Yellow River Source Tours
Brief Overview of the Tour
Tour Name: Yellow River Source Tours
Duration: 21 days
Destinations:Xining, Mato, Yellow river, Yushu, Derge Parkhang (Derge Printing Press, Garze, Kangding, Chengdu,
Trip Designed by: Tibetan Ecology Foundation
Tour Code: YRST21
Cost: $4,439.00
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Overview:
In this 21 days you will visit many parts of Amdo and Kham area from Xinging to Chengdu. Maninly you are going to see the source of Yellow River, the national monther river of china which oraginate from Tibetan Plateau. a nother important point of this trip is to visite the Derge Parkhang th most important and famounce tradiational printing press in Tibet.
Contact
| Operator: |
Tibet Tours, LLC Tibet Eco-Tours |
|---|---|
| Mailing: | P.O. Box 32991 Santa Fe, NM 87594 USA |
| Phone: | 847 772 1430 |
| Email: | info@tibetanecology.org |
| Site: | www.tibetanecology.org/tours |
Content
| Accommodations | Booking |Brief | Communication | Contact | Culture Shock | Currency Exchange | Departure Date | Emergency Contact | Evaluation | Foundations | Group Size | Health | Important Notes | Itinerary | Laundry | Legal Advice | Map | Meals | Overview| Papers | Payment | Spending Money | Style & Bonus | Tipping | Transportation | Travel Insurance | VISA |
Your Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Xining. Meet with your guide and drivers at Xining airport. Transfer to Sam Want Hotel. Explore the city in the after noon. Dinner will be arranged at a local Tibetan restaurant.
Day 02: Morning visit Tibetan Traditional Art and Medical Museum where the world biggest Thangka is displayed (380meter long).
After lunch drive to Martsang Monastery (Chi: Bai Ma Si). Return to Xining for night.
Day 03:
Drive to Shachong Monastery. This is one of the six largest yellow sect monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet. After lunch, continually drive to Namzong nunnery via Khamra National Park. Camp at the nunnery.
Namzong
Namzong is located inside the Khamra National Park. During the eighth century this sacred abode was entrusted by Padmasambhava to the protector deity Mesang, and it was revered as entrusted by Padmasambhava to the protector deity Mesang, and it was revered as one of the 25 important power-places of Kham and Amdo, specifically symbolizing the mind aspect of Buddha-mind. Later, when Buddhism was persecuted in Central Tibet by the king Langdarma ,the three wise monks, Tsang Rabsel of Chuwori, Mar Shakyamuni fled via Qarloq to Amdo, where they initially stayed for 20 years in the cave hermitage of Achung Namdzong. Lhalung pelgyi Dorje followed them here, after his assassination of Langdarma, and the meditation hermitage on the adjacent Ugdzong Hill, known as Shamalung, is said to contain the remains of his robe. It was here, and in other power-places of Amdo, such as Dentik, that the monastic lineage was preserved from persecution and eventually restored intact to Central Tibet by their disciples and successors. In later centuries, Achung Nadzong was visited by important lamas, including Zhabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol who likened the red-rock terrain to a red ruby.
Day 04:
Morning visit the nunnery. do a short hiking at the park. A picnic lunch will be arranged at the park. After noon, Drive to Trika (Chi: Gui De). Stay at Lidu or Hot Spring Hotel.
Day 05: Morning drive to Shala grassland where you could see a panoramic view of the Lake Kokonor. The biggest salt lake on Tibetan Plateau. Spend the whole day on rolling Shala grassland. Earlier after noon, drive to Chabcha. Stay at Hai Nan Hotel
Qinghai Lake or Lake Kokonor
Qinghai Lake (Mongolian: Köke naγur; Chinese:Qing Hai Hu) or Tso Ngon Po (in Tibetan language), historically known as Koko Nor or Kuku Nor (from the Mongolian name, literally meaning "Blue Lake"), is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. The names Qinghai and Kokonor both mean "Blue/Teal Sea" in Standard Mandarin and Mongolian. It is located about 150 kilometres west of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan Plateau in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake, most of them seasonal. Five permanent streams provide 80% of total influx. The lake has fluctuated in size, shrinking over much of the 20th century, but increasing since 2004. Despite its salinity, it has an abundance of fish, such as the edible naked carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii, huángyú ) The lake is located at the crossroads of several bird migration routes across Asia. Many species use Qinghai as an intermediate stop during migration. As such, it is a focal point in global concerns of avian influenza (H5N1), as a major outbreak here could spread the virus across Europe and Asia, further increasing the chances of a pandemic. Minor outbreaks of H5N1 have already been identified at the lake. At the tip of the peninsula on the western side of the lake are the "Bird Islands" (Cormorant Island and Egg Island), which have been bird sanctuaries of the Qinghai Lake Natural Protection Zone since 1997. The lake often remains frozen for three months continuously in winter.
