​Day 1: (July 21) Arrive in Xining, Qinghai
Fly from any parts of China to Xining. Upon arrival you will be met by our staff and will transfer to the hotel. In available time, see the Muslim area of Xining, explore their mosques and food market.​

Day 2: (July 22) Drive to see Kumbum Monastery, and then drive on to Chabcha
Set for Chabcha town (2800m) of the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Perfecture (HTAP). On the way visit Kumbum Monastery, which is the most important Gelugpa sect monastery in Amdo, built in 1583 by Oser Gyatso according to the advice of 3rd Dalai Lama.

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Day 3: (July 23) Drive from Chabcha to Mado County
Drive continuously through vast grassland to Golok Tibetan Autonomous Perfecture, the most remote and nomadic areas of Amdo. En-route, we will see Mt. Amnye Machen (6283m) along the road with gigantic landscape. The Mado County (4300m) is the highest and the coldest place in Tibet.

Day 4: (July 24) Drive from Mado to Yushu
In Tibetan songs and poems, it is often said that there are as many lakes in Tibet as they are stars in the sky. Mado, located at the source of the Yellow river, is one such place. Wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes, gazelles, fire foxes and lots of birds are sighted along today's road. After crossing the pass, the road descends through semi nomadic houses, villages, farmland and grassland, filled with wild flowers to arrive in Jyeku, the biggest city of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Before reaching the town, visit Dhankar Monastery.

Day 5 and 6: (July 25, 26): Explore Festival in Yushu
Jyeku (3700m), locally known as Gawa or Jiegu, is the capital town of Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, inhabited by Khampa Tibetans. It lies in a beautiful long valley with a decent town, whose population swells by about 3-4 times during the festival. The festival is held on a large ground, near the town which turns into a tented city. There are lots of cultural performances of various Tibetan groups as well as some Chinese cultural performances and displays of various sorts, including horse, yak rides. The actual horse race is performed in Batang, in the mornings. During your time here, attend the festival, meet with people, share meals in their tents, and also visit sites in Jeku. The festival is a perfect photo opportunity.

Day 7: (July 27): Drive from Jyeku to Sersho
In the morning before leaving Jyeku, visit a large carved stone Mani wall and a temple nearby, and then leave for Sersho. Sersho is a nomadic area with large pastureland. Visit the large Sersho Monastery with its Buddhist University.

Day 8: (July 28) Drive to Dege
Driving through beautiful scenery to Dege (3200m) may be quite long, but the journey offers frequent changes in its landscape: from vast prairie grasslands to rocky mountains, then green and rolling hills, and snowy peaks, pristine valleys with a sea of wild flowers and very deep gorges as we approach Derge. Stop at Manigange for lunch. Visit the sacred Yilhun Lhatso Lake, cross the Chola mountain pass and make a long descent into Dege, through deep and narrow canyons.

Day 9: (July 28) Drive from Dege to Baiyu
After breakfast, visit Dege Printing House, established in 1729, with an invaluable collection of Tibetan religious and scholarly works. Then drive along the Jinshajiang River to Baiyu (3150m). Visit the large monastic complex that straddles the hill overlooking Baiyu town, and perhaps the hospital of traditional medicine. Stroll and browse the town area.

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Day 10: (July 30) Drive from Baiyu to Xinlong

Crossing mountain passes, lakes and villages is a memorable trip to Xilong in the Yalong basin. Xilong is a small town along the banks of the Yalong River. This place is rarely visited due to the road which has been repaired recently, though there are interesting monasteries we can see nearby.​

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Day 11: (July 31) Drive from Xilong to Litang

Drive through Sertha Grassland, enjoy the views of the Rabbit Mountains, the Haizi Mountain and spectacular mountainous landscapes to Litang. Upon arrival in Litang, visit the sprawling complex of Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling Monastery, founded in 1580. In the evening, visit the festival venue and Tibetan families in their tents.

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Day 12: (Aug 1) Explore Litang Festival

Litang (4015m) is a bustling little nomadic town, surrounded by open grassland and framed by snow capped peaks. Another unique horse festival takes place here. Nomadic Tibetans from the area and far away get together with their families and friends, pitch their tents, and watch the event that includes horse racing, yak races, dances and cultural performances. The festival is slightly smaller then Yushu.

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Day 13 (Aug 2) Drive to Xinduqiao

Enjoy more Litang Festival and drive to Xinduqiao (3450m). It is a wonderful site for landscape photographers. It is also the best place to get the views of Minya Konka (7590m) which is the third highest peak outside of the Himalaya range.

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Day 14: (Aug 3) Drive to Danba

Dive to Danba (1935m) and on the way visit Tagong Monastery, pass through Bame, view the Yala Snow Mountain and the Yak Valley. The indigenous populations of Danba are Gyarong Tibetans and wear distinctive dress. Watchtowers, fortification dominate the landscape of this ancient Gyarong Kingdom. It is considered to one of the prettiest rural village in all of China.

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Day 15: (Aug 4) Drive from Danba to Chengdu

Drive to Chengdu via the Four Ladies Mountains and the Balang mountains. En-route visit the Wolong Nature Reserve to see the Giant Panda in its semi-natural environment. Arrive in late evening. This evening for our farewell dinner, we will try some of Sichuan’s delicacies in its capital. Stay overnight in a Sichuan Hotel (4 star)

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Day 16: (Aug 5) Transfer to Airport/Train station

Transfer to the airport or train station to connect to the next destination.

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