Derge In-depth Tour including Yarchen Gar - 8 Days

Arrive Derge first by flying to Ganzi Gesar Airport and arrive by around midday. Then we will drive to Ganzi County to lower part of the highland for better acclimating. We will visit 2 or 3 monasteries along the scenic drive by G317: Dajin Monastery, Beri Monastery and Ganzi Monastery. Allare with stunning construction and beautiful mountain views against the Gonkala Mountain Range (Gangga Mountains). After the visit of the 3 monasteries we will then check in to hotel and relax.

This is a ground tour. Some days will involve long hours of driving and sitting in the car. Please make preparation in accordance including power bank for your phone, neck pillow, etc. Please remember to have a day pack with you to take necessary items for each day's visit, sometimes including packed lunch (or simple snacks) in order to have flexibility/sufficient time on the visits. You are also recommended to keep the following handy: drinking water recommended 1L minimum, sunglasses, rainproof, warm-keeping clothes and hat, sun block and lip oil, etc. It is also wise to keep rainproof and warm clothes with you all the time. The roads you’ll be driving on can be winding and bumpy while some sections of driving can have delays due to temporal disruption of landslides, road repairs especially when you are on a smaller road. Thus your planned schedule may fall behind. Please bear the patience with this we’ll them make necessary adjustment where possible and necessary.

Driving 2h, visiting 3-4h; easy pace

Overnight Ganzi 3300m

Today we will drive to Yarchen Gar with an attempt to visit from its backdoor (with 4X4 vehicle). Yarchen Gar is the biggest Tibetan non (Tibetan female Buddhists) shrine in China. Yarchen Gar is 800km west to Chengdu and 120km southwest to Ganzi Xian. It is home to over 20,000 nuns regularly. Yarchen Gar was built in 1985 and functioned as a Buddhist school. Yarchen Gar is located in Baiyu of Garze Prefecture. It is located 102km southwest to Ganzi Xian and 122km east to Baiyu Xian on the Ganbai Road. Yarchen Gar is a complex of Buddhist schools, temples and monasteries and meditation cubes. Behind the Changqu River sets the biggest Juemu Dorm in Tibet. Note foreigners are not allowed to visit Yarchen Gar. If we can not get in to the school we will then skip this place and drive back.

The Ganbai road where we will be driving on is very scenic with mountain views.

Total driving 4-5h, visit 2-3h, moderate pace;

Overnight Ganzi by 3300m

Today we will drive out to the central part of Derge on G317. We will first go up to the famous 3 lakes of Tsotong (Cuotong Lakes) and have a visit. Tsotong Lakes are also called Cuotong Cuihu, or Sanlianhu(Three Lakes) or Cuo A Cuihu. It is a cluster of 3 beautiful and turquoise lakes located in Derge of West Sichuan near G317 Highway. These lakes are surrounded by high mountains and red mountains with beautiful blue-green color and are hidden far from the roads. Tsotong Lakes are considered non-touristy and non-commercial place (need 4X4 to go up).

After the photo time and short walks around the lakes we will drive down and continue drive to Dzogchen and visit.

We shall arrive Dzogchen Monastery in early afternoon and start to visit this big shrine by the foot of snow-capped mountains. Dzogchen Monastery is situated in Gengda of Dzogchen in northern Derge with an elevation of almost 10000 ft. It is the monastery of Holy Reincarnation. This Nyingmapa monastery is one of the six great Nyingmapa schools in Tibetan Buddhism of Tibet. It was built in 1685 and during the past 300 years, nutured many Buddhist masters. Buddhist caves used for meditation scatter the mountains in which Dzogchen Monastery is located. With over 500 monks and about 100 schools in Kham, Dzogchen Monastery has great significance in Tibetan Kham. It was built on a meadow against a hill, there is excellent natural view in front of Dzogchen Monastery.

We will spend most time of the afternoon visiting Dzogchen at multiple temples if available and possibly talk to the monks, nuns if possible. Afterwards we will leave by around 5pm and drive to Manigange for overnight.

Total driving 4-5h, visit 4-5h, moderate pace;

Overnight Manigange by 3800m

Today we will visit multiple locations in Derge to appreciate its nature and culture significance.

We will first drive out for 15min to Yilhun Latso (Xinluhai Lake) for a visit. We will walk to visit this place. Xinluhai is now a tourist park but not many people go there. It is a big lake by the foot of a 6168-m mountain. We will need to walk in for around 3km to the south end of the lake to see the big part of the 6168-m Mountain and its glaciers. This 6168-m mountain is called Mt. Chola, the highest peak of the mountain range that is also named Chola.

Afterwards we will continue the drive on G317 and have a visit to Shengxian Valley if accessible. Dege Shengxian Valley is renowned for its waterfalls, spiritual retreat culture, and convenient but unreliable accessibility. Shengxian Valley ombines natural wonders with a rich cultural atmosphere that was recently being developed into a semi-tourist place (though few go there). If you're looking for a hidden gem along National Highway 317 that's easy to reach yet offers spectacular scenery and hidden Buddhist shrine, this is a good detour (may need 4X4 to go up). After a short visit we will continue drive to Derge.

