Monks on the Grassy Plains

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Lanzhou - Xiahe & the Ganjia Grasslands - Lanzhou
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £ 540.- per person

Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air in the valleys of China. Visit Buddhist monasteries, see clouds reflected in glassy highland lakes and watch yak herders at work on the vast grassy plains. It’s a beautiful hilltop world that feels totally lost in time. You’ll spend three days exploring the outpost of Xiahe and the rolling Ganjia Grasslands, crisscrossed by rivers and wandering sheep.

Day 1 – Lanzhou – Xiahe

When you arrive in Lanzhou, you’ll be transferred by minibus to Xiahe, taking roughly 5 hours. On the way, you’ll grab some lunch in Linxia, a town tucked between the mountaintops. Reaching Xiahe, you’ll settle into your simple hotel near the golden-roofed Labrang Monastery. At an altitude of 3,000 metres, it’s a remote mountain settlement with a mystical atmosphere and the drifting scent of yak butter.

Days 2-3 – Ganjia grasslands excursion & departure

Today, you’ll take the minibus to the elevated grasslands of Ganjia, climbing into the mountains and onto the plateau. You’ll cross a landscape packed with mirrored lakes, clear blue skies, babbling brooks, traditional villages and grazing yaks. Given the altitude, it’s quite literally breathtaking scenery. You’ll stop for lunch in a remote village, and then head back to Xiahe.

Spend the evening listening to chants drift from the monastery, relaxing with a cup of green tea and getting a first-hand glimpse of mountain hospitality. After two nights in your humble but friendly hotel, you’ll get your things together and a transfer will take you back to Lanzhou where you’ll continue on to your next destination.