Rental Car Tour from Sichuan via Yunnan to Tibet
Rental Car Tour from Sichuan via Yunnan to Tibet

Rental Car Tour from Sichuan via Yunnan to Tibet

Discover Kham in Sichuan and Yunnan, Adventurous Rental Car tour to Tibet
17 Days | Chengdu – Wolong – Siguniangshan – Danba - Tagong - Xinduqiao – Yajiang - Litang – Daocheng – Yading – Xiangcheng – Derong – Benzilan - Dechen / Feilai Si and Meili Snow Mountain - Markam – Zuogong – Baxoi – Ranwu – Bome – Lulang - Linzhi – Basum Tso – Gandan - Lhasa
Highlights
Experience leisurely daily life of Chengdu
Visit Wolong Giant Panda Base
Danba, the most beautiful village of China
Meet Khampa-Tibetan in Tagong and Litang
Hiking in Yading Nature Reserve to discover the 3 holy mountains
Various landscapes: mountains, glacier, lakes, rivers, gorges, forests, grasslands, monasteries
Road travel by rental car from Sichuan via Yunnan to Tibet
Rental car tour on “the roof of the world” from Chengdu via Meili Xueshan to Lhasa
Beautiful Southeast Tibet: 99-turn, Ranwu Lake, Midui Glacier, Parlung Tsangpo, Lulang Village, Mount Namjabarwa, Linzhi, Basum Tso
Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Norbulinka, debate in Sera Monastery
Panoramic view over Potala Palace from Parla Lupu Cave Monastery
Interested in this tour? Please fill in your wish and enquiry here.
*Indicates required field
Your Name:
Your Nationality:
Your Email:
Repeat Email-Address:
Tour Date:
Number of Participator:
Number of vehicle:
Number of drivers who need Chinese driving license:
Slide the slider to verify:

Your message:

Itinerary

Day01 Arrive in Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at airport and transferred to enjoy the leisure time in Kuanzhai Xiangzi. It consists 3 alleys: Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley. Experience the typically leisure lifestyle of Chengdu. After that, we will move to the People’s Park (Renmin Gongyuan). It hosts elegant mountains, broad lake, colorful flowers and flourish woods. Have a seat in the teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in the center of the city, and have a chat with your friends. Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Day02 Chengdu
In the morning transfer to the hospital for a short physical examination, and get your temporary Chinese driving license. Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Day03 Chengdu – Wolong – Rilong – Danba
In the morning pick up the car in the hotel, then drive to Wolong National Nature Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hm². Wolong Nature Reserve is the third largest nature reserve in China, the largest natural reserve in Sichuan Province with the most complex natural conditions and the rare flora and fauna.  There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebrates, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant pandas, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deers etc. Visit Panda Base in Wolong, about 100 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. Then drive to Rilong through the Balang Shan Tunnel, if the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful panorama view of Siguniang Shan (Four Sisters Mountain, known as “the Oriental Alps” and “the Queen Peak in Sichuan”) at Maobiliang. In the late afternoon reach Danba, the most beautiful village of China. 311 km, 6 hours. Overnight at Mantuoluo Hotel (1900 m)

Day04 Danba – Tagong – Yajiang
Danba has long been acclaimed as the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. Visit the Tibetan village Jiaju. More than one hundred buildings keep the same architectural style with a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed in specific rules from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley. Also, visit the ancient block towers in Suopo. They made of clay and block with solid thick walls. Drive to Tagong to visit the Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. And visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. In the late afternoon drive by Xinduqiao, the “Paradise of Photographers”, when the weather is good, you can see the main peak of Gongga Mountain (7556 m, Minya Konka, “the King Peak of Sichuan”) from Xinduqiao. Continue driving to Yajiang. 207 km, 4 hours 8 minutes. Overnight at Yidu Hotel (2570 m)

Day05 Yajiang – Litang – Daocheng – Riwa
Drive to Riwa via Litang the “High City of the World”. Keep driving over Haizi Shan and pass by Daocheng to Riwa, where the highlight of this journey is - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Xiannairi, Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Yangmaiyong, Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, Vajrapani, 5958m). It has not only the magnificent sacred snow-capped mountains, but also vast meadows, colorful forests and blue lakes, the most beautiful sight of the snowy plateau gathers here. The scenery here is not inferior to that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone repliki breitling and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery. 358 km, 5 hours 48 minutes. Overnight at Yading Holiday Inn Express (2900 m)

Day06 Riwa – Yading – Riwa
Full day explore the natural beauty of Yading. Drive 35km to Longlongba – the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. Start trekking or taking sightseeing bus to visit Luorong Cattle Farm, which is surrounded by the three sacred mountains of   Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji and Xiannairi. If you still feel energetic, you can go hiking to visit the Milk Sea and the Five Colors Sea. Finally, back to Longlongba and drive back to hotel. 70 km, 2 hours. Overnight at Yading Holiday Inn Express (2900 m)

Day07 Riwa - Yading- Riwa – Xiangcheng
In the morning enter the Yading Nature Reserve again. Trek to visit Chonggu Monastery, and then walk to Xiannairi Mountain, continue to visit Pearl Sea which locates the foot of Xiannairi. In the afternoon return to Riwa and drive to Xiangcheng, enjoy the landscape en route and take photos of the white traditional Tibetan houses. 189 km, 4 hours 41 minutes. Overnight at Zhaxi Hotel (2900 m)

