Offroad trip through Tibet the offroad trip to China

Your journey to Tibet begins with a night flight from Germany to Kunming. Your guided 4x4 is starting now!!

In the afternoon you will land in Kunming and be taken to the hotel in the city center. Once everyone has arrived, there will be a briefing of the joint trip and we will get ready for the upcoming adventure during dinner.

Today is all about bureaucracy. After breakfast at the hotel, we will take care of all the formalities for applying for the Chinese driver's license (medical check and driver's license office). Then comes the pick-up of the 4x4 vehicles, checking the vehicles, and the vehicle briefing. Once we have accomplished all of this, we will already be one big step closer to our adventure. We will stay one more night in our hotel in Kunming.

In the early morning we set off and head west. In the afternoon we reach the ancient city of Xizhou. The city, with its thousand-year history, is home to the Bai, one of the many ethnic minorities in China. The landscape is characterized by green mountains and winding streams. Then we continue on to Dali, where we finally head to our hotel for the coming night.

After breakfast, we continue north to Lijiang. The city of Lijiang has a rich history and is the pride of the Yunnan province. In 1997, Lijiang was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Water canals with over 300 bridges and the impressive architecture complete the cityscape. The region is known for its clear air, mild climate, and lush vegetation. And above all, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m) looms. In this historic city, we then check into our hotel.

We leave Lijiang in the early morning and drive to the Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze River. At 6,380 km, the Jinsha (River of Golden Sand), as the Yangtze is still called in its upper reaches, is the third longest river in the world after the Amazon and the Nile. Here we take some time to explore the impressive rapids on a short hike. In the late afternoon, we reach Shangri-la and the Ganden Songtsenling Monastery. The name of the city means something like sun and moon in the heart and is also referred to as the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau. Shangri-la is the hub of the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet.

We continue northwards. We climb up impressive serpentines. In the evening we reach the Meili Snow Mountains with its 13 snow-covered peaks. The highest peak is Kawagebo at 6,740 m, one of the so-called Eight Great Holy Mountains of Tibet. The summit has yet to be climbed. In the evening we reach the city of Dêqên, located at nearly 3,000 meters on the upper reaches of the Lancang Jiang River, as it is still called here, like the Mekong River.

Today we leave the province of Yunnan and reach the province of Tibet. In Markam we reach the legendary Sichuan-Tibet Highway (National Road G318) - with a total length of 5,476 km the longest road in China as well as one of the longest continuously numbered roads in the world within a state, only the Australian Highway 1 (around 14,500 km) and the Trans-Canada Highway (8,030 km) are longer.

Heute erwartet uns ein langer Fahrtag durch das tibetische Hochland. Auf der Nationalstraße G318 fahren wir westwärts und überqueren den ersten 5000er-Pass auf unserer Reise. Mit 5.090 Metern ist Dungda La Pass im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes einer der "Höhepunkte" unserer Reise. Über Zuogang erreichen wir schließlich Baxoi, wo wir in einem einfachen Hotel übernachten.

We set off early in the morning and drive to Ranwu Lake, the largest lake in southeastern Tibet, which fascinates with its crystal clear blue water. The snow-capped mountains and powerful glaciers are reflected in the scenic lake. With its beautiful and varied landscapes, the area around the lake is rightly referred to as the "Swiss of Tibet." In Bomi, we will then spend the night in a simple hotel.

After breakfast, we will have a connecting stage westwards towards Nyingchi. Unlike the historic cities we have had the privilege to experience, Nyingchi is a modern city. Here we will make our overnight stop and treat ourselves to some rest.

The route today takes us southwest to Yumbulagang near Shannan. Yumbulagang is considered the oldest fortress in Tibet and has been shining in its old glory again since 1980, after the fortress was mostly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In the evening we arrive in Shannan, where we will spend the night.

Today we will travel along the Yarlung Zangpo River, whose name means "the Purifying," to Shigatse. With around 800,000 inhabitants, Shigatse is the second-largest city in the Tibet province and is located at an altitude of about 3,900 meters. Here we will take our time for a visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The main attraction is the most valuable stupa (tumulus) in China, adorned with 614 kg of gold, 868 precious stones, and 246,794 jewels. For dinner, we will then go to downtown Shigatse.

Sakya" means "light gray earth" in Tibetan and refers to Mount Benbori with its weathered rock.

The highlight of today's day is the drive to Mount Everest Base Camp, which we complement with a short hike to the viewpoint. At 8,848 meters, Mount Everest is not only the highest peak on Earth, but it is also one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Afterwards, we drive back via Tingri and Lhatse to Shigatse, where we will spend the night.

Today we travel through the high plateau of Tibet back towards the east. Along the way, we visit the Pelkhor Chöde Monastery in the Gyantse region. The first buildings in the monastery date back to the year 1427. The largest chorten has 4 stories, 108 chapels, and over 10,000 wall paintings and was commissioned in 1440. We continue to Yamdrok Lake and then to Lhasa. The city is the political and spiritual center of the Tibetans. We will stay here for two nights.

Today we take time to explore this great city. We visit the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple. This temple is the holiest in Tibet and a destination for countless pilgrims from all over the world. While having lunch together in the city, we let the impressions sink in. Our hotel is located directly in the old town of Lhasa.

A final highlight on our tour through Tibet is the visit to the Drepung Monastery, a few kilometers outside of Lhasa. The monastery was once the largest monastery in Tibet and housed up to 10,000 monks at its peak. In the afternoon, we return to Lhasa and have time to pick up last souvenirs and gifts or simply to relax. Joint closing evening.

Return flight from Lhasa to Germany.

With many memories in your luggage, you are probably already looking forward to your own four walls. But the next adventure may not be far away at all.