Day01 Arrival in Lanzhou D

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. 1N at 4*Legend Hotel 

Day02 Lanzhou – Bingling Si – Xiahe BLD

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. 1N at 3*Wangfu Hotel 

Day03 Xiahe – Tongren BLD

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. 1N at 3*Regong Hotel 

Day04 Tongren – Xining BLD

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. 1N at 4*Holiday Dynasty Hotel 

Day05 Xining – Kumbum – koko Nor Lake BLD

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 Dynasty passed by this mountain where today a sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to have a break. The Sun-and-Moon mountain has always been a distinction line between meadow and agriculture area. Walking by the Koko Nor Lake, the biggest salty lake in China. "Koko Nor" in Mongolian language means "blue sea” because of the lunar shape and the color of the lake. 1N at 2*Tent Hotel 

Day06 Koko Nor – Madoi 460 km BLD

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. 1N at simple guest house 

Day07 Madoi – Yushu 420 km BLD

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 

Day08 Yushu (Jyekundo) BLD

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.  

Day09 Yushu – Shiqu 200 km BLD

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. 1N at simple Xianggenima Hotel 

Day10 Shiqu – Dzochen – Manigango – Yilhun Lhatso – Chola Pass Dege 240 km BLD

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 meadows around the lake. It is also a preserve for wild animals like white-lipped deers. Short walking by the lake Yilhun Lhatso. Then we drive over the Chola Pass (5,050 m) to Dege. 1N at 2* Chola Hotel  

Day11 Dege - Pelyul BLD

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 Monastery (Baiyu Si) nearby the county seat. This famous Nyingma Sect monastery had played a great role in history and held many subsidiary temples. 1N at simple Shaluli Hotel  

Day12 Pelyul – Garze BLD

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. 1N at simple Golden Yak Hotel 

Day13 Garze – Luhuo – Dawu – Bamei – Danba BLD

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 

Day14 Danba BLD

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. 

Day15 Danba – Luding – Yaan BLD

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 

Day16 Yaan – Chengdu BLD

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. 1N at 4*Holiday Inn Express 

Day17 Leave Chengdu B

Transfer to the airport and see off.