Overland Amdo and Kham Tibet

Day 1: Xining – Kumbum Monastery—Chabcha

Drive to Kumbum, a famous monastery outside of Xining. Kumbum is also the birthplace of Dzongkhapa, the teacher of first Dalai Lama and first Panchen Lama, this monastery is home to over 600 monks  After we drive to Chabcha, we will witness Yellow river is actually blue there.

Day 2: Chabcha – Dredzong Monastery–Tsigorthang

We will be accompnied by the view of nomads herding yaks and sheep, Tibetan kids are playing beside their Black yack hair tent.  Drive to Dredzong Monastery. Stay in a hotel in Tsigorthang.

Day 3: Tsigorthang – Yushul

Drive to Serdzong, a remote Buddhist monastery site on the side of a rugged mountain at over 3600m. Continue on to Yushul, a large town populated almost entirely by Tibetans.

Day 4: Yushul

While exploring this Tibetan town with loca peopel, we can do kora(circumambulation) with Tibetans to the Great Mani stone piles.

Day 5: Yushul– Sershul

Visit Sershul Gompa, a monastery and meditation center.

Day 7: Sershul— Manigago

On the way out of Sershul, visit one of the most important Nyingmapa monasteries in Tibet, Dzogchen Monastery, which was founded by the 4th Dalai Lama in 1684. Stay the night in Manigago..

Day 8: Manigago – Dege

Visit the beautiful lake Yihun Lhatso, a place that locals consider holy and continue on to the famous Chuola Mountain 6168m. Drive over the mountain pass at 5000m and then down to Dege.

Day 9: Dege

Dege is often regarded as the cultural, if not the geographical, heart of Kham. Traditionally it is the name given to a large independent kingdom, which occupied until recent times.

In Dege, we surely can not miss Dege Barkhang,one of the four important scripture printing house in Tibet. And a treasure of our world, we will witness how those Tibetan people print the scriptures. We will visit Gonchen Monastery .

Day 10: Dege-Pelyul

Visit Palpung Monastery , a Karma Kagyupa’s monastery established by Taisitu Rinpoche in 1727. we will visit Kotok Monastery, a Nyingmapa monastery in Kham. Katok is revered as the main pilgrims’ site of Buddha-activity in Kham and is the oldest survining monastery of Nyingma school, excluding Samye and the temples constructed by the early kings.  Dampad Deshek gave teachings continually to students from all parts of East Tibet amd his monastery acquired great prestige both for philosophical studies and meditation practice. It is known to have maintained certain rare lineages of teaching from the 12th century at times when they were lost in central Tibet.  We will sleep in hotel

Day 11: Pelyul – Kardzi

Today we leave for Kardzi, a small trading center for the surrounding areas.  On the way, we will explore Yachen Monastery, another well-known monastic collage next to Serta Labrong, the head of this monastery , Kanbu Achok is passed away in 2011, he achieved rainbow body, a great state of achievement in the practice of Dzokchen. Beside the monastery, the route will provide amazing view of mountains, rivers, forests and grasslands.  Late afternoon we will arrive Kardzi.

 Day 12: Kardzi – Litang (4200m)

A prediction was done by 6th Dalai Lama, “ White Crane, lend me your wings, I wouldn’t fly far away, but Litang.” And coincidently , 7th Dalai Lama was born in Litang.

The Litang Monastery, is located on the north side of the town, was built by the 3rd Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso.

Day 13: Litang – Lhagang

A local saying goes, “If you can not get to Lhasa, the sacred statue of Jowo Shakyamuni in Lhaghang is close enough.” This statue is said to have the same blessings as the one housed in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. We also will visit a nunnery nearby.   We will sleep in a hotel.

Day 14: Lhagong– Danba

Danba is often regarded the ancient Tibetan tribes, they have their own unique Tibetan dialect, unadulterated by modern urban influence. Many traditions are preserved very well still, such as their dress, ceremonies, architecture. Also the women of Gyarong are reknowned for their extreme beauty.  Is this true? You be the judge. We will sleep in local guesthouse.

Day 15: Danba-Chengdu

Passing through rocky mountains, along by the river. Finaly we will arrive Chengdu. We will have a little party to celebrate your trip in famous Kham region.

Day 16: Depart Chengdu

Say good by to your guide and driver at the airport