During my Kham-trip I saw unbelievable things
In October 2014 I didn’t go to Tibet (Tibet Autonomous Regio) as planned. I had to change my travel plans at the last moment. And I went to Kham instead. Kham is a very Tibetan area in Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinhau, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. I had a great and unbelievable travel in Kham. Below I give you the itinerary of my trip. But I must tell you that if you visit Kham, you must not follow this itinerary exactly. Because it’s not ideal to get acclimatized to the altitude in a good way. Don’t go immediately from Chengdu and Luding to Danba. Stay first a few days to Kangding and than go on. But al the places listed beneath are really worth visiting! As I stated, I changed my travel plans at really the last moment and I didn’t know Kham. So I didn’t design the itinerary but trusted upon my Tibetan guide and driver. And they didn’t know Kham either at that moment. So they were working out the itinerary day by day. But my travel was really great! And I couldn’t believe my eyes in the big Buddhist monasteries / institutes Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar. So big, so many monks and nuns. In the middle of nowhere. So impressive ….. so very special! I only can say, see my pictures ….
The itinerary of my Kham-trip
|
Day |
Itinerary |
|
1 |
Flight Amsterdam – Chengdu |
|
2 |
Arrival in Chengdu (In fact I spent some days in Chengdu) |
|
3 |
Chengdu – Luding |
|
4 |
Luding – Danba / see villages with the old watch towers on the way & the Tasj Ronchenlin Monastery in Bukecun Village near the town of Danba |
|
5 |
Danba – Larung Gar / visit to the birthplace of the 11th Dalai Lama & Karthang Monastery, build by the 7th Dalai Lama & a monastery in the city of Luhow |
|
6 |
Larung Gar – Sertar / explore Larung Gar & visit Kartze Monastery at Sertar |
|
7 |
Sertar – Ganzi – Derge / visit Dontok Monastery in the town of Ganzi & lake Yilhun Latso |
|
8 |
Derge – Yarchen Gar / visit the monastery printing house & explore Yarchen Gar |
|
9 |
Yarchen Gar – Xinlong / explore Yarchen Gar |
|
10 |
Xinlong – Litang – Daocheng |
|
11 |
Daocheng – Yading / visit to Yading Nature Reserve |
|
12 |
Yading – Daocheng |
|
13 |
Daocheng – Litang / visit the Bangpu Monastery on the way & the Litang Chöde Monastery |
|
14 |
Litang – Yingguang / enjoy the view on the snow mountain Minyak Konka from the hill above Yingguang |
|
15 |
Yingguang – Kangding / do some shopping in Kangding |
|
16 |
Kangding / take the cable car up to the hill above Kangding & explore some monasteries like the Náwú Monastery |
|
17 |
Kangding / lazy day, go to a tea house |
|
18 |
Kangding – Emeishan / explore the temples at Emeishan |
|
19 |
Emeishan – Leshan / explore some temples at Emeishan & visit the big Buddha of Leshan |
|
20 |
Leshan – Chengdu |
|
21 |
Chengdu (in fact I spent again some days in Chengdu) |
|
22 |
Flight Chengdu – Amsterdam |
Hello, thank you for your advices and this ticket, I would like to go in Kham this year or next year ( 2017 )
I would like to find a local driver or/and a locale guide in Chengdu who know this road and itinary.
Do you have any information or contact for me please?
Hello Nicolas,
I didn’t arrange my trip with a travel agent in Chengdu. And I didn’t have a local driver and guide. So I can’t recommend a reliable local travel agent/guide/driver in Chengdu to you. I advise you to ask this question to Losang of the Land of Snows. His website is http://www.thelandofsnows.com/ . You can also find him on Facebook. Good luck with arranging your trip to Kham.
Ellen