12 Days Yunnan to Tibet Overland Tour: Trace the Ancient Tea-Horse Road From Lijiang to Lhasa

Set off from Lijiang, and drive about 60KM to the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery, and the Iron Chain Bridge in the Stone Drum town. The town of Stone Drum got its name from a large, cylindrical, marble tablet shaped like a drum. The scenery is magnificent as the road runs through the Lijiang valley, which is filled with wheat fields and dry haystacks.

Continue driving 40KM more to visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

In the afternoon, head for Shangri La, the former Zhongdian. Upon arrival in Shangri La, you will enter the Tibetan cultural area and a landscape of barley fields and yaks scatter in the valleys.

• The first bend of Jinsha River
• Tiger Leaping Gorge

In the morning, after breakfast, we will visit the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. And afterwards you'll go and visit the tranquil Bita Lake & Shudu Lake. Having finished touring the Bita Lake & Shudu Lake, you would visit the Old Town of Shangri La and the Guishan Park.

At night, you can have dinner in Tibetan family and enjoy butter tea and other tasty Tibetan food.

• Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery
• Bita lake

In the morning, after breakfast, we will drive 6 to 7 hours to Deqin County (3400m altitude), which is 187km away from Zhongdian through Baimang Snow Mountain Nature Reserve. You will be able to view Baimang Snow Mountain if the weather is clear, and pass the highest place (at an altitude of 4292m) of today's itinerary.

After traversing mountain ranges, you will make a short stop to have lunch at Benzilan town, and take some shots on the first bend of Jinsha(Yangtze) River, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima (white horse) Snow Mountain. The view along the way is fantastic with different kinds of trees, streams down the valley, prayer flags and Stupas, and Tibetan villages.

Stay overnight in Feilaisi

• The first bend of Jinsha River
• Baima Snow Mountain

Try to get up early in the morning and after breakfast, we will drive 10km to Feilai Monastery to view the magic sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain. Then drive another 1.5-hour to Mingyong village, where you will walk on the trails for about 4km to the bottom of Mingyong Glaciers. After walking one hour or so, you will get to Tibetan Taizi Monastery, another good spot to view the magnificent Mingyong Glaciers. (You can choose to hire a horse to go to the glacier in order to save your energy.

After the tour, get back to Deqin County.

You will be lucky enough to see the golden snow-capped Kawagebo peak (6,740m, the Peak of Mt. Meili) if the weather is clear. Then you will travel along the north of Mekong River valley into Tibet. Once into Tibet, your first stop will be in the town of Yanjing, which was once the main source of salt for half of the Kham Tibetan area, which is ranged from northwestern Sichuan down into Yunnan. Visit the salt fields, followed by a stop at the hot springs, where each of us could pick your own natural hot bath for overlooking the Mekong. Certainly the best way to relax your body is the adventure ahead!

• Mt. Meili
• Mingyong Glacier

After breakfast, we will cross two high passes, and one at around 3,900 m (12,795 ft), the other at 5,008 m (16,430 ft). Drive past local Tibetan houses scatter round the feet of snow-capped peaks. The hospitable Tibetan girls would make you realize that you are one of the first foreign visitors to this isolated region.

In the morning, after breakfast, we will drive along the deep valleys of the Nu River (the Salween River), which is a long and tough journey, but your destination, the Ranwu Lake, is another Shangri-la, and tourists may stay in the tent beside the Lake.

• Salween River
• Ranwu Lake

Get up early for the hearty breakfast and enjoy the beauty of Ranwu Lake by yourselves. After lunch, we will drive out of Ranwu Town. There are thick trees, stream water, swirled gledes, snow mountain, lakes and small villages along the road, which make the scene splendid. In the evening, drive back to Bomi.

Stay overnight in Bomi

• Ranwu Lake
• Ranwu town

After breakfast, you will head for the conjunction of Niyang River and Yarlung Tsangpu River and get to Pai Town of the Yarlung Tsangpu River. We have arranged specially the trekking to the best touring sites in Mt. Nanjiabawa Daduka. If the weather is clear, you will have a chance to view the Mt. Nanjiabawa.

From the Zhamu town of Bomi County, we will head for the last natural barrier Maitong through the aboriginal forest. On the way to Pailong, there is floodwater and soil collapse which break off the road, and the famous 102 coast is there. After Pailong, the road state turns good, and we will pass through the thick Milang, which is another good place for overlooking the Nanjiabawa. Up to Mt. Selaji, we get to Bayi town (2400m) which is far from 19km to visit the Cypress Forest in Bayi town.

Stay overnight in Bayi

• Niyang River
• Getting close to the huge ancient cypress in Great Cypress Nature Reserve area.

From the Bayi town, tourists can enjoy the beautiful Niyang river along the way. After passing through the Gongbujiangda, we head forward to the holy lake of Darksumtso(3500m high,27 sq.km.). Then drive back to the main stem of Sichuan-Tibet road, and get to Lhasa. After getting west towards Lhasa, you can have a distant view of Potala Palace.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Niyang River
• Surrounded by green mountains, Basom Tso, which means 'green water' in Tibetan language, is a wonderland for you to refresh yourself.

After breakfast, start your day with a visit to the fortress-like Potala Palace, an architectural marvel, and the winter palace of Dalai Lamas.

You can explore the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, and ceremonial hall, and marvel at gilded buddhas, intricate mandalas, and jewel-encrusted tombs of generations of Dalai Lamas, and enjoy the panoramic view of Lhasa city atop Red Palace.

Next, roam over the Zhongjiao Lukang Park nearby and view the Potala Palace from behind where you can take a glimpse of how locals spend their day lives, such as enjoying Guozhuang/circle dance, paddle boat in the pool, etc.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the sacred Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Follow a long line of pilgrims in the dimly lit chambers to worship the life-size statue of a 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, walk clockwise with prostrating Tibetan pilgrims to experience the famous Barkhor circuit/kora and unwind in a local teahouse to savor local obsessions,i.g. sweet tea, Tibetan noodles, Tibetan momos, Sha Phaley, or roam over the backstreet of Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Potala Palace is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• View Jokhang Temple from the rooftop

Awake to a day of brilliant sunshine. After breakfast, let’s head to Drepung Monastery for a 3km leisurely hike/kora. The Drepung Monastery is one of the great three Geluga monasteries founded by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Chöje.

As you follow the pilgrim route towards Loseling College, you will see the iconic huge rock paintings depicting the Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluga Sect, and Buddhist mantras.

You can gather junipers and burn them as an offering to Buddha, drink refreshing mountain springs, or meditate alongside the local pilgrims beneath the rock face. At the mountaintop, the sweeping view of the enchanting Lhasa Valley will take your breath away.

In the afternoon, you will explore Sera Monastery, the second-largest Gelug monastery next to Drepung. You can appreciate the exquisitely made sand Mandala and admire Buddhist paintings.

The biggest highlight is to watch the dramatic monk debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). By clapping hands, jumping, yelling, and rolling Buddhist mala, the standing monk furiously debates with the other monk sitting on the ground about Buddhist philosophy.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• The spectacular vista of Drepung Monastery
• Dramatic monk debate in Sera Monastery

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour.

Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.

• Big farewell to Lhasa, and may you have a safe and pleasant journey back home!
• Your guide will escort you to Lhasa Railway Station if you depart Tibet by train.