A cultural journey in Yunnan and Tibet

We leave France in the afternoon to join Chine. On a direct flight (China Air Eastern), we head to Kunming (schedule to be confirmed).

After lunch, we begin our first chapter in Chine in Dali. Its ancient town and old stone alleyways are enchanting with their traditional atmosphere and typical buildings. We enjoy its streets with shops selling jewelry, marble, teas and fabrics. 

Then, a stop at its Catholic church : a clever mix of typically Chinese architecture on the outside and purely European style on the inside.

We finish with a visit to its 3 pagodas : majestic and emblematic. These masterpieces of the Tang dynasty command admiration through their grandeur and beauty.

We land at Kunming airport in the early hours of the day. Immediately, we board our flight to Dali.

Our English-speaking guide and our driver await us at landing to take us to the hotel.

In the afternoon, we head towards the mountains of Shibaoshan, where we will find a collection of Buddhist sculptures carved directly into the rock. We also visit its temples filled with tranquility.

Next, we have the option to walk back down through a small slope leading to the city of Shaxi. Alternatively, a vehicle will pick us up at the summit to take us down.

Without delay, we go to meet this ancient city, formerly a center of commercial exchanges on the tea and horse route.

We set off for the Shaxi valley, which UNESCO classified in the early 2000s as one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world, so much so that Shaxi received the necessary funds to preserve its cultural and architectural heritage.

Along the way, we make a stop in the large Bai village of Zhoucheng, where it is pleasant to wander through picturesque alleyways, between small ancient temples.

Our morning will be dedicated to a journey to the capital of the Naxi people: Lijiang. This city has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1997. It represents a return to the source for Chinese people seeking an immemorial place. Indeed, it stands out for its old town, its dry stone buildings and its paved alleyways.

On the way, lunch in the village of Baisha. Then discovery of the Yuhu village perched at the base of the Jade Dragon mountain.

We continue to Lijiang.

Today, we explore Shangri La and the surrounding region. The discovery begins at the Songzanlin Tibetan monastery. This is followed by a stroll through the local market and old town, leading to the Bai Ji Si temple from which we will get a beautiful view of the city's surroundings and the Shika mountains. For your information, a fire ravaged the central part of the old town on January 11, 2014.

In the evening, we can watch or even participate in spontaneous dance performances in the old town square.

Early departure to the Tibetan region of Shangri La, at 3200 meters altitude.

After lunch, we head to the Jokhang Monastery, considered one of the most sacred temples of Tibetans. An important pilgrimage site, we begin a walk around the monastery on the Barkhor path.

This morning, we take a domestic flight to Lhassa airport. Our new English-speaking guide meets us after landing and escorts us to the city center.

After breakfast, we head to Gyantsé. On the way we pass by the magnificent Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains reflected in its turquoise blue waters, the high-altitude lake extends over 638 km².

We arrive in Gyantsé in late afternoon. We take advantage of the last light of day to climb to the Gyantsé Fort and enjoy the superb view over the valley and city. The Dzong of Gyantsé holds many secrets of history concerning the Tibetan-British conflict and the British invasion in 1904.

This morning, we visit the Pelkor Monastery, and the old town of Gyantse. Pelkor Monastery is known throughout the country for its involvement in the history of Tibetan Buddhism but also for its imposing Kumbum.

We continue on the road to Shigatse. Along the way, we make a stop to discover a Tsampa factory. We also stop for a short visit to the charming Shalu village and its monastery, dating from the 11th century. This temple underwent restoration works in the 15th century with support from the Mongol empire. It differs from other Tibetan sanctuaries by its roof with Chinese influence featuring yellow and green tiles.

Today, we return to Lhassa. We travel along the immense Brahmaputra River which is 2900 km long and flows through Chine, India and Bangladesh. Along the way, we stop at a handcrafted incense factory.

Free time for the rest of the day.

We depart to Ganden to discover its monastery located in the green valleys of the Lhassa region. Ganden Monastery is one of the three most important monasteries in Lhassa and many consider it the most beautiful.

In the afternoon, we visit the entire Drak Yerpa caves, carved directly into the mountainside and converted into small lodges. The Drak Yerpa monastery is located at an altitude of 4885 meters and has become one of the four main meditation sites in Tibet.

In the morning, we board the train for Lanzhou (departure at 9 a.m.). The crossing lasts 24 hours. On board, we enjoy a comfortable journey via our soft sleeper berths. The route taken passes through the Tangula Shankou pass. Eyes wide open, it's the highest peak in the world at 5,068 meters! Throughout this adventure, we travel at over 4,000 meters altitude for 80% of the journey (960 km). And we progress through eternal frost landscapes for more than half the route. Meals on your own and overnight on board.

We arrive at Lanzhou railway station at 9 am. We transfer to the hotel so we can recover from our long journey.

In the afternoon, we take the flight (2:30 pm) to land in Shanghai at the end of the day (5:25 pm).