Tours and Trekking in Amdo Tibet usually gives a sense of adventure that takes a measure and value of a trip. There are famous sights evaluated to be the best rank to see the largest salted water source, Qinghai lake (མཚོ་སྔོན་པོ།), the best adventure trekking spot and the holiest mountain Amnye Machen, great monasteries such as Kumbum, Labrang, Taktsang Lhamo and Larung Gar (Sertha monastery) etc. Are you ready to do a Amdo tour?
A trip to Amdo, Tibet, offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience Tibetan culture in its most authentic form. But what exactly is Amdo Tibet, and what makes it such a unique destination?
Amdo refers to the Tibetan regions outside the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), encompassing parts of Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces. The largest portion of Amdo is located in Qinghai, a vast and diverse area home to a population of around 6 million, including Tibetans, Chinese, and Muslim communities. This region is rich in Tibetan heritage, and exploring it provides a deeper connection to the nomadic lifestyle, traditional culture, and untouched landscapes of Tibet.
Amdo is a land of contrasts, with altitudes ranging from 3,000 meters to over 6,500 meters above sea level. It’s home to Tibetan nomads who herd livestock in the high mountains, as well as farmers in the fertile lower lands. This region is perfect for those seeking adventure, as it remains largely undiscovered by mainstream tourism. The rugged terrain and remote locations of Amdo offer extraordinary trekking, horseback riding, and exploration opportunities in areas that few travelers ever visit.
The capital of Qinghai, Xining, is the gateway to Amdo and the starting point for many expeditions into the region. To make the most of your adventure, it’s highly recommended to work with a local Amdo tour operator who can expertly guide you through this culturally rich and remote landscape.
Whether you’re looking for an immersive cultural experience, a remote trekking adventure, or an opportunity to connect with Tibetan traditions far from the crowds, Amdo Tibet is the place to be. Let a local tour company handle the details, and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Tibetan culture.
- When to go: May, June, July, August and September
- Getting to Amdo: Amdo Tibetan areas in Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan can be reached mostly by flights and trains. However, it is recommended to hire a local Suv-car if you want to go into remote mountains.
Suggested Places to go in Amdo
Booking a trip to Amdo usually gives the sense of adventure that takes a measure and value of a trip to the very place. There are famous sights evaluated to be the best rank to see the largest salted water source. Qinghai lake (མཚོ་སྔོན་པོ།), the best adventure trekking spot and the holiest mountain Amnye Machen (ཨ་མྱེས་རྨ་ཆེན). Great monasteries such as Kumbum (སྐུ་འབུམ་དགོན), Labrang (བླ་བྲང་དགོན), Taktsang Lhamo (སྟག་ཚང་ལྷ་མོ) and Larung Gar (Sertha monastery གསེར་རྟ་བླ་རུང་སྒར) etc. You can also check our tours to the Tibet autonomous region if you are interested to visit Lhasa and around. As an Amdo tour operator, we are much experienced to show you best nomad tours and monastries, There is also an article showing best trekking adventures all over Tibet for interesting trekking in Amdo. There are more information about Amdo by reading it on Wikipedia.
What makes Amdo tour a priority list for most travellers?
The answer to this question lies in the heart of Amdo, where the Tibetan nomads thrive amidst the vast, picturesque grasslands. This region is not only the largest grassland in Tibet, but also one of the most stunning in the world. The expansive plateau is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including rare species like the black-necked crane, as well as iconic animals such as wild yaks, pandas, wild asses, antelopes, and more.
In this unique landscape, you’ll also find domesticated animals that have adapted to the harsh environment, such as yaks, sheep, and Tibetan horses, each with distinctive features that reflect the rugged, high-altitude life they lead. The wildlife and pastoral animals of Amdo are not only a testament to the region’s natural beauty but also to the enduring traditions of its people.
Does Amdo Tibet require a travel permit?
Entry Permit is not needed for Tibetan cultural areas outside of the TAR, (most of Kham and Amdo Tibetan areas). These areas can be visited with most regular, valid Chinese Visa. Certain Tibetan areas in Amdo are closures and for select areas. Visiting or overnight stays may require an Alien’s Travel Permit (ATP ) or a Military Permit. Contact our our tour operator in Amdo directly to find out if the area you are interested in has special requirements.
Xining in Amdo is the gateway to Lhasa
The Qinghai’s capital Xining is the main city to get in and out from mainland China and also the main gate to Tibet autonomous region. To take a train or flight to Lhasa is most convenient from Xining. What to see in the city? Usually, Xining is a city that there are no more unique things like the cities in mainland China. However, it is worth to see few places out there.
For an Amdo Tibetan travel agency in Xining , Qinghai, we used to recommend our clients to visit Tibetan Medical Museum. Which is the home to the largest Thangka painting in the world with 618 meter long. Rigsum Lhakhang and Huangjue temple are also worth to pay a visit. If you wan to practise yourself before heading into higher mountain we also recommend to hike few hours on the Xining’s Northen mountain, where you will have panoramic view of the city as a whole. More than that, you will visit a Chinese style monastery with a great formation on the very mountain. Day trips from Xining is also very nice idea by inquiring a local tour company in Amdo Tibet.
Shortstay in Amdo Before your Trip to Tibet (TAR)
As a Amdo tour operator, We also have great short stay in Amdo that mainly focused on few amazing attractions nearby Xining, Qinghai. Just check our day tours from Xining including Qinghai Lake Day Tour, Tibetan Medicine Culture Museum Tour and Overnight tour to Rebkong for the well-known traditional Thangka arts. This short-stay Amdo tours are more suit to get well acclimatisation before taking a tour to the Tibet autonomous region. We also offer train ticket reservation to Lhasa without any booking fees if you book a Tibet trip with us.
If you are confused to handle decision from your side, you may also considering more information about Tibet travel guide and Tibet travel faqs. And read secret tips for a budget Tibet trip is may be your interest.
Travel agency in Amdo Tibet
Adventures In Tibet Travel and Tour Company owns professional local English speaking tour guides drivers. We, enrich with local manpower in Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan provinces. With such a great power of teamwork, we always offer the best authentic travel experience in Amdo Tibetan areas, and that no other Tibet tour operators provide in compare. Choose Adventures In Tibet for the Best Amdo travel agency and check out all our Amdo tours cost starting from 99USD.
Top 7 Amdo Tour and trekking / Qinghai Tours and Cost:
| Amdo Tours | Trip Route | Tour Cost |
| Day Trips from Xining | Qinghai Lake Day Tour, Day trips in Xining and to Rebkong | $99 – $299 |
| 4 Day Tibetan Shaman Festival Tour | Xining – Rebkong – Xining | $699 |
| 5 Day Amdo Tibetan Family Homestay Tour | Xining – Qinghai Lake – Sogwo – Rebkong – Xining | $869 |
| 6 Day Amdo Cultural Travel | Xining – Qinghai Lake – Bazong – Sogwo – Rebkong – Xining | $879 |
| 7 Day Amnye Machen Halfway Trek | Xining – Qinghai Lake – Amnye Machen – Xining | $1279 |
| 12 Day Qinghai Tour | Xining – Kumbum – Labrang – Langmusi – Sogwo – Xining | $1869 |
| 12 Day Nyenpo Yurtse Trek | Xining – Labrang – Langmusi – Nyenpo Yurtse – Xining | $2549 |
