WESTERN CHINA – Across the Roof of the World

Photographic Highlights

• A chance to visit parts of China rarely seen by outsiders
• Walk the old town of Kashi, famous for its importance in the days of the Silk Route
• Explore the ancient ruins of Guge Kingdom, buried deep in the stunning eroded landscapes of Tsaparang
• Photograph the spectacular Clay Forests of Tsada
• Visit the ancient and beautiful architecture of the Tholing Monastery complex
• Journey down the Kyunglung Valley visiting the ancient Bon Buddhist monastery of Gurugyem (Gurigang)
• Explore the mesmerising dunescapes of the Dawakun Desert at the edge of the mighty Taklamakan
• Photograph the iconic Potala Palace, surely one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world
• Visit remote Tibetan nomads in the Chinese Changthang
• Photograph the stunning and almost mystical Mount Kailash
• A visual odyssey of stunning mountains, high altitude lakes and Tibetan Plateau landscapes
• Explore nomadic camps of Wakhi and Tajik people in the Palmir region near Tashkurgan
• See the historical and geographically famous Shipton's Arch

PRICE INFORMATION

Wild Images Inclusions: Our tour prices include transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

Our tour prices also include all tips for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

WESTERN CHINA – ACROSS THE ROOF OF THE WORLD EXPEDITION: DETAILED ITINERARY

China: Day 1

Our Western China expedition will start with a welcome dinner in the busy metropolis of Chengdu.

China: Day 2

Today we will fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, the ancient capital of Tibet.  We will spend the rest of the day moving slowly to acclimatise to the altitude we will be travelling at for most of the expedition.  Depending on the flight time, we may do some sightseeing around the Jokhang, Tibet’s holiest temple.

China: Day 3

Today we have a full day exploring the myriad holy sites in central Lhasa, including a visit to the world-famous Potala Palace, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama (Norbulingka), the Jokhang, and the Wall of a Thousand Buddhas.  This easy-paced day introduces us to Tibetan culture and beliefs as we join pilgrims on their kora prayer circuits, visit local markets, and drink tea in local cafes.

China: Day 4

From Lhasa, we depart for far western Tibet and the remote Changthang area near the India-China border. This is a wild nature reserve mostly inhabited by nomadic Tibetan people.

En route, we will visit the spectacular, high-altitude lake of Nam Tso. Situated at 4718m (15180ft) above sea level, Nam Tso is the highest saltwater lake on earth.

The thrilling drive from it, westwards to Bange, features rolling snow-capped mountains and wandering Tibetan nomads. Until 2018, when Wild Images last visited Nam Tso, you could stay in basic guest houses near the lake shore.  These have now all been removed, restoring this incredible lake, with its glass-clear waters, to nature and the nomads.

From Nam Tso we will arrive in Bange for an overnight stay before our further exploration of the Changthang area.

China: Days 5 & 6

Over two days we will cross the magnificent and remote expanses of the Changtang, near the border of China and India.  The Changtang is a high-altitude plateau in western and northern Tibet, extending into southeastern Ladakh, with vast highlands and giant lakes. From eastern Ladakh, the Changtang stretches about 1600 kilometres east into Tibet, as far as the province of Qinghai, and this mesmerising high-altitude region is home to the Changpa nomads.

Most of the Changtang Plateau is now a protected nature reserve, the Changtang Nature Reserve, the second-largest nature reserve in the world.

The sanctuary’s altitude varies, and its topography features deep gorges and vast plateaus. The Changtang Sanctuary has around eleven lakes and ten marshes, and the majestic Indus River effectively splits it into two.

In recent years, the Changtang National Nature Reserve has become a paradise for many wild animals, including wild yak, Tibetan antelope and Tibetan gazelles. Recently, scientists have estimated that more than 1000 species of wildlife inhabit the area. We will stop at two large lakes, Kanglung Tso and Seling Tso, the latter being the large reserve for Black-naped Cranes on earth.

