Tour across Amdo

D1. Xining- arrival at Xining airport by flight from Beijing or another China international airport. Our guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the Hotel or drive directly to the village; Pema’s hometown (will be based on your wishes, depends also on your flight schedule) [70km]

D2. Shakhyung Monastery

(Ch: Xiaqiong temple)is one of the four principal Gelugpa monasteries in north Amdo and situated on the shoulder of mountain Drak Shachyung with a sharp cliff facing towards the west. Its location on the mountaintop offers visitors a breathtaking view over the Machu River (Yellow River).  The Monastery was founded in 1349 by The great master called Chogyal Dondup Ringchen: the former teacher of Tsongkhapa. There are several colleges on the monastery campus; Kalachakara, medical, and philosophy. There are also temples built on the upper part of the monastery.

The main temples are Sutra hall, Golden roof temple (known also as Serdong; contains the reliquary of Chogyal Dondup Rinchen), Ara patsa temple (Manjushuri temple), print house, and so on. Before Cultural Revolution, there were about 2000 monks in the monastery but now the number has dropped to 700-600 monks. Its location in a remote area keeps its reputation hidden from tourists. O/N Hotel [44km]

D3-4. Rebgong

(Ch: Huangnan) The valley of Repkong is home to the renowned school of Rebkong Art, one of the most highly esteemed traditions of Buddhist painting and sculpture in the Tibetan world. At the farming villages of Sengeshong Yamgotsang on the east bank of the Gu-Chu river, this morning, you will visit exquisitely decorated temples, and the studios of the villages and monastic artists where painted scrolls can be purchased. Most of the temples and monasteries of Amdo, which have been reconstructed in recent years, have commissioned works of art, including elaborated mural panels, from Repkong. In town, this afternoon, you explore the vast complex of Rongpo Gonchen, originally a Sakya Foundation (1301) which was reconstituted as a Gelukpa monastery in the 16^th century, and then you drive north along the west bank of the Guchu to visit Nyentok Gonmar monasteries, where the majority of the monks hail from the Tu ethnic community. At Nyentok the most impressive building is the Jamkhang- containing a 13m Maitreya, while at Gomar there is a stupa with multiple chapels dedicated to the meditational deities of the four classes of the tantra.There are also some Nyingmapa monasteries in the valley. O/n Hotel [129km]

D5. Sogdzong(Henan Xian)-Machu (Ch:Maqu

Today you leave the fertile farming, and agricultural land of Rebgong and begin ascending to grasslands. After driving about 70km you will be in nomadic areas. You see the vast grasslands of Zekog and Sogdzong counties. Visit the Lhamo Latso lake. You will drive further down to the south, and the Yellow river appears just in front of you and you will camp on the grassland. Camping. [275km] Altitude: 3700m

D6. Nyenpoyurtse (Ch: Nianbaoyuze  National Geopark)

Nyenpoyurtse is in Chikdril (Ch: Jiuzhi) county of Golok Tibetan autonomous prefecture. It is one of the three sacred mountains in Amdo. It is said to be the cradle and birthplace of Golog tribes. Nowadays it is becoming more and more tourist attraction due to its dynamic natural attractions. There are many beautiful lakes in the mountains but only two of them are regularly visited. These two lakes are called Shugtso and Ngomtso. Shugtso has become a regular touristic site whereas Ngmotso is still not. Ngnotso is beautiful with a peaceful environment. You will camp at the lake. They are some Tibetan Nomads families around the lake. [150km] Camping

D7. Nyenpoyurtse

Today you have a full day to hike around the lake or up in the mountains. Camping.

D8. Padma (Ch: Baima)

On the way to Padma,(bout 40-50 km) from the lake, there is Nyingmapa monastery called Tarthang Gonpa, founded in 1857-1882. Tarthang is one of the largest Nyingma monasteries in Tibet and it maintains good connections with the United States through the agency of Tarthang Tulku Lama Kunga, who has invited to Berkeley for more than thirty-five years.

Padma is a small county town of Golog and there is a huge landmark Chorten; a stupa at the end of the Town. Visit the stupa and Mani stones.   O/N Guesthouse [179km]

D9. Zamthang(Ch: Zamtang)

Today you follow downstream and visit many interesting houses and monasteries along the road. You will visit monasteries like Kyung Gonpa(Jonangpa school and Bong Thok Gonpa (Gelugpa.

The traditional houses built with stones in the villages are quite unique in this area. You can stop at some of these villages and visit the families. All the monasteries and stupas are built with local materials. They look so authentic and natural. You might call your driver to do more stops while you are in the valley. You will visit the Seekhar Guthok; the Nine- store Temple (Kagyu school) on the way to Larung Gar. [168KM] Hotel

D10. Larung Gar in Sertar

Larung Gar (Tibetan: bla rung sgar) is located about 20km to the east of Sertar County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the traditional Tibetan region of Kham. The population of over 20,000 comprises primarily monks and nuns making it possibly the largest religious institute in the world and is based around the Sertar Institute founded by Jigme Phuntsok.

