Amdo via Mt. Amnye Machen Biking & Hiking Tour

The heart of this journey is a trek around the central peak of the Amnye Machen range. Further highlights include Kumbum and Labrang, the two largest Buddhist monasteries of the Gelug order in Amdo, an excursion to Lake Kokonor, the largest salt lake on the plateau, as well as the renowned Rebkong school of Buddhist art. Combining the region’s cultural sights with a trek of moderate rigour, this journey offers wildderness trekking with an appreciation of Amdo lifestyle, culture, and religious art. Our journey begins in Siling ( Xining, from where we drive to close-by Kumbum Jampaling Monastery, founded by the 15th-century scholar-saint Tsongkhapa, whose teachings form the basis of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Together with the color and warmth of pilgrims and devotees, we pay our respects to this important monastic center.

En route to Amnye Machen, we ride the famous Siling ponies along the shores of Lake Kokonor, largest salt lake on the plateau. Traversing vast expanses of grasslands in land-cruisers, we observe Golog nomads herding their yaks and sheep. On the way back from Amnye Machen, we make an excursion to the Rebkong School of Buddhist Art. Masters of traditional art work, Rebkong graduates are sought by many monasteries in Kham and Amdo. We have the chance to observe Thangka painters and other artists in action, and buy some art work. Our last stop in the highlands is Labrang Tashikyil, an important monastery and outpost on the cultural frontier where Islamic, Chinese, and Mongol influences converge with the Tibetan world. We visit the monastic university, with its hundreds of resident monks, and its numerous chapels and assembly halls. The trip ends in Lanzhou ( Gansu).

• DAY 01

  FLY FROM AUSTIRA TO BEIJING OR CHENGDU

  Local agent will warmly receive you at Beijing International airport and contune to take flight.

• DAY 02

  AFTERNOON TAKE NOTHER FLIGHT TO LANZHOU

  Arrival in Beijing, in the afternoon flight to Lanzhou. O/H Shangbala H

• DAY 03

  DRIVE TO LABRANG COUNTY

  Car transfer Labrang (280km, 6hours) O/H Pushon Hotel

• DAY 04

  SIGHTSEEING

  In the morning visit Labrang monastery, Then Car transfer toTongren (120km 3hours) O/H Tongren Hotel

• DAY 05

  DRIVE TO TONGREN AND KUBUM MONASTERY

  Car transfer from Tongren /Kumbum (230km, 4hours) after visit then to Xining (30km 1 hour) O/H Zhong Fa Yuan Hotel

• DAY 06

  DRIVE TO DAWU

  Car transfer to Xiadawu and prepare the Yaks and trekking facilies day

• DAY 07

  START TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 01 O/H Camp

• DAY 08

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 02 O/H Camp

• DAY 09

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 03 O/H Camp

• DAY 10

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 04 O/H Camp

• DAY 11

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 05 O/H Camp

• DAY 12

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 06 O/H Camp

• DAY 13

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 07 O/H Camp

• DAY 14

  TREK

  Circumulation Amnye Machen, day 08, arriving in Xiadawu (450km hrs)

• DAY 15

  DRIVE TO DERGE VIA PRINTING HOUSE

  Car transfer to Derge via Derge print house O/H Derge Hotel

• DAY 16

  DRIVE TO MARKHAM

  Car transfer to Markham O/H Markham Hotel

• DAY 17

  DRIVE TO CHAMDO

  Car transfer to Chamdo via Champaling Monastery (245km 4hrs)

• DAY 18

  DRIVE TO PANGDA

  Car transfer to Pangda / Pashu (151km 3hrs)

• DAY 19

  DRIVE TO PEOMI

  Car transfer to Peomi (217km 4hrs)

• DAY 20

  DRIVE TO BAYI

  Car transfer to Bayi (255km 4hrs

• DAY 21

  Car transfer to Bayi (255km 4hrs

  Car transer, arrival in Lhasa via Pasumtso Lake (496km 7hrs)

• DAY 22

  SIGHTSEEING

  Vists Jokhang Temple, Bakhor Street.

• DAY 23

  SIGHTSEEING

  Visit Potala, Sera Monastery

• DAY 24

  SIGHTSEEING

  Visit Drepung Monastery, Summer Palace(Norbulingka)

• DAY 25

  DRIVE TO AIRPORT

  Flight Lhasa / Hongkong