The people of Changtang are nomadic pastoralists, known as Changpa. Unlike many other nomadic groups, the Changpa are not under pressure from settled farmers as the vast majority of land they inhabit is too inhospitable for farming.

During our two-day traverse of this region, we will spot wildlife and visit remote camps of nomadic Changpa people.

China: Day 7

Leaving Changthang, we will head south through Rutog County via the remote town of Gaer.

In 1985, rock paintings were found at several sites in Rutog County, the first time such finds had been made in Tibet. Located at around a dozen sites within Rutog, including Risum Rimodong and Lorinaka, these mixed rock art sites of paintings and engravings are not only large in number but also of high artistic and historical value.

They cover a wide range of contents, including hunting, sacrificial rites, riding, domestic animal herding, and farming, as well as the sun and moon, mountains, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys, antelopes, houses, and people.

The most impressive one features four extravagantly antlered deer racing across the rock and looking back at three leopards in hot pursuit. Also depicted are eagles, yaks, camels, goats, tigers, wild boars and human figures.

China: Day 8

Today we will travel out of town to visit the large ancient cave systems of Piyang and Dungkar (or Dongga).

The caves at Dongga and Piyang lie close to two villages of the same names.  They represent the largest Buddhist cave sites discovered in Tibet so far. The murals inside are concentrated in three caves on the mountainside and are well preserved. The formation and age of these caves are not recorded in many Tibetan historical, religious and cultural archives. Therefore, it remains a cultural mystery. Archaeological studies of these caves have shown evidence that the paintings here are perhaps a thousand years old. The frescoes in the grottoes have a long history and were painted with special mineral pigments which last forever without fading. The main themes of the murals include Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues, Buddhist stories, teaching diagrams, and various decorative patterns and esoteric mandalas.

After we finish exploring these arid and little-visited sites, we will drive to Tholing.

As we approach the fabled Guge Kingdom, the landscapes will morph into an otherworldly expanse of wind- and snow-eroded canyons.  The so-called ‘clay forests of Tsada’ stretch towards the horizon like a gigantic, natural sculpture park.  Imagine lines of clay hills, separated by eroded valleys, hidden monasteries, streams and oases and this is Tsada, one of the geological wonders of China.

We will plunge into the town of the same name on a winding, spectacular road, giving us the feeling we are entering into another realm.

China: Day 9

Continuing our exploration of this incredible landscape, we will explore more of Guge and visit the ancient monastery of Tholing.  Established in 997 AD by Yeshe-Ö, the second King of the Guge Kingdom. In Tibetan, ‘Tholing’ means “hovering in the sky forever,” reflected in the monastery’s location at an elevation of 3800m (12,400 ft). The complex includes three temples: the Yeshe-O Temple, the Lhakhang Karpo and the Dukhang. Many ancient, precious, and well-preserved frescoes in the same intricate style adorn many temples in neighbouring Ladakh. A visit to this ancient monastery, the oldest in Ngari Prefecture, is a step into an era lost in time.  It is both historically interesting and very photogenic!

China: Day 10

Today we will spend a whole day exploring the ancient ruins of the Guge Kingdom.  More than 1,000 years ago, a powerful kingdom with a splendid civilisation was born here. But after more than 700 years of rule, the kingdom was destroyed overnight by internal disorder and outside invaders. All that remains are the ruins of the capital of the Guge Kingdom. The ruins lie on a hilltop near a river, more than 300 meters high and covering 180,000 square meters. Houses, cave dwellings, monasteries, stupas, blockhouses, defence works and tunnels are distributed on the hill and surrounding area. Palaces sat on the summit, monasteries on the mountainsides, and cave dwellings for common people at the foot of the hills. The kingdom was enclosed in tunnels and walls with fortifications. Some structures have survived and remain in good condition in this untraversed region, though many have been reduced to dust. Guge Kingdom is now famous for its murals, sculptures, and stone inscriptions attached to the surviving structures. Among them, the murals in the White Palace, Red Palace, Yamantaka Chapel, Tara Chapel, and Mandala Chapel are well preserved.

