Touring for 16 Days along the South Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Route+ the Everest + Namtso+Lhoka (Sichuan, Tibet)

Name	Tour along the Southern Sichuan-Tibetan Road to Mt. Everest, Namtso Lake and Lhoka (Sichuan—Tibet)
Theme	Driving on No. 318 National Highway, Exploring the Roof of the World
Number	Y-011

Photos

Duration	16 days
Route	Chengdu—Litang—Bomi—Linzhi—Shigatse— Mt.Everest—Gyantse—Lhasa
Optimum Travel Time	May—Oct.
Degree of Difficulty

Main Attractions

Luding Bridge, Changchun-Qingkeer Monastery, Yela Mountain, Ranwu Lake, Laigu Glacier, Midui Glacier, Lulang Forests, Brahmaputra River, Basum Lake, Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Bakhor Street, Namtso Lake, Tashilumpo Monastery, Rongpu Monastery,Everest Base Camp, Sakya Monastery, Yamdrok Lake, Yumbu Lakang, Tombs of the Tibetan Kings

Itinerary

Reception

Chengdu --（144km）--Yaan --（147km）--Luding --（49km）-- Kangding--（83km）--Xinduqiao（423km in total） Accomodation in Xinduqiao (alititude:3500m)

We head for Luding County where the Luding Bridge is located. From Luding County, going further, we get to Kangding famous for its horse-riding mountains. After lunch we will pass Zheduo Snow Mountainand Yankou Pass where we can sightsee beautiful snow scenery. Descending from the mountain, we reach the “paradise for photographers”, Xinduqiao.

Xinquqiao--(68km)--Yajiang --（137km）--Litang --（191km)----Batang（396km in total）Accomodation in Batang（altitude:2900m)

Starting off from Xinduqiao, we pass Gaoersi Monastery to Yajiang County. Along our way, we can sightsee the valley beauties and Yalongjiang River. Setting out from Yajiang County, we get to Yakou Pass where we can take pictures of Gongga mountain ranges. We can arrive one of the highest city in the world, Litang County. Then we go to visit Changchun-Qingkeer Monastery of Gelu Branch belonging to Shamanism.

Batang --（103km）--Mangkang --（156km）--Zuogong（259km in total）

,Accomodation in Zuogong（altitude:2600m）

Starting out from Batang, we pass Jinshajiang River Bridge in Balong to get to Tibet. Traveling forward along the valley, we reach Mangkang where there is rich for Matsutake. Mangkang is located on the junction of the Sichuan- Tibet and Yunnan- Tibet Highway. Departure from Mangkang and passing three high mountains and Lancang River, we come to Zuogong County.

Zuogong --（108km）--Bangda --（94km）--Basu --（90km）-- Ranwu（292km in total) Accomodation in Ranwu (altitude:3200m)

We start out from Zuogong County to Bangda where there is Bangda Airport famous for its highest altitude. Bangda is a basin in the watershed between Lancang River and Nujiang River. After lunch in Bangda, we will pass Yela Mountain and 99 river bends as well as the Nujiang River Bridge and valleys before we get to Basu. Setting out from Basi, we will reach the highland glacier lake, Ranwu Lake (area of 22km), by the way of Ranwu Valley.

Ranwu --（50km）--Laigu Glacier --（50km）-- Ranwu（100km in total),

Accomodation in Ranwu (altitude:3200m)

After breakfast, we set out from Ranwu Town, traveling forward along the peaceful lake. Going further, we come to an ancient glacier with floating ice in the lake.

Ranwu --（25km）--Midui Glacier --（110km）-- Bomi（135km in total),

Accomodation in Bomi (altitude:1600m)

We will depart from Ranwu in the early morning to reach Midui Glacier. We will pass Midui Village and trek for several hours to have a close contact with the Glacier. Farewell with Midui Glacier, we trek downward along Palong-zambpo River to get to Zhamu town in Bomi County known as “the east Alps”.

Bomi --（120km）--Lulang --（113km）--Linzhi（233km in total),

Accomodation in Linzhi (altitude:2500m)

Along this route, we will pass Lulang Town. Passing Selala Mountain Pass, we can sightsee the beautiful Nanjiabawa Mountain Peak and Jianaxilei Peak. Downward along the mountain, we are past Rhododendron Forest to Linzhi County known as the “frontier Jiangnan”(Jiangnan means South China famous for its beautiful pastoral scenery), where we can sightsee the scenery of Niyanghe River.

Linzhi --（50km）--Brahmaputra River Gorge --（50km）--Linzhi（233km in total),

Accomodation in Linzhi (altitude:2500m)

After sightseeing in Linzhi Town, we will visit the world-known Linxi Great Bend of BrahmaputraRiver (the swirling river forms a spectacular U-shaped Bend here). Up to now, there has become a mature scenic spot for trekking, driving, boating, etc. If you are a trekking enthusiast, you can trek from Miling County for 4-5days to reach here.

Linzhi --（140km)--Basontso --（80km）--Gongbujiangda --（206km）--Mozhugongka --（78km）--Lhasa（504km in tota）, Accomodation in Lhasa (altitude:3650m)

We set out from Bayi Town, traveling upward along Niyang River to sightsee Dabasoncuo Lake by the way of Basongtso Town named alternatively Cuogaohu, which means “green water” in Tibetan language. We will go forward to a small village in the west of the lake and further trek past Gongbu branch Tibetans village and lots of pastoral beauties to the lake. Taking bus from Basontso, passing Gongbujiangda and Mila Mountain, we step onto the board of the dreaming place, Lhasa, where the Potala Palace will greet you.

Lhasa Accomodation in Lhasa ( altitude: 3650m)

Visit Jokhang Monastery, Barkhor Street, Potala Palace and relax in local bars, cafes

Lhasa—(82km)—Yangbajin—(75km)—Dangxiong—(N48KM)—Namtso—(48km)—Dangxiong— (157km)—Lhasa(504km in total) Accomodation in Lhasa ( altitude: 3650m)

Drive along the Qinghai—Tibet railway, we’ll see Qiangtang Grassland, snow mountain ranges, Yangbajing Geothermal Power Station, and Tang-ku-la mountain in the distance. Visit Namtso Lake.

Lhasa—( 52km)—Qushui—(235km)—Shigatse(287km in total)

Accomodation in Shigatse ( altitude: 4000m)

Travel westward from Lhasa to visit Tashilumpo Monastery.

Shigatse—(157km)—Lhazi—(84km)—Tingri—(131km)—Mt. Everest(372km in total)

Accomodation in Rongbu Monastery (altitude: 5000m)

After visiting Natural mesuem in Everest conservatioin, we go into Everest Natural Reserve. We can see the holy mountain and time-honored Rongbu Monastery at its foot.

Everest—(131km)--Tingri—(84km)—Lhazi—(21km)—Sakya Monastery—(172km)—Shigatse(408km in total)

Accomodation in Shigatse ( altitude: 4000m)

Go to Everest Base Camp. On the way back to Shigatse, we can visit Sakya ancient town and Sakya monastery,

Shigatse—(76km)—Gyantse—(97km)—Nagarze—(20km)—Yumdrok--(76km)—Gongga Airport--(87km)—Tsedang(356km in total)

Accomodation in Tsedang (altitude: 3000m)

Visit Palkor Chode and Yumdrok Lake.

Tsedang—Lhasa(179km in total)

Accomodation in Lhasa (altitude: 3650m)

Visit Yumbo Lakang, Tombs of Tibetan Kings and then back to Lhasa.