8-day Yading Nature Reserve Tour

Destinations: Chengdu, Kangding, Xinduqiao, Litang, Daocheng, Riwa, Xiangcheng, Shangri-la

Tour code: TCG-SC-08       

Snowclad mountains, harmonious valleys, mystical lamaseries, charming villages, primitive forests, serene lakes, and pastures with yaks, horses and sheep...Yading (Aden) Nature Reserve - the earthly paradise is something like the place described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by British author James Hilton.

Enquire This Tour

  • Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

    Transfer via: TBA – your arrangement

    Activities for today: Airport to hotel transfer

    Upon arrival at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, you'll be met and transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

  • Day 2 Chengdu/Kangding

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Drive to Kangding, Luding Bridge

    Today we will journey to west Sichuan via the beautiful West Sichuan Plain and Ya'an. After lunch in Tianquan County, drive through the longest tunnel in China - Mount Erlangshan Tunnel (4176m) and then stop over about 15 minutes for photographing the unique scenic contrast of the mountain. Continue drive to Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture along the picturesque Dadu River Valley. Upon arrival in Luding, pay a visit to the Luding Bridge, which dates from the Qing Dynasty and is considered a historical landmark. In 1935, during the Long March, soldiers of the Fourth Regiment of the Chinese Workers and Peasants' Army secured the bridge as a river crossing vital to the Red Army. Later, drive along the Dadu River to Kangding.

  • Day 3 Kangding/Xinduqiao/Litang

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Drive to Litang, take photos in Xinduqiao

    Today we enjoy a picturesque 8-hour-driving journey. We will drive across 4 beautiful high mountain passes, which are over 4,500 meters in height. If you take this trip in summer, en route you can see the Tibetan nomads put their yaks out the high mountain meadows and live in the black Yak-hair tents. We will make a brief stop in Xinduqiao for photographing. Then proceed to to Litang, the birthplace of the 7th and 10th Dalai Lama.

  • Day 4 Litang/Daocheng/Riwa

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Gandan Tubchen Chokhorling Monastery, Benpo Monastery

    In the morning visit Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling Monastery (Litang Temple), a yellow sect monastery originally built in 1580 by the 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyamtso. Then drive to Daocheng County. On the car, you will see the grandiose view of the high plateau with many beautiful alpine lakes and the moraines that were created in the anceint glacial movements. En route we will visit the old Benpo Monastery (Bangpu Temple) of the Kagypa built in the 11th century near Samdui. Later, continue to drive to Riwa Township (Shangri-la Township) via the Chitu River Valley.

  • Day 5 Riwa/Yading/Riwa

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Yading Nature Reserve

    Drive to Yading Nature Reserve. Located in southern Daocheng County, it covers an area of 1,344 square kilometers and has an average elevation of well over 4,000 meters. Inside the Yading Nature Reserve, there are 3 holy mountains of Chenresig, rising to 6,032 meters, Chana Dorje rising to 6,000 meters, and Jampelyang rising to 5,958 meters. These 3 snow-capped peaks sit in a triangle formation with forested valleys, clear rivers, glacier-fed lakes and abundant wildlife between them. The Tibetan name for Yading is "Nyiden", which means "facing the sun". The local Tibetan name for the area around the 3 holy mountains is "Rigsum Gonpo". In Tibetan, the names of the mountains mean "Wisdom" (Jampelyang), "Power" (Chana Dorje) and "Compassion" (Chenresig). This region was designated as a nature reserve in the late 1990's. We will take some trekking inside the Park.(Longlongba - Chonggu Monastery 3,770m -4,000m, 3km; Chonggu Monastery - Luorongba,4,000m-4,180m,6km). Afterwards we drive back to Riwa.

  • Day 6 Riwa/Xiangcheng

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Drive to Xiangcheng, Gongalongjiling Temple

    In the morning we will visit the Gongalongjiling Temple (Gongalangjiling Monastery) near Riwa. Built in 1642, the temple has more than 300 lamas today. It houses a golden Maitreya statue bestowed by the 5th Dalai Lama. Then cross over a 4,500m high mountain pass and arrive in Xiangcheng (Chaktsen) in the afternoon.

  • Day 7 Xiangcheng/Shangri-la

    Transfer via: private vehicle

    Activities for today: Drive to Shangri-la

    Today we will drive head southwards along the Suoqu River. We'll cross two over-3,900-meter-high now mountains to reach Shangri-la (Zhongdian) County of Yunnan Province. Stay overnight in Shangri-la.

  • Day 8 Shangri-la/Exit

    Transfer via: TBA – your arrangement

    Activities for today: Hotel to airport transfer

    Transfer to the airport for the flight to your next destination or continue your China trip from Shangri-la. We can help you customize a trip.

Enquire This Tour

Why Choose Us
  • Free Inquiry
  • Cheap and Flexible Itineraries
  • Licenced Guides & Drivers
  • High-quality Travel Enjoyment
  • Professional Travel Consultants
  • No Hidden Charges
  • No Forced Shopping
  • 24*7 Service and Support
How to Book
  1. Find a sample tour or Tailor-make a tour
  2. Adjust you tour plan
  3. Confirm with payment
Tours in this section
Top China Tours
Share to