Horse Racing Festival of Litang and Nagchu
22 Days/21 Nights
Chengdu-Khangding-Litang-Gantse-Derge-Chhamdo-Dengchen-Nagchu-Namtso Lake-Lhasa-Chengdu
This trip begins in Chengdu-the capital of Sichuan Province of China and traverses through Kham and Amdo regions of Traditional Tibet, including the two famous horse racing festivals of Tibet at Litang in eastern Tibet and Nagchu at Northern Tibet. Kham and Amdo are new frontiers for adventure travelers, a place where one can find unclimbed summits, galloping horsemen, old-growth forest, and villages and monasteries where no foreigner has set foot in fifty years.
The Annual Litang Horse Race, held at the high altitude Tibetan town of Litang (4200m) in Kham from August 01 to 7th, is the most celebrated holiday in the Tibetan cultural area. Thousands of Tibetan Khampas will come from all over the plateau, from Qinghai, Sichuan and central Tibet to set tents for a week of horsemanship displays, trading and the local version of fiesta. After the wonderful ceremony with traditional Tibetan dancing and songs, the most exciting event is the horse racing. The brave riders will take to their pretty decorated horses to participate in the races and showcase their excellent horse riding skills. The women are all in their beautiful best with magnificent jewelry as they shower their applauses on their heroes. The festival is also a good time for trade and various Tibetan-style goods are exchanged here amongst the visitors from all magnificent jewelry as they shower their applauses on their heroes. Our trip is a special departure to coincide with this festival and we will spent 3 days at Litang to watch the horse races, and hopefully able to capture some of the most thrilling moments on film. There are opportunities to make friend with the friendly Tibetan people and of course, also visit the Tibetan monastery in our free time.
Nagchu Horse Racing Festival falls on 10th August each year officially, the golden time of Northern Tibet grassland. Thousands of nomads ride to Nagchu town from all directions with different kinds of local products. A temporary tent city appears to the north of Nagchu town, the festival includes programs: horse racing, archery, sports, the world-famous Gesar Epic ballad recitation and so on. The Damxung Horse Racing is held in every August, being a tradition on Changthang grassland as well. During the festival. tourists can appreciate traditional programs such as horse race, archery and horsemanship. Besides stone lifting, tug-of-war and other activities are performed. The large-scale goods exchange is held, too.
Day 01 26th July Arrival in Chengdu
Flight arrival in Chengdu (from Bangkok, or Singarpore), Shuangliu airport pick up and transfer to Jinjiang Hotel (5*)
Day 02 27th July Chengdu sightseeing
1 full day sightseeing in Chengdu: Morning you will be guided to see panda bears in China Panda bears research Center. Then visit Dufu Cottage and Wuhou Temple in Chengdu. Evening to Qingyang Palace, view the antique Sichuan Opera-“Face Changing”in “Shu Feng Ya Yun”, tasting typical Sichuan snacks. Overnight Jinjiang Hotel (5*)
Day 03 28th July Chengdu-Leshan Giant Bhudda-Chengdu
A full day trip to Leshan (170km one way, 3 hrs roundtrip): Visiting Leshan Giant Buddha (the largest cliff carving Buddha with a sitting pose in the world, which is listed as the bi-hermitage on nature and culture in UNESCO) and floating in the river to view the panorama of the Buddha. Evening you can walk in “Jin li” ancient Street to enjoy the remarkable Sichuan folk items like clay sculpture, candied drawing, crafts, etc. Overnight Jinjiang Hotel (5*)
Day 04 29th July Chengdu-Kangding ( 256km, 7 hrs)
We embark on an exhaustive 4WD adventure trip to Ya’an, Luding and Kangding (Dartsedo in Tibetan, 256km). Kangding is a medium-sized Tibetan town in Sichuan. Today's trip covers the attractions of Ngachu Gonpa Monastery, Dordrag Gonpa and Zhara Yutso Lake. Overnight Kangding Jiaotong Hotel (2*)
Day 05 30th July Kangding-Xinduqiao-Litang (4200m, 295km, 6 hrs)
Drive to Litang via Zheduo Pass (4298m), Xindu Qiao (bridge) and Yajiang. Overnight in Litang Minzhu guest house or similar.
Day 06 31st July Litang Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Litang: Litang Monastery (ChangQingchun in Chi), which was established in 1580 by the 3rd Dala Lama, Suonam Gyatso. It is the biggest Monastery of Yellow Hat Sect in Tibetan Buddhism in Kham area, with its magnificent architectures, various religion utensils, multiform and exquisite status, etc. walk in the old city of the town. Overnight guesthouse or tent.
Day 07-08 1st Aug-2nd Aug Litang Horse Racing festival
Join the great Litang Horse Racing Festival, overnight in Litang guest house
Litang horse racing festival begins on August 1 officially.
Day 09 3rd Aug. Litang-Xinlong-Gantse
Drive towards north-west to Xinlong, then to Gantse (330km), the traditional center of Kham, “Shangri-La” of Sichuan Province, overnight in Gantse Khampa Hotel.
