Thorn Tree travel forum

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Hi Mujanast,

I just completed a 10-day trip from Xining to Dege (past Yushu).

You will cross many high mountain passes, including one at 5,050m.
Our group of 4 didn't have any major problems, although we did feel easily winded from climbing up stairs / walking around.

I personally had a massive headache when we first pulled into Maduo (4,400m).
However, after taking some aspirin and lying down for a while, followed by hot soup for dinner, i was feeling fine.

I think the key is to taking things slowly, staying hydrated -- very important. I felt headaches ease when i had more water, and also knowing your limits. Don't run around too much if you're already not feeling too well.

4 of us shared a 4WD (i think it's much more comfortable than a minibus), organised by Losang.
Our trip went somewhat like this, except that we didn't camp, and we condensed it down to about 10days.
Our driver was Gungpo, who was really excellent. He's a safe & considerate driver, good-humoured and basically just wonderful to travel with.

You don't have to worry about food / accomodation along the way cos there are guesthouses, and the little towns all have places to eat at.
Accomodation ranges from 20-40yuan/nite and each meal (for 5) can range from 30-60yuan, depending on what you order.

We're really glad we took this trip. The scenic views were amazing and we had lots of fun (snowball fights at 5,000m, anyone?) and we also had the honour of being invited to 2 Tibetan homes, where their hospitality and warmth truly touched us.

I would definitely recommend this trip, and I think the landscape's gonna be even prettier in August.
Do prepare for erratic changes in the weather though.
We experienced rain/snow/hail/sun all in a matter of hours.

Hope that helps!
I will post a more detailed trip report when I have the time.

If you have questions, you can contact Losang via his blog.
He has been really helpful in putting together our trip and i'm sure he'll be glad to help you too.

Cheers,
Felicia

If you actually look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel

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this route is amazingt!!!!Contact number in xining, some Tibetans will help you to find a minivan:13997032544.or 13997124471.

http://viewtibetadventuretours.blogspot.com/

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Forgot to add, i would suggest renting your own vehicle, as it gives you the flexiblity to stop whenever/wherever you want.
One of our travel buddies is a professional photographer, and he really appreciated being able to stop for pictures as and when he wanted.

It's also very useful for anyone wanting a toilet break / cigarette break ;)

Hope your trip works out!

Cheers,
Felicia.

If you actually look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel

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sounds Great, I will be arriving to Xining from 3 of June 07, and heading down to yushu as well,if I can find some peaple to share teh jeep costs and the fun, please contact me.
Thank you.

Alex

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everybody...thnxs for all your advice!
I do have an extra question...
I've been to several high places around the world (Bolivia 5000m+ / Karakul lake / Nepal/ etc. What I liked most was the arid / barren/ no-vegetation/snowcapped mountains desolated moonlandscape.
I do read a lot about the grasslands in this part of China, but do I get to see the desolation as described?
Would Amdo be more suitable in this respect?
Thnxs again...we'll certainliy go. Maybe take a rented vehicle to Jyekundo (Yishu), and try to take public transport from there to Chengdu (in stages ofcourse).

mujanast

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You can travel this route by public bus, but going by bus you miss most of the great places along the way. There are many nomads (both Kham and Amdo nomads) who live along this route, but taking the bus doesn't allow you to stop and visit them. There are large expanses of grasslands with many yaks and sheep. It is a very good trip to take by private car.

#5...The trip down to Yushu from Xining would give you what you are looking for. For large portions of the trip, there are nothing but yak and Tibetan nomads. There are no large towns and no trees...just grassland.

Send me a private message for more information

Need more travel information for Tibet? Check these out…

The Land of Snows

Life on the Tibetan Plateau

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Thnxs again everybody!!
Loseng, I've send you a private message; thnxs for your friendly and informative reaction.
By the way...Loseng, your website (Tibet Connections), is really beautiful!!

mujanast

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Hi,
I'm interesting by the road between Xining and Yushu
I probably arrive the 16th july in Xining
Want to be the 23th july in Yushu for the festival the 25th. Suppose it's worth it
I travel alone so I can't rent a 4WD.
I'm interesting by some stops between Xining and Yushu but i don't know where ?
May be also the road between Tongren and Huashixia. Easy or not and how many days ?

Any recommandations for hotels or guesthouse in Xining and Yushu ?

Siya
I travelled in Kham between Chendgu and Dege in 2005, so i know sometimes it's not easy
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/chine-ethnic

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Siya or anyone else,

My friend and I are looking at arriving in Yushu on the 23rd of July or thereabouts, and would love to do private driver if possible.. however, I think we're traveling in reverse directions, with you going South and the two of us heading North. I dont imagine you're going to return, but if you are -- or if anyone else would like to catch a couple days of the horse festival and then head to Xining, please contact us!

ian at seekingshangrila dot com

Thanks!

www.seekngshangrila.com

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#8...You could take the bus from Xining to Madou and then hike out to the two large laskes that are dound west of Maduo. The hike is 110km and goes through some amazing scenery. Lots of yaks, gazelle, snow-capped mountains and some nomad Tibetans along the way. This 110km road sees very little traffic, though you could get lucky and get aride for part of the way.

Fromthere you could make your way down to Jyekundo. There are no buses from Maduo to Jyekundo so you will have to go out to the highway intersection and wait for a bus from Xining to pass by and get on the bus.

There is no direct road from Repkong (Tongren) to Huashixia. Your best option would be to go to Machen (Dawu in Chinese) and then try and get a lift to Huashixia going on the road that passes the holy mountain of Amnye Machen. This road is a great one to take, but large sections of the road see very little traffic (only a handful or cars per day in long sections).

Need more travel information for Tibet? Check these out…

The Land of Snows

Life on the Tibetan Plateau

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Hi Losang

Thanks for the information for the Amnye Machen

May be next time because after your private message I decided to drop my trip in Qinghai and Sichuan

I travel alone, i don't want to take a small tent for the festival

Difficult for me because i want to see the Yushu festival since a long time
Patricia

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Raindropz/Felicia

I've sent you a PM