Classic central Tibet
Discovery Tour during Tibetan New Year Festival Losar in Aba
Tailor-made private Sichuan-Tibet journey following Aba Chengdu - Yaan - Luding - Danba - Rangtang - Aba - Taoping - Chengdu connecting Chengdu with Lhasa or the Qinghai-Tibet railway, shaped around plateau pace, city sequence and local logistics.
We shape the route around your dates, pace and comfort level before preparing the proposal.
Choose with confidence
Picture the route before asking for a proposal.
Follow the route rhythm, landscapes and travel moments first. If this feels like the China you want, we shape the dates, pace, hotels, transport and special interests around your group.
What you will see
Lhasa monasteries, lakes, Everest, Kailash or Tibetan towns are tied to real stops.
How the pace feels
Altitude, drives, overnight places and rest time decide whether the plateau route feels smooth.
How it can change
Photography, kora, softer pace, border extensions or better hotels can be redesigned.
Route fit
For Tibet travellers who want the dream handled realistically.
You want monasteries, lakes, Everest, Kailash or Lhasa with altitude, permits and road rhythm handled carefully.
You expect to travel in Tibet like a normal independent city trip.
Highlights
- Aba Chengdu
- Yaan
- Luding
- Danba
- Rangtang
- Aba
Planning focus
Tibet routes need altitude, permits and backup rhythm.
After your dates and comfort level are clear, we check current rules, altitude rhythm, roads, vehicles, guides, hotels and backup days.
Route at a glance
See the sequence before the details.
This quick route view helps you understand the order of stops, where the journey slows down and what we check before the final proposal.
Route sequence
Altitude rhythm
Add acclimatization time and avoid compressing high passes or remote nights.
Permit check
Tibet and special-route rules must be verified before the proposal is treated as confirmable.
Season and roads
Roads, mountain weather, festivals and scenery windows change the best version of the route.
Daily pace
Driving time, rest time and hotel location decide whether the route feels smooth.
Itinerary rhythm
What each day can feel like
The day-by-day view shows altitude, drives, monasteries, lakes and overnight rhythm. Before confirmation, we check current rules, roads, vehicles, hotels and acclimatization.
Chengdu
In the morning drive along Chengdu-Yaan Express Way to Yaan, the famous Rainy City. On the way enjoy the rural scenery in western Sichuan Plain. Highlights of Yaan are Bifengxia Panda Base and Shangli Ancient Town. Bifengxia Panda Base is famous for the forest coverage, waterfalls, river and breathtaking landscapes. After the violent earthquake in Sichuan, the panda base in Ya'an became the largest panda reserve in the world, with over 80 giant pandas. There are over 20 research la
Chengdu – Yaan – Luding
Drive along Dadu River to Danba (1900 m). The local people in Danba are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetan. Danba is claimed to be the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. Visit of the ancient block towers in Suopo. They were made of clay and block and look fine from outside with solid thick walls. Then visit the village Jiaju. More than one hundred buildings keep the same architectural style with a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Ti
Luding – Danba
Drive to Rangtang. In Tibetan Rangtang means the Treasure God’s Flat Land. On the way visit of Kargyuepa Monastery Sirin Kar (Zengke Si), whose sign is the three nine storey „Milarepa Stone Tower“.
Danba – Rangtang
In the morning drive to Rangtang (Dzamthang) Monastery in the valley of the Dzi Chu. It is the main lamasery of the entire Rangtang area and the chief institution of the Jonangpa order. Then drive to the nearby Nyingmapa lamasery Bangtuo. The monastery was established during the Mongol Yuan reign of China (1274-1368). Bathong Gompa or Bangtuo Si is famous for the throngs of choerten built from the 17th century up to 1910. Three of the choerten at Bangtuo Monastery are said to exhibit murals
Rangtang – Aba
In the morning visit of Kirti Monastery (Ge’erdeng Si) of Gelug Sect. Originally built in 1870, it has become the biggest monasteries in Kham-Amdo region of Sichuan after more than 100 years of development. After lunch drive to Nangshig Monastery, located at a hillside to the northeast of the Aba County. Nangshig Monastery is one of the biggest Bon monastery in China and has a history of about 900 years after it was built in 1107. The monastery is very strong in economy and the temple halls are built a
Aba
From today onwards we will join the new year festival Losar at Aba. At about 09:40pm, a ceremony for Sunning the Buddha begins and a big Tangkha of Tsongkhapa displays in front of Assembly Hall in a quite different way from other Gelupa monasteries in Amdo area. The ceremony of Buddha Sunning initiated from 1468AD in the rein of the 1st Dalai Lama, and much bigger sized Thangka paintings of Buddha has been used from the time of the 4th Dalai Lama to this day. In the afternoon go and see the monks of Ki
Aba
In the morning drive to Kirti again. Enjoy the performance of monk wearing masks when dancing. In the afternoon visit of Ngayul Monastery (Saige Si), a Jonangpa order temple in the vicinity of Aba Town. See how they are sunning the Buddha and turning the Buddha.
Aba
Drive to Nangshig Monastery again. In the morning, we can see the circling dance in the monastery. The monks walk around the temple while playing religious musical instruments. It is an amazing exotic experience for all of us. After the visit we drive back to the town. On route pay a visit to a local Tibetan family and see how the life of the locals is nowadays.
Aba
Experince the Losar at Nangshig Monastery again. Today we will see the grand prayer ceremony at the Guardian Deity hall. Many locals gather around there and what they like to do is burning the pine twigs, Tibetan joss-sticks or tsamba. They share the faith that the smokes they burn will open the `sky gate' and will carry their prayers to the deities. It is a good chance to view the traditional costume of the Tibetans as they will put on the most beautiful ones to the monastery. For them, it is indeed t
Aba
Drive back to Chengdu. On the way we will visit Taoping Qiang People’s Stocked Village. The ancient Taoping Village has a great appeal for the numerous experts and tourists with its odd and wonderful fortress buildings.
Aba – Taoping - Chengdu
Transfer to airport and see off. Special note:The above stated program during the Losar festival is subject to change without prior notice by the local monasteries. We will make the most of Losar festival per the actual available program on the spot. This journey is an adventure and only succeeds if you show understanding, patience and flexibility for the possible delays and program changes or imponderable situations. It requires the participants to have the sense of community and a cooperative
Leave Chengdu
Special note:The above stated program during the Losar festival is subject to change without prior notice by the local monasteries. We will make the most of Losar festival per the actual available program on the spot. This journey is an adventure and only succeeds if you show understanding, patience and flexibility for the possible delays and program changes or imponderable situations. It requires the participants to have the sense of community and a cooperative spirit, and be ready to face very simple living condi
Images help show the landscape and travel mood of the route. The exact hotel, vehicle, guide and timing are confirmed with your proposal.
Trip inquiry
Send us the route you imagine
Tell us your route, dates and group size. A specialist will reply with a practical route plan.