Tibetan Highlands - Kunming to Lhasa (13 Days) We love road journeys. They are by far our favourite way of traveling. We think the world of western China and the countries that border on this region – think Vietnam, Lao, Thailand, Myanmar, for example. On the Road Experiences is all about sharing with like-minded travelers just how beautiful a road journey in these varied lands can be. Now turn the page to find out what we’ve come to love so much… p2 p3 Itinerary Map …where you will travel… p. 006 Yes, it is possible… p. 008 Journey of Discovery… p. 010 Day-by-day… p. 060 In closing... Any car you like, so long as it is an SUV… p. 079 Adventures and discoveries in local cuisines p. 080 What’s included/Best Months to Go... p. 082 Photo credits p. 085 p5 Itinerary Map Day1 Day8 Arrive in Kunming – Markham to Zogang – Preparing for your journey Adventure on the high plateau Day2 Day9 Dali and Xizhou – Zogang to Rawok – To the heart of the Nanzhao Kingdom Mountain passes and riverside roads... Day3 Xizhou to Lijiang – Day10 To Yunnan’s UNESCO world heritage Rawok to Pomi – town Through the spectacular Sundzom Valley Day4 Lijiang to Shangri-La – Day11 Via the Tiger Leaping Gorge to the Pomi to Bayi – Edge of Tibet The road to Lhasa - the best and worst of the G318 Day5 Shangri-La to Deqin – Day12 Gorgeous scenery and glaciers From Bayi to Lhasa – Arriving in Lhasa at last! Day6 In and around Deqin – Day13 Exploring the foot hills of Meili Snow Farewell Lhasa – Mountain Life must go on....or continue? Day7 Deqin to Markham – Onto the ‘Roof of the World’ and into p6 Tibet p7 Yes, it is possible... Tibetan Highlands (Kunming to Lhasa) is a discovery of the world’s most stunningly beautiful scenery: the valleys and mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Set out from Kunming, and travel through some of Yunnan’s best loved destinations – Dali and Shangri-La – as well as some of its most remote, before driving onwards and upwards to Lhasa. En route, drive past Yunnan’s highest peak, Mount Kawakarpo (6,740 metres). Join Tibetan worshippers as they sing hymns in a remote Catholic church on the border of Yunnan and Tibet. Cross high mountain passes near Dzogong, before driving through the lushly forested valleys around Pomi and along the banks of the Brahmaputra. Finish your journey in Lhasa, and join scores of other modern-day pilgrims around the Jokhang, Tibetan Buddhism’s holiest shrine. Join this spectacular journey and discover why mysterious Tibet has captured the imagination of explorers for centuries… On the Road in Experiences has paved the way for you to cross provinces and into Tibet in your own properly insured SUV, so that you can enjoy the romance of a classic overland journey without any of the logistical headaches that typically accompany such journeys... p8 p9 p11 Awaking in China’s RURAL COUNTRYSIDE…” Sunrise in Xizhou p13 Take a lake shore DRIVE and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL sunset reflections…” Lake Erhai, Xizhou, near Dali p15 LIJIANG is touristy, but there ARE HIDDEN GEMS to DISCOVER…” Jade Lake not far from Lijiang... Jade Dragon Snow Mountain seen from the Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang… p17 The lovely winding alleys of Lijiang’s old town are a UNESCO World Heritage site...” Lijiang Old Town p19 The TIGER LEAPING GORGE… where the YANGTZE makes you TREMBLE!” Tiger Leaping Gorge p21 Yunnan to Tibet IS a driving ADVENTURE…” Near Tiger Leaping Gorge p23 STUNNING LANDSCAPES on the way to LIJIANG…” From a back road near Baishuitai p25 A colourful WELCOME as you APPROACH TIBET...” Tibetan prayer flags p27 Along the way, one of the LARGEST MONASTERIES in SOUTH-WEST China…” Shangri-La’s Ganden Sumtseling Monastery p29 RED-ROBED MONKS in Shangri-La” At the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery p31 A chance to PURIFY YOUR MIND?” Prayer Session at Ganden Sumtseling Monastery p33 What a SUNRISE at the EDGE of TIBET…” Kawagebo peak in the Meili Snow Mountain range p35 Wonderful HIKING, if you like, as a WAY TO RELAX…” In the foot hills of Meili Snow Mountain p37 Where the 72 hairpin TURNS YANGTZE descending from originates...” 