Day 06: Drive to Mato through out some opened grasslands. You will many nomads and their camps. You will reach in Mato in the earlier evening. Stay at Liang You Hotel.
Day 07: A day trip to the source of the Yellow River. Where you could see some untouched landscapes. You will also see numbers of wildlife. Return to Mato for the night.
Day 08: Drive to Yushu after breakfast, you will pass Tralo Pass (4350mt). Then you start to descend into the Kham territory. Mostly you will spend the whole day driving on some large grasslands and Tibetan nomadic towns. Stay at Yushu Hotel or Similar standard.
Day 09: Explore Yushu, morning visiting Gyanak Mani Wall (The world largest stone carved Mani collection). After lunch drive to
Nambar Nangzal Temple. Return to the hotel for the night.
Day 10: Drive to Sershul (Chi Shi Qu) . Visit Sershul Monastery, the biggest Geluk Pa monastery in the region. Sershul is also the
most nomadic populated region in Sichuan Province. Lunch at Sershul town. Continue drive on some endless-large grass
lands. You will witness many Tibetan nomads and their summer pastures. Camp for the night on the grassland.
Day 11: Drive to Zogchen monastery. This is one of the three major traditions of Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit the monastery and explore the retreat sites around the monastery. After visiting this monastery, drive to Yulong Lhatso Lake. Stay at Yulong guest house camp for the night. Mani Gango is a very small place where there are only two small guest houses, they both are not very comfortable ones. If the weather is clear and sunny, then it would be better to camp for the night.
Day 12: Leave Yulong Lhatso late morning. Drive to Derge (If there is no any local festivals) through Trola pass.4830mt (Chi:
Qu Er Shan). After you descending from the pass, you will drive to Derge town through some amazing Tibetan
farming regions. Stay at Qu Er Shan Hotel
Day 13:
Morning visit Derge Parkhang (Derge Printing Press), This is the biggest traditional printing press in in Tibetan, which
was founded by Derge King in 13th century. After visiting this amazing press, Walk to a Sakyapa monastery which is
loosely located from the press. After noon free time to explore the area. Over night at the same hotel.
Day 14: After breakfast, drive to Palpung monastery. Visit the monastery and do some trek around the area.
Stay at the local guest house or home stay.
Day 15: Drive to Dzongsar along the Yangtse River. You will reach in Dzongsar at noon. Check in Local Monastic Guest House.
After noon, visit Pamapung Cave. Which is located 25 KM from the town. Walk about one hour to the cave. This is one
of the most Guru Rinpoche’s power places in Kham. Return to your hotel in the evening. Stay at the same hotel
Day 16: Drive to palyul. Visit Hor village where they make traditional clay-pots and bowls on the way Palyul. Have a picnic lunch by the Yangtse River. Continue drive to Palyul. Stay at Palyul Hotel
Day 17:
Drive to Karzi throughout some large nomadic regions. Along the way, you will be able to see many Tibetan nomads and their tents before descend into Karzi. Stay at Golden Yak Hotel or Kasar Hotel.
Day 18: Visit Karzi monastery and a local temple. After noon explore a Khampa market. Stay at the same hotel
Day 19: Drive to Dartsedo (Chi: Kangding) via Tawu county where you can see many Khampa style wooden houses. Stay at the Gesar Hotel
Day 20: Drive to Chengu. Reach in Chengdu in the late evening. Stay at Buddha Zen Hotel
Day 21:
Transfer to the ariport from hotel.
Accommodations
In the larger cities of Lhasa, Shigatse, and Chengdu we use standard two or three-star hotels. In many counties and townships, we use guesthouses for our accommodations. In most places these guesthouses are the best we can find in the remote areas on the Tibetan Plateau. If camping is in your itinerary, we provide tents, but please bring your own sleeping bag. You can also buy one in Lhasa. Hot water will be available in hotels and guesthouses. Please note that you are sharing rooms with other members of the group. If you don’t want share a room, please let us know; we will have to charge you the supplement.