Guge holds a significant place in Tibet’s economic and cultural history. Many significant Buddhist doctrines of ancient India were passed on to hinterland Tibet via Guge. It was also an important commercial port linking ancient Tibet with the outside world.

China: Day 11

Leaving Tholing, we will begin our journey east in Tibet.  Our drive will take us alongside the headwaters of the Brahmaputra River.  Here we will begin to see the ruins of ancient monasteries and watchtowers that sit like sentinels across this incredible landscape.  Many of these structures were ruined by raiders from Ladakh over ten centuries ago.  Here, we may start to see wildlife, including Kiang (wild horses), Bearded Vultures, Bar-headed Geese, and even migratory cranes stopping over in high-altitude pools to drink and graze.

The vast rolling grasslands of this area are interrupted only by the occasional sand dune, lake, and, of course, the river.

By the end of the day, the fabled peak of Mount Kailash should be in view if the weather is clear.  We will stay overnight at Lake Manasarovar.

From Darchen we will travel to the shores of Lake Manasarovar, one of the holiest lakes for both Buddhists and Hindus.  For Buddhists, Manasarovar represents the father of the world. For Hindus, it is believed to be the place above Shiva.

On a clear, still morning, it is magical to see the pyramidal summit of Mount Kailash reflected in the lake’s waters, so we will spend time here photographing the lake, its five Buddhist temples, and any nomad camps we may encounter.

Manasarovar is one of Mahatma Gandhi’s resting places. In 1948, some of his ashes were spread here.  Visiting this truly beautiful place, you will feel its religious importance as you immerse yourself in its mesmerising landscapes.

China: Day 12

Today we will spend a full day taking photos around Manasarovar.

China: Day 13

From Manasarovar, we will drive overland to Darchen, the main town that serves as the start and end point of the circular trek around the base of Mount Kailash, one of the most prominent acts of faith for Tibetan Buddhists. While the total trek around the mountain is 53km, we will stay in Darchen to photograph people going to and from the mountain.

China: Day 14

A full day in Darchen visiting the market in the old town and the trek start and end points to photograph pilgrims. The circuit (kora) of Mount Kailash is one of Asia’s most important pilgrimages. It’s been a religious sanctuary since pre-Buddhist times, and the trek wonderfully integrates the spiritual, cultural, and physical dimensions of any trip to Tibet, which helps explain its growing appeal. The trek offers gorgeous mountain scenery, but perhaps more rewarding is the chance to see and meet pilgrims. Tibetans travel on foot, singing or intoning prayers, while Hindus ride on horseback, with yak teams carrying their supplies. It’s a real treat during the main pilgrim season, from June to September, to catch sight of this Asian-styled Wild West scene.

China: Day 15

Today will be an adventurous overland drive to Everest Base Camp.  We will be up to catch sunrise over Mount Kailash before we pack up and leave for the highest mountain on earth.  During our drive, we will traverse a southern section of the Tibetan Plateau where, if the weather blesses us again, we may see good views of the mythical Himalayan mountain of Shisha Pangma.  Just 60km to the north is Paiko Tso, a large lake that is surrounded by mountains on three sides.  During the expedition, we may see a number of migratory birds at the lake as the surrounding landscape turns autumnal.  Here, we may also meet our first Tibetan nomads.

At the end of the day we will reach Rongbuk, the base camp of Everest’s north face.

China: Day 16

Mount Everest, or Chomolungma as the Tibetans call it, is truly one of the most incredible places you will ever see.  Seeing it from the Chinese side requires much less physical effort than trekking to see it in neighbouring Nepal.  During the day we have here, we will visit the base camp site and also the memorial to George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, whose ill-fated attempt to climb Everest from the North Col for the first time failed in 1924.  The altitude of Everest Base Camp is high – almost 5400m (17700ft), but to stand at it and realise the summit of Everest is still three kilometres in the clouds above your head is a life-changing experience. We will photograph the mountain at both sunrise and sunset, when we have the best chance of getting clear views of the summit in perfect light.