4,700m to 2,700m on the way to LHASA…” TheNear beautiful Yela Mt. Tanggula Pass, Tibet Mountain Range p39p39 RIVER CROSSING...It brings out the CHILD in us!” Along the G318, Tibet p41 In SPRING or in AUTUMN, an ENCHANTING place to EXPLORE…” Midui Glacier, near Pomi, Tibet p43 LIKE a PAINTING, mist in the DENSE FORESTS on the WAY to LHASA…” The Brahmaputra flowing west, Tibet p45 Where THIS LAND is MY LAND, says the YAK…” p47 PROSTRATING for SPIRITUAL reasons...” Pilgrims on their way to Lhasa p49 IF you’re LUCKY, you will meet FASCINATING PEOPLE...along this route…” At a temple in Tibet... p51 p52 p53 PILGRIMS PRAY in the shade...” The Jokhang, Lhasa p55 GOSSIP and PRAYER go hand-in-hand...” The Jokhang, Lhasa p57 RAINBOW not included...” The Jokhang, Lhasa p59 p61 Day 1 Day 2 Bai headdress all over Dali. Tourism is now the mainstay Arriving in Kunming Driving Distance & Duration To the heart of the of Dali’s economy, but in years Driving Distance & Duration and preparing for your Distance: NA Nanzhao Kingdom gone by the city was the capital Distance: 360 km of the Nanzhao Kingdom, which journey Duration: NA Duration: 4.5-5.5 hours On your first day, you will ruled a swathe of what is today drive to Dali and on to Xizhou, Yunnan Province and northern Arrive in Kunming according to In the evening, enjoy a group Elevation home of the Linden Centre – a Burma between the 8th and 9th Elevation your own arrangements. dinner together in a lovely, local Highest Daytime: 1900m lovingly converted Bai minority centuries AD. restaurant near your hotel and Highest Daytime: 2050m Overnight: 1850m mansion, where you will stay We will meet you at the airport attend our staff’s safety briefing. From Dali it is only a short drive Overnight: 2000m and transfer you to your hotel. for the night. Hotel north to the Bai minority village If you require a temporary Dinner will be an opportunity to InterContinental Kunming Today’s route is designed of Xizhou…a hidden gem in the Hotel Chinese driving license, we begin to acquaint yourself with to ease you into driving in countryside. will take you to the hotel via the many flavours of Yunnan’s (*****) Linden Centre, Xizhou (****) mainland China…mostly on the Vehicle Licensing Bureau. cuisine and to meet your fellow a wonderful highway that Slowly, we’re sure, you will feel All the documents for your travellers. your workday stresses ebb as temporary license will be allows us to gain distance from you ease into the rhythm of prepared; you will just need to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan travelling. take a simple eye test and sign province. the forms. Yunnan has one of the best After settling into the hotel, road networks in China, as you may want to go for a stroll today’s drive will demonstrate. along the city-center Green After a relaxed start to the day Lake where many locals enjoy you will set out from Kunming relaxing hours. The vicinity of and drive along a world-class the lake bustles with people highway until you reach Dali young and old and throughout – formerly capital of Yunnan’s much of the year is lush green. Nanzhao Kingdom. Depending on the season, energetic migratory birds make The population of the region the lake their temporary home. around Dali is predominantly Bai minority and you will see ladies wearing the traditional p63 Day 3 To Yunnan’s UNESCO world heritage town In the early morning, we After lunch we have planned recommend either a stroll for a visit to the tiny village through Xizhou market – a real of Yuhu, Joseph Rock’s home treasure! – or a drive by the while he was stationed in shore of lake Erhai. the Yunnan region. Yuhu is a pretty Naxi minority village Then, after breakfast at the very close to Jade Dragon Driving Distance & Duration Linden Center, it is a short Snow Mountain. It feels a few drive to Lijiang where you decades away from Lijiang’s Distance: 155 km arrive for lunch. Lijiang, former busy old town thanks to the Duration: 2 hours capital of the “Nakhi Kingdom”, fact that it remains more was introduced to the West by or less undiscovered and Elevation eccentric American botanist is therefore almost tourist Highest Daytime: 2600m Joseph Rock in the 1930s and free (although, sadly, this is Overnight: 2500m 40s. The cobbled streets of changing rapidly, too.) Lijiang’s old town, a UNESCO Hotel World Heritage Site, run along- In the evening, we have a side crystal clear streams and special dinner planned for Intercontinental Lijiang (*****) up the steep slopes of Lion you in the old town of Ljiang. Hill, from where you can enjoy While inevitably busy with a wonderful view over Lijiang’s tourists, the stroll through old town to 5,000 metre (16,400 the beautifully lit alleyways of feet) tall Jade Dragon Snow Lijiang is always enchanting. Mountain. p65 Day 4 Day 5 Via the Tiger Leaping Gorgeous scenery Driving Distance & Duration Driving Distance & Duration Gorge to the Edge of Distance: 260 km and glaciers… Distance: 185 km Tibet Duration: 7-8 hours Before your departure, we heritage site, is one of the Duration: 3 hours Today will be your first day The afternoon will be for invite you to visit the Tibetan few truly wild places left in of driving in the countryside driving lovers as we ascend Elevation home of a family which we China.