Home > Tibet Festival Tour
14 Days Private Tour Chengdu – Kangding - Litang - Xinlong - Yarchen Gar - Baiyu - Maisu - Katok - Dege - Ganzi - Luhuo - Tagong - Danba - Siguniangshan Town - Wolong - Chengdu
This is a special festival tour, we will experience three traditional festivals in east Tibetan area Kham of western Sichuan: the Horse Racing Festival in Litang and mask dance (Cham) festival of two monasteries: Katok Monastery and Tagong Monastery.

The main natural scenery and cultural elements of east Tibetan area Kham are planned in program.
Highlights
Discover Tibetan Area Kham of West Sichuan during Litang Horse Racing Festival and Two Mask Dance Festivals in 2025
DAY
1

29.07.2025 Chengdu - Kangding

Nihao, China! Kangding, the home town of love song

Arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport in the morning, pick up and drive to Kangding, stroll in the urban area of Kangding, and adapt to the plateau climate. Kangding is the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the important juncture of Tibetan and Han People in history.   

360 km, 5 hours 
Overnight at Yulingxue Hotel (2560 m)
Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
2

30.07.2025 Kangding - Xinduqiao - Yajiang - Litang

Panoramic view of Gongga Mountain from Zheduo Pass and Xinduqiao

You’ll drive on the zigzag road up to the mountain chain of Hengduanshan (Mt. Blocks), which extends from the north to the south. Short photo break at Xinduqiao, the “Paradise of Photographers”, a small town on the road juncture where the northern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) and the southern route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Chengdu - Lhasa) meet. When the weather is good, you can see the main peak of Gongga Mountain (7556 m, Minya Konka, “the King Peak of Sichuan”) from Xinduqiao. Keep driving southwards to Yajiang and enter the Yalong river ravine. In the afternoon arrival in the “world highland city" Litang (4014 m) which is the homeland 7th Dalai Lama.
 
272 km, 6 hours and 10 minutes
Overnight at Litang Yalong Hotel (4014 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
3

31.07.2025 Litang

Litang Horse Racing Festival (Nomads Festival)

The whole day take part in the Litang Horse Racing Festival, which will be held on the first of August and lasts about 7 days. Currently the traditional festival has further developed. Besides the traditional horse racing, other activities like horsemanship, singing, dancing, national costume show, etc. have become part of the grand festival. Large-scale material exchange also takes place during the festival.

Overnight at Litang Yalong Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
4

01.08.2025 Litang - Xinlong

Litang Horse Racing Festival (Nomads Festival). Cuoka Lake and Cuoka Monastery

In the morning participate in the Litang Horse Racing Festival. In the afternoon drive from Litang to Xinlong, one the way visit Cuoka Lake and Cuoka Monastery. Cuoka Monastery has inherited the tradition of Karma Kagyu Sect and Nyingma Sect, and Tsoka Lake, a freshwater lake with only 3 square kilometers, is meaning “the black lake water in rubbles” in Tibetan. The lake water is very clear as jasper and reflects the blue sky, white cloud, greenery, green hill, red and white monastery buildings. And after “processing”, it will reveal in a more charming condition. You will be affected by its splendid appearance and spiritual power. When the weather is so fine, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

175 km, 4 hours and 3 minutes
Overnight at Liangru Hot Spring Hotel (3066 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
5

 02.08.2025 Xinlong - Youyi Grassland - Baiyu

Yarchen Gar, Pelyul Monastery

Today drive through the vast and beautiful Youyi Grassland along the new road S314 to the county city Baiyu. The provincial road S314 is located between G318 (southern Sichuan - Tibet Highway) and G317 (northern Sichuan - Tibet Highway), and there are few vehicles and tourists on this route. This area is the core area of the Hengduan Mountains which extend from north to south.
On the way 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.
Upon arrive in Baiyu, visit the Pelyul Monastery (Baiyu Si). This famous Nyingma Sect monastery had played a great role in history and held many subsidiary temples. Then enjoy the grandiose panoramic view of Pelyul Monastery from a hillside when the weather is good.
 
260 km, 5 hours and 33 minutes
Overnight at Dibazha Guesthouse (3006 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
6

03.08.2025 Baiyu - Hepo - Maisu

Traditional handicraft workshops in remote Tibetan villages

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. At first, 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 and drink delicious coffee.
 
