11 Days Yunnan-Lhasa Overland Tour

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Highlights

Visit:

Lijiang

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Gedan Songzanlin Monastery

Mt. Meli

Hot springs

Nu River

Parlung Tsangpo

Tang-me

Bayi

Visit:

Lamaling monastery

Basong lake

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

Barkhor Street

Norbulingka Park

Drepung Monastery

Nu River

Experience:

Discover the mysterious paradise Shangri-la;

Enjoy the magnificent view of Mt. Meli (6,740m);

Relax yourself at hot spring ;

Feel deep into local Tibetan life;

Visit the world famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street;

Observe real Tibetan monks’ life.

Sampling Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1 Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-la ( B )

Your lifetime overland tour starts in Lijiang. The comfortable transfer will take you to the old town of Shigu (Stone Drum) to see the Iron Chain Bridge which the Red Army used to cross the river during the Long March in 1930s. Then proceed to amaze at the stunning First Bend of the Yangtze River and trek to the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Be transferred to Shangri La to overnight.

Day 2Shangri La ( B )

Shangri-la is the on-earth paradise described in the famous novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton. Here you will take a walk beside the beautiful Bitahai and Shudu Lakes to feel return to Nature, and then visit the sacred Gedan Songzanlin Monastery to observe how the simple Tibetan keeps their pure beliefs in this temporal world.

Continue driving to Deqin. Overnight there!

Day 3Deqin – Yanjing, 110km ( B )

Departing Deqin, travel along the north of Mekong River valley into Tibet. En route, you may see the peaks of Kawagebo mountain range on a good day. Mt. Meli (6,740m), which straddles the border of Yunnan and Tibet, is the highest peak in Yunnan.

Once into Tibet, your first stop is the Yanjing town, once the main source of salt for the Kham Tibetan area. You’ll visit the salt fields and the only one Catholic Church in Tibet. Followed by a stop at the hot springs, where you could pick your own natural hot bath overlooking the Mekong. That is the best way to relax your body for the adventure ahead!

Day 4 Yanjing – Zuogong, 258km ( B )

Today you cross two high passes in this section of the drive, one at around 3,900m (12,795 ft), the other at 5,008m (16,430 ft). Driving past local Tibetan houses scattered round the feet of snow-capped peaks, the expressions on innocent Tibetan girls would make you realize that you are one of the first foreign visitors to this isolated region.

         

Day 5 Zuogong to Ranwu, 295km ( B )

You will drive along the deep valleys of the Nu River (the Salween River), which is a long and tough journey, but the destination of today, the Ranwu Lake, a spectacularly crystal blue lake cupped by snow peaks.

Day 6Rawok(Ranwu) - Bomi（Tramog), 129km ( B )

You will wander along the Poto-chu Valley at Tramog (2,743 m/8999 ft), located deep in the thickly forested gorge of Yarlung Tsangpo with glacial waterfalls streaming from the mountainsides. Go down several hundred meters in altitude as you reach the lowland jungle settlement of Tang-me where the Tsangpo and Parlung Tsangpo rivers meet.

Day 7 Tang-me(Bomi) - Bayi, 219km ( B )

Waking up to the birds' singing, you will have an unobstructed view of the majestic NamJiabawa peak. After a long 9 hours drive, you will arrive in Bayi, the largest Tibetan town we will have reached at this point.

Day 8 Bayi to Lhasa, 355km ( B )

First you will drive 30 kms to visit the Lamaling monastery which an important monastery in Ningchi. And then drive to Basong lake. The crystal clear water of the Basong Lake will seem like an oasis to you -- another place you would be reluctant to leave. Drive to Lhasa.

Day 9 Lhasa ( B )

The overwhelming Potala Palace is your first stop. As the symbol of Tibet, it was built in 641 AD and was the winter palace of Dalai Lama who is Tibet’s pope. Impressive Tibetan architecture, huge golden Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted pilgrims all make it a must-visit.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek here from long distances to worship. Finally, walk the special circular pilgrimage route as local followers always do at Barkhor Street.

Day 10 Lhasa ( B )

After breakfast, you are driven to visit the Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama, and then come to Drepung Monastery, once the largest Monastery housing 10,000 monks in its heyday.

Your tour ends at Sera Monastery, and the “Buddhism Scriptures Debating” in Sera is very famous. Enjoy the debate!

Day 11 Lhasa Departure ( B )

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Today is free for you until to be transferred to the airport in time for your flight.

Recommended Add-on Options

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Read what other travelers think about this Tibet trip. We only accept reviews from actual, confirmed travelers who purchased the tour / activity from us, so you can be sure the reviews are unbiased and authentic.

 

Great tour and tour guide! Hot spring in Yunnan was so comfortable!

 

Canada, June 28, 2011

Marissa C‚ 

 

The tour was great. Totally private tour and our guid-Alex.he was so great, he really knows his stuff...lots of opportunity to ask him questions. Loved it. Highly recommended!

UK, May 14, 2011

Anonymous‚ 

 

If you want to travel both Yunnan and Tibet, this tour is the best choice. We really experienced a lot, importantly we enjoyed.

Australia, December 24, 2010

Joris‚ 

Here are recent candid photos of this Tibet trip. If you want to share your own tour photos, simply email your photos to info@tibetdiscovery.com with your Booking ID Number. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Overlooking Mt. Meili and the small village on the foot of the mountain

Debating Monks of Sera Monastery

Entrance of Jokhang Temple with Pilgrims praying

Path to the Center Island in Basum-tso

The view of Mt. Namjianawa Peak from the State Highway

Ranwu Lake with Snow Mountains around the side

Tiger Leaping Gorge at the first bending of Yangtze River

The Innocent Local Children in Zuogong County

Clear Shudu Lake in Shangri La

Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and Forest