Khyenle Workshop and learn about copper casting skills. Like Hepo of Baiyu County, in Maisu Town of Dege County, a relatively complete cultural form of inheritance of Tibetan traditional handicrafts is preserved. Today's dinner will be a surprise, you will enjoy organic food prepared with authentic local mountain ingredients with Pizza and delicious coffee.

113 km
2 hours 49 minutes
Overnight at Khyenle Guesthouse (3600 m)

Breakfast

Dege Printing House

DAY
8

Maisu - Pelyul (3006 m) - Yarchen Gar

Pelyul Monastery, Yarchen Gar

This morning drive to Baiyu, visit the magnificent Pelyul Monastery (Baiyu Si) of Nyingma Sect, enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Baiyu Si on the hillside across the river. Then visit the Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si) of Nyingma sect, a big nuns’ world! About 20000 nuns live, learn and meditate here. With 4000 meters above sea level, Yarchen Gar is the largest meditation place for women in the world. After reaching parking lot at Yarchen Gar, walk about 10 minutes to the hillside at the north of Juemu (a title for nun in Tibetan) Island. There is a vast Padmasambhava statue, and in the southwest orientation, you can overlook the grand panorama of whole Yarchen Gar and even Juemu Island. Then go downhill to riverside along small wooden houses where nuns practice meditation. One the way, everywhere you can see that these nuns are sitting in meditation, or scripture debating, or reading quiet, or chatting and relaxing. Yarchen Gar is divided by river into areas for Zhaba (monk) and Juemu (nun). River bank area is for Zhaba, island for Juemu. Cross the bridge on the river and get into Juemu Island, the core zone of Yarchen Gar. Here, the nun’s low and small meditation houses are very intensive and covered the whole peninsula. You can have a walk here and immerse yourself in the pure religious atmosphere of nuns' meditation place.

205 km
4 hours 45 minutes
Overnight at Kangwaluori Hotel (4000m)

Breakfast

Yarchen Gar (Yaqing Si)

DAY
9

Yarchen Gar - Youyi Village - Tongxiao Village - Picha Village - Tsoka Monastery and Tsoka lake (3800m) - Xinlong - Zhabajiaguo Pass - Larima Village

Tsoka Monastery and Tsoka lake (3800m). Meet a local stone carving craftsmen at Larima Village

Today our destination for the Tsoka Monastery and Tsoka lake, located in Mari Township, Xinlong County. The Cuoka Monastery inherits the tradition of the Karma Kagyu and Ningma sects. Tsoka Lake, in Tibetan, means black lake water amidst chaotic rocks. It is a freshwater lake with a surface area of only 3 square kilometers.
The lake water is very clear as jasper and reflects the blue sky, white cloud, greenery, green hill, red and white monasteries, which makes it more charming. You will be inspired by its splendid appearance and spiritual power. Then direction to Xinlong to Zhazong Village on the grassland of Larima, you will enjoy the panoramic view of Shiban Tibetan Village, Mani stone carvings, temples, prayer wheel, etc.; and also, you will visit a local stone carving craftsmen.

260 km
6 hours
Overnight at Jicang Guesthouse (3700 m)

Breakfast

Monks of Garze Monastery

DAY
10

Larima Village - Zhatuo Village - Daofu - Bamei - Tagong

Daofu's traditional dwellings. Lhagang Monastery. Panoramic view ofYala Mountain

Direction to Tagong, visit Daofu and you will be able to visit a local family to learn about the unique beauty of Daofu's residential architecture. Then visit the Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Bodhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. Then visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. From the village of Balang Shengdu, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

230 km
5 hours 30 minutes
Overnight at Laga Pasture Homestay (3730 m)

Breakfast

Nunnery of Hepingfahui in Tagong

DAY
11

Tagong - Bamei - Danba

Huiyuan Temple. Ancient block towers at Suopo Village. Jiaju Village and Zhonglu Village

Today we will visit the Huiyuan temple in Bamei. Huiyuan Temple is located at the foot of Yala Mountain, quiet and peaceful. Direction to Danba, which has long been acclaimed as the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. You’ll visit the ancient block towers at Suopo Village. They are made of clay and block and looked well from outside with solid thick walls. Then walking in Jiaju village, the most beautiful village in China. There are more than one hundred buildings with the same architectural style, a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley. Then visit the mysterious and beautiful Tibetan traditional village Zhonglu.

117 km
2 hours 43 minutes
Overnight at Zongkar Homestay (2100 m)

Breakfast

Tibetan Village Jiaju

DAY
12

Danba - Wori Tusi Manor - Siguniang Shan Town (3134 m)

Wori Tusi Manor. Shuangqiao Valley of Siguniang Mountain

In the morning drive to Siguniang Shan Town, on the way visit Wori Tusi Manor, the former official residence of the local Tusi, a kind of imperial kingship leader. The Siguniang Shan Mountain (also Four Sisters Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Four Maidens Mountain) has four over 5000 m peaks, legend has it that each peak represents a girl of the 4 sisters. The highest peak, Yaomei Feng, the youngest girl and at 6250 m, is also known as the “queen of Sichuan's peaks”. Soft hiking in the Shuangqiao Valley (Double-bridge Valley) of the Siguniang Shan Mountain, the scenery is concentrated and charming. If the weather is good, you can enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang Shan at Maobiliang at sunset.

118 km
2 hours 31 minutes
Overnight at Cloud Inn (3200 m)

Breakfast

Sunset of Mt. Siguniangshan

DAY
13

Rilong - Wolong (1700 m) - Chengdu

Great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at sunrise, Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong

If you have interest, if the weather is good, you can get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunrise. Drive through the Balang Shan tunnel to Wolong National Nature Reserve. It is one of the China earliest natural reserves, which is rated the preservation zones network of UNESCO. Visit the Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 70 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. Late in the afternoon arrive in Chengdu.

222 km
3 hours 58 minutes
Overnight at Boyun Jinjiang Hotel

Breakfast

Pandas in Wolong

DAY
14

Leave Chengdu

Travel to next destination

Today transfer to airport, leave Chengdu.

Breakfast

Tailor-make this tour

This trip can also be tailor-made, please let us know your travel idea: travel date, duration, number of travelers, child (2 - 12 years old), baby (0 - 2 years old), other travel destinations, meals, accommodation category, boutique hotel, special interest ...

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Private travel, great experiences! Please contact us for your tailor-made travel offer.

With individual China Tibet travel, you can decide when, where and how you go on tour by yourself. What's more, you can choose the length of travel and whom you go with.

Information

Hotel, program and itinerary are subjected to change with prior notice.
We must point out that you counter a basic tourism infrastructure in this region. Long journeys on bad roads and on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.

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