14-day trip to Lhasa → Ali
[ Overall Overview ]
This is a 14-day ultimate loop trip starting from Lhasa and deep into the Ngari region of Tibet. The total mileage of the trip is approximately 3,700 kilometers, taking you through the Ali Plateau, known as the "roof of the world", and the vast Qiangtang no-man's land.
In the first two days, we will conduct an in-depth tour and altitude adaptation in Lhasa, and then head all the way west to worship the sacred mountain Kailash and the holy lake Manasarovar, and explore the ancient and mysterious Zada soil forest and ancient civilization relics.
In the second half of the journey, we will cross the Qiangtang in northern Tibet, a paradise for wild animals, encounter the beautiful plateau lakes that are "wrong again and again", and finally return to Lhasa via Namtso. The itinerary spans extremely high altitude areas, and the scenery along the way is pristine, shocking and extreme. We will provide you with complete protection and take you to safely appreciate the most magnificent Tibetan secrets.
Experience Details
Trip Duration
14 days and 13 nights
Price
From 12,800 Yuan per person
May to October Annually
Best Time to Travel
[ Highlights ]Itinerary Highlights Explained
The holy city opens and you encounter the Holy Lake of Houzang Glacier
Starting from Lhasa, take an in-depth tour of the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to experience the thousand-year-old Tibetan beliefs. Head to Shigatse along the Brahmaputra River, encounter the secret place of Yamdrok Yumtso Blue Lake, face the Karola Glacier up close, and have a panoramic view of the classic Houzang culture and glacier lake scenery at once, and gradually adapt to the plateau altitude.
The hinterland of Ngari, pilgrimage to the sacred mountain and Guge civilization
Go deep into the Ngari Plateau, the roof of the world, and worship the sacred mountains Kailash, Kamanasarovar and Laangtso. Walk through the magnificent Zada soil forest, explore the remains of the ancient Zhangzhong civilization, and experience the unique majestic desolation and profound cultural heritage of the western Tibetan wilderness between hundreds of millions of years of geology and landforms and thousand-year-old historical relics.
Travel through the uninhabited land of Qiangtang to pursue the souls of the plateau
Gallop through the vast Qiangtang prairie and go deep into the secret realm of northern Tibet. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to encounter rare wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, and wild yaks. Stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a look at the original ecological northern Tibetan Plateau, and feel the pure, wild, and vast natural power of the no-man's land on the roof of the world.
Take one step after another and enjoy the many plateau holy lakes in northern Tibet
Along the way, we encountered Zharinammucuo, the Bon holy lake Dangla Yongcuo, the giant plateau lake Selincuo, and Namtso. Large and small lakes are scattered across the land of Qiangtang. The lake is blue and backed by rolling snow-capped mountains. You can enjoy the plateau lake landscape of different styles and immerse yourself in the classic experience of northern Tibet of "taking one step after another".
Tour Itinerary
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Days 1-3: Lhasa depth adaptation and preliminary exploration of the glacial holy lake
Day 1 | Arrive in Lhasa
Arrive at Lhasa Airport, receive exclusive pick-up service, and drive to the hotel to check in and rest. When you first arrive at the plateau, slow down your pace and adjust your work and rest to adapt to the altitude of Lhasa. It is recommended to reduce strenuous activities, eat lightly, and get enough rest to reserve energy for the subsequent long journey to the Ali Ring Road.
Day 2｜In-depth tour of Lhasa city
Wander around the holy city of Lhasa throughout the day, walk into the majestic Potala Palace, and explore the thousand-year history of the snow-covered palace. Go to the Jokhang Temple to feel the rich worship atmosphere and stroll clockwise along Barkhor Street with believers. In your spare time, you can look for local Tibetan food and experience Lhasa’s authentic folk customs and Tibetan belief culture up close.
Day 3｜Lhasa → Shigatse (358 km)
Climb over the Gangbala Pass and overlook Yamdrok Yongcuo, one of the three holy lakes. The winding blue lake is embedded among the mountains. Continue forward to reach Karola Glacier and see the majestic momentum of the huge ice up close. Enjoy the scenery of the Houzang River Valley along the way, arrive in Shigatse in the evening, and feel the unique cultural atmosphere of the important town of Houzang.
Days 4-6: Pilgrimage to Ali and the Holy Mountain Holy Lake
Day 4 | Shigatse → Saga (450km)
Officially embark on the road to Ali, heading west along the wide plateau valley. Along the way, there are continuous snow-capped mountains and open heaven and earth, the landform gradually becomes vast and desolate, and the scenery level is constantly changing. Arrive in Saga to rest and recuperate, as an important altitude adaptation station before going deep into the Ngari Plateau.
Day 5｜Saga → Tachin (490km)
Driving into the Ngari Plateau with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, vast grasslands spread between heaven and earth, with numerous snow-capped peaks in the Himalayas and Gangdise Mountains, passing through a unique colorful desert. Wastelands, snow-capped mountains, and deserts are intertwined. Enjoy the primitive and magnificent secret scenery of Tibet and stay overnight in Taqin at the foot of the sacred mountain.
Day 6 | Taqin One Day Tour (90km)
Go to Kailash Prayer Flag Square to pray and look up at the majestic Mount Kailash up close. Then go to Manasarovar Lake and Laangcuo. The fresh water of the Holy Lake is clear and quiet, the salt water of the Ghost Lake is vast, and the scenery of the two adjacent lakes is in strong contrast. The wilderness creates a picture of a plateau lake with great visual impact.