113 km, 2 hours 49 minutes
Overnight at Khyenle Guesthouse (3600 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
7

04.08.2025 Maisu - Dege

Mask Dance Festival at Katok Monastery

In the morning drive to the Katok Monastery (4200 m) of Nyingma Sect to enjoy the Mask Dance Festival (Cham Festival). Katok Festival is in memory of Padmasambhava. The monks dance with Buddhist mask for expelling the evil, and chant, and unfold the Thangka at noon when the sunlight is the strongest time of a day. Then drive to Dege and visit the Dege Sutra-Printing House (Dege 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.
 
146 km, 3 hours and 46 minutes
Overnight at Bota Hotel (3270 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
8

05.08.2025 Dege - Garze - Luhuo

05.08.2025 Dege - Garze - Luhuo

Today drive from Dege via Garze to Luhuo. On the way visit the Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso), which is located at the foot of Chola Mountain. 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. Near Ganzi you would meet an old spirited Khampa Tibetan man with white hair and beard. He sits or stands for years on a hill, rolls white prayer beads and turns a colorful prayer wheel, prays for happiness for the people in this area and the tourists. In Tibetan "Ganzi (Garze)" means "white and beauty". Garze was named after the famous in 1552 built temple of yellow sect (Gelukpa) in the county. In Garze you will visit the 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 minutes.

285 km, 5 hours and 30 minutes
Overnight at Langkajie Art Hotel (3250 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
9

06.08.2025 Luhuo -Tagong

Cham without mask at Tagong Monastery

In the morning drive to Tagong. In the afternoon watch the mask dance (Cham) in Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect. Today the monks perform the Vajra Dance without mask. The Tagong Monastery is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. 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. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, 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.

176 km, 3 hours
Overnight at Tagong Prairie Mandala Hotel (3730 m)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
10

07.08.2025 Tagong

Mask Dance Festival at Tagong Monastery. Gyergo Nunnery, grand mani wall, and Muya Monastery

If you are interested, it is recommended to walk up the small mountain slope in the early morning to enjoy the beautiful sunrise of Mount Yala. Participate in the Mask Dance Festival at Lhagang Monastery and enjoy the masked Vajra dance along with various religious praying activities. Late in the afternoon, visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery, the grand mani wall and the Muya Monastery of Hepingfahui.

Overnight at Tagong Prairie Mandala Hotel 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
11

08.08.2025 Tagong - Bmei - Danba

Horse racing in Tagong. The ancient block towers at Suopo Village

Participate in horse racing activities in the morning. The monks of Tagong Monastery recited scriptures and prayed for the horses, and then the horses flew away from the Muya Golden Pagoda towards the direction of Mount Yala. Don’t miss taking pictures of grand sunning Buddha’s portrait (Thangka exhibition) event. Then drive along the Yak valley to Danba. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. You'll visit the ancient block towers in Suopo Village. They were made of clay and block and look fine from outside with solid thick walls. Danba has long been acclaimed as the kingdom of thousands of ancient blockhouses.

133 km, 3 hours and 10 minutes
Overnight Jiarong Guesthouse (2100 m) 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
12

09.08.2025 Danba - Siguniang Shan Town

Walk in Zhonglu Village. Soft hiking in Shuangqiao Valley of Siguniang Mountain, sunset of Mt. Siguniang

Walking through the Zhonglu Village in the morning. In autumn, Zhonglu is even more beautiful, and the trees are full of heavy pomegranates, pears, and apples, etc.. Then drive to Siguniangshan Town. 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 well, you can enjoy the splendid panoramic view of golden Siguniang Shan (Four Girls Mountain) at sunset from Maobiliang.

103 km, 2 hours and 15 minutes
Overnight at Balang Yunshang Hotel (3200 m) 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
13

10.08.2025 Siguniang Shan Town - Wolong - Chengdu

Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong. Experience leisure life in Chengdu

After breakfast, drive back to Chengdu. On the way visit the Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong National Nature Reserve which is one of the China earliest natural reserves and is rated the preservation zones network of humankinds and living beings by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). Wolong National Nature Reserve is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. In the afternoon, stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), 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 are concentrated 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 the 100 year old Heming 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.
At the farewell dinner you’ll enjoy delicious Sichuan hot pot with various numbingly, hot and spicy dishes. It will be a unforgettable experience for a lifetime.

269 km, 5 hours and 39 minutes
Overnight at Boyun Jinjiang Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast
DAY
14

11.08.2025 Chengdu - Home

Fly back home

Free time until transfer to the Tianfu Airport. Say goodbye to China and fly back home. Service ends.
 
Breakfast
Breakfast
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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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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.

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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. You stay overnight sometimes at simple hotel/guesthouse. 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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