AMDO – THE LAND OF THE GOLOKS ITINERARY

Day 1: LANZHOU
Arrive Lanzhou, (1520 m) the capital city of Gansu province & an important trading post on the ancient Silk Road. Visit the Gansu Provincial Museum. O/N Hotel.

Day 2: LANZHOU - XIAHE
With an elevation of 2900 m above sea level, Xiahe is located at the edge of northeast Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Most of the residents are Tibetan. You'll visit the most siginificant Lamaist Monastery in the northeast of Tibetan civilization - Labrang Monastery. The monastery is one of the 6 leading Gelukpa monasteries in the Tibetan world.

Day 3: XIAHE - XUNHUA - XINING (140 + 110KM) 3000 M
Drive to Xining. En route visit Xunhua, birthplace of 10th Panchen Lama. Xining, is the provincial capital of Qinghai, a city with the majority of the inhabitants Tibetans.

Day 4: XINING - KOKO NOR LAKE, 200 KM
On the way to Koko Nor Lake you'll stop to visit Kubum Monastery. The monastery is one of the six leading Gelukpa Monasterieis in the Tibetan world. It is also the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelukpa School. You'll reach Kokonor lake after pass over the Riyue mountain (sun & moon mountain). We will also visit the Bird Island on the western side of the Lake Kokonor.

Day 5: KOKO NOR LAKE - XINING, 190 KM
You'll have a short trekking along the lake in the morning. The lake is the largest inland salt water lake in China and covers an area of 4500 sq kms, and 3193 m above sea level. Then drive back to Xining in the afternoon.

Day 6: XINING-LHASA – Fly via Chengdu to Lhasa or onward to your destination.

TRIP DATES & COST AVAILABLE ON REQUEST