Western Sichuan highlands
Cross Amdo to Kham
Tailor-made private China route following Lanzhou - Bingling Si - Xiahe - Tongren - Xining - Kumbum linking the main cities with a Sichuan extension, planned around clear city order, iconic sites, comfortable transfers and realistic visit timing.
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
Landscapes, culture, local life, food moments or active experiences are tied to real stops.
How the pace feels
Driving time, walking time, rest time and hotel location decide whether the route feels smooth.
How it can change
Keep, remove or extend days before we prepare your tailor-made proposal.
Route fit
For western Sichuan depth, photography and highland culture.
You want Tibetan villages, grasslands, monasteries, snow mountains and slower remote days.
You need luxury comfort every night or want the shortest possible transfers.
Highlights
- Lanzhou
- Bingling Si
- Xiahe
- Tongren
- Xining
- Kumbum
Planning focus
Western Sichuan needs margins, not rushed days.
We check road conditions, weather windows, lodging level, walking comfort and highland pace before building the final route.
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
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 the main stops, travel rhythm and moments that make the route worth choosing. Before confirmation, we recheck season, timing, transfers and local services.
Arrival in Lanzhou
Arrival in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. The city has long been an important city on the Silk Road in history. The Yellow river flows through the whole Gansu province.
Lanzhou – Bingling Si – Xiahe
Drive to Xiahe. En route make an excursion to grottos of 1000-Buddha's-temple in Bingling over the yellow. The grottos of the monastery are firstly built in 420AD. Figures here are older than those in Dunghuang-Grottos. Late in the afternoon arrival in Xiahe, which is 2,900 meters over sea level and almost exclusively inhabited by Tibetans.
Xiahe – Tongren
In the morning visit of Labrang monastery, the most important religious centre on the northeast border of the Tibetan region. The monastery created in 1710, as one of the six grand monasteries in Tibetan area, has served for centuries there to connect the Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaism. In the afternoon drive to Tongren.
Tongren – Xining
In the morning visit of Longwu monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya-sect and Wutun village the center of Tibetan Regong-Art, which is a successful mixture of religion and folk art. In the afternoon drive to Xining, the capital of Qinghai province. This city is mainly inhabited with Tibetan but also a home of Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities.
Xining – Kumbum – koko Nor Lake
In the morning drive to Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) of Gelukpa-sect, which was built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in Tibetan area. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaistic "yellow hat sect", was born here. As Kumbum-monastery has always been playing an important role to connect Mongolian with Lamaism, today many Mongolians come to this place for worship. Afterwards cross over Sun-and-Moon Mountain (Ri Yue Shan) to Koko Nor Lake (Qinghai Hu). In 641 Wencheng princess of Tang
Koko Nor – Madoi 460 km
Drive to Madoi, a small city in the upper reaches of the Yellow river. The Yellow river is the second longest river in China with a length of 5,464 km. It is just in Madoi county that the Yellow river takes its original course.
Madoi – Yushu 420 km
Across the first Bridge of Ma Chu (the Yellow River) drive to Yushu (Jyekundo). On the way, see the most enormous Mani-stone in the earth – Jiana Mani-stones. 2N at 3*Yushu Hotel
Yushu (Jyekundo)
There are totally 43 monasteries in Yushu region, of which 12 belong to Sakya-sect, 8 to Gelukpa-sect, 2 to Nyingmapa-sect, 21 to Gagyuepa-sect. visit of three monasteries in a whole day: Jiegu monastery of Sakya-sect,. Dongkar monastery of Gagyuepa-sect. Besides, it is worthwhile to visit the Wencheng princess monastery. In the legend the princess of Tang Dynasty once stayed in this monastery for a month.
Yushu – Shiqu 200 km
Say goodbye to Qinghai province. On the way visit of the Xiewu Monastery. The pasture landscape leads you to Sichuan province. After lunch visit of the grand Sexu monastery of Gelukpa-sect, which was constructed in 1710 and up to now more than 1000 monks live there. Late in the afternoon arrival at Shiqu.
Shiqu – Dzochen – Manigango – Yilhun Lhatso – Chola Pass Dege 240 km
Drive to Dzochen monastery of Nyingmapa sect, which was constructed in 1685 and owns the highest authority over the Kham and Amdo region. Then drive southwards to Manigango (approx. 60 km.), then turn west. On the way have a break to take photos by the Xinlu Hai Lake (Yilhun Lhatso), located at the foot of Chola Mountain (Que’er Shan). It is 4040 meters over sea level, with an average depth of 10 meters and a maximum depth of 15 meters. There are plateau spruces, firs, Chinese weeping cypresses, azalea trees and me
Dege - Pelyul
In the morning visit the Dege Printing House which has always been well reputed as the “Cultural Treasury at the Foot of the Snow Mountain.” It is the biggest printing house in Tibetan area. Another program is visiting the Dege Gonchen, meaning “big temple”, a monastery of Sakya sect. It was built in 1448, today about 300 monks live here. Then drive along the Golden Sand River (Jinsha Jiang) the upper reaches of Yangtze to Pelyul (Baiyu). Pelyul is a small beautiful city by the river Ding Chu. Upon arrival visit of
Pelyul – Garze
Drive over Haizi Shan Pass (4237 m) to Garze (Ganzi), the real cultural and religious center for the Tibetans living in Sichuan. In Tibetan "Garze" means "white and beauty". It is named after the famous temple in the county. Upon arrival, visit of Garze monastery of yellow sect (Gelug). The temple was built in1552.
Garze – Luhuo – Dawu – Bamei – Danba
Drive via Luhuo, Dawu (Daofu) and Bamei to Danba (1900 m), the most beautiful village of China. The local people are called Gyarong (Jiarong) Tibetans. Before arrive in Luhuo, photo pause at the Kasa Lake. In the afternoon visit of the Trango Monastery (Shouling Si). 2N im 2*Gubao Hotel
Danba
Danba is claimed to be the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. Today hiking from Zhonglu village to Suopo village, visit of the ancient block towers in Suopo. They were made of clay and block and look fine from outside with solid thick walls.
Danba – Luding – Yaan
In the morning visit of 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 Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also in order from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley. Then drive along the Dadu River to Luding, and crossing through the 4.1 km long tunnel of Mt. Erlang Shan to Yaan, the famous Rainy City. 1N at 4*Beite Moon and Star Hotel Day
Yaan – Chengdu
Visit of Shangli ancient town and the Pandas in Bifengxia near Yaan. Drive along Chengdu-Yaan Express Way back to Chengdu. On the way enjoy the rural scenery in western Sichuan Plain. Late in the afternoon reach Chengdu.
Images help show the landscape and travel mood of the route. The exact hotel, vehicle, guide and timing are confirmed with your proposal.
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