Ancient Kham and the Litang Nomadic Festival

15 days
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Small Group Tour
This fascinating journey through the Chinese Tibetan plateau takes in the ancient region of Kham and its people. Here, Nomads tend their flocks of Yaks as they have for centuries and Buddhist monasteries and communities dot the hillsides. The festival we visit is a true representation of traditions as the nomads gather to socialize and receive spiritual bless...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Litang Nomadic Festival - We'll be welcomed in to the yak-hair tents of the nomads with tea, sweets and yak meat.
    • Remote monasteries - See how Tibetan culture is practiced and maintained in the monasteries and villages of the region.
    • Sertar Buddhist Institute - Visit the monks and nuns at the world's largest centre of Buddhist learning.
    • Chengdu Panda Research Centre - Meet the pandas at Chengdu and see the efforts to bolster the population in the wild.

What's this trip about?

    This fascinating journey through the Chinese Tibetan plateau takes in the ancient region of Kham and its people. Here, Nomads tend their flocks of Yaks as they have for centuries and Buddhist monasteries and communities dot the hillsides. The festival we visit is a true representation of traditions as the nomads gather to socialize and receive spiritual blessings. Litang Nomadic Festival - We'll be welcomed in to the yak-hair tents of the nomads with tea, sweets and yak meat Remote monasteries - See how Tibetan culture is practiced and maintained in the monasteries and villages of the region Sertar Buddhist Institute - Visit the monks and nuns at the world's largest centre of Buddhist learning. Chengdu Panda Research Centre - Meet the pandas at Chengdu and see the efforts to bolster the population in the wild

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age range30 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CityChengdu
End CityChengdu

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Activities

  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Trekking

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Day 1 Join trip in Chengdu

With a history that stretches back nearly 2500 years, Chengdu marks the spot where the southern Silk Road began. The city boasts a rich cultural pedigree that has produced some of China's most famous poets, including the 'Chinese Shakespeare', Du Fu, who lived here i...

Meals Provided :
None

Day 2 Visit the Panda Research Centre and Wenshu Temple, drive to Dujiangyan

This morning we head to the outskirts of the city to meet Chengdu's most famous residents, the giant pandas. The resident pandas are said to be China's spoilt children and they spend their days relaxing in large enclosures while the staff bring them bamboo by the buck...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 3 Discover Dujiangyan and the Two Kings and Dragon Taming temples. Drive to Ma Er Kang (2600m)

Set amongst beautiful landscape, the 2300 year old Dujiangyan irrigation project is one of the greatest engineering feats of the Qin Dynasty. Constructed to provide water to the region and control flooding, the system is still in use today. We also visit the nearby ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 4 Explore Songgang Watch Towers and drive to Rangtang (3280m) via the Dukehe River Valley

We start today with a visit to nearby Songgang where 17th century watch towers once signalled villagers of impending raids. We continue towards Rangtang, a journey of five to six hours through the Dukehe River Valley. There'll be several stops to enjoy the scenery an...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 5 Drive to Sertar (3820m), the world's largest Buddhist settlement

A drive of four to five hours through more impressive scenery will bring us to the Larung Gar Valley and Sertar, the world's largest Buddhist settlement. On the way we pass through the Serqu River Gorge, which will be looking gloroius with the colours of autumn, and ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 6 Explore Sertar Buddhist Institute, meet a lama at home and watch the public debating

After breakfast we start exploring the institute. We'll climb approximately 600 steps to the Mandala Temple for great views of the settlement and surrounding countryside before walking through the community where thousands of students attend teachings by prominent la...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 7 Drive to Ganzi (3390m) and visit nomads on the grassland

A very short drive this morning will bring us to Dong Ga, a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery on a hillside which houses ancient Buddhist paintings and Tibetan Tangkas - paintings of religious subjects on cotton or silk. The monastery has wonderful views of the vast Jinma g...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 8 Explore Ganzi (3390m), visit the local market and Dajin Monastery

