[4WD tour to Litang Horse Festival]Day
01/Jul 28 Home/Chengdu(600M/ASL) (D) Arrive at Chengdu in afternoon, transfer to hotel. Evening program, starting on 19:00 to 21:00, is a combination of local snack taste, tea ceremony and opera. Over
night at California Garden Hotel**** The
German geographer Von Richthofen found Chengdu in 1870, "...among
the largest cities in China, and of all the finest and most refined.
All tea houses, inns, shops, private dwellings have their walls covered
with pictures….No traveler can help being struck with the great
artistic perfection of the triumphal arches. In no respect is the refinement
more perceptible than in the polished manners and gentle behavior of
people, in regard to which the inhabitants of Ching-tu-fu(Chengdu) are
far ahead of the rest of China" Day
02/Jul 29 Chengdu – Ya’an – Luding - Kangding(2600M/ASL)/328KM(B+L+D)
Early departure for Kangding, via 140KM supper high way to Ya'an - the ancient source of Tibetan tea. Drive through the new-built 4176-meter-long tunnel (highest in China) on Mt. Er’lang, then cross bridge over River Dadu, arriving Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the late afternoon. Over night at Kangding Jiaotong Hotel. Day
03/Jul 30 Kangding – Mugecuo Lake (3780KM)/50KM(B+L+D Visit to Mugecuo Lake, the most famous highland lake in Kham. Picnic at noon and horse trekking to the far side of the lake. A chance to take hot spring bath if time permits. Over night at Kangding Jiaotong Hotel Day
04/Jul 31 Kangding - Yajiang - Litang (4100M/ASL)/291KM(B+L+D) Travel day, cross three high passes respectively the Gye La Pass (4290M/ASL), Gaoersi Pass (4300M/ASL) and Jianzhiwuan Pass (4700M/ASL). Cross the bridge over Gyarong River at Yajiang. Over night at local guesthouse Day05,
06/Aug 01, 02 Litang Horsemen's Festival (B+L+D) A camp base will be built up for the group on the grassland, where they can have coffee, snacks, lunch and etc. Group members might like to experience various events on their own, in the same time they can come back the camp base any time for any assistance they need. Includes a chance to visit Litang Monastery. Over night at local guesthouse Litang Festival is known as one of the largest and most spectaculars in Tibet. Every five years they put on an especially huge extravaganza. Litang festival is actually three events in one. First, it's a classic Khampa horse festival with a race, demonstration of stunts from horseback, and a dance competition among troupes arrayed in regional finery. Second, it's an arts and crafts festival; and third, it's a trade fair, with items of every description offered in temporary shops within the sprawling tent city. Day
07/Aug 03 Litang – Daocheng(3700M/ASL)/149KM (B+L+D) Early morning drive to Daocheng, via stop over on Mt. Haizhi (means lakes, 4500M/ASL, there are about 1145 of them) for a brief visit to the largest glacial erosion topography on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. En route, visit to Gangbo Lamasery (the first Garmapa’s home monastery), the birthplace of reincarnation tradition in Tibetan Buddhism. On arrival at Daocheng, visit to local lamasery and market. Over night at local guesthouse Located on the
southeast of Qinghai – Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains,
is a county on the southwest border of Sichuan, China. Daocheng County
extends, across 27/58 – 29/30 north latitudes and 99/56 –
100/36 east longitudes, 174km from the south to the north and 63 km
from the west to the east. It covers 7323 square kilometers and its
30,000 inhabitants are mainly Tibetans people. It is part of ancient
Muli Kingdom. The Kingdom of Muli, located in SW Kham in Sichuan province,
is an area of vast grassland, high plateau, and glaciated mountains.
The area is home to 22 of China's 56 minority peoples. The region contains
some of the last great stands of old growth forest left in Sichuan. Day
08/Aug 04 Daocheng - Yading National Park/ Lost Horizon/110KM(B+L+D)
Early
morning drive to Lagu village (110km), en route visit to Konkaling Lamasery,
where possess a bronze statue of Maitreya presented by Dalai V. Horse
trek from Lagu to Conggu at the feet of three scared mountains in the
heart of Yading National Park. They consist of three snowcapped peaks
whose names were, according to a legend, conferred by Dalai V. Chenrezig,
the north peak with an altitude of 6032m, means Avalokitesvara, Jampayang,
the south peak with an altitude of 5958m, means Manjushri, Chanadorje,
the east peak with an altitude of 5958m, means Vajrapani. Like Mt. Kailash
they are circumambulated by Tibetans from near and far. The peaks here
are considered as the No. 11 Holy Tibetan Buddhism Mountain among 24
holy mountains in Tibet. Camping In
the late 1920s, American explorer Joseph Rock, ventured here and discovered
a group of three peaks more stunning than any he had ever beheld. The
peaks, all unclimbed, which represent some of the finest mountaineering
challenges left in eastern Tibet (Kham). This region of Sichuan is truly
remote, containing grasslands and old growth forests- some of the last
in China. Since then, only a handful of westerners have been able to
access this restricted area of Sichuan. After departing Chengdu, each
day brings us deeper into east Tibet. We travel through Litang before
reaching Daocheng, at which point we switch to horses and our own feet.
