Tour Briefing:
Tour Code: TTO-006
Tour Catalog: Private Tour
Trip Length: 13 days
Starting City: Lanzhou
Ending City: Lhasa                                                              Route feature:
  This unusual journey leads you from Gansu province via Qinghai province to Tibet. You will visit some very important monasteries of Gelukpa sect in Tibet Buddhism like Labrang, Kumbum, Jokhang, Drepung, Sera, Barkhor and Tashilunpo as well as the Potala Palace, experience exotic local conditions and customs, and enjoy the natural landscapes: snow-covered mountains, crystal clear highland lakes, broad meadows, emerald-green forests, peculiar plants and rare wild animals in the Qinghai-Tibet platea.

The tour itinerary:
Day01 Arrive at Lanzhou 100km                     
Taking the flight fly to Lanzhou, transferred to hotel. Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, is in the middle of loess plateau of China and has long been an important city on the Silk Road in history. The Yellow river flows through the whole Gansu province.                                  Overnight at Lanzhou ( 3 star hotel)

Day02 Lanzhou 100km                         
After the breakfast visiting the grottos of 1000-Buddha-temple in Bingling over the yellow river by boat. The grottos of the monastery are firstly built in 420AD. Figures here are older than those in Dunghuang Grottos.    
                                                Overnight at Lanzhou( 3 star hotel)

Day03 Lanzhou - Xiahe 280km                
In the morning driving to Xiahe, which is 2,900 meters above the sea level and almost exclusively inhabited by Tibetans. In the afternoon visit Labrang monastery, the most important religious centre on the northeast border of the Tibet region. The monastery created in 1710, as one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet area, has served for centuries there to connect the Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaism.
                                                 Overnight at Xiahe( dorm bed)

Day04 Xiahe - Tongren- Xining 260km             
Driving to Tongren in the morning. Visiting Longwu monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect and Wutun village the center of Tibetan Regong-Art, which is a successful mixture of religion and folk art.

Day05 Xining - Kumbum - Koko Nor Lake 210 km     
In the morning driving to Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect, which was built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic "yellow hat sect", was born here. As Kumbum-monastery has always been playing an important role to connect the Mongolian with the Lamaism, today many Mongolian come to this place for worship. Then cross over Sun-and-Moon mountain (Ri Yue Shan). In 641 Wencheng princess of Tang Dynasty  passed by this mountain where today a sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to have a break.The Sun-and-Moon mountain has always been an distinguish line between meadow and agriculture area. After that make a shorttrekking by the Koko Nor lake, the biggest salty lake in China, with an area of 4,500 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,194m high above sea level. The big lake is acclaimed as "pearl on the highland" and the scenery of which is unusually fascinating and appears different shapes even at the same time. "Koko Nor" in Mongolian language means "blue sea?because of the lunar shape and the color of the lake.                      Overnight at Koko Nor Lake(stander room) 

Day06 Koko Nor Lake - Dulan 320 km             
In the morning driving to Dulan along the Koko Nor Lake, the biggest salty lake in China, with an area of 4,500 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,194m above sea level. The big lake is acclaimed as "pearl on the highland" and the scenery of which is unusually fascinating and appears different shapes even at the same time. "Koko Nor" in Mongolian language means "blue lake" because of its lunar shape and color. In addition a small island known as "the heaven of the birds" lies in the lake. After a approx. 200 km long driving make a short stopover by the Tsaka salty lake where even the wind should be salty. Late in the afternoon arrive in Dulan.                                          Overnight at Dulan (dorm bed)

Day07 Dulan - Golmud 360km                   
Driving through the Tsaidam basin, among which most part is desert with some oasis dotted in. This basin lies in the north of the Amnyemaqen mountain and the road to Golmud is just along the foot of the mountain. The Xiangride oasis is the last oneseen in this desert. Late in the afternoon arrive in Golmud, which is a civilazation center where Tibetan culture and Han culture melt each other.                                 Overnight at Golmud ( standard room)

Day08 Golmud - Tuotuoheyan 420km                
Driving through the vast wilderness and Tsaidam meadow on the Tibet-Qinghai-Plateau along the road in the foot of the Kunlun-mountain and go on upwards by steep valley to cross over the 4.837 meters high Kunlun Pass. Afterwards pass by the First Bridge over the Yangtse River and arrive in Tuotuoheyan, which is lain in the head stream of the Yangtse River.                    Overnight at Tuotuohe ( dorm bed)

Day09 Tuotuoheyan - Naqu 430 km                       
Crossing southwards over the Tangra Shan mountain. On the way the eagles, flocks of sheep and cattle, yaks, snow mountains, tents of Tibetan farmers everywhere altogether form a harmonious unity and allow the spirit and soul of people to relax.                                        Overnight at Naqu(standard room) 

Day10 Naqu - Nam Tso Lake - Lhasa Jeep 480 km    
Driving on the vast Qiangtang Grassland for Nam Tso. Crossing the 5,150 m Lhachen La Pass and reach the Namtso or Tengri Nor in Mongolian along the newly paved way and set up camp at Tashi Dorie peninsula. Nam Tso,the biggest salty lake of Tibet, is 70 kilometers long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from north to south, covering an area of 1,920 square kilometers with an altitude of 4,700 meters above sea level. It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain Nyenchentangla are a couple of lovers, who altogether guard the vast pasture and cattle. Take a walk on the peninsula and visit a small nun temple of Nyingma Sect. In the afternoon drive to Lhasa (3650 m), capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. The city is situated on the bank of the Kyichu River and has long been the "Holy Land" of Tibet.                                         Overnight at Lhasa (3 star hotel)

Day11: Lhasa ciy tour sightseeing 100km           
Morning time to buy the entrance of Potala by yourselves. Then visiting Jokhang Temple, afternoon visitDrepung Monastery.        Overnight in Lhasa( 3 star hotel) 

Day12: Lhasa city sightseeing 100km                 
Morning time to visit Potala Palace, then afternoon to Sera Monastery.     
                                          Overnight at Lhasa ( 3 star hotel)

Day13: Lhasa airport dropping off, end the trip. 80km

Service Include:
1. Good Condition Jeep or Minvan transportation
2. Entrance fee
3. Hotel: 6N 3 star hotel; 3N standeroom; 3N dorm bed.  
4. English, Chinese, or Janpanese speaking guide can be available.
5. Tibet Entry Pemrit; Travel permit
6. Travel insurance
7. Every day one bottom of pure water provided
8. 3 bottom of oxygen for free use
9. Sleeping bag for use

Service excludes:
1. Your flight tickets
2. Your own expense
3. Tips for the guide and driver
4. Meals
5. Entrance of Potala.

Note: We can offer you the flight ticket from any other places as your require.