The most convenient city of going to Tibet across China is Chengdu. Previously for visiting Tibet, European visitors have to fly to Beijing or shanghai first, and then by china domestic flight to Chengdu and for the continuing flight to Tibet; this has made the travel costs much higher than other tours of china, and it also costs more hours in the air for getting into Tibet and leaving for return; after having the first direct Chengdu & Europe flight of Chengdu to Amsterdam; a new direct europe Chengdu flight will be open soon; On 2012, December 20th, British Airways announced that a direct flight between Chengdu and London will be opened since the next September; following that, Sichuan airline is planning to open a Chengdu to Paris direct flight in the next June; all those flights between Chengdu and Amsterdam, London, Paris takes about 10 -11 hours, it is at least 6 hours minimum shorter than the flight via Beijing or Shanghai; and it helps to make easy access to both Tibet and the other minority regions of southwest of China, such as Miao people in Guizhou, Bai people and Thai people in Yunnan province; and it is more easy to make a visit to Kham and Amdo
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2013 Tibetan New Year Festival
2013 Tibetan New Year festival is on 11th February 2013
Bhutan Festival 2013 update
2013 Bhutan Festivals have been updated with its dates, please downlaod at: Bhutan Festival Dates 2013, a fast an easy way to find the right Bhutan Festival for you.
Drak Yerpa
Today, hermits are gradually returning to the caves of Drak Yerpa, and its shrines are being restored from the horrible damage of Cultural Revolution in 1960’s of 20thcentury.
Built on a hillside with more than 80 meditation caves, This site is about 25km east of Lhasa located on the mountain seated south bank of Lhasa River , and being described as the “life tree” or spiritual axis of Lhasa.
The road to Drak Yerpa has been rebuilt which are all well paved road from Lhasa to the parking lot
It was the home of several hundred hermits, monks, and nuns, and having been visited by Songsten Gampo, Yeshe Tsoygel, Padmasambhava and Asisha.
Mr. Tucci described this site: “Drak Yerpa appeared suddenly before my eyes as a bend of the road, a cascade of small white buildings along steep overgrown cliffs. One could have thought one was not in Tibet. Giant junipers and tufts of rhododendron topped a thick tangle of undergrowth, brushwood and grass victoriously fighting the hard barrenness of rocks.
The cliffs were riddled with burrows and caves, some of which were so high up on the fact of the abrupt hill that it would have been risky to climb them.”
Among the caves on the hillside is Chogyel Puk, where Songsten Gampo meditated.
Nearby is Lhakhang Puk, where the monk Lhalungpa Pelgi Dorje (now identified with Tulsi Rimpoche of Tupten Choling monastery in nepal) hid after assassinating the Bonpo king Langdama in 842.
Amdo Travel
Amdo, outside the TAR, extends a large areas of over Qinghai, parts of Gansu, and a small part of northern Sichuan of Kham. The trips to this enormous area can be vary, from Advernture to sightseeing; from tough trekking to leisure visit, you’re always able to find something to do;
Starting from Xining – the capital of Amdo approximately 20km west is the monastic townof Kumbum, another monastic town of Amdo is further south, called: Labrang; in between this two monastice towns is the cultural centre of Repkong, home to a distinctly vibrant tradition of Tibetan painting and sculpture. West from Repkong is the sacred Mt Amnye Machen, which is the highest spot in Amdo, and the focus that tibetan coming from all corners of Amdo as far as the west tibet for pilgrimage. continuing southwest to another culture site of Yushu. The 2nd large mountain of Amdo is called Mt. Nenpo Yutse located in the east corner of Amdo, next to Aba of Sichuan province;
Since Amdo is open to foreign visitor as Kham it is, there is NO Tibet travel permit required, therefore you are almost able to travel “freely”, although for those, whom would enjoy an easy and assisting tour, contacting one tour operator, of which you trust, would be a good idea to travel through this enormous area ensuring you travel safe, easy, fun…
Click here to View All Amdo Travel
Kham Travel
Located in the Western Sichuan and Northwest Yunnan province. It has a rugged terrain characterized by
mountain ridges and gorges running from northwest to southeast. The nonthern and western Kham consist most high altitude grasslands that are above 4000m. The southern Kham has numerous rivers, including the Mekong River, Yarlung River, and the Salween River flow through, which form lands and weather allowing Tibetan farmers to grow barley, wheat , and other vegetables and fruit trees. The eastern Kham is between 2500m – 3500m, are covered in thick evergreen forests. Snow-capped, glaciated peaks can be viewed almost everywhere. The higest mountain is Mt. Minya gangkar (7556m), which is also a wonderful site for making treks. from 5 days trekking to 111days trekking, this enormous region holds a large range of different treks, as well as Kawa Karpo;
Kham was also the home of many early Repoches, lamas, including the founders of the Drigungpa and Karmapa. Derge, a historic site that also provide numberous off-the-beaten path to visit, such as Palpung monastery, Dzongsar monastery…etc;
The bright part is – for the most of Kham are open, you may choose to travel with a tour operator, either way on your own, if you think you are able to get over the difficults of arranging traffic and laguage barrier. and It is true that Kham is one of the best places to observe traditional Tibetan culture, which we do agree! The best preserved Tibetan culture, very few travelers, almost no tourist, colorful nomad culture, different tradition of monastery. This is a wonderful place to visit;
Click here to View All Kham Travel
Visit Tibet only?
As you may be aware that the tours to Visit Tibet have received many errors on obtaining tibet-travel-permit. There is no telling that if this situation may last or not in the rest of this year. Does that mean you have to cancel your trip to Visit Tibet at all? Not necessarily! it is important to know that Tibetan cultural Area consists 3 major parts, of course the central tibet TAR is the main part, however, the other almost more than 50% large of the whole TCA areas are in current Qinghai province (Amdo), the West of Sichuan Province (Kham). Although Amdo and Kham are not in central Tibet, but not think it is any “less-Tbet”. those are still preserve some orginal tradition of Tibetan culture, such as “Jue-nang” of Gelukpa, “Black hat” of Orignal tibetan religion that sourced from Guge – the lost kingdom of west Tibet.
in the continuse days, Tibetan Trekking will publish more about the eastern tibet of Kham and Amdo to assist you choose other travel destinations, you are welcome to pay attention to our blog
Litang Festival location
The image on the right is a group of Tibetan women dancing at previous Litang Horse-Racing Festival