Day08 Xiangcheng – Derong – Benzilan - Dechen – Feilai Si
Drive through the Hengduan Range along the Jinsha Jiang (upper reaches of Yangtze) into Yunnan Province. Have a break in the beautiful small town Benzilan, enjoy the panoramic view of the “first bend of Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River)”. Before reach Dechen visit the Dong Trubling Monastery. 316 km, 8 hours 50 minutes. Overnight at Paradise View Hotel at Feilaisi (3400 m)

Day09 Dechen
Visit Meili Xueshan (6740 m), the highest peak in Yunnan Province. This peak is called “Kawagebo” by Tibetan people, which means “the white snow mountain” in Tibetan language. The Lancang River and the Nujiang River flow from the foot of the mountain to the east and west sides. The warm and humid air on the river valley meets the cold air, which makes the climate unpredictable. Local Tibetans call it "the god of snow mountains". Drive about 10 km from Dechen to Feilai Temple (3450 m). Walking from Feilai Temple to Mingyong Glacier at the foot of Meili Xueshan. Late in the afternoon drive back to Feilai Si. Overnight at Paradise View Hotel at Feilaisi (3400 m)

Day10 Dechen – Markam – Zuogong
Drive to Markam, the first city of Tibet on this overland journey, where the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Yunnan-Tibet Highway meet. You drive now in the Three Parallel Rivers Regions, which is consisted of Jinsha Jiang River, Nu Jiang River and Lancang Jiang River (Mekong) originated from the Tanggula Mountain Range of Tibetan Plateau flow in parallel southward. On the way cross three mountain passes: Joba (3880 m), Lawu (4358 m) and Dongda (5080 m). 378 km, 8 hours. Overnight at Ji’an Dongri Hotel (3000 m)

Day11 Zuogong – Bangda - Baxoi – Ranwu
Drive along upstream to Bangda, a town junction where Lhasa connects to the Chamdo-Kunming Highway. Keep drive across Yela Mountain (4,618 meters), then enter the famous 99-turn, it is the most tortuous road in Tibet. Afterwards drive to Ranwu Lake (Ngan Tso), a spectacularly crystal blue lake surrounded by snow peaks. 292 km, 5 hours 32 minutes. Overnight at Ranwo International Self-Driving Camp (3200 m)

Day12 Ranwu – Midui – Bome - Lulang
Drive to Bomi along Ranwu valley. On the way, visit Midui Glacier which is consisted of beautiful Tibetan village, farm fields, snow mountains, glaciers, forests, lakes, etc. From Ranwu to Bomi, about 100 km, is the most beautiful part of this overland tour. Driving along the Parlung Tsangpo River and enjoying the beautiful primitive landscape of snow mountains, forests and rivers. Drive down a few hundred meters then reach the lowland jungle settlement of Tongmai. Pass by Guxianghu Lake (2600 m) and Tongmai Bridge, through the Tongmai No. 1 Tunnel, finally reach Lulang Town. 305 km, 5 hours 36 minutes. Overnight at Lulang Zhujiang International Hotel (3700 m)

Day13 Lulang - Linzhi - Basum Tso
When crossing Serkhyem La Pass (Seji La, 4,515 m) you will have spectacular views of Mount Gyala Pelri (7,150 m) and Mount Namchak Barwa (Namjabarwa, 7,782 m), when the weather is so fine. Before arrive in Linzhi (Nyingtri, 2900 m) visit the two neighboring monasteries: From the golden roof of the Buchu monastery to view the unique scenery of the Lamaling temple. After the visit of Ancient Giant Cypress Forest, drive along the Niyang River to the Basum Tso Lake. More than 6000 m high snow-covered mountains’ reflection images make the lake like a film, without doubt, you will see the island monastery - Tsodzong. Walk to the island to visit the Tsodzong Monastery. 222 km, 3 hours 29 minutes. Overnight at Himalaya Basum Tso Resort (3500 m)

Day14 Basum Tso – Gandan – Lhasa
Drive over the impressive Mi La Mountain Pass (4865 m) to Lhasa (3650 m), capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. On the way visit Gandan Monastery. It was built in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa of Tibetan Buddhism. Gandan, Drepung and Sera are the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. And Gandan is the place where Tsongkapa died. Therefore, it has the highest reputation of all the monasteries of the Gelugpa. In the evening return the car at the hotel. 363 km, 6 hours 30 minutes. Overnight at 4*Thangka Hotel (3650 m)

Day15 Lhasa
In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. Overnight at 4*Thangka Hotel

Day16 Lhasa
In the morning visit Parla Lupu Cave Monastery, located on the slopes of Yaowang Mountain, was built in the 7th century. It is 22m high and from here you can have a wonderful panoramic view over Potala palace. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Overnight at 4*Thangka Hotel

Day17 Leave Tibet
Today transfer to airport or railway station, leave Tibet.

Informationen
Hotel, program and itinerary are subjected to change without prior notice. We must point out that, as everywhere in this region you counter a very basic tourism infrastructure. You stay overnight mostly at simple hotels/guesthouses. Long driving on bad roads and on high altitude and delays require good physical fitness, resilience and flexibility of the participants. Program and route changes due to unforeseen events are expressly reserved. If you desire the unknown and have an understanding of contingency, this is the right trip for you.
Self drive, a great way to discover and experience China!
China Chengdu Greatway Tour Co., Ltd. © Self-drive.cn