6 Days Drive from Northwestern Sichuan to Southern Qinghai


Overview

Embarking on a journey from Northwestern Sichuan to Southern Qinghai promises an awe-inspiring adventure through the heart of China’s mesmerizing landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Starting in Northwestern Sichuan, you’ll be captivated by the region’s dramatic mountain ranges, pristine valleys, and vibrant Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. As you traverse the rugged terrain, you’ll witness breathtaking vistas of snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and cascading waterfalls that create a visual symphony of nature’s wonders.

Throughout this unforgettable journey, you’ll be enchanted by the harmony between nature and culture, as well as the resilient spirit of the local communities. From the majestic mountains of Northwestern Sichuan to the vast grasslands of Southern Qinghai, this trip promises an immersive experience that will leave you with lasting memories and a profound appreciation for the remarkable diversity that defines this corner of China.

Tour Type:

Escorted by private guide and vehicle; leave 365 days a year!

Trip Level:

Easy – suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.

Season:


Spring春
Summer夏
Autumn秋
Winter冬

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu-Huanglong-Jiuzhaigou

Fly from Chengdu to Huanglong, then drive to visit Huanglong national park，which is well known for its colorful lakes, snow clad mountains, valleys and virgin forest. It was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1992. Then drive to Jiuzhaigou for overnight.

Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou

multi-color pondhuanglong national park

Day 2: Jiuzhaigou sightseeing

Today is a full day of sightseeing at Jiuzhaigou. After breakfast, enter Jiuzhaigou by taking the sightseeing bus as well as hiking wherever you like to visit the three valleys of this national park, Rize valley, Zechawa valley and Shuzheng valley. In the evening, enjoy a Tibetan and Qiang minority culture show.

Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou valleyjiuzhaigou

Day 3: Jiuzhaigou -Langmusi

Drive from Jiuzhaigou to Langmusi, a small town located at the border between Sichuan and Gansu. We will pass Chuanzhusi town, then drive on the Ruo’ergai prairy grassland. Visit a local nomad family en route.

In the afternoon, visit the Flower Lake, where we can see a lot of wild flowers are growing under the water in the lake. In the evening, arrive in Langmusi town.

Stay overnight in Langmusi

Langmusiflower lake

Day 4: Langmusi-Xiahe

Visit two Tibetan Buddhist monasteries at Langmusi town. One is Gerdi monastery on Sichuan side and the other Langmusi is on Gansu side. Both are Buddhist Colleges with thousands of young monks studying there. After that, drive to Xiahe. On the way, we can see endless grassland dotted with yak herds and sheep flocks.

Stay overnight in Xiahe

Day 5: Xiahe-Tongren

After visiting Labrang monastery at Xiahe in the morning, we will drive to Tongren for overnight. Labrang Monastery is one of the six most famous Tibetan monasteries of Yellow Sect. Tongren is home to many famous Tibetan artists.

Stay overnight in Tongren

Labrang MonasteryLabrang monastery

Day 6: Tongren-Xining

Tongren or Repkong is famous for Repkong art which features Tibetan Tangka and paintings. The paintings of local Tibetans are vivid and delicate, and most of which are related with the Buddhism stories. Also visit the Wutun monastery at Tongren.

In the afternoon, drive to Xining, the capital of Qinghai province.

wutun monasteryWutun Monastery is diveded into the ‘lower’ and ‘upper’ temple, which combine a comprehensive record of the religious history of Qinghai.

Included:

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  • Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
  • Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
  • Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
  • All meals listed in the above itinerary;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  • First aid kit;

Excluded:

  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
  • Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.