Tibetan Plateau
Discover the Unfiltered Tibetan Plateau
Ride pilgrimage trails, meet a Tibetan herder who's become a friend, and eat dumplings by an open fire.
About this trip
Dorje grew up herding yaks in the mountains west of Chengdu. He's been our guide for six years. He'll be yours for six days. This trip takes you off the tourist trail into Ge'nie Massif, one of the least-visited corners of the Tibetan world — where private monastery access, a 1,600-year-old pilgrimage trail, and a proper dance party with locals are all on the itinerary.
What you'll do
- Panda conservation at Bifengxia (before the crowds arrive)
- Ke'er Monastery — the largest Gelug monastery in the region
- Horse riding on a pilgrimage trail that's been walked for 1,600 years
- Tibetan medicine workshop: why highland plants cure highland people
- Yak herding and dumpling-making with Dorje's family
- Dance party in traditional dress. Yes, really.
Day by day
Arrive in Chengdu. Evening hotpot dinner together — the best introduction to Sichuan there is.
- Airport transfer
- Group dinner: Chengdu hotpot
- Orientation walk
Your Local Guide
Dorje
Dorje was 17 when we first met him on a scouting trip through the Ge'nie region. He'd been herding yaks his whole life and had never guided tourists. Six years later, he runs the Village Hearth operation for this route — his home is the base, his family provides the meals, and his community benefits directly from every trip. He speaks Tibetan, Mandarin, and enough English to make everyone laugh.
What's included
Included
- All accommodation (guesthouses and Dorje's family home)
- All meals mentioned in itinerary
- Private transport throughout
- English-speaking guide
- All activities and entrance fees
- Village Hearth community contribution
Not Included
- International flights to/from Chengdu
- Travel insurance (required)
- Personal spending and souvenirs
- Tips (appreciated, never expected)
Starting from
$980
per person, all-inclusive
We reply within 24 hours.