Meeting at the airport and transferring to the hotel. Depending on the available time and your own decision, you can visit Chengdu city full of mixed flavor of tradition and modernization, such as strolling around the Jingli Street, walking through the ancient alleys and watching Sichuan Opera and Face Changing performance.

Driving along the Sichuan Tibet Highway (northern route) and making a small detour along this route to Danba via Dujiangyan, Wolong and scenic Four Ladies Mountain. At Wolong Nature Reserve, you can have a close contact with the Giant Pandas. Danba is a fascinating small but compact town sitting in the canyon dotted with dozens of Qiang and Tibetan villages, along with numerous soaring stone watchtowers perched on the surrounding hills and cliffs. Driving to Jiaju Zangzhai Tibetan village, proclaimed as best village in China, you can stroll around and meet with local Gyarong Tibetan families and possibly dine with them.

Next day visiting and walking in Zhonglu village and Suopo village, where you can lunch in local Tibetan Inn, and visit the local families, to see some of the remarkable Qiang watchtowers of the region, and paying a visit to Medor Monastery with unique combination of Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity.

Driving to Ganzi via Daofu and Luhuo. Along the way, passing through spectacular Yak Valley regarded as the Natural Bonsai Garden, then across Yala Snow Mountain, Longdeng Grassland, Yuke Grassland and rural farmland sceneries. Daofu is well-known for its marvelous local houses with impressive interiors, which you will get a better understanding by visiting a local Tibetan family there. Ganzi is a buzzing small town populated mostly by Tibetans. You can see low wooden houses sprawling the valley, with vast expanse of farm and grasslands, ringed by Chola mountains. You also can pay a visit to a 540 year-old Garze Gompa monastery near the town area, and later stroll around the town.

Driving through vast farmlands, nomadic settlement and arriving at Manigango, a small rural town where you can stop for lunch and then head to Derge. Shortly after leaving Manigango, you will arrive at Yihun Lhatso, a stunning holy alpine lake fed by the glaciers of Chola Mountains. After visiting the lake, you will traverse across the dramatic Chola (Trola) pass at nearly 5000m with towering snowy peaks. After the pass, descend first through scenery consisting of green vegetations of temperate forests and then through the Derge Canyon, a natural wonder in itself. Free evening to rest and strolling around.

In the morning, visiting the famed Derge Parkhang Scripture Printing monastery (Estd. in 1729), a storehouse of engraved blocks of Tibetan scriptures. The monastery is the storehouse of culture or Tibetan world in many respects. Then driving for about 5hr along the Jinshajiang River to Baiyu or Paiyul. En-route you can take a turn off and take the side-valley road to visit the village of Hepo, which is known for the metal crafts, especially in the art of making knifes, swords and silver bowls. During the Karthok festival, you can spend a night here in the village and reduce one night in Baiyu. During the festival at Baiyu, skiping the visit of Hepo on regular tour, you will have one day to take it easy and stroll around in Baiyu, a pleasant town located along the banks of Dingchu River, overlooked by an important Pelyul monastery straddling the hill dotted with lots of beautiful wooden Tibetan houses.

Heading interior, through the wild of Nyarong, a rarely visited region off the main road of eastern Tibet. Nyarong was once known as the home of the feared Khampa brigands, but it is much tamer these days and our destination is the Nyarong town of Xinlong, a medium sized Tibetan town with two major monasteries. One is Yixi Monastery, the largest Bon Sect Monastery in Kham. In the town, you can visit a local Tibetan family and other sights as per available time.

Heading to Litang. Thousands of yaks, hundreds of nomadic tents, men on horses with rifles strapped to their back can be seen along the road from Xinlong to Litang (4015m) which is one of the world's highest towns, with a “wild west” setting as Khampas from across eastern Tibet come to trade all kinds of goods from sheepskins to yaks to large pieces of turquoise or amber, or even the rare “dzi” beads.

Next day heading out to the beautiful Genyen holy mountain area, home to farming and herding families, and visiting the sprawling complex of Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling monastery located near the town area and founded in 1580. In July, you can enjoy the famous Litang Horse Festival, one of the largest and most colorful horse festivals throughout the whole Tibet. Spectacular horse races, galloping riders in full costume, lively competitions between dance troupes are a delight at this festival. It is a great chance to see Khampa men and women dressed in traditional finery.

Heading to Xiangcheng. After crossing the Bamu mountains, the sights of beautiful villages scattered amongst wheat-field-paddies in the valley ground will appear at once. As you approach closer, they are quite a large, cubicle houses that look like little castles, with white-chalked exterior walls. Xiangcheng town occupies a high ridge above the river gorge and consists of an old village paired with a modern Chinese downtown. Above the town is large renovated Chaktreng Monastery of Gelukpa sect with great views of the town and the valley below.

Driving to Derong and Dechen. After saying goodbye to Xiang Cheng, you will spend a night in small Tibetan town of Derong or Songmai (2800m), situated on the banks of the river. En-route you can see Sun Valley. From Derong town, driving into Yunnan and taking a diversion north to Dechen or Deqin (3450m). The drive is through ever-changing terrain as you dip into the Yangtze Valley and then climb over the Baima Snow Mountain passes and descend again through temperate forests. En route, exploring picturesque villages with strong local traditions and visiting an active monastery of Dhodrupling. Day 13, taking a scenic side trip in the Mekong River watershed to visit Nyithong villages, having lunch at a Tibetan home, and enjoying fabulous views of sacred Mount Khawakarpo (Meili) and Metsomo, the tranquil yet divine consort of Mount Khawakarpo. You’ll have the option to take a short one-hour hike along one of the brooks that feed into the Mekong. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, we can arrange a 2 hour pony trek. Returning to Dechen for overnight

Rejoining the southern road and driving to Gyalthang, the capital of the Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Shangrila). Stoping at Napa Lake and upon arrival in Gyalthang, visiting Sumtsenling Monastery, founded in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. On evening, you are recommended to take a stroll from your hotel to nearby Tibetan square of shops, restaurants and market square, where you can see the local people gathering for evening circle dancing.

Departure transfer to the airport in time for your flight. Gyalthang is connected by flights to Lhasa and to Kunming, where there are several flights to other destinations.