Situated in a large valley of grass-covered hills with snow-capped mountains in the distance, the friendly town of Ganzi is rich in Tibetan culture. We walk through the town for around an hour, making our way to Ganzi Monastery which is reached by almost 200 steps. ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 9 Ascend to Litang (4013m), one of world's highest towns

Today's drive to Litang is approximately eight hours, passing through ever more dramatic mountain scenery as we climb to an altitude of just over 4000 metres. We'll make frequent stops to enjoy the views and to visit some of the small monasteries along the route, cho...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 10 Meet the nomads, lamas and monks at the Litang Nomadic Festival

At the end of the summer the Tibetan nomads of the Kham region gather on the expansive grasslands near Litang. They set up their elaborately decorated yak-hair tents and spend a few days meeting each other and praying for a good harvest. The lamas of Litang Monaster...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 11 More time at Litang Nomadic Festival and discover Litang Monastery

We'll visit the festival again early this morning to see the nomads milking their yaks and spend some more time soaking up the atmosphere before moving on to Litang monastery. The largest and oldest in the region, the monastery dates from 1580 and consists of elabora...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 12 Visit Tibetan villages en route to the Tagong Grasslands (3700m)

The word Tagong means 'favourite place of one that has achieved enlightenment' in the local language and is famous for its massive grassland areas inhabited by tens of thousands of yaks and their nomadic herders. It will take us around seven hours to get there by roa...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 13 Walk on the grasslands, visit Tagong Monastery and drive to Luding (1320m)

This morning we take a walk on the grasslands to experience the wide, expansive landscape and hopefully to meet some of the nomads that live there with their herds of yaks. After our walk we visit the Tagong Monastery, built during the Qing Dynasty to honour the journ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 14 Drive along the ancient Tea and Horse Trail to Chengdu

Today we return to Chengdu via Ya'an, a drive of around seven hours. Ya'an is famous as a centre of the tea industry and was an important stop on the ancient Tea and Horse Trail, an ancient trading route from China to Tibet. We'll stop here for lunch and visit Ya'an m...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 15 Trip ends in Chengdu

Our trip ends this morning after breakfast.

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,550
Price per day$237
Last Updated: 1/15/2021

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
10,427
Great
3,358
Average
527
Disappointing
158
Terrible
80
G

Gordon

Nov 2019

Written on

Great to have the opportunity to meet

Great to have the opportunity to meet real nomads in their tents at Litang, lovely people !

G

Gordon

Jan 2019

Written on

Great

Great to have the opportunity to meet real nomads in their tents at Litang, lovely people !

G

Gordon

Jan 2019

Written on

Great to have the opportunity to meet

Great to have the opportunity to meet real nomads in their tents at Litang, lovely people !

Write a Review

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus,

Transportation & flights

Bus
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
China: A visa is required by all nationalities. A single entry visa should be arranged in advance of travelling. From 1st November 2018, British Passport Holders will be required to present themselves in person at the Chinese Visa Processing Centre in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast on the day of application, to provide biometric information (fingerprints). Appointments can be booked and forms completed via www.visaforchina.org In order to apply for your Chinese visa you will need to submit supporting documents from our local supplier confirming your itinerary and travel arrangements, which we will obtain on your behalf. So that we can provide this for you, and to ensure all local arrangements are in place, we require a copy of your passport no later than 8 weeks before you are due to start your trip. Once we have your passport copy we shall process and pass on the documents you require 6-8 weeks before your trip, please be mindful of this when applying for your visa. If you require the supporting documents earlier than this, please contact Explore so we can arrange this. Passengers wishing to extend their stay in China should be aware that current visa regulations only allow foreigners to stay in the country for up to 30 days. Please consider this when planning your trip. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against malaria, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Travellers may wish to take immunisation against Japanese Encephalitis. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 14
Age Requirements
30 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-SLT

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