Introduction:

This is an epic journey through Sichuan, across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa. It has attracted explorers and adventurers, pilgrims, traders, and even missionaries for hundreds of years. It is a long journey and requires a certain dedication on the part of the traveller, as well as a certain resilience to bumps! We have considerable experience of this route and know what is required in terms of transportation, accommodation, and red tape, not to mention the fascinating sights along the way.

Every year from April to September, it is the best time to travel through some of the most attractive and beautiful areas in Sichuan and Tibet where you can enjoy the most typical Tibetan culture, life and landscape.

Arrival in Lhasa we will join a big local festival—Shoton Festival. "Shoton" in Tibetan means sour milk banquet. As Tibetan operas are performed and Buddha paintings are exhibited at this time, it is also called "Tibetan Opera Festival" or "Buddha Exhibition Festival." The traditional way of starting the Shoton Festival is to show Buddha paintings. The main contents include Tibetan operas and gala parties, as well as wonderful yak racing and horsemanship display.

The Gelug Sect regulates that between April and June according to Tibetan calendar, Lamas can only practice Buddhism in monasteries to avoid treading and killing tiny lives. The ban will be lifted at the end of June. At that time, all lamas go out of monasteries and the laymen will offer them sour milk and perform Tibetan operas for them. After 1642, the Gandain Phodrang (Paradise Palace) of the Drepung Monastery became the political, religious and cultural centre of Tibet. Tens of thousands of people rushed there each June 30th to give sour milk to lamas and ask for blessings. The Tibetan Opera troupes and wild yak dancing troupes all came to perform. In this way, the Shoton Festival was formed.

The prelude of the Shoton Festival is the Buddha exhibition in Drepung Monastery, which is held at the foot of the Gebeiwoze Mountain. The tranquil valley becomes excited. With the sound of sutra bugle reverberating through the valley, about 100 lamas will carry the large-scale tangka portraying Qamba Buddha (or Maitreya) out of the Coqen Hall of the Drepung Monastery and step toward the west of the monastery where a special platform is set up for the Buddha picture exhibition. At this moment, the mulberry smoke arises from all directions, bugles resound and scripture reciting goes on. The large tangka then will be slowly opened up. People rush up to offer white hada. Countless hada fly in front of the Buddha picture, forming a great scene. In no more than two hours, the tangka will be rolled up again and carried back. People will not see it@until the next year. Then people go to the courtyard of Gandain Phodrang to watch Tibetan Opera. In the afternoon, the activities centre moves to Norbulingka. In the following week, the major activity is to watch the Tibetan Opera. During the Shoton Festival, the Tibetans bring along the old and the young and call on relatives and friends to Lingka gardens. The Norbulingka and other parks of Lhasa are dotted with colourful tents.

Nowadays, the Shoton Festival has become a comprehensive celebration activity with the most influences in Tibet. It is also a grand meeting for commodity exchanges.

Itinerary:

Day1 Chengdu/Danba
Depart from Chengdu, our first stop will Danba, a Tibetan village which is so-called the most beautiful village in China. On the way we will pass a few snow mountains such as Siguniang etc. We will stay overnight in a Tibetan hostel in Danba village.

Day2 Danba/Litang
Today we will drive to Litang. On the way we will pass a beautiful grassland. Litang gained reputation of the highest city in all over the world for its sea level of 4200meter.

Day3 Litang/Batang
Depart from Litang we will get into the Haizi Mountains. You will get up to the summit and then go down to the Batang which is located in the bank of Jinshajiang River. Here produce many good fruit and they enjoined very high honor in east Tibet. It was said that the apple had been planted by a foreign preacher firstly. And the Christian churches here are still well protected now.

Day4 Batang/ Markham
When we get over the Jinshajiang River, we will be in Tibetan Autonomous Administration District, and the Markham County is the first county we meet since we enter in Tibet.

Day5 Markham /Paksho
From Markham to Paksho, we have to get over the Lancangjiang River first. And then the Dongda Mountains (6000meters), via Zuogong to Bangda, we will pass the high land grassland which is located in more than 4000 meters above sea level. Farewell to the grassland, via the famous ninety-nine bending and down to the Nujiang River, this day's trip will be full of challenge. We have to be accustomed to the temperature up and down and the altitude changes at the same time.

