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Itinerary of Perfect Qinghai -Tibet Plateau Overland Expedition

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Perfect Qinghai -Tibet Plateau Overland Expedition

Xining - Chaka - Golmud - Nagqu - Damxung County - Lhasa

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Description :Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the Roof of the World and the Third Pole of the earth, is a dreamland for many people interested in the unique culture, history and breath-taking geographic features. Take this 8-day tour, drive along the world's highest Qinghai-Tibet road,you will enjoy the amazing view which people can hardly see when traveling by plane or even train.

Tour Code : CHTB-08

Duration : 8 Day(s) / 7 Night(s)

Departure Date :

Itinerary & Price

Detailed information

Tour Days	Destinations	Today's Activities
Day 1	Xining	Attraction: Ta'er Temple - 1 [detail]
Day 2	Xining -> Chaka	Attraction: Qinghai Lake - 1, Transportation [detail]
Day 3	Chaka -> Golmud	Chaka Salt Lake, Transportation [detail]
Day 4	Golmud -> Nagqu	Transportation [detail]
Day 5	Nagqu -> Damxung County -> Lhasa	Namtso, Transportation, Transportation [detail]
Day 6	Lhasa	Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple [detail]
Day 7	Lhasa	Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery [detail]
Day 8	Lhasa	Departure from Lhasa [detail]

Day 1 - Xining (No meal included)

Upon your arrival, our guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will discover Tibetan Buddhism by a comprehensive tour to Kumbum Monastery. Kumbum (also known as Ta´er) Monastery, in Qinghai Province, is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gulugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Located in a narrow valley in the southwest of Xining, the monastery is home to the tree of Great Merit, a sandalwood tree that was brought to life after Tsongkhapa´s birth in 1357. The leaves and the bark of this tree are rumored to bear impressions of the Buddha´ face and various mystic syllables. The monastery also features a Golden Tiled Temple, a small building with a roof of pure gold plate housing silk brocades, gold lamps, and other priceless relics. The monastery expanded until the 1580s, when the third Dalai Lama built a fence around the "Tree of Great Merit" and established monastic college here. The Seventh Dalai Lama (1708-1757), along with the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, spent several years studying at Kumbum in 1716 before moving to Lhasa.

Day 2 - Xining -> Chaka (B)

After breakfast you will be driven to Qinghai Lake (Koko Nor), which is the biggest inland salt lake in China. The most charming and attractive place in Qinghai Lake is the Bird Island. It is situated on the western shore of the Lake, and because of the receding water off its shores, the Bird Island has been turned into a peninsula. 164 species of birds have been identified at the lake. In spring and summer, the lake is ideal for ornithologists and bird-lovers, such as swan, wild goose, gulls, heron and petrel etc. Sometimes May, sometimes July, the rape flowers mass at the north bank are in full bloom. This breathtaking views, you had never before gazed on. After the tour, you will be transferred to Chaka.

Day 3 - Chaka -> Golmud (B)

This morning you will be driven to Golmud. En route you will stop at Chaka Salt Lake which is located in the south of Chaka Town of Wulan County. This is a brine lake and the lake bottom is covered with a layer of rock salt that is generally 5m thick, with a maximum thickness of 9.68m. The salt is naturally crystallized, with big crystal, high purity and excellent taste. Because the salt crystal contains mineral materials, the salt looks dark green and hence it is called “green salt”. The scenes of salt extracting, sun rising on salt lake and the wonderful sight of salt flowers constitute a beautiful picture.

Day 4 - Golmud -> Nagqu (B)

After enjoying your breakfast you will be driven to Nagqu. Today will be a tough day because you will spend almost 15 hours on the road. You will pass the mouth of Mt. Kunlun along the highest altitude road in the world. The mountain has a steep terrain, a unique ecological environment and a magnificent natural scene. You will also see numerous hills rising one upon another, snowy peaks towering into the sky, and a vast expanse of grassland and the tuotuo river, which is not only the source of Yangtze River, but also the Yellow river and Lancang river. You will also traverse the famous Hoh Xil Nature Reserve which is an unmanned, deserted land on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Day 5 - Nagqu -> Damxung County -> Lhasa (B)

A top tourist attraction in Damxung County

Visits : Namtso

Today you will be driven to Damxung County. After that, cross over Naganla Pass and start to trek to Namtso Lake which will take about 4 hours. Namtso Lake, the second largest saltwater lake, is one of the five most beautiful lakes in China selected by China National Geography magazine. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Lhasa.

Day 6 - Lhasa (B, L)

Visits : Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple

This morning visit the highest palace in the world-Potala Palace which is the Dalai Lama's winter palace. It locates on the red hill, a good viewing point in Lhasa.

After having lunch pay a visit to Jokhang Temple, the first Buddhist temple in Lhasa and China's key cultural relic for protection and a world cultural heritage. Then enjoy a stroll along the Barkhor Street nearby which is the favorite place for all visitors.

Day 7 - Lhasa (B, L)

Visits : Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka

After enjoying your breakfast you will visit Norbulingka Monastery. After lunch, you will proceed to Drepung Monastery, one of the three greatest monasteries in Lhasa and indeed the largest of all Tibetan monasteries. After lunch travel to Sera Monastery. It is known as one of the three greatest monasteries of Tibet and the representative temple for Gelugza. There are lots of Buddhist sutras, Buddhist instruments, Cassocks, gold and silver articles inside this temple.

Day 8 - Lhasa (B)

Free till being transfered to the airport. End of the fabulous tour in China.

Hotels

City	Deluxe Class	Superior Class	Tourist Class
Xining	Yinlong Hotel Qinghai	Enraton Internation Hotel	Xining Yuandong Hotel
Chaka	Chaka Qingyan Hotel	Chaka Qingyan Hotel	Chaka Qingyan Hotel
Golmud	Salt lake hotel	Salt lake hotel	Golmud Hotel
Nagqu	Naqu hotel	Naqu hotel	Naqu hotel
Lhasa	Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa Hotel	Tibet Hotel Lhasa	Yak hotel Lhasa

Price per person

Category	1 Person	2-4 Person	5-9 Person	SSP
Deluxe Class	--	--	USD1847	USD705
Superior Class	--	--	USD1483	USD342
Tourist Class	--	--	USD1403	USD263
Note: SSP refers to Single Room Supplement Price.

- Hotel accommodation (or similar class, double occupancy)
- Entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
- Meals as specified in the itinerary (B= breakfast, L= Chinese lunch, D= Chinese dinner)
- Experienced English speaking guide in each city
- Air-conditioned private car or van for transfers and sightseeing
- Service Charges & Government Taxes
- Travel Agency Liability Insurance
- Tibet Entry Permit

- International transportation
- Chinese visa
- Personal expenses such as: excess luggage charge (please verify your flight documentation), beverages, laundry services, etc.
- Tips or gratuities to local driver and guide
- Domestic flights (economy class), airport tax and fuel charge
- Train as specified in the itinerary

Comments

Amy Grover says:

The Bird Island in Qinghai Lake is pretty awesome. Swans strolling along the beach seem very leisurely.One trip there is not enough for me, I mean it!

(MAY 12, 2011 at 10:27)

Justin Osmond says:

Although we spent a lot of time staying in the bus on the way to Nagqu, views outside helped us out of the tiredness. Once we arrived in our destination, we smiled!

(AUG 19, 2011 at 14:58)

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