Garze Pilgrimage Tour: Chengdu Danba Dege Baiyu Yarchen Xinlong 11D tour
Duration
11D10N
Destination
West Sichuan
Tour type
Pilgrimage;Cultural; Photography
Accommodations
Standard
From
USD 1380.00 /pax

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

01. A holy pilgrimage route that covers several topical Tibetan Buddhists monasteries in west Sichuan.

02. splendid nature sceneries include grassland, snow-capped mountains, plateau lakes etc, ancient Tibetan villages, sacred monasterious, and unique Tibetan culture that will endow you a heart-touching lifetime experience, whatever time of year you urge to travel along the way, you will be treated to spectacular landscapes and scenery.

03. Following one of the world’s most splendid and dangerous road, namely Sichuan-Tibet line, which is divided in to northern line and southern line with code names of State Road 317 and State Road 318.This route has been honored as china’s Landscape Avenue byChinese National Geography. It is an landscape which cannot be missed in your life!

04. Strolling on Danba Tibetan Villages, a retreat from the world, known as the most beautiful villages all over China, Jiaju Tibetan Village and Suopo fortress, experiencing Tibetan and Qiang Architecture ,religious imagery, cultures and folk customs;

05. Visiting the fascinating 1792 monastery houses, the one of western Sichuan’s star attractions: an ongoing printing operation that still uses traditional woodblock printing methods and maintains more than 320,000 scripture plates, an astonishing 70% of Tibet’s literary heritage.

Itinerary
Day 1 : Arr Chengdu

Spots:Free Program

Welcome to Chengdu! You will be picked up by local tour guide at the airport hall or train station, and then be escorted to your hotel in Chengdu city in a private vehicle.
After check in, you can hang out around the City to experience local conditions and customs.

Stay at: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Chengdu or similar standard


Day 2 : Chengdu-Danba (BLD)

Spots:Wolong Panda research, Balang Mountain

Set off to Danba in the morining, will pass through Dujiangyan, Wenchuan, Wolong and Xiaojin. At Wolong Nature Reserve, you can have a close contact with the Giant Pandas - the only one panda base which devoted to rehabilitation of captive-bred giant pandas to be released into the wild.

Then go ahead to cross the Mount Balang (4532m) and enjoy the magnificent mountain landscape along the way, you will be able to see the panorama of Four Girls Mountain in Maobiliang if the weather is great.

Stay at: Danba Jimei Hotel, or similar standard


Day 3 : Danba-Daodu (BLD)

Spots:Danba Tibetan Village, Tagong Graslsland

Visit Jiaju Tibetan village and Suopo Fortress in the morning, where you can visit the local families to see some of the remarkable Qiang watchtowers of the region and walk through the Tibetan village to the highest viewing desk, in which you can have a panoramic view of Zhonglu Tibetan village and Xiaojin Valley Scenery. Then drive to Daofu pass through spectacular Yak Valley, regarded as the Natural Bonsai Garden, and Tagong Grassland.

Stay at: Wansen Linka Hotel, or similar standard


Day 4 : Daofu-Garze-Dege (BLD)

Spots:Longdeng Grassland, Garze Monastery, Chola Mountain, Xinluhai Lake

Wake up with the clear sunshine on the plateau and then proceed to Dege, Cross Longdeng Grassland, Ganzi and Manigange. Along the way, the yaks hanging on the grasslands, Tibetan villages and flags can be seen everywhere. Can pay a visit to a 540 year-old Garze Gompa monastery near Garze town. Not shortly away from Manigange will arr a stunning holy alpine lake fed by the glaciers of Chola Mountains-Lake Xinluhai, where we can walk around it to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and have a picnic by the lake.

Stay at: Shandi Grand Hotel, or silimar standard.


Day 5 : Dege-Baiyu (BLD)

Spots:Dege Sutra-Printing House

Start a day by visiting the famed Dege Sutra-Printing House (Estd. in 1729), a storehouse of engraved blocks of Tibetan scriptures and culture of Tibetan world in many respects. Then proceed to 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.

Stay at: Dongcha Culture Theme Hotel, or similar standard


Day 6 : Baiyu-Kathok Monastery-Baiyu (BLD)

Spots:Kathok Monastery

Drive to Kathoh Monastery which was the 1st lamasery in Kham area. It belonged to the Dege clan and still is one of the six major monasteries of Nyingmapa (Red) Sect. The road leading there is rough and steep, very difficult to go up there. On the way there, a line of snow mountain peaks unfold before you, just like a roll of Chinese painting.

