Tibetan Highlands
A 14-day self-driving discovery of the world’s most stunningly beautiful scenery; the Tibetan Plateau. This journey starts in Chengdu, from where you’ll explore Sichuan’s magnificent Aba and Ganzi regions, before driving to Lhasa through the Kham region of eastern Tibet.
Small fixed date departures are available throughout the year –
20 June to 03 July, 2010
02 September to 15 September, 2010
If the dates listed for each of the driving holiday packages do not suit you, we are happy offer you a private departure date, or to organize one of our bespoke driving holidays – perfect for small groups of friends and family.
Journey Idea Outline
Day 1: Arrive Chengdu
Day 2: Chengdu – Obtain your Chinese driving license and explore Chengdu
Day 3: Drive Chengdu to Ya’an – See the world’s largest stone Buddha at Leshan
Day 4: Drive Ya’an to Ma’erkang – Cross the 4000m Jiajinshan Pass into a region that is ethnically Tibetan
Day 5: Drive Ma’erkang to Ganzi – Travel deeper into Sichuan’s Ganzi region, home to gangs of bandits in the past
Day 6: Ganzi – A rest day to acclimatise and further explore Ganzi. Optional walk in the surrounding countryside
Day 7: Drive Ganzi to Dege – Travel next to the stunning Yalong River and picnic by the beautiful Lake Yilhun-La Tso (Xinlu Hai). Cross the 4900m Mount Chola Pass (Qu’er Shankou)
Day 8: Drive Dege to Chamdo – Journey from Sichuan into Tibet. Pass small farms and countryside dotted with herds of yaks
Day 9: Drive Chamdo to Rawok (Ranwu) – Join a section of China’s longest road stretching from Shanghai to Everest base camp. Descend from the Mount Yela Pass at 4600 through 72 turns to 2700m
Day 10: Drive Rawok (Ranwu) to Pomi (Bomi) – Watch the sun rise at Lake Rawok. Explore the area around the Midui Glacier, walk or ride a horse
Day 11: Drive Pomi (Bomi) to Bayi – See some of the most beautiful landscapes of the entire journey today. On a clear day see Tibet’s highest mountain, Mount Namjagbarwa (Namjiabawa Shan)
Day 12: Drive Bayi – Lhasa – Cross the highest pass on the journey today, the Pa-La Pass (Mi-la Shankou) at 5025m. You have arrived in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital
Day 13: Lhasa – Explore Lhasa’s old city, a warren of prayer-wheel workshops and tea shops. Visit the Jokhang, the holiest shrine of Tibetan Buddhism and the Potala Palace
Day 14: Lhasa – The journey ends. You could extend your trip in Tibet or fly to Chengdu where you could join a 3 day Culinary Chengdu package or continue your journey in China