Day 10 4th Aug Gantse to Derge
Visit Gantse Monastery and Dakin Monastery in Gantse, drive towards northwest to Dege via Manigonggar and Mt. Que’er (Sparrow, 5600m) as well as beautiful Xinlu Lake. Manigango has its exotic meadow with snowing mountains, and Xinlu Lake (4040m) is a sacred ice-corroded lake with great glacier besides, it has beautiful name in Tibetan called “Yilong Lhatso” which commemorates the legend of King Gesar and his lovely concubine.
Day 11 5th Aug Derge Sightseeing
Visit Derge Parkhang (Storehouse of printing blocks), Conchen Monastery and Tibetan Hospital. Derge Parkhang, established in 1729 by Derge’s King Tenpa Tsering. It is Tibet’s largest center for producing and storing religious texts. Overnight in Derge guest house
Day 12 6th Aug Derge to Chamdo
Drive towards west to Chamdo via Jamda, Gangba Valley, Jinsha River and Mt. Dalama (dirt road, 360km), overnight in Chamdo Kangsang Hotel or guest house
Day 13 7th Aug Chamdo Sightseeing
Visit Jampaling Monastery and Karo Ruins in Chamdo, overnight in Chamdo
Day 14 8th Aug Drive to Dengchen (4200m)
Drive towards southeast along the Nagchu Highway in northern grassland of Tibet, 108km to the Riwoche town (Ratsaka in Tibetan), visit the Riwoche Tsullakhang (29km north-east from town), important offshoot of Taglung Monastery in Kham. Continue driving to Dengchen (148km), Overnight in Dengchen Grain Department Guesthouse.
Day 15 9th Aug To Nakchu (4500m)
Morning visit the Bon monastery of Dengchen and drive towards Sok via Barchen (120km). Enjoy the fabulous views of Nyenchen Tanglha (Tangula) snow mountain range, nomad camps and yak herds in the northern Tibet grassland. Another 238km drive to Nagchu, the capital of Northern Tibet, where you are well and truly in northern grassland of Chhangthang. Overnight Nagchu Hotel or Tented Camp.
Day 16-17 10th -11th Aug Nakchu Horse racing festival
Enjoy two full days Nagchu, enjoy the biggest Horse Racing festival of Tibet, held each year from 10th till 16th August.
Day 18 12th Aug Nakchu-Damxung-Namtso Lake
Drive towards southwest to Namtso via Damxung and Chhangthang grassland, literally heavenly lake, which is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world(4748m). It’s one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, playing an important role among Tibetans. O/n lodge at lake side (basic condition with common toilet)
Day 19 13th Aug Namtso-Damxung-Yangpacheng-Lhasa
Early morning view the splendid sunrise at lake side, walk around to the Tashi Heritages. Drive towards southwest to Lhasa along the Qinghai-Tibet highway, you can take a bath in the Yangpacheng hot spring en route (bath tickets paid by yourself), it would be an unique experience for you to swim with background of snow mountains. Arrive in Lhasa, o/n in Lhasa Hotel (4*)
Day 20-21 14th-15th Aug Lhasa sightseeing
2 full days sightseeing in Lhasa with tourist mini-bus: Potala Palace, Jorkhang Temple & Barkhor street, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Norbulinka.
Day 22 16th Aug Depart Lhasa.
Morning transfer to airport and fly out to Chengdu, and connect flight to Bangkok/Singarpore/Hongkong, etc. You can also fly directly from Lhasa to Beijing or to Kathmandu of Nepal Kingdom. Tour ends!!
- Trip Duration: 22 Days
- Difficulty Level: Festival Tours of Tibet
- Accomodation: Hotels and guesthouses
- Activities: Sightseeing, Attend festivals, Monastery Visits, Short Hikes, 4WD adventures
- Trip Starts In: Chengdu, Sichuan
- Trip Finishes In: Lhasa, Tibet
- Best Time for Travel: March to October
Daily Breakfast.
All transportation by a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser Jeep.
English speaking Local Guide.
Tibet permits.
Sightseeing Admission Fees.
Airport Taxes
Chinese visa fee
Lunch and dinner except indicated.
Drinks, tip and other expenses of personal nature.
Travel & Health Insurance.
Medical Immunizations.
All extra expenses caused due to nature or unforeseen events.
Excess baggage charges.
Optional tipping to local staffs, hotels etc.
Items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, telephone etc
Gian Leshan Buddha-the largest cliff carving Buddha.
Ngachu Gonpa Monastery, Dordrag Gonpa and Zhara Yutso Lake in Khangding.
Litang Monastery and Horse Racing Festival of Litang.
Gantse Monastery and Dakin Monastery in Gantse.
Xinlu Lake in Manigagno.
Traditional printing press of Derge.
Galden Jampaling Monastery in Chamdo.
Dengchen and Ritro Lhakhang Monasteries in Dengchen.
Sok Tsanden Gonpa and Kapgye Lhakhang.
Horse Racing Festival of Nagchu.
Holy Lake of Nam Tso.
Potala Palace, Drepung and Sera Monasteries, Jorkhang Temple and Norbulingkha Palace in Lhasa
- No Trips in Shortlist
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