15-Day Chengdu to Lhasa Sichuan-Tibet Small Group Pure Tour

This 15-day all-inclusive small-group overland tour follows the classic G318 Sichuan-Tibet route from Chengdu to Lhasa, covering snow-capped glaciers, turquoise plateau lakes, ancient Tibetan villages, sacred monasteries and authentic local folk culture. Zero mandatory shopping stops, professional bilingual tour guides, graded hotel tiers and full plateau logistics support deliver a relaxed, immersive cross-Tibet journey for landscape photographers, culture lovers and plateau travel beginners. The legendary G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway gathers the most diverse alpine scenery in western China, ranging from dense forest valleys and rolling grasslands to massive glaciers and high-altitude sacred lakes. This carefully-paced 15-day itinerary gradually elevates altitude step-by-step to ease altitude sickness, integrating core iconic scenic spots, less crowded hidden landscapes and in-depth Tibetan cultural experiences without rushed driving schedules. You will depart from Chengdu and traverse Kangding, Xinduqiao, Daocheng Yading, Mugecuo, Ranwu Lake, Midui Glacier, Basongcuo, Nyingchi before arriving in Lhasa, finishing with Lhasa city landmark tours and glacier day trips. Our dedicated driver, bilingual guide and full set of included travel supplies eliminate all self-planning troubles, letting you fully focus on breathtaking plateau scenery and authentic Tibetan culture.

Quick Facts Table

Time	Itinerary Details
Duration	15 Full Days & 14 Nights
Departure/Return	Chengdu round trip; Overland transfer by spacious licensed plateau SUV / commercial vehicle
Group Type	Small shared group tour, max 12 guests per group, NO mandatory shopping or hidden fees
Language	Licensed bilingual guide (Chinese + English), detailed English travel itinerary provided
Core Highlights	G318 snow mountains, primitive glaciers, turquoise plateau lakes, Tibetan ancient towns, sacred monasteries, nomadic grassland culture
Difficulty	Moderate; gradual altitude rising schedule to reduce altitude sickness risk; visitors with severe cardiovascular, lung disease or hypertension are not recommended