Finally we arrive at Yading, the last village before entering the valley
of Konkaling. From here, exploratory trekking at its best begins.
Day
09/Aug 05 Yading National Park/ Lost Horizon(B+L+D) Horse trek starts at early morning to join the local pilgrims to circle the scared mountains. Back to Congu Lamasery for overnight. Camping Day
10/Aug 06 Yading National Park/Lost Horizon(B+L+D) Horse trek to remote lakes, encountering with a variety of wild lives. Back to Conggu Lamasery in the same day for overnight. Camping Day
11/Aug 07 Yading National Park/ Lost Horizn - Daocheng /110KM(B+L+D)
Travel day, horse and jeep ride, back to Daocheng. Over night at local guesthouse Day
12/Aug 08 Daocheng - Yajiang/295KM(B+L+D) Travel day. Over night at local guesthouse Day
13/Aug 09 Yajiang - Tagong – Bamei - Danba/221KM(B+L+D) Leave Yajiang in the early morning, via stop over at Tagong Lamasery. Cross the high pass on Yala Snow Mountain before arriving Danba. Over night at local guesthouse Day
14/Aug 10 Danba – Xiaojin - Rilong/Mt. Siguniang/120KM(B+L+D) Early morning leave Danba, again cross the bridge over River Dadu, en route stop over at Yuezha Lamasery (yellow sect). Arriving Rilong, where Mt. Siguniang(6250M/ASL) is located, in the afternoon. Over night at Mt. Siguniang Grand Hotel Yuezha
Lamasery attracts pilgrims from central Tibet, for a legend has it that
Yuezha Lamasery is always able to bless local Gyarong Tibetan wrestlers
special power to defeat central Tibetan wrestlers during every competition.
Day
15/Aug 11 Rilong/Mt. Siguniang National Park(B+L+D) Mt. Siguniang is famed for its’ gorgeous alpine scenery, and is regarded as the oriental Alps. Enjoying the equal fame as 7556m/ASL Mt. Gongga (Mt. Minya Konka) not far away which is known as King of Sichuan’s mountains, Mt. Siguniang is honored as Queen of Sichuan’s mountains. Full day jeep excursion (70km) in the Park, picnic at noon. Over night at Mt. Siguniang Grand Hotel At over twenty thousand feet, the ice pyramid of Siguniang held itself aloof from the hills. Siguniang means Four-Maiden Mountain, and legend has it that one day four maidens joyfully climbed its slopes. They decided to remain forever, and you can still hear their laughter and see their lovely shapes. For years, their mother called them, begging them to return, but they preferred the company of clouds, the mountain peaks of white jade, and below them the yaks on meadows of wildflowers in bloom. The original Tibetan name of Mt. Siguniang was Kula Shidak-meaning abode of the mountain god. Day
16/Aug 12 Rilong/Mt. Siguniang - Wolong - Chengud/233KM(B+L+D) Breakfast at hotel, early morning departure for Wolong Panda Reserve, via high pass on Mt. Balang (4467M/ASL), stop over at Wolong for lunch and short visit to Panda zoo. Vertical mountains, clouds, gnarled trees – the Wolong Reserve is the landscape of Chinese brush painting. …Afternoon proceed to Chengdu, and visit to ancient irrigation project – Dujiangyan if time permits. Over night at California Garden Hotel**** Day
17/Aug 13 Chengdu/Home(B) SERVICE
INCLUDES: All transfers (4WD jeep and horse), all meals (or picnic), accommodations (hotel, guesthouse and tent) on twin share basis, full board, all sightseeing as mentioned and entrance fees, guide (English speaking) and driver service, domestic travel insurance. SERVICE
EXCLUDES: International flights, airport tax, services and trips not mentioned, expenses in personal nature, visa costs and tips. PRICES: up to 2,180USD/Pax for a minimal group of 2 Pax; more of people, cheaper of the price. |