If end early, can make a turn and take the side-valley road to visit the village of Hepo en-route, which is known for the metal crafts, especially in the art of making knifes, swords and silver bowls.

Stay at: Dongcha Culture Theme Hotel, or similar standard


Day 7 : Baiyu-Yarchen-Xinlong (BLD)

Spots:Yarchen Monastery

Drive through Ritongba Grassland to Changtai and visit Yarchen Monastery. Yarchen Monastery is the lesser known sister temple of the famous Sertar in Sichuan. It has the largest concentration of Buddhist Nun (Jemu) in the world. They all live on the island. Men are not allow into their living quarter. Then Head through the wild of Nyarong to Xinlong. After arr, you can visit a local Tibetan family and other sites in our available time.

Stay at: Xinlong Expression Hotel or Zhandui Culture Hotel, or similar standard

PS: Yarchen Monastery was closed to foreigners since April 2019, the reopen time is waiting, if still not open by then, will drive directly to Xinlong(Yarchen Monastery is  on the way from Baiyu to Xinlong).


Day 8 : Xinlong-Litang (BLD)

Spots:Cuoka Lake

Proceed to visit Cuoka Lake in the morning, enjoy yourself in the amazing plateau lake and the temples around it. Then head to Litang, Yaks, nomadic tents, men on horses can be seen along the road from Xinlong to Litang (4015m), which is one of the world's highest towns. You can see the snow mountain with its splendid scenery clearly in Litang. Stay overnight at the Litang County.It is not suitable for those who have a severe High Altitude Action since Litang is the highest city in the world and people there feel fell they lack of oxygen.

Stay at: Chongcao Hotel.


Day 9 : Litang-Xinduqiao (BLD)

Spots:Litang Monastery, Xinduqiao

Today you will head out to the beautiful holy mountain area Litang Temple, Known as "the Buddhist Shrine in South Kham". The temple is the oldest and largest monastery of the Gelukpa sect (yellow sect) of Tibetan Buddhists in Kham Area. Every year, the temple holds many religious activities, including sorcerers' dancing fair, scriptures debating, Mountain strolling fair, unfolding the giant Buddha portrait, and Butter Flower Fair. Then transfer to Xinduqiao, which is a traveler highlight known as "the photographer's paradise". It’s a piece of tranquil and picturesque land with amazing light, stretching grassland and winding streams. 

Stay at: Impression Yazhi Boutique Hotel or similar standard


Day 10 : Xinduqiao-Chengdu (BLD)

Spots:Xinduqiao, Ya-Kang expressway

After a shooting of beautiful morning scenery, we will start on our way back to Chengdu via the beautiful West Sichuan Plain and Ya-Kang expressway, enjoy the  learning the “Three Yas culture” from your tour guide, take a break at“Tea-Horse Ancient Road”. You will arr Chengdu around 16:00pm, free and easy program after arr hotel.

Stay at: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Chengdu or silimar standard


Day 11 : Chengdu DEP(B)

Spots:Free Program

Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at the airport.

After several day’s travel, the thought of breakfast in bed may appeal, or if you want to immerse yourself in the local vibe, join Tai Chi in the park or relax in a local teahouse that has served the same brew for generations.

Tips of Today: 

1) please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charger, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel;
2) If your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.


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Cost description
Price Include

01. Accommodation: Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room in selected or similar standard hotels;

02. Meals: Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner);

03. Guide: English speaking guide (for other languages a supplement applies);

04. Transport: Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle unless stated otherwise;

05. Tickets: Entrance fees for mentioned visits, include all necessary tools inside the spots like sightseeing bus, cable car, electric car etc;

06. Insurance: 3 hundred thousand insurance for overseas guests;

07. Others: Daily drinking mineral water; 

 

Price Exclude

01. Meal which are not specified in the itinerary.

02. Tips and gratuities for the service of the tour guide and driver.

03. Other personal expenses not mentioned in the itinerary.


 

Remarks

01. The price is for one pax, and based on a private mini group(group size=4adt) of twin share room and travel during horse racing festival in early Aug.

02. The price is subject to change according your travel season, group size, hotel standard, change of activities and possible fluction of currency exchange rate.

03.  Yarchen Monastery was closed to foreigners since April 2019, the reopen time is waiting, if still not open by then, on day07 will drive directly to Xinlong(Yarchen Monastery is  on the way from Baiyu to Xinlong).