Daily Itinerary Table

Time	Itinerary Details
Day 1: Chengdu Arrival & Hotel Check-in	Free arrival day, self-check into selected Chengdu downtown hotel. Free time to explore local Sichuan food, Jinli Ancient Street and Chunxi Road. No group arranged activities; rest well to prepare for plateau travel next morning. Overnight in Chengdu hotel.
Day 2: Chengdu → Kangding → Xinduqiao	Early morning group departure from Chengdu, drive through Erlang Mountain Tunnel to Kangding, visit the ancient city and local Tibetan market. Continue to Xinduqiao, known as “Photographer’s Paradise”, overlook rolling grasslands and snow mountain backdrop. Slow driving pace for altitude adaptation. Overnight in Kangding / Xinduqiao hotel, breakfast included.
Day 3: Xinduqiao → Yajiang → Litang	Cross Zheduo Mountain and high-altitude passes, pass through Yajiang valley grasslands. Arrive at Litang, the “City in the Sky” at over 4000m altitude; visit Litang Ancient Town and Tibetan folk villages. Short sightseeing stops along the route for landscape photography. Overnight in Litang boutique hotel, breakfast included.
Day 4: Litang → Daocheng Yading Scenic Area	Morning drive to Daocheng Yading National Nature Reserve. Check into valley hotel near the scenic spot, free time to acclimatize to medium altitude environment. Prepare equipment for full-day Yading sightseeing the next day. Overnight in Daocheng Yading valley hotel, breakfast included.
Day 5: Full Day Daocheng Yading Sightseeing	All-day in-depth exploration of Yading, visit Three Sacred Snow Mountains, Milk Lake, Five-Color Lake and Xiannairi Peak. Free self-guided hiking with group shuttle service inside the scenic zone. Self-catered lunch during sightseeing, return to valley hotel for rest in the evening. Overnight in Daocheng Yading hotel, breakfast included.
Day 6: Daocheng → Batang	Leave Yading valley, drive along the Jinsha River canyon, pass through primitive forest and alpine meadow landscapes. Cross mountain passes with panoramic snow mountain views, stop at natural viewing platforms for photography. Arrive in Batang in late afternoon for rest. Overnight in Batang hotel, breakfast included.
Day 7: Batang → Zuogong	Cross Jinsha River bridge to enter Xizang territory, drive through steep river valleys and high mountain ridges. Visit small Tibetan villages along the G318 route, observe local nomadic life and rural plateau scenery. Arrive in Zuogong for overnight stay. Overnight in Zuogong hotel, breakfast included.
Day 8: Zuogong → Ranwu Lake	Traverse multiple high-altitude mountain passes, overlook vast wild grasslands and distant snow peaks. Arrive at Ranwu Lake, a famous turquoise alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Sunset photography at lakeside viewing platform. Overnight in Ranwu lakeside hotel, breakfast included.
Day 9: Ranwu → Midui Glacier → Bomi	Morning visit Midui Glacier, walk to the glacier front to view massive ice falls and crystal glacial landscape. Drive to Bomi, known as “Xizang Jiangnan”, covered in dense primitive forests and clear streams. Leisure evening with mild altitude for good rest. Overnight in Bomi hotel, breakfast included.
Day 10: Bomi → Nyingchi	Drive through forest valleys, view peach blossom valleys (seasonal) and mountain waterfalls. Arrive in Nyingchi, low-altitude forest city with mild climate. Free evening to stroll local Nyingchi town streets. Overnight in Nyingchi boutique hotel, breakfast included.
Day 11: Nyingchi → Basongcuo Lake	Full day trip to Basongcuo, a famous green water sacred lake surrounded by virgin forests. Take lakeside walks, visit small island monasteries and capture lake-snow mountain composite scenery. Return to Nyingchi for overnight stay, breakfast included.
Day 12: Nyingchi → Lhasa	Long-distance G318 drive to Lhasa, pass through Niyang River valley, visit viewing platforms of river delta wetlands. Gradually rise altitude to reach Lhasa city in the evening. Hotel check-in in downtown Lhasa, breakfast included. Overnight in Lhasa hotel.
Day 13: Lhasa City Core Sightseeing	Full-day Lhasa cultural tour: Potala Palace guided visit, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street pilgrimage circuit. Professional guide explains Xizang religious history and folk culture. Free time to browse handicraft street after sightseeing. Overnight in Lhasa hotel, breakfast included.
Day 14: Lhasa → Yangpachen → Karola Glacier Day Trip	Day trip outside Lhasa: visit Karola Glacier and Yangpachen grassland, overlook the towering glacier wall and plateau pasture landscape. Return to Lhasa city in the evening. Overnight in Lhasa hotel, breakfast included.
Day 15: Lhasa Departure	Hotel breakfast, free leisure time for last-minute souvenir shopping. Transfer to airport / train station as scheduled, 15-day tour officially concludes. No accommodation included on departure day.

✅ Inclusions

• 14 nights twin-share hotel accommodation (match your selected hotel tier: local comfort inn / boutique premium hotel)
• Daily breakfast at all hotels throughout the itinerary
• Full-time bilingual Chinese & English licensed plateau tour guide service
• Dedicated professional plateau driver + spacious licensed commercial SUV / tourist vehicle all transfers
• All scheduled ground overland transfers as listed in daily itinerary
• Entrance tickets for all core scenic spots: Daocheng Yading, Midui Glacier, Ranwu Lake, Basongcuo, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple
• Complimentary plateau travel kit: oxygen canister, altitude sickness medicine, sun protection supplies
• Group basic travel accident insurance covering the full 15-day travel period
• Complete pre-trip plateau adaptation guidance and real-time altitude sickness support from guide
• Zero compulsory shopping stops, no hidden group surcharges during the whole trip

❌ Exclusions

• Flight / train tickets to Chengdu and departure transport from Lhasa (airport / train station drop-off only arranged on Day 15)
• All lunch and dinner meals except daily hotel breakfast; local Tibetan hot pot, barbecue and specialty meals self-catered
• Single room supplement fee if you cannot share a twin room with another guest
• Scenic area internal shuttle bus fees, cable car fees, audio guide rental and scenic spot optional insurance
• Personal souvenirs, travel photography, handmade crafts and local specialty purchases
• Voluntary tips for tour guide and driver (completely optional)
• Personal hotel mini-bar consumption, laundry service and private hotel extra charges
• Extra fees caused by road closure, natural disaster, force majeure, weather delay or temporary traffic control
• Personal plateau activity optional experiences: horse riding, local folk performance, hiking guide service
• Children extra fees: hotel bed supplement, scenic entrance tickets and shuttle bus fares for tall minors Personal travel supplies, additional oxygen bottles and extra altitude sickness medicine purchased on the way
• All private personal expenses not listed within the inclusions section

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