Are you wondering how to get to Larang Gar in Eastern Tibet, but feel confused by the information out there? This post will tell about the journey to Larang Gar and also some of the best things to see in Eastern Tibet and Sichuan Province along the way.
Larang Gar is a unique place that is difficult to reach, due to it’s remoteness and distance from any airport, but really is worth the effort. If you want to make the journey to Larang Gar, you you will most likely begin your journey in Chengdu. Here is a list of the best things to do in Chengdu before heading out to Larang Gar.
Chengdu
Chengdu is a vibrant city in China that offers a range of cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Here are some of the best things to see in Chengdu:
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. A conservation centre that houses giant pandas and offers visitors the opportunity to observe and learn about these adorable animals. They are so cute to watch!
Jinli Ancient Street. A traditional street lined with shops, restaurants, and teahouses that offers a glimpse into Chengdu’s ancient past.
Kuanzhai Alley. A historic neighborhood that has been restored and features traditional architecture, shops, and cafes.
Wenshu Monastery. The Wenshu Monastery offers beautiful gardens and intricate statues and carvings at every turn.
Peoples Park. A place to relax, watch locals entertain with random magic tricks, drink tea and possibly get a massage or your ears cleaned. Yes you read that right. A visit to Peoples Park is a cultural experience. it’s worth spending some time in to drink Chinese tea and people watch.
Leshan Buddha. A 1-2 hour bus ride outside of Chengdu but worth the ride to visit.
Chengdu to Kangding – A journey to Larang Gar in Eastern Tibet
After leaving Chengdu and to start your journey to Larang Gar in Eastern Tibet, you need to take a bus to Kangding. Kangding is an ok town with some nice temples. You’ll need to go here to catch transport and travel further into the province. There are other towns that you can travel to, but at the time that I traveled they were closed to foreigners, so this route was the only available option.
To get to Kangding, take a bus from Chengdu to Kangding. Buses depart regularly from the central bus station in Chengdu and take approximately 6-8 hours to reach Kangding. You’ll need to stay overnight in Kangding, because you will arrive in the early evening.
Kangding to the Darjay Monastery
From Kangding, take a taxi or private car to the Darjay Monastery. The monastery is located about 40 kilometers northwest of Kangding, and the journey takes about an hour by car. Agree the price before setting out to avoid being ripped off.
The Darjay Monastery is an important religious site for Tibetan Buddhists and is surrounded by stunning scenery. The monastery is above sea level so take it easy to avoid altitude sickness.
If you want to stay overnight in the region, there is a small nunnery called Talam Khang. This is a small temple that allows guests to stay the night. It is about a 15 minute walk behind the monastery, and offers a unique experience. You might need a Tibetan phrase book as the English spoken is limited.
Darjay Monastarety to Maniango Town & Yilhun Lhatso Lake
The journey from Darjay Monastery to Manigango is a scenic and winding drive through the mountains of Sichuan Province, China. The distance between the two places is approximately 110 kilometers and takes around 3-4 hours by car. Arrange a car when you are in Kangding, if you intend to spend the night in Talam Khang. I actually hitchhiked and payed a man to sit in the back of his pickup truck.
The route to Maniango passes through Tibetan villages and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and valleys. Manigango Town is just one road with a couple of restaurants and a hotel. It is known for its beautiful natural scenery and traditional Tibetan culture. The town is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and offers several attractions, including the the high altitude Yilhun Lhatso Lake. The area is beautiful to hike and observe local life and nature. You really are off the beaten path here. It is the Wild West of China.
Yilhun Lhatso Lake is located on the road connecting Garze and Derge, two Tibetan towns full of culture. The Yilhun Lhatso Lake is absolutely stunning and you can enjoy the fantastic landscape, lake, mountains and local life.
Many Chinese tourists continue on to Tibet from this Manigango Town. However foreigners are not allowed to go further into Tibet from here. Make use of the Chinese tourists in the town to help you order food and book transport to Sertar. I met many Chinese tourist happy to use their English skills to help make the trip easier for me.
Maniango Town to Sertar/Larang Gar in Eastern Tibet
From Maniango you can take a private car or minibus to Sertar. Sertar is the town right next to Larang Gar where you can find restaurants and hotels. Once you have dropped your bags at your hotel in Sertar then you can explore Larang Gar. Larang Gar is one of the most fascinating places you may ever come across. In the mid afternoon you can walk over the fields to view a sky burial. To find the sky burial you can follow the vultures, they swarm around the sky and get closer and closer to where they know they will be fed. A sky burial is not for the faint hearted.
Please note that the situation changes frequently and sometimes Larang Gar is open to tourists and other times it is not. It is best to check if it is open before proceeding with your journey. When I traveled in the region, certain towns were closed while others were open. I had no idea until I arrived in Sertar if I would be able to visit Larang Gar or see a sky burial.
Hiking one of the 4 Sisters from Siguniang Town
On the way back to Chengdu from Sertar it’s possible to break up the journey and add some adventure, by hiking one of the highest peaks in Sichuan.
The Four Sisters peaks can be reached by various length and altitude hikes starting in Siguniang. Hostels can help to arrange an overnight on the mountain for you. However, If you don’t feel like a tough hike you can find nice walks around various valleys in the area. It’s best to stay at a hostel in the area, so that you can be assisted in arranging hikes and guides for overnight trips.
After your hike, you can get direct transportation back to Chengdu, which a hostel can also help to arrange for you.
Traveling around Sichuan Province and Eastern Tibet is an adventure that you’ll remember forever. The going won’t always be easy, so remember to have a translation app on hand, because traveling in the more remote parts of China can be challenging, especially if you’re not traveling with someone that speaks Chinese.
You’ll also need a payment app, such as WeChat or Alipay and a work around to survive without Google or Google Maps.
Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
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