Destination: China

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Eastern Tibet Loop

18 TO 21 DAYS

This three-week Land Cruiser loop takes you through dramatic scenery to some rarely-visited corners of Tibet. It’s perhaps best suited to a second trip to Tibet. Land Cruiser hire will cost around US$600 per person; hitching without permits is difficult.



Equally remote are the stunningly scenic routes through eastern Tibet. Road conditions make the trip best attempted from late March to late April, or late September to early November. It’s possible to travel the northern or southern routes into or out of Tibet but, to visit both, a loop route (described here) makes best sense.

From Lhasa the southern route heads east over a high pass to forested Draksum-tso and then proceeds to the fascinating Kongpo region and the lovingly restored Lamaling Temple. From here roads climbs to views of 7756m Namche Barwa and then drops down into the dramatic misty gorges north of the Yarlung Tsangpo, to stay overnight in Pomi. Allow some time at Rawok-tso, before swinging north over high passes and down into the deep parallel gorges of the Salween and Mekong Rivers. Reach the modern town of Chamdo after five or six days and rest for a day, visiting the fine Jampaling Monastery.

From Chamdo the northern route continues three days westwards to Nagqu, slowly climbing to high-altitude pasturelands. The route passes the very impressive and remote Riwoche Temple and several other smaller but absolutely charming Buddhist and Bön monasteries. Sok Monastery is a highlight in this area but you’ll have to secure permission in advance.

From Nagqu it’s a good idea to visit Nam-tso and Reting Monastery en route to Lhasa (allow three to four days), though the road can be completed in a day.

A shorter and cheaper five- to seven-day loop itinerary from Lhasa to Kongpo could take in Draksum-tso and Lamaling temple before returning via Tsetang, Samye and possibly the remote oracle lake of Lhamo La-tso.