Ngarig Buddhist Institute

In 1980, Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok founded the Larung Five Sciences Buddhist Academy, in the Larung Valley near the town of Sêrtar, Garzê Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The purpose of the Institute has been to provide ecumenical training in Tibetan Buddhism and to meet the need for renewal of meditation and scholarship all over Tibet in the wake of China’s Cultural Revolution of 1966-76.

Despite its remote location, it grew from a handful of disciples gathering in Khenpo's home to be one of the largest and most influential centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism in the world, numbering nearly 10,000 monks, nuns, and lay disciples by the year 2000.

Overall, the student body of Larung Five Sciences Buddhist Academy was made up of monks, nuns, lay "vow-holders" of both Tibetan and Chinese origins, and tantric practitioners. They studied under four major religious divisions in the Academy: Ngarig Nangten Lobling, International Religious Committee, Pema Khandro Duling Nunnery, and Lektso Charbeb Ling. Nagari Nangten Lobling consisted of 2,500 Tibetan monks. Lektso Charbeb Ling is the section that trained over 1,000 lay Tibetan "vow-holders" and tantric practitioners from Sêrtar and other regions of Tibet.

Pema Khandro Duling Nunnery was the home for study to approximately 3,500-4,000 nuns from all regions of Tibet. More than half of those who came to Sertar were women and the curriculum allowed nuns to achieve a coveted Khenpo degree for the first time in Tibetan history. Entry into the relatively small number of nunneries that exist in other areas of Tibet is limited, but Sertar was open to virtually anyone who genuinely sought to become a student of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok’s ecumenical vision. Khenpo’s niece, Jetsunma Mumso, was recognized as a tulku and heads the order of nuns. The term is descriptive of certain teachers in Tibet who are thought to reincarnate over a number of generations.

Roughly ten percent of the nearly 10,000 students attending Sertar were ethnic Han people. They attended separate classes taught in Standard Chinese while larger classes were taught in Amdo Tibetan. The International Religious Committee oversaw 1,000 disciples from regions of the People’s Republic of China and students from other Asian countries.

Sertar Institute has operated with a standing executive committee of seven learned lamas, but major decisions were confirmed and implemented only after consultation with Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. Sertar Institute has been home to over 500 khenpos—holders of Bachelor's degrees in divinity—and is widely renowned for the high quality of both its religious and secular education. English, Chinese, and Tibetan languages and modern computer studies have been taught alongside traditional non-sectarian Buddhist curriculum.

When the Chinese demolished about 2000 huts in 2001 in an attempt to curb the growth of the institute, they set the area limits by bulldozing a perimeter road around the institute, outside which hut construction is forbidden. Even though space is scarce, more than 1000 new huts are constructed every year by both professional crews and monks and nuns themselves with the help of their families and friends.

Larung Gar is outside the main tourist routes and few foreigners find their way there. Occasionally officials have prevented foreigners from visiting the institute, but in recent years it has been most accessible. There is one hotel on the Northern ridgeline, which is most easily reached via the new construction access road from the north, avoiding the congestion on the narrow streets of the institute. There are also a simple guesthouse and a few restaurants on the main square next to the main Gompa. A new "Temple of Death" has been built at the sky burial site about one kilometer north of the institute, turning this simple and practical ritual into a tourist attraction. [146km]

D11 Thukchen- (Ch: Guanyinqiao)

Today you drive to the east of Larung Gar and you will descend from the grassland (3800m) to lower elevations where corns and fruits can grow. Thukchen: Tuje Chenpo ( Avalokiteshvara self-rising) Situated on a mountain top. Tukchen temple overlooks the small town and the river. You will visit the temples.

Before getting to Barkahm town, you will see many ancient fortresses or watchtowers in the villages of Gyalrong. Many of the inhabitants in the valley are practicing Bon tradition (pre-Buddhist) Hotel [264]

D12.Barkam-Long GU (Ch:Wenchua

Today you enter the Gyarong Gorges, There are two monasteries located near  Barkam city.  One of them is Bon monastery and the other is Nyingma monastery.  The statues in the Bon monastery are so impressive. Hotel [206km]

D13 Chengdu

There used to be many different ancient kingdoms in the Gyarong gorge therefore you will often see many impressive fortress and watchtowers standing alone in the valley. There are many ethnic groups of people with diverse cultures living in the valley. . Slowly Tibetan culture signs are no longer seen as you get closer to the planned areas of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province. In Chengdu, if the time permits, you will visit Wuhousi Tibetan Markets. Hotel [131km]

D14 Airport

After having breakfast (depending on your flight schedule) drive to the Chengdu international airport and your trip in Amdo is now completed. Take your flight back to your country with lots of Positive Karma. Tashi Delek! [30km]