Horse Racing Festival tour start in Chengdu with sightseeing of panda bears in China Panda bears research Center. Then visit Dufu Cottage and Wuhou Temple in Chengdu. Evening to Qingyang Palace, view the antique Sichuan Opera-Face Changing in Shu Feng Ya Yun, tasting typical Sichuan snacks.
Trip to Leshan (170km one way, 3 hrs roundtrip): Visiting Leshan Giant Buddha (the largest cliff carving Buddha with a sitting pose in the world, which is listed as the bi-hermitage on nature and culture in UNESCO) and floating in the river to view the panorama of the Buddha. Evening you can walk in Jin li ancient Street to enjoy the remarkable Sichuan folk items like clay sculpture, candied drawing, crafts, etc.
We embark on an exhaustive 4WD adventure trip to Ya’an, Luding and Kangding (Dartsedo in Tibetan, 256km). Kangding is a medium-sized Tibetan town in Sichuan. Today’s trip covers the attractions of Ngachu Gonpa Monastery, Dordrag Gonpa and Zhara Yutso Lake.
Sightseeing in Litang: Litang Monastery (ChangQingchun in Chi), which was established in 1580 by the 3rd Dala Lama, Suonam Gyatso. It is the biggest Monastery of Yellow Hat Sect in Tibetan Buddhism in Kham area, with its magnificent architectures, various religion utensils, multiform and exquisite status, etc. walk in the old city of the town.
Litang Horse Racing festival, Join the great Litang Horse Racing Festival, Visit Gantse Monastery and Dakin Monastery in Gantse, drive towards northwest to Dege via Manigonggar and Mt. Que’er (Sparrow, 5600m) as well as beautiful Xinlu Lake. Manigango has its exotic meadow with snowing mountains, and Xinlu Lake (4040m) is a sacred ice-corroded lake with great glacier besides, it has beautiful name in Tibetan called Yilong Lhatso which commemorates the legend of King Gesar and his lovely concubine. Visit Derge Parkhang (Storehouse of printing blocks), Conchen Monastery and Tibetan Hospital. Derge Parkhang, established in 1729 by Derge’s King Tenpa Tsering. It is Tibet’s largest center for producing and storing religious texts.
Drive towards southeast along the Nagchu Highway in northern grassland of Tibet, 108km to the Riwoche town (Ratsaka in Tibetan), visit the Riwoche Tsullakhang (29km north-east from town), important offshoot of Taglung Monastery in Kham. Continue driving to Dengchen (148km),visit the Bon monastery of Dengchen and drive towards Sok via Barchen (120km). Enjoy the fabulous views of Nyenchen Tanglha (Tangula) snow mountain range, nomad camps and yak herds in the northern Tibet grassland. Another 238km drive to Nagchu, the capital of Northern Tibet, where you are well and truly in northern grassland of Chhangthang. Enjoy two full days Nagchu, enjoy the biggest Horse Racing festival of Tibet, held each year from 10th till 16th August. Drive towards southwest to Namtso via Damxung and Chhangthang grassland, literally heavenly lake, which is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world(4748m). It’s one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, playing an important role among Tibetans.
Trip Highlights
- Panda Bear Research Center, Dufu Cottages and Wuhous Temples of Chengdu.
- Gian Leshan Buddha-the largest cliff carving Buddha.
- Ngachu Gonpa Monastery, Dordrag Gonpa and Zhara Yutso Lake in Khangding.
- Litang Monastery and Horse Racing Festival of Litang.
- Gantse Monastery and Dakin Monastery in Gantse.
- Xinlu Lake in Manigagno.
- Traditional printing press of Derge.
- Galden Jampaling Monastery in Chamdo.
- Dengchen and Ritro Lhakhang Monasteries in Dengchen. • Sok Tsanden Gonpa and Kapgye Lhakhang.
- Horse Racing Festival of Nagchu.
- Holy Lake of Nam Tso.
- Potala Palace, Drepung and Sera Monasteries, Jorkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace in Lhasa
