Wonderful, memorable, and exceptional trip (Dali to Lhasa)

Trip to Xizang July 31st to August 7th, 2024

The journey from Dali (Yunnan) to Lhasa (Xizang) was a six-day odyssey that spanned over 1,879 kilometers, weaving through some of the most magnificent and rugged landscapes in China. This epic trip took us across paved, unpaved, and rocky roads, offering an intimate encounter with nature's grandeur and the region's rich cultural heritage.

We traversed three of the most important rivers of the area, the Yangtze, the Mekong, and the Nujiang, each carving deep, winding valleys through the mountains, sculpting biogeographical barriers that fostered the region's extraordinary biodiversity. We had dived down to valleys as low as 2,600 m, where the rivers meandered through the harsh terrain, and climbed up, through dangerous cliffs, to mountain passes soaring above 5,100 m, merging with dense clouds and impenetrable fogs. In Yunnan, borrowing route G214, we had a unique experience to discover the monasteries of Shangri-La (香格里拉), the charming streets of Diqing (德钦) and the picturesque lanes of Feilaisi (飞来寺), where one can admire the sun caressing the snow-capped tops of Meilixueshan.

As we crossed into Xizang, we trailed the twisting curls of the Mekong River, where salt is gathered since ancient times, and reached the town of Markam (芒康), to admire sites of Tibetan celestial burial. Joining the legendary G318, we ventured into grasslands and sparse woodlands at elevations exceeding 4,500 meters, where wild pikas and macaques roamed freely, and got stuck in traffic jams that led us to passes as high as 5,100 meters, all the way to the town of Baxoi (八宿). 

Along the Palong Zangbo River, we marveled at the placid waters of Rakwa Tso and were awed by the Midui Glacier, only to find rest in the beautiful and vibrant town of Bome (波密). Along the way, we closely observed the shift from very high mixed forests to alpine grasslands at 4,300 m, we admired the eternal snows of the Namcha Barwa, among the highest peaks in Xizang, and found refuge to the beautiful town of Lingzhi (林芝).

Throughout the route, dense temperate forest covered the steep slopes of the harsh environment alternating with sloped open grasslands grazed by cows, massive yaks and elegant horses. The final leg of our adventure took us along Highway G4218 to Lhasa (拉萨) at an altitude of 3600 m. In Lhasa we had the chance to visit the majestic Palace of Potala (布达拉宫), a world heritage site, and the most sacred and ancient Jokhang Temple (大昭寺). This unique trip managed to combine the raw beauty of the natural landscape of northern Yunnan and southwestern Xizang with the cultural splendor and mysticism of Tibetan Buddhism.

We thank you for this wonderful, memorable, and exceptional trip, and we look forward to an equally exciting experience next year!