China: Day 17

After leaving the nature reserve of Everest (Mount Chomolungma) our journey today will take us through the small Tibetan towns of Tingri and Lhatse and Tingri. Here, the scenery will change dramatically from the snow-capped peaks of the world’s highest mountains to the vast Tibetan Plateau.  We will search for some of the Himalaya’s treasured wildlife here, including Blue Sheep, Ibex, and Himalayan Griffons.  If we are blessed with clear skies, we will also stop at Gawu La, which will give us our final views of Everest.

At the end of the day, we will reach Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city, where we will stay overnight.

China: Day 18

From Shigatse, we will drive north towards Lhasa, stopping at the ancient town of Gyantse. At the base of the imposing Gyantse Dzong, or Fort, Gyantse dates back to the 9th century, when it was established as a southern protective town of Lhasa.  The old town is home to the beautiful Kumbum Stupa, with its terraced prayer balconies, and traditional homes line the streets radiating out from the temple.

China: Day 19

On the road between Gyantse and Lake Yamdrok Tso, we will make a brief stop to view the terminus of the Karola Glacier, one of Tibet’s top three continental glaciers, which feeds the Lyanchu River.

The spectacular emerald coloured lake of Yamdrok Tso.  According to local mythology, Yamdrok Tso is the transformation of a goddess. Yamdrok is one of Tibet’s four holy lakes, and its turquoise waters are shaped like a coiling scorpion, doubling back on themselves on the western side, effectively creating a large island within its reaches. The lake lies several hundred metres below the road at 4440m (14,560ft) and, in clear weather, is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise. We will see the lake from Khamba La at 4795m (15,700ft) as we drive en route between Gyantse and Lhasa.

Arriving in Lhasa, we will spend one night before our flight to Kashgar for the final leg of the expedition.

China: Day 20

Today will effectively be a travel day as we fly from Lhasa to Kashgar, via either Chengdu or Xi’an. Depending on our flight timing, we may be able to take our first walking tour of the old town of Kashgar, or Kashi as it is locally known. Locked away in the westernmost corner of China, closer to Tehran and Damascus than to Beijing, Kashgar has been the epicentre of regional trade and cultural exchange for more than two millennia.

China: Day 21

Perched at the edge of the wild Taklamakan Desert, the Dawakun Desert is just a day tour from the ancient capital of Kashgar. No visit to the Silk Road would be complete without visiting the desert, with its ancient lakes, multi-leaved forests and endless expanses of dunes.  This will be our first chance to experience Tajik culture while doing a day of landscape and cultural photography in this beautiful desert region.

China: Day 22

This morning we will enjoy a half-day excursion to the famous Shipton’s Arch, possibly one of the world’s highest rock arches.  Though long familiar to locals (the south side of the arch is visible from the plain below), it was famously discovered in 1947 by English mountaineer Eric Shipton during his tenure as the British consul in Kashgar – and made known to the West in his book Mountains of Tartary. Shipton made several attempts to reach the arch from the south, but was defeated each time by a maze of steep canyons and cliffs, before his party finally found a route from the north and photographed it. Today you can drive to it from Kashgar, and the hike to its base is only around an hour.

In the afternoon we will return to Kashgar where we will enjoy the rest of the day doing street photography and drinking tea in the old town.

China: Days 23-25

Today we will leave for Tashkurgan, close to the borders of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan to explore the nomadic Tajik and Wakhi cultures of this rarely visited area. This beautiful drive will take us via the stunning turquoise waters of the Bulungkol White Sand Lake, which features a natural sand dune barrier separating it from the majestic mountains of the Pamirs. In this region, we will explore the ancient ruins of the Tashkurgan Stone Fort while searching for nomadic people.

The Tajik and Wakhi people in this area are best known for their European features and their isolation from the outside world.  Here, we will photograph women in their beautiful red-and-silver traditional dress as we explore the bucolic way of life of these nomads at the junction of these fascinating countries.

China: Day 26

From Tashkurgan, we will say a sad goodbye and return to Kashgar, where this epic expedition will end.