Booking
Please book your tour one month ahead or at least two weeks before your departure date. To apply for your Tibet Entry Permit and to buy some of your monastery entrance tickets, we need some time for processing. To book your tour, we require a deposit of $200. The deposit is NOT refundable. Full payment must be complete one week before your departure. Some of the wildlife tours require an 8-week advance booking because of paperwork and scheduling guides and drivers.
Communication
Email:
In Tibet many cities have internet cafés. Some of the guesthouses and hotels have internet access in their business centers. In most places, you will be able to find an internet source, but it may not be available in very remote areas. You may need some extra cash to use the internet.
Phone:
You can bring your cell phone but it will be very expensive to use. Almost every accommodation will have a phone that has international service. If you need to find a phone or internet, ask your guide for assistance.
Contact
Tibet Tours, LLC
Phone: 847 772 1430
Email: info@tibetanecology.org
website: www.tibetecotours.com
Mail: P.O. Box 32991 Santa Fe, NM 87594 USA
English is not commonly spoken in this part of the world. Often you will encounter comfort issues like an open toilet. Some of the local customs may shock you, but be aware that you are a stranger to the people in Tibet.
Currency Exchange
The exchange rate changes often. You may want to change money in the Bank of China or in hotels and restaurants that have exchange service. We don’t recommend carrying traveler’s checks because they are difficult to exchange in China. The best currency we recommend is US dollars and EUR (euro). We recommend you bring $500 USD for personal expenses during the trip. ATMs are available across the country but one thing you must be wary of is the fee for overseas withdrawal. Every bank or ATM is different.
You may check exchange rates before you depart at: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Emergency Contact
Please provide your detailed emergency contact in case of an accident or death. We will give you our emergency agent's contact information after you book a tour with us.
You may consider seeking information about traveler’s insurance independently.
Evaluation
After your trip has ended, we would like to receive your evaluation of the tour and suggestions on how can we improve your next trip. Any comments on our guides, drivers and local agents will be appreciated.
Departure Date
The departure dates are effective from where your trip begins in China or an airport—NOT your departure from your home country. Sometimes the departure may change. If so, please contact your agent at info@tibetanecology.org
Tibet Tours, LLC & Tibetan Ecology Foundation
Tibet Tours, LLC was established to promote Tibet Eco-Tours as a Limited Liability Company to support the Tibetan Ecology Foundation. Ten percent of your payment goes directly to benefit the work of the Tibetan Ecology Foundation. TEF is non-profit 501 (c)(3).
Tibetan Ecology Foundation is an environmental education organization that promotes the conservation of Tibet’s natural ecology. Ecotourism is one of our awareness programs, offering on-the-ground exposure to the beauty of Tibet and bringing awareness to the threats to its ecosystems—beyond what you might learn from the news. Tibet Eco-Tours will allow you to experience Tibet firsthand. Our Ecotourism partners are local Tibetan tour companies run by Tibetans, and your participation greatly supports the livelihoods of these individuals and their communities. It will also help TEF to continue our educational programs. Please visit www.tibetanecology.org for more information.
Group Size
The group size will vary. There is no limit on the number of travelers. Please notify us if you are a student or a research group of more than 2 people.
Health
Tibet Eco-Tours require that all the travelers be in good health. You must be physically capable of hiking and handling cold weather. You must enjoy camping and trekking. Additionally, you must be mentally comfortable traveling or working with a diverse group of people. Please be open-minded and respectful of others’ boundaries, beliefs and traditions. People with special heart conditions or respiratory ailments are advised that the Tibetan Plateau lies at an average elevation of 5,000 meters or 16,500 feet.
You may experience altitude sickness for a few days, which is normal. We recommend that you take time to adjust to the altitude before doing any hiking and trekking, even in Lhasa. If you are seriously ill, we will provide transportation to a medical clinic for free, but any other expenses related to your health care will be your responsibility.
Important Notes=Paper
Before you enter Tibet (Tibetan Autonomous Region) we will need to acquire your Tibetan Entry permits and border permit. Also, some areas require applying for a special permit. Please send us copies of both your passport and Chinese visa. If you are entering Tibet through Nepal, you will need a few copies of a passport-sized color photo. The Nepali border officials will ask for this when you apply for a Nepali visa at the border, whether entering or exiting the country.