Days 7-8: Zada Earth Forest Wonders and Capital Rest
Day 7｜Taqin → Zada (240km)
Traveling through the vast wilderness of Ali to Zada, we arrived at the shocking Zada soil forest. After hundreds of millions of years of wind and rain erosion, it has formed a unique rolling landform, like a sculpture of the earth. Go deep into the Tulin area, explore the ruins of the ancient Zhangzhong civilization, and feel the unique atmosphere of the blend of nature's miraculous craftsmanship and ancient civilization.
Day 8｜Zada → Shiquan River (250km)
Say goodbye to the Zada Earth Forest and head north along the Ngari Plateau, passing through the wilderness and snow-capped mountains and canyons. With a broad view along the way, you can enjoy the typical plateau scenery of Western Tibet, and finally arrive at Shiquanhe Town, the capital of Ngari region. Rest and replenish your supplies here and start the subsequent journey through the no-man's land of Qiangtang.
Days 9-11: Go deep into the hinterland of Qiangtang and "take measures after measures"
Day 9 | Shiquan River → Gai Ze (490km)
Go deep into the hinterland of the Qiangtang Plateau and gallop in the endless grasslands of northern Tibet. The road is sparsely populated and the original ecological environment is well preserved. You have a greater chance of encountering rare wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan wild donkeys, and wild yaks, and feel the original wild and vast temperament of Qiangtang.
Day 10 | Change → Cuoqin (260km)
Continue deep into the core area of the mysterious Qiangtang uninhabited land, with few towns along the way. Pure plateau lakes, rolling snow-capped mountains, and boundless grasslands alternately come into view, far away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Immersively appreciate the original natural scenery on the roof of the world, and enjoy the quiet and magnificent scenery of the wilderness of northern Tibet along the way.
Day 11｜Cuoqin → Ministry of Education and Culture (270km)
Go to Zharinammtso, the third largest lake in Tibet, and the open lake stretches as far as the eye can see. Afterwards, we went to Damra Yongcuo, the famous holy lake of Bon religion. The lake is backed by Dargo Snow Mountain, and the mountains and rivers complement each other. Stroll along the lakeside, feel the unique quiet atmosphere of the ancient Bon holy land, and enjoy the unique and beautiful lake scenery in northern Tibet.
Days 12-14: The largest plateau lake group and successful return trip
Day 12 | Ministry of Education → Bangor (450km)
Continue to travel through the uninhabited wilderness of Qiangtang. The ecology along the way is primitive, and you have the opportunity to encounter plateau wild animals. Arrive at Lincuo, the largest inland lake in Tibet. The vast lake surface is rich in color and there are few tourists on the lakeside. You can enjoy the original scenery of the giant plateau lake.
Day 13 | Bangor → Lhasa (380km)
Visit Namtso, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, and enjoy the classic scenery of snow-capped mountains surrounding the blue lake. After the tour, we will cross the vast Damxung Grassland and return eastward towards the holy city of Lhasa, reminiscing about the wilderness lake scenery of Ali and Qiangtang along the way.
Day 14｜Send off at the airport in Lhasa
This trip to the Great Northern Line of Ali has come to an end, and a special car will be arranged to escort us to Lhasa Airport. With the beautiful memories of sacred mountains, holy lakes, earth forests and Qiangtang grasslands along the way, we bid farewell to the snowy plateau and successfully ended our 14-day in-depth self-driving trip to Ali.
[ Trip ]
Pricing Details
What's Included
Tibet Entry Permit and all necessary procedures
Bilingual (Chinese & English) Tour Guide
Accommodation Throughout
Breakfasts + Selected Specialty Meals
Travel Insurance + High-Altitude Insurance
Medical Oxygen
Guaranteed car
What's Not Included
Round-trip Transportation to Lhasa
Single Room Supplement
Personal Expenses
Suggested Gratuity ¥50/person/day
Self-Driving Fuel, Tolls, and Parking Fees
Vehicle rental
Attraction Entrance Tickets
[ Travel FAQs ]
Frequently Asked Questions
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It is recommended to go in spring (April, May, June) or autumn (September, October). During these periods, the weather and road conditions in Western China are generally more stable.
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Entering and exiting Tibet is very convenient. Currently, there are flights, trains, and multiple overland driving routes available.
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Currently, Tibet is open to global tourists. However, when planning your trip, you need to be aware of the relevant restrictions: for example, you must apply for a Tibet Travel Permit in advance, and must participate in a fixed itinerary arranged by a travel agency; Tibet currently does not support independent travel.
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The cost includes SUV or motorcycle rental, hotel accommodation, licensed tour guide services, first entry tickets to attractions, and all administrative permit processing fees.
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You need to prepare your passport, a driver's license valid for more than 6 months, and the registration documents for your vehicle or motorcycle. We will be responsible for assisting you with all legal procedures required for driving in China.
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Yes, we do. We will arrange pick-up and drop-off services for your arrival and departure days, covering transfers between the hotel and the airport or station.
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Yes, you can. After an in-depth discussion with our travel consultant, we will arrange a customized China road trip itinerary for you based on your specific needs.
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