Overland Route 9: Kyrgyzstan – China – Tibet – Mongolia

Enter China from Irkeshtam (Kyrgyzstan) and to Kashgar

Meet the guide at Irkeshtam border. Customs paperwork. Onward to Kashgar.

Tagesetappe: ca. 170 km

KashgarCustoms paperwork at the Office of Traffic Administration outside of Kashgar. Exhibition temp. Driver’s license, temp. license plate, vehicle inspection, etc.

Tagesetappe: ca. 100 km

KashgarVisit to the Sunday market in Kashgar.

Tagesetappe: ca. 50 km

Kashgar – Yengisar – Yarkant – Kargilik

Stopovers in Yengisar and Yarkant on the way to Kargilik. Yengisar is famous for its traditional knife production. Yarkant is known for its historic old town, the Ammanisaham Mausoleum, and the Altun Mosque. All three places are important oasis stops on the Silk Road.

Google Maps for the first 5 days:
https://goo.gl/maps/mJzAm3yVGkw

Tagesetappe: ca. 250 km

Kargilik – Mazha
On this day, we ride from the “deep” of the Tarim Basin and the desert-like areas on the Silk Road up into the Tibetan mountain world with the first mountain pass on our journey that is higher than 4000 meters.

Tagesetappe: ca. 250 km

Mazha – Duomaxiang
A long day driving across the Tibetan plateau.

Tagesetappe: ca. 500 km

Duomaxiang – Ali
Ali is the administrative capital of western Tibet. Between Ali and Lake Manasarovar, we visit the areas around Tholing with their spectacular views of the Himalayas.

Tagesetappe: ca. 230 km

Ali – Manasarovar Lake
Today´s destination is lake Manasarovar – a holy lake on the foot of the holiest mountain for Buddhists and Hinuists alike – Mt. Kailash.

Tagesetappe: ca. 250 km

Mt. Kailash (Darchen) – Saga

Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/4kZxfaaRh9U2

Tagesetappe: ca. 480 km

Saga – Everest base camp
We drive along Lake Pelkhu Tso, which is located directly on the Himalayan backbone. During the day’s journey, we drive on the Friendship Highway to Tingri. From there, the journey follows a spectacular byway leading to Rongbuk (5000 m), the famous monastery at the foot of Mount Everest.

Tagesetappe: ca. 300 km

Everest base camp – Lhatse
We visit the base camp in the morning at sunrise. The traveling time to the camp is about 1.5 hours. After that, we drive to Lhatse.

Tagesetappe: ca. 200 km

Lhatse – Shigatse – Gyangze

We visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, one of the largest monasteries in Tibet. It was formerly the seat of His Holiness the Panchen Lama. During the two-hour walking tour through the monastery, we will be able to see the huge, gilded grave monuments of the Panchen Lamas and visit the impressive central meeting hall. The journey continues to Gyangze.

Tagesetappe: ca. 245 km

Gyangze – Lhasa
We drive to Lhasa along the Yamdrok Lake. Attention: This day marks the begiining of the October holidays in China. You should pre-arrange hotel bookings through your guide.

Tagesetappe: ca. 280 km

Lhasa

A day visiting Lhasa. In Lhasa, we experience one of the high points of our Tibetan journey: the Potala Palace. We take a walk through the old city and visit the temple that is most important to the Tibetans, the Jokhang temple.

Google Maps for days 14-18:
https://goo.gl/maps/oEq8GACcQxF2

Lhasa – Ganden – Nyingchi

From Lhasa, the route leads to the Ganden Monastery, another spectacular monastery. It is built at an elevation of over 4,000 metres, overlooking a wide gorge. After a short visit to the monastery, we continue to Nyingchi.

Tagesetappe: ca. 410 km

Nyingchi – Ranwuzhen
The next two days we travel down from the Tibetan plateau along mountains and woods that are often covered with snow. The landscape is changing, and the regions are increasingly forested.

Tagesetappe: ca. 380 km

Ranwuzhen – Zogang
The route takes us via Markham along the Yangtze, and the beautiful views are, once more, impressive.

Tagesetappe: ca. 290 km

Zogang – Deqen (overnight stay at a Tibetan farmer’s home)

We have arranged something special for this day, one of the last days in the Tibetan area: spending the night with a Tibetan family in a traditional Tibetan farm on the banks of the Mekong near Deqen. Here you can experience life in a small Tibetan village. Our Tibetan family likes to cook the local, traditional dishes for our guests. This trip is optional. You also have the possibility to stay overnight in Deqen.

Tagesetappe: ca. 380 km

Deqen – Shangri-la

The journey to Shangri-la. In the historic old town of Shangri-la, we visit the largest prayer wheel in the world. There are two routes to Shangri-la: The longer route along the Mekong and another across the main road G214.

Google Maps for days 19-23:
https://goo.gl/maps/9K5iLYfAKmK2

Tagesetappe: ca. 200 km

Shangri-La – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang

We drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Lijiang. Along the way, we drive through the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. It is possible to do a hiking tour in the gorge (2.5 hrs. hiking time), hiking to the Tiger Leaping Stone. In the town of Lijiang, there is the possibility of taking a walk through the historic old town and visiting the Black Dragon Pools. This is the day when we finally leave the world of the Tibetans. The Naxi and other minorities live in Lijiang.

Tagesetappe: ca. 320 km

The day in Lijiang

Lijiang and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer the traveller. Baisha and Shuhe are old towns at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, and it is worthwhile to take a break and relax here. The day in Lijiang can also serve as a flex day if it turns out that the trip schedule cannot be kept.

Lijiang – Xiangcheng

From Lijiang you need to drive the road back to Shangri-la for about 2.5 hrs. From Shangri-la you take a mountainious road to Litang. Parts of the road are not paved (around 50km).

Tagesetappe: ca. 350 km

Xiangcheng – Litang

Today you will drive across the “Plateau of Lakes” to the highest town on earth: Litang, which is located 4.100 meters above sea level.
Litang has several historic places such as the birth house of the 6^th Dalai Lama and a sky burial ground.

Tagesetappe: ca. 200 km

Litang – Kangding:

Tagesetappe: ca. 290 km

Kangding – Chengdu

Google Maps for days 25-30:
https://goo.gl/maps/ujo93o337tq

Tagesetappe: ca. 320 km

Chengdu – Leshan Giant Buddha – Emei Shan

Today´s sights are being put onto the permit, in case you want to drive there yourself.

Tagesetappe: ca. 330 km

Chengdu – Hanzhong

From today roads will remain mainly highways with toll gate fees almost all the way up to the border at Erenhot.

Tagesetappe: ca. 460 km

Hanzhong – Terracotta Army – Xian

On the way to Xian you can visit one of China´s most spectacular sights: The Terracotta Warrior Army.

Tagesetappe: ca. 360 km

Xian – Pingyao

Pingyao is the best preserved ancient walled old town of China. A stroll through this town is a highlight

Tagesetappe: ca. 500 km

Pingyao – Yungang Grottoes – Ulanqab

From historic Pingyao you take the highway.

Tagesetappe: ca. 530 km

Ulanqab – Erenhot – Mongolia

Google Maps for days 31-39:
https://goo.gl/maps/bHeBKz3jhKQ2

Tagesetappe: ca. 350 km