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16-Day Kham & Shangrila Voyage tour

Tour Code:TE-YNS-1601
Start in:Chengdu
End in: Xianggelila
Destinations:Chengdu → Danba → Daofu → Gantze → Dege → Baiyu → Xinlong → Daocheng → Yading → DeqenZhongdian (Shangrila)

 

Day 1  Chengdu
Depending on your arrival timing, there will be a tour of Sansheng Village, a gardening style village in the suburbs. Early dinner, including sampling of Schewan’s famous Hotpot. Stroll in ancient Jingli Street and later attend renowned Sichuan Opera and Face Changing performance.
Breakfast:ExcludedLunch:ExcludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Chengdu
Day 2  Danba
This morning we will leave for Danba. En-route we will make a brief stop at Wolong Panda Reserve, where giant pandas bred in a semi-natural environment. After lunch at Wolong, we cross the foggy Balang Mountain (4,523 meters) and pass by the Siguniang Shan Mountain (four-ladies mountain, highest peak 6250m), late in the afternoon we reach Danba (Tib. Rongmi Drango), at 1,950m. Total of about 5-6 hours drive. The indigenous populations of Danba are ‘Gyarong Tibetans’, who speak distinctively archaic Qiangic dialect, unintelligible to other Tibetans and the dress is also distinctive. The women, traditionally wear colorful head gears and are well known for being prettiest in Tibet. Tall 18th century block towers (watchtowers), fortification dominate the landscape of this ancient Gyarong Kingdom. We will visit one of these towers and local family.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Danba
Day 3  Daofu (Tawu)
Drive to Daofu passes scenic Yak Valley, an area regarded as the “Natural Bonsai garden”, then through Yala Snow Mountain, Longdeng Grassland and Yarlung River. Just before arriving at our destination, we also visit Huiyan monastery, Daofu valley is a prosperous farming community with neatly constructed flat-roofed, horizontal red timbers houses and is one of the most attractive parts of Tibet. Three sacred mountains lie to the south of town. The dialect of Tibetan spoken here is distinct from that of the neighbouring counties. We will take short walks and visit sights including a school of orphanage with interesting dormitories, artworks and then take easy walk in Yuke Grassland, carpeted with wild flowers. June is the blossom season around here. Tonight we spend the night at Tibetan home, where we dine with them and chat about the cultures and learn about “Moving Marriage” and Polyandry system. We sleep in their well decorated rooms.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Daofu (Tawu)
Day 4  Gantze
After breakfast, drive to Manigange via Ganzi, which is something of a cowboy town, a market and meeting place serving the needs of the Khampa nomads to the west and north and the farmers from the surrounding plains. The drive to Manigange is a superb stretch of road following the Yalong River, with the hillsides scattered with formations of prayer flags and one of the highest concentrations of monasteries in Kham. Our pace will determine how many we have time to stop and see! We pass through Grasslands and alpine lakes, make detour to visit Xinlu Lake (Yilhun Lhatso) a beautiful blue lake on the east slope of glaciered Mt. Que’er and arrive in the evening at the road junction town of Manigange (3,800m) after about 5 hours drive.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Gantze
Day 5  Dege
Spend the morning in the grassland near Manigange and view the plains carpeted by wild flowers, grazing wildlife, probably Black-necked cranes and visit the Nomads in their Tents. The road to Derge climbs up to 4916m Tro La pass; scenes changing dramatically to rugged mountains and snowy peaks as we descend a steep series of switchbacks down into the steep-sided Zi-chu river gorge which takes us to a pretty valley where Dege is set. Derge is often regarded as the cultural heart of Kham, once the seat of the Kingdom of Derge, whose kings ruled this area independent of interference from either Lhasa or Beijing. The most famous attraction here is the Parkhang Printery, a magnificent four-storey building, which houses an invaluable collection of Tibetan religious and scholarly works (by some estimates, 80% of all Tibetan works). Established in 1729 during the peak of the Kingdom of Dêrge's power, it has been printing continuously, using the same traditional wood blocks. It is said to have over 210,000 woodblocks, the sole source of Tibetan printed material for the monasteries, schools, libraries in greater Kham. It's also revered as 'Kham's Potala Palace'. Tonight, we sleep in a proper hotel.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Dege
Day 6  Baiyu (Pelyul)
The road (rough and un-tar) heads southeast through some stunning scenery, following the Jinshajiang river, tributary of Yangtze river, bordering the TAR, passing a huge white chorten before reaching the turnoff to Hepo, where the early 12c Katok Gompa (which other than Samye near Lhasa is the oldest surviving monastery of the Nyingmapa and possibly the most sacred site in Kham. The town of Hepo (Horpo) is renowned in the past for high quality metal works and you can find some Tibetan crafts, such as Tibetan Knife and silver bowls.Back to the main road and continue drive to Baiyu, a pretty Tibetan town with tree-lined streets and Ding-chu river running through it. The important Pelyul Gompa monastery is located atop a hill behind town.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Baiyu (Pelyul)
Day 7  Xinlong
This morning, rise early to see the ceremonial rites at Baiyu Monastery, founded in 1665 by the king of Derge. Drive to Xinlong, center of Nyarong County, set alongside the banks of the Yalong River. Set atop the hill behind town is Zera Gompa, a teaching monastery with about upwards of 50 monks.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Xinlong
Day 8  Xinlong
The main attractions here are huge Six Word Apothegm (OM MANI PADMI HUM) made on Khawa Lhori Holy Mountain, then there is the largest Bon Sect. Monastery, Pagoda Forest, Reproduction Worship cultures, Grassland with wildlife such as Bharal roaming about. On occasions, the people here are seen to wear a unique dress. We may also use this as a contingent day for any unplanned stops, may be an extra day in Derge.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Xinlong
