12 Days Qinghai-Amdo Tibetan Tours

Today we will drive about 131km to visit Kanbula National Forest Park in Jianzha County of Huangnan Tibetan Region, which is featured with its stone peaks of Danxia Landform, forests, etc.

After that, continue the drive to Lijiaxia Gorge.

After breakfast, drive through the Tibetan and Muslim Villages, one of the best area for Tibetan agriculture along the Yellow River in Amdo. The Sala people live in the Xunhua Sala Region who nationally believe in Islam.

Then continue the drive to Mengda Heavenly Pond Nature Reserve and Linxia Hui Region, a major congregating area of Chinese Muslim Hui ethnic groups.

Drive to Xiahe and visit Labrang Monastery. It is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, which has become known to visitors as the film’s shooting place of “World Without Thieves”.

Then continue the drive to Gangya Grassland, one of the best grassland in Amdo, which is home to lots of Tibetan nomads in summer.

Drive about 2 hours to Rebkong(Tongren) and visit the famous Tibetan art school - Sengeshong Magotsang. Enjoy the scenery along the way. Also we will visit Rebkong Art Museum where we can appreciate the best Repkong art collections and Gomar Monastery which is famous for its colorful 7-storey Astronomy stupa.

Today drive about 8 hours to Machen, the homeland of the Tibetan Golog people, another strong tribe of Tibetan. Enjoy the picturesque landscape along the way, including grassland, nomadic tents, mountains, etc.

Today we will head to Mount Amnye Machen, the highest mountain in Amdo with the height of 6282m. It is the holy mountain of Tibetan people.

Have a trekking experience on the mountain and then transferred back to Machen. Visit the local market and explore the town.

• Morning (9:00-12:00): Bid Farewell to the Holy Mountain, Gallop Across the Grassland

  • After breakfast in Machen County, say goodbye to the magnificent Mt. Amnye Machen. Today's route will take you into the "folds of the grassland." It's recommended to avoid the fastest national highway and instead choose a route heading towards Youganing Town. This will allow you to truly travel through the vast Zequ Grassland. In July, the grassland is at its most beautiful, with herds of livestock and wildflowers in full bloom. You can safely stop the car to capture the expansive prairie views and the occasional nomadic tents dotting the landscape.

  • Highlight: With luck, you might encounter a local Naadam festival or a small gathering of nomads. This is a fantastic opportunity to observe and document traditional nomadic culture.

• Noon (12:00-14:00): Lunch and a Visit Deep in the Grassland

  • While passing through the grassland, if you see a nomad's summer tent, you can politely ask if you may visit (your driver or guide can assist with communication). Many hospitable nomads will welcome guests.

  • You can chat with them to learn about modern nomadic life and perhaps even taste some freshly made Tibetan yogurt or butter tea. For lunch, you can enjoy a packed picnic, or if you've arranged it with a visiting family, you could try an authentic nomadic home-cooked meal (like tsampa or dried yak meat).

• Afternoon (14:00-17:00): A Hidden Canyon Monastery——Shizang Monastery

  • Continue your journey into Tongde County. We will head towards a monastery visited by very few tourists, yet one that holds an important place in Tibetan Buddhist history: Shizang Monastery.

  • This monastery is nestled in a canyon, surrounded by mountains and water, creating an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere. Unlike the grand scale of Rabgya Monastery, Shizang feels more serene and profound. You can wander leisurely through the monastery grounds, admire the ancient architecture, and appreciate exquisite murals and thangka embroidery, feeling the tranquility far from the bustle of the world. It's an excellent place for quiet contemplation and a hidden gem for photographers.

• Evening (17:00-19:00): Arrive by the Yellow River, Overnight in Rabgya Town

  • After visiting Shizang Monastery, drive to tonight's destination: Rabgya Town. Rabgya Town is situated on the banks of the Yellow River and is known for the famous Rabgya Monastery you will visit tomorrow.

  • Check into your hotel, then take a walk along the Yellow River bank while the evening light is soft. The river here, upstream from Guide, is still relatively clear. Watching the sunset cast its glow on the quietly flowing river, against a backdrop of distant reddish hills, creates a serene and picturesque scene.

  • Enjoy a local dinner in town to prepare for the in-depth exploration of Rabgya Monastery the next morning.

Drive about 80km to visit Rakya-Rabgya Monastery located at foot of Mt. Amnye Chunggo. The mountain looks like a huge eagle protecting the monastery from a distance. Founded in 1769, the Monastery is an important branch of Sera monastery in Lhasa.

Then visit the Jade Temple in Guide, a beautiful town on the bank of the upper Yellow River.

Today we will visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland and salt-water lake in China and is fed by 23 rivers.

We will cruise on the lake and visit the Bird Island in the lake. In July, enjoy the rape flowers mass at the north bank are. Appreciate the Sunset of Qinghai Lake.

Get up early to enjoy the Sunrise of Qinghai Lake if the weather allows. Then drive to appreciate the beauty of Jinyintan Prairie, a typical pastoral area, where there are more than 300,000 cattle and sheep live here.

After that, drive back to Xining.

Explore the city at your leisure until being transferred to the airport or railway station for you next destination.