Tibet
China
     

Eastern Tibet
Kongpo, Kham & the Great River Gorges

An incredible adventure from the spiritual heart of Tibet through some of the harshest and most dramatic landscapes the world has to offer. Isolated valleys, tribal villages and remote monasteries - an unforgettable and unique glimpse of a rapidly changing world.

Travel eastwards into Kham, one of the most isolated and least visited areas on Earth. This is a stunning journey of breathtaking beauty: snow capped mountains, deep, forested valleys, crystal-clear lakes, rivers, and incredible grasslands. Here the great rivers – Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yangzi, Irrawaddy - descend from the Tibetan Plateau, carving deep gorges through the mountains. The roads are rough and winding and the vista around every corner will make you gasp anew.

The northern route takes you via Tibetan Plateau's second largest saltwater lake, Namtso Chukmo, a spectacular site. Dominated by the 7110-meter snow peak of Nyenchen Thanglha, it teems with migratory birds and the cave hermitages at Tashidor are a popular pilgrimage destination. Then travel through the nomadic terrain of the upper Salween into the heartland of Kham.

The southern route is one of vast altitude changes as you traverse deep river gorges separated by high passes before emerging onto the vast grasslands surrounding Litang - one of east Tibet's most fascinating towns. Or head south along the Mekong to Dequin and the Tibetan regions of northern Yunnan.

Suggested Itineraries
Northern Route
Day 1 Chengdu Days 2-4 Lhasa Days 5-6 Namtso Day 7 Nakchu Day 8 Sokshan Day 9 Tengchen Day 10 Riwoche Days 11-12 Chamdo Days 13-14 Dege Day 15 Danba Day 16 Wolong Panda Sanctuary Day 17 Chengdu

Southern Route
Day 1 Chengdu Days 2-4 Lhasa Day 5 Samye Days 6-7 Gyatsa - Meling Days 8-9 Lamaling - Nyangtri- Serkhyim La Day 10 Rawok Tso - Pasho Days 11-12 Zuogang - Markham Days 13-14 Litang Days 15-16 Tagong Day 17 Chengdu

Yunnan Route
Day 1 Chengdu Days 2-4 Lhasa Day 5 Samye Days 6-7 Gyatsa - Meling Days 8-9 Lamaling - Nyangtri- Serkhyim La Day 10 Rawok Tso - Pasho Days 11-12 Zuogang - Markham Day 13 Dequin Days 14-15 Zhongdian
Panda Sanctuary
China's most iconic symbol are well aware of how cute they are - especially the young ones whose clumsy antics can entertain for hours.
Potala Palace
The symbol of Tibet, this awesome palace containing over 1000 rooms and 200,000 images dominates the city. The 7th century building was replaced by the current 130,000square meter structure in the 17th century.

Jokhang Temple
This 1300-year-old, golden-roofed building is the spiritual heart ofLhasa and of the Tibetan world. The courtyard in front of the entrance is almost constantly filled with prostrating pilgrims – inside the labyrinth of shrines, halls and galleries are dimly lit by butter lamps and filled with pilgrims and incense and house some of the finest treasures of Tibetan art.

Samye
Tibet's first monastery, built in the form of a mandala on the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Bhramaputra River).
Nakchu
Important trade and transport hub in the center of the Tibetan grasslands - its annual August horse race festival is world famous.
Lamaling
A beautiful temple, rebuilt following the Cultural Revolution, and main seat of the Nyingmpa school.
Great River Gorges
The great rivers of Asia - Brahmaputra, Mekong, Salween and Yangzi all descend from the Tibetan Plateau, cutting magnificent gorges, separated by towering mountains, high passes and seemingly undeding switchbacks with incredible vistas at every turn.
Litang
Tibetan monastery town inthe grasslands of Sichuan's wild west - motorbikes have replaced horses as the favored means of transport for both monks and cowboys.
Grasslands
The vast grasslands of eastern Tibet are the realm of horsemen - many of the towns hosting horse racing festivals - the most famous at Litang which attracts thousands of competitors.

Namtso
China's 2nd largest lake, surrounded by towering peaks and vast grasslands; frequented by migrating birds, nomadic herders and pilgrims.

Physical Grading: Moderate
Culture Shock Grading: Moderate
Accommodation: Hotel & Guesthouse
Transport: private 4WD

Accompanied by: Tibetan guide
 Meals: Allow approx €6-8 per day.
     


Tibetan Expeditions
100 Beijing Dong Lu, Lhasa, Tibet, PRC
Tel: +86-891-6330489
Fax: +86-891-6330482
Mobile: +86-891-6571338
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