Itinerary
The itinerary on the site is final. The trip will proceed according to the itinerary, barring unforeseen obstacles due to nature or government policy. Otherwise, your guide will not deviate from your itinerary. You may print out the itinerary for yourself. Changing your itinerary during the course of the trip will not be possible. To extend your trip after your booking, please contact us before starting your permit process.
Laundry
Often, there will be a laundry service for a fee available in the hotels where you will be staying. You may need to change currency (Chinese Yuan/RMB). Sometimes, a laundry business will be available near the hotel. Most of these businesses are not self-serve and your laundry will be taken and returned to you.
Legal Advice
Illegal drug use is prohibited. Drug offenses will be subject to the Chinese court process. It will also put the entire group and travel agency at risk. Marijuana, opium and other drugs are culturally unacceptable. Also, political expression against the Chinese Government is strictly prohibited. We will not be responsible for violation of these rules.
Map
Names of the locations on our trip maps are based on National Geographic maps and Google maps. You may find different spellings on different websites. Most of the maps we use show locations that you will pass throughout the trip but are not necessarily where you will stay overnight.
Meals
- During your trip, our guide will bring you to the best local restaurants. Remember that your lunch and dinner is not included in the tour cost in the city. You may choose to go somewhere else to eat.
- If you have booked for trekking, our trekking department will organize a team to help you cook and set up your tent if you are camping overnight.
- While you are in hotels, your breakfast is included in Lhasa.
Payment
Your payment must clear one week prior to your departure. You may pay by check, credit card and cash. If you are writing a check, please make it payable to the Tibet Tours, LLC. For cash, please do not send by mail, but hand deliver it to a representative of Tibet Tours or Tibetan Ecology Foundation.
Tibet Tours will donate 10% of your payment to Tibetan Ecology Foundation. If you would like to deduct that money from your taxes, please speak to a representative about making two separate payments—one to Tibet Tours, LLC and one to TEF.
Spending Money
We suggest that you bring some spending money for shopping, bars or entertainment. Some may want to make an offering to the local monastery and having extra change on hand is a good idea.
Style and Bonus
The tour style is customized by the Tibetan Ecology Foundation in order to share an inside look at traditional life among wild nature, snowy mountains, great rivers and their sources. Tibet Eco-Tours also organizes tours to the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau to visit people living off the land in a traditional way—a lifestyle that has changed little over millennia in spite of modernization. It is also a chance to see the ancient architecture of cities and monasteries and a variety of art forms and folk crafts. Tibet Eco-Tours will invite you into an exotic and inspirational world of life and culture.
Mostly, we will let you have ample time to arrive at your destination, take pictures, and write notes. We limit your travel time to no more than 8 hours or 500 kilometers a day. This way, your trip will be safer and more comfortable. If you are a writer or blogger, we invite you to share what you have learned about Tibetan ecology or culture with us. We offer a refund of 5% of the tour payment to anyone who writes an article relating to Tibet’s ecology.
- You may submit a 2,000-word article for a 5% refund.
- Or 8 -10 pictures and a 1,000-word article for a 5% refund.
We would like to know what you think about Tibet, its culture, people and its natural and built environments.
Tipping
Usually tipping is not customary in this part of the country, but in the tourism business it is. Please feel free to tip, but please do not tip less than ¥1 (20 cents). We suggest a minimum tip of ¥5 for a hotel porter, restaurant waiter or waitress. You may tip your local guide and driver more than ¥10 a day. You may tip your trekking cook and assistant at the end of the trek.
Transportation
- Depending on your destination, we use a large bus or mini, depending on the group size in the cities. We use a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser as well. For any tours outside of Lhasa, your vehicle will be a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser.
- If you choose to take a train overnight, you will sleep on padded berths, and a blanket and hot water are available. To get from Beijing to Lhasa, a train ticket is very hard to get. You will need to book your tour a month and half before your departure. It is a wonderful way to see the Tibetan Plateau.
- Some of your trek tours will offer a chance to ride a horse or yak. Please check your itinerary.
Travel Insurance
We recommend you buy International Travel Insurance if you don’t already have it. We cannot be responsible for accidents, injury or death. We cannot be responsible for loss of personal valuable items, cash, camera, laptop, phone, etc. Insurance agreement form
VISA
Please apply for a Chinese visa from your home country or nearest Chinese embassy. For further information, please visit http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84246.htm For your Tibet Entry Permit, please send a copy of your Chinese VISA to us so we are able to apply for your TAR permit ahead your arrival.