Day6 Paksho/Pome
We will pass Ranwugou ditch, which is an enormous ice glacier. The car have to get through from the glaciers very carefully, it will give us the most exciting impetus but without danger. The Ranwu Lake is the famous high land glacier lake; there is dense forest near the bank accompanied with the clean and clear water in the lake. The shadow of the forest in the lake, the birds play and fly freely near the water. What a fairy land displayed in front of us. The Pome county which located in the dense forest, will take our great attention. The famous Himalaya Mountain is located near this county, so we can easily see the Snow Mountains around the county. The most famous two are Nanjiabawa summit and Jialabei summit.

Day7 Pome/Bayi
We will drive in the dense forest, and then we will get over one mountains which clad with snow and ice, we arrive another destination. Here lives the primeval Menba and Luoba nationality. Their ways of living are much similar with the Tibetans, but they still keep their primitive way of life and the dwellings. Nyingchi is the most attractive place in Tibet.

Day8 Bayi-Basomtso Lake
Today we will drive to visit Basomtso Lake, it is said to be the copy of Switzerland: stiff peaks, snow mountains, Crystal Lake, green vegetation, island in the small lake. Today you will stay overnight at the bank of Basomtso lake.

Day9 Basomtso/Lhasa
Depart from Basomtso Lake, via the Mila Mountains to valley of Lhasa, the grand Potala palace present in the front of you, and you understand that you have entry into the sacred place, Lhasa.

Day10 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Fully sightseeing of Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barchor street.

Day11 Shoton Festival
Today will be the first day of Shoton Festival. In the morning of this day, early visit to Drepung monastery to join the grand opening ceremony -- Sunning the Tangkha (a huge woven hangings ), this ceremony marks the official set-off of this festival.

Day12 Shoton Festival
Full day visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery.

Trip ends in Lhasa.

Remarks:
1. You should arrive Chengdu at least one day prior to the depart day from Chengdu. 2. We will end the trip in Lhasa. But if you wish to stay longer in Tibet we can also help to arrange.
3. We can arrange your return transport by train or air.
4. All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

*We reserve the right to change the itinerary with or without notice.

Trip Cost

The cost of each trip will normally cover the following:
> All land transportation
> All services of trip leaders and local guides
> All scheduled accommodation
> All entry fees
> Travel permit in Tibet, only for this itinerary.
YANA trips do not include:
> All transportation to arrive Chengdu and leave Lhasa
> Travel and medical insurance
> Gratuities to leaders or guides
> Excursions other than those specified in trips > Private snacks and drinks > All scheduled meals > The extra cost due to the unforeseen events
Note:
1.Minor program changes sometimes are necessary, depending on road conditions, weather and availability of room.
2.Health consultation from your doctor before you come to highland (Over 3000M).
3.As we travel in Tibet area where the economy is much more backward than other places, the food diversity is limited, so we suggest you order food by yourself or take some solid food. Most of local restaurant only can offer the simple Sichuan and Tibetan dishes.

Rules of Participation

Everyone who participates in a YANA activity is asked to read, agree to the following:
1. I will follow the guidelines set by YANA in order to insure your safety during my involvement with this group.
2. If my medical condition requires regular treatment or which may be affected by strenuous activity or altitude, heat, cold or particular foods I will notify YANA in writing in advance.
3. I will buy a valid medical and travel insurance for the duration of the trip.
4. I will not bring illegal drugs to any YANA gathering or activity.
5. I will not hold YANA, or any of its participants responsible for any injury that I suffer on any YANA trip.
6. I will respect the local culture and protect the natural environment on any YANA trip.
7. I understand I am taking my own risks while participating with the group, and do not hold anyone responsible for those risks. If there happens any accident, the organizer will be obliged for first-aid. But the organizer will not take any law and commercial responsibility. Attention: after the beginning of the activity, this agreement will automatically take its effect and you are supposed to agree to it.