Today after we arrive Derge we shall go visit to Derge Parkhang, Derge Sutra Printing Temple, is the institution printing and preserve Tibetan Literature and Buddhist's works. It is an important cultural and historical centre in Tibet. It is renowed as "the encyclopedia of Tibetan culture" or "Cultural pearl at the foot of Snow Mountain". This Buddhist shrine has been a national heritage since 1996, with a total cover of 9000 square meters. It was first built in 1729, and today it is still under function. Books and sutras are printed every day. Hand-made wood locks and cinnabar are used in the printing process. Construction of Derge Parkhang is with an ancient Kham style: flat roof and red walls. The Parkhang is also regarded as a sacred site by Tibetan Buddhists. Groups of Buddhists would be doing a temple kora from morning till evening every day.

We will also have a visit to the neighboring Gonchen Monastery afterwards before check in to hotels.

Visiting 5-6h Driving 3h; moderate pace

Overnight Derge 3300m

Today we will visit two more famous Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Kham region: Palpung and Katok Monastery.

After breakfast we will first drive to Palpung Monastery for another 1.5h on road. Palpung Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhists' monastery first established in 1729 in Qing Dynasty. It was built on a mountain platform in the alpine valley. Constructions of Palpung Monastery are immense. Palpung is famous for its knowledge of medicine and painting. Many great painters are from here. It is also a collection of precious paintings and earth statue. According to some Buddhists, it is believed to be the best monastery in Kham in terms of its colorful Buddha statues and splendid decorations. It is the only Kagyu monastery ever survived after 1959 in Sichuan. Buddha statues in this monastery are as many as over 10000 and plated in gold or copper. Other collections include over 10000 Thankhas, over 32400 Buddhist books, 129000 blocks of Buddhist scripture used for printing. It was reopened in 1981.

After Palpung we will continue 1 hour on roadand visit Katok Monastery (Gatuo Monastery). Kathok Monastery is the origin of Nyingmapa Monastery of Tibet. It is the very first mother monastery of Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Kathok is also a Buddhist school of Nyingmapa. Kathok Monastery is also called Kathok Gompa by local people. Derge was once one of the three cultural centers of Tibet. The Buddhist School in Sertar is called Larung Gar Wuming Budddhist School, Wuming is 5 Enlightment. Kathok is called Shiming Buddhist School, 10 Enlightment. The complex can accommodate 2000 monks to study. "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," "school of the ancient translations" or "old school". Padmasambhava is venerated as the "second Buddha" by the Nyingma school. In modern times, the Nyingma lineage has been centered in Kham near Derge. We shall visit and wonder around Katok where we are allowed for around 2-3 hours before we drive to our next stop.

After visit in Katok Monastery we will then drive to Payul town for 1 hours and check in hotel and relax.

Visiting 5-6h Driving 4-5h; moderate pace

Overnight Payul 3000m

Today we will drive to the heartland of Derge by Dzongsar (Maisu) into one of the most remote yet amazing Tibetan places in Eastern Tibet in the foothills of south Chola Mountains. We will first go to visit Gagu Nunnery (with 4X4 car). Gagu Nunnery, or Gagu Meditation Retreat Center (also commonly written as Gagu Chanxiuyuan or Gagu Bodhi Grove) is a spiritual sanctuary hidden deep in the mountains of the Dege Maisu region. Compared to the religiously prominent Dzongsar Monastery, this place feels more like a secluded, hidden cut off from the outside world. Some visitors have called it "a more primitive meditation sanctuary than Larung Gar Buddhist Academy." We will spend around 2-4 hours by this place after driving up then drive back down the valley and to visit Dzongsar Monastery.

Dzongsar Monastery (Zongsa Monastery) is an important monastery of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, and is even more renowned as the birthplace of the "Rimé movement" (the nonsectarian movement). It is not merely a temple, but a sacred site that integrates profound history, religious culture, and traditional craftsmanship.

After the visits we will go check in to hotels. Tonight accommodation is more on the basic side.

Driving 3-4h, visiting 5-6h; moderate pace

Overnight Dzongsar 3500m

Today we will go embrace nature. We will go dive deep into Dopu Valley and see the wonderful unspoiled and untouched nature of Chola mountains by the river valley of Dopu. Dege Dopu Valley is a little-known natural wonderland with top-tier scenery. Hidden deep among the mountains of western Sichuan, it is praised by many visitors as "unrivaled in western Sichuan" for its unique landscape combining lush vegetation, clear streams, and snow-capped peaks. Dopu Valley remains exceptionally peaceful, shielded by the surrounding mountains and non-touristy at all. The signature scenery of Dopu Valley features tall, straight fir forests in the valley, complemented by pastures, clear streams, and majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance—creating rich layers of landscape that are photogenic from every angle. The entire valley is an ecological canyon stretching over 30+ kilometers, filled with verdant forests as far as the eye can see.

We will do a leisure and flexible walking near the river before drive out. After the walking and wondering we will then drive for around 3-4 hours to Manigange and prepare for next day’s fly out.

Visiting 5-6h, driving 4h, ; moderate pace

Overnight Manigange 3800m

Today we will check out hotel and drive directly to airport to catch your flight out of Kham. Your In-depth Kham Tibet Tour ends by seeing you off by Gesar Airport.

Driving 1h, easy pace.