Day 9  Daocheng
After breakfast, we proceed on the extreme backcountry drive, as the trails wends its way through forested valleys and grassland to Litang (4,100m), one of the highest towns in the world, set on a broad grassland. It is a market town and administrative centre, heavily colored by its roots as a trading post for the Khampa nomads that populate the high plains. After visiting Lithang Monastery, continue our drive on the dirt road, south, following Lichu valley through the grasslands of Gyawa, en-route cross a 4,500m pass. After Chaksum, the road ascends through forested gorge to re-crosses the Yalong-Yangtse watershed, where there are number of nomad encampments.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Daocheng
Day 10  Yading
After breakfast, transfer from Daocheng to Riwa Village, which takes about 3 hours. Visit Tibetan homes and proceed to Yading Nature Reserve. The centre piece of this park are the 3 sacred peaks namely, Chenrezi (the 6032m) Jampeyang (5958m), and Chenadorje (5,958m), so named after the three main bodhisattvas representing, Compassion, Wisdom and Energy, respectively. Covered in snow year-round, they tower over the landscape and cover an area of some 800 sq. miles. The Sacred Peaks are one of Tibetans’ holiest places, and pilgrims come from all over Tibet. In front of the peak, there is limpid lake that mirrors and reflect the peaks. Within the park are un-spoilt vegetation and native forests, very isolated Tibetan villages, a small monastery, and sacred lakes. Wild goats, deer, monkeys and black bear thrive in this protected park. This evening, enjoy the well deserved hot spring bath at your lodge.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Yading
Day 11  Yading
After breakfast, ride a horse for about for about an hour and visit Chonggu Monastery, and then ride to for another hour or so to the Pearl Lake at the foot of Mt. Chenrezi. Sightseeing in Narong Niuchang, Milk Lake by walks or horse and return to Yading.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Yading
Day 12  Derong (Zang-me)
After breakfast, transfer from Yading to Derong. On the route, appreciate natural scenery of Sun Canyon, where one can behold the sight of 3 mountains flanking 2 rivers. Derong is a small bustling town packed tightly in a gorge along two sides of the Ding-chu River. It’s one of the two staging posts for traffic between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, offering an alternate route when the Zhongdian-Xiangcheng road is shut down (as frequently happens in the rainy season).
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Derong (Zang-me)
Day 13  Deqen (Decheng)
After breakfast, drive to Deqen, in Yunan province, which takes about 3 hours (185km). En- route, visit Dongzhuling Monastery, appreciate the First Bend of Jinshajiang River, Lancangjiang River and Lancangjiang Grand Canyon and view the Meili Snow Mountain (Kawa Karpo).
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Deqen (Dechen
Day 14  Deqen
Dechen or Deqin, at an average altitude of 3550m is part of the enormous new Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected area, a World Heritage Site created through the assistance of the Nature Conservancy. Deqin is the last (first in our case) township of Yunnan’s northwestern most county, and it sits on the border with Tibet to the west and Myanmar (Burma) to the southwest with Yunnan's most magical mountains, Kawa Karpo (Ch. Meli range) with 13 peaks. Among them the highest Kawa Karpo (6,740M) is conceived as the male protector deity and Men Tsumo (6,055m) as the female consort. The range is an important focal point for pilgrimage from all over Kham, Tibet, and most recently one of the most popular treks. The sunrise view from Namkha Tashi Lhakhang (ch, Feilai Monastery), 10 kms north and above the gorge, is the most spectacular.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Deqen
Day 15  Zhongdian (Shangrila)
Drive Southeast through some stunning scenery, which takes about 3-4 hours (185km). En-route, pass through marshlands of scenic Napa Lake Nature, home to the migratory bird including the Black-necked crane and large herds of grazing Yaks. Zhongdian or Gyeltang (3,4350m) is where the Tibetan and Chinese worlds meet. Until recently it was the northernmost open point for foreign travelers in Yunnan. The city and county have recently been renamed Shangri-La after an exhaustive search (and a strong PR minded local committee) concluded that this region was the inspiration for James Hilton’s best selling “Lost Horizon” (1933). Zhongdian is now a modern city at the edge of the vast Tibetan Plateau. You will visit the Ganden Sumtsaling Monastery which was founded in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai Lama (known as the Great Fifth for his services to Buddhism in Tibet). It is now flourishing with around 800 monks of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Later visit local market & the old town of Gyalthang.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:IncludedDinner:IncludedLodging:Zhongdian (Shangrila
Day 16  Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport (15minutes) in time for your flight. Flight cost not included. Daily flights operate to Lhasa and Kunming. From Kunming, one can connect to Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Bangkok, Hongkong.
Breakfast:IncludedLunch:ExcludedDinner:ExcludedLodging:Excluded

Private Tour Prices ( Based on per person and shown in US dollars ) 

Group size
Season
2-4 Travelers 5-9 Travelers 10 Travelers &above Children price Single supplyment
 Mar.2008-May.2008 2721 2507 2221 -- 387
 Jun.2008-Oct.2008 2835 2621 2335 -- 401
 Nov.2009-Feb.2009 2572 2358 2072 -- 370
Remark : The above prices will daily float with the USD-RMB exchange rate, all the prices will be confirmed by the exchange rate on the day when you book this tour.
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