Kham Amdo Chamdo Tour - 23 Days

Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Himalayan Trekkers will welcome you and assist you to the designated hotel. You check-in at the hotel, freshen up and spend overnight at the hotel.

After a warm breakfast, you will be guided for a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley. We will visit some of the popular landmarks in Kathmandu Valley such as Pashupatinath Temple (a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site), Boudhanath Stupa (a Tibetan pilgrimage site), and Kathmandu Durbar Square (royal palace of the former kings of Nepal). 

You will spend the rest of the day preparing for the trip that starts tomorrow. 

After breakfast, the airport representative will transfer you to the airport for a scenic flight to Chengdu.

Upon reaching Chengdu, a representative of Himalayan trekkers from that side will transfer you to the hotel where you will enjoy your overnight stay.  

Early morning we leave for Kangding. We begin to ascend the roads of the Erlang mountains once we are out of the Sichuan basin. Since this road is one of the few routes to Lhasa, we will not be the only ones on the road - you may see Chinese Army trucks trudging along the road carrying fuel and supplies.

Kangding is a fairly large city nestled in a river valley. Many Hui (Chinese Muslims) and Tibetans from the highlands can be seen in the sidewalks of Kangding selling wild mushrooms, vegetables, yak skins, and various paraphernalia.

Overnight stay at a hotel.

Today, we will visit the Tibetan School to learn some useful Tibetan phrases to give you a tool for communicating during your journey. We will also learn about the art of Tibetan painting.

The afternoon will be spent exploring Kangding, climbing the hill to a monastery or relaxing in the hot springs.

Overnight stay in the hotel.

After breakfast leaving Kangding behind, we will head towards the west. We will drive past the Gye La Pass (4290 m) and pass through small settlements. En route, we will stop to click the pictures of wild animals, yak herds, stupas, and people.

Once in Rongbatsu, we will relax in the hot springs to wear off the exhaustion from the long drive. 

Overnight at an authentic Tibetan guest house. 

Today will be left open for you to explore the town on your own or with a guide, or even with a friendly local willing to take you around the important spots.

A couple of hours' walk from the guesthouse along the Yalong river is Hadhi Nunnery, where you can learn about their lives of Buddhist nuns. You could also visit the Dargye Gonpa, or visit a local school.

Overnight stay at the same guesthouse in Rongbatsu.

We leave Rongbatsu after breakfast and drive through Manigango towards Yilhung Lhatso, a grassland region. 

We can witness one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet encircled by magnificent mountains in Yilhung. We will stroll along the pilgrim's trail and discover thousands of carved mani stones once we pitch a tent in the grassland. 

Overnight.

Early in the morning we will move towards Dege, the heart of Kham. 

Once in Dege we will explore Dege Printing House, Tongtong Gyalpo Temple, and the Tibetan Medicine Hospital.

Overnight stay in a local guesthouse.

We will have breakfast with a Tibetan family who will accompany us with their horses over to the Palpung Tubten Chokhorling Monastery, where we will stay the night.

Soon after breakfast with a Tibetan family, we will havea horse ride to the Paplung Tubtan Chokhorling Monastery, where we will spend a night. 

Our horse ride passes through endless fields of maize and barley growing on a steep hillside.

Overnight. 

Today, we will ride along the river, across wheat fields, and reach Pewar Temple where one of the finest sets of Buddhist murals in western Sichuan can be found. 

We will spend our afternoon with the Rinpoche while drinking tea and eating tsampa. 

Stay overnight nearby temple area.

Early morning, we will ride back to Dege and drive towards Jomda. 

We will travel past the Nge La Pass at 4,245 meters and come across an sacred monastery, Wara Gonpa. 

We will explore a Tibetan hospital in Jonda and spend a night in a guest house.

Soon after breakfast, we leave for Chamdo crossing the four passes of Khargang La (4,352 m), Lashi La (4,450 m), Jape La (4,680 m), and Tama La (4,511 m),

Overnight stay at a hotel.

Today is the leisure day. We will spend our day in Chamdo by exploring the monastery and shopping in Tromzikhang. 

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Early in the morning, we will drive from Chamdo towards Bangda. Our drive follows the downstream of Mekong across the alpine forests to the village of Kyitang. 

Then we will turn west and cross the Lona Pass at 4511 meters and follow thw Yu-Chu river to Bangda. 

Overnight in Bangda. 

Our drive from Bangda to Baxoi is no less than interesting journey. We will come across the Gama La Pass at 4618 meters where we halt for an ample amount of time. 

Overnight stay in a local guesthouse.

While we drive from Baxoi to Bome, we will stop in Ranwu toexplore the pristine waters of Ngan Tso. 

After enjoying a short break and lunch with the freshly caught fish, we will travel along the Poto-chu Valley at Tramog (2,743 m). 

Overnight stay in a guesthouse.

Today, we will head towards Nyingchi crossing Serkhyem La Pass (4,515 m). 

En route, we will drive past Bayi, the capital of Nyingchi which was originally a military base. 

Overnight stay in a hotel.

Today, we will move to Lhasa across a high plateau. We drive through a picturesque landscape with dense alpine forests and beautiful streams. 

Overnight stay at a hotel.

After breakfast, we will visit the Potala Palace, the former winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. This architectural masterpiece is the symbol of unity of the Tibetans. It is one of the grandest palaces in the world to date.

After a short break, we will drive towards the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple for Tibetan Buddhists. After spending some time at the Jokhang temple we will walk through Barkhor Street, a traditional old street in Lhasa.

Overnight.

After breakfast, we will start the sightseeing from Norbulingka - the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas,

The second site is Drepung Monastery, built by Chojey Tashi Palden in the 14th Century. It is one of Tibet’s premier monastic educational institutions. 

Lastly, we will pay a visit to Sera Monastery, one of the most beautiful monastery compounds in the country. 

Overnight. 

We depart from Lhasa with a scenic flight to Kathmandu after breakfast.

Upon reaching Nepal; free to explore on your own. In the evening, farewell dinner with the team of Himalayan trekkers.

Overnight stay at Kathmandu.

A representative of Himalayan trekkers will transfer you to the airport 3 hours earlier than your scheduled flight.

Hope you enjoyed this trip with us and please do remember us for other exciting and amazing trips in the Himalayas.

Have a safe journey!