With an average elevation exceeding 4,500 meters, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is referred to as "the Roof of the World". The massive mountain ranges on the plateau have created numerous relatively isolated geographical conditions supporting a great number of range-restricted wildlife species. This trip will be started in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, and go further east to the Kunlun Mountains and vast Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, where we will encounter some unique mammals and birds you can see nowhere else.
On this trip you will be amazed by the breathtaking alpine scenery, boundless desert, the holly Qinghai Lake (Kokonor Lake), the nomadic Tibetan culture, endemic birds, elegant Tibetan Antelope, powerful Wild Yak, cautious Kiang, cute Tibetan Gazelle, and curious pikas, just to name a few. The prevalent Tibetan Buddhist beliefs in the region have worked in many respects to preserve the natural wealth of this wide region. The wildlife abundance of Qinghai and the beauty, the richness can be directly linked to a harmonious balance between animals and humans. Here in Qinghai, respect for the equality of nature and animals is a spiritual obligation.
Tour Info Sheet
| Highlight Birds | Przevalski's Pinktail, Tibetan Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, Buff-throated Monal-Partridge, White Eared-Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Tibetan Babax, Tibetan Bunting, Ibisbill, Snowy-browed Nuthatch, Przevalski's Nuthatch, Crested Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Sichuan Tit, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Snow Pigeon, Blue-fronted Redstart, Hodgson's Redstart, White-throated Dipper, Tibetan Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Pere David's Snowfinch, Blanford's Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Ground Tit, Tibetan Lark, Black Redstart, Twite, etc. |
|---|---|
| Numbers of Species to Expect | 120-150 |
| Ease of Birding | moderate with a few tricky species |
| Highlight Mammals | Snow Leopard, Tibetan Brown Bear, Pallas's Cat, Eurasian Lynx, Tibetan Fox, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Antelope, Wild Yak, Kiang, Blue Sheep, White-lipped Deer, Przewalski's Gazelle, Tibetan Gazelle, Goitered Gazelle, Alpine Musk Deer, Mountain Weasel, Steppe Polecat, Plateau Pika, etc. |
| Other Attractions | Anduo Tibetan culture, Kangba Tibetan culture, minority culture of Hui and Tu, gorgeous plateau scenery |
| Photography Opportunities | good photography chances for birds, mammals, scenery, and the people |
| Habitats Covered | grasslands, subtropical forests, deserts, snow mountains, wetlands |
| Expected Climate | windy and cold in the morning, strong sunlight at daytime, snow is possible |
| Physical Requirements | mostly easy, demanding but optional in certain parts |
| Accommodation | comfortable |
| Transportation | 19-seat van |
What makes this trip irreplaceable?
1. Nice chances for plateau specials including Przewalski's Gazelle, Pallas's Cat, Tibetan Antelope, Wild Yak, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox, Tibetan Wolf, White-lipped Deer, Kiang, etc.
2. Plateau birds including Tibetan Snowcock, Rusty-necklaced Partridge, Blue Eared Pheasant, Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Ibisbill, etc.
3. Exploration in Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve and Hoh Xil Nature Reserve.
4. The breath-taking scenery of imposing snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands, Tibetan nomadic tents.
5. An immersive cultural experience of Anduo and Kangba Tibetans by learning the costumes, architecture, monasteries, etc.
6. The combination of our experienced western guides and local guides ensures your needs are well met.
6. The combination of our experienced western guides and local guides ensures your needs are well met.
7. We have been a reliable local partner for some prestigious western birding and wildlife travel companies for over a decade.
8. We have a strong logistic team to ensure your trip goes smoothly and ensures a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Booking States | Price | Single Supplement | Group Size | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18–31, 2027 | Space Available | 4,698 USD/pax | 320 USD/pax | 8 | Local Guide |
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The cost includes the following:
1. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pick-up and drop-off at Xining Airport. Internal flight ticket as listed in the itinerary.
2. All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 14.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from the first day to the last day, two clients occupy one twin-bed room on a sharing basis at nice 3 or 4-star hotels in big cities and local best guesthouses in remote areas.
5. Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Simple western breakfast whenever possible.
7. Service charges of a professional western bird guide and an experienced local bird guide throughout the whole trip.
8. China domestic travel insurance.
9. Service of all logistic supports.
The cost does not include the following:
a. Drinks during meals.
b. Extra charges due to changes in the itinerary from the client's side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding such as natural disasters or government policy changes.
c. Discretionary tips to guides and drivers.
d. All personal expenses such as laundry service.
e. ANY AIRFARE except those stated in the itinerary.
f. Any program not listed in the itinerary.
Itinerary
Tour Map
Day 1: Arrival in Xining, China (Alt.: ~2,300m)
After arriving in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province and the largest city on the Tibetan Plateau, you are met by your AlpineBirding bird guide or driver and transferred to your hotel in the city.
Day 2: Birding around Xining (Alt.: ~2,300m)
This morning, we drive north towards Dongxia Forest. Evergreen coniferous woodland dominates the forest, while lush shrubs fill the gaps and openings, creating excellent habitats for a variety of small forest birds. We patiently explore different hills and forest patches in search of exciting species such as Crested Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Snowy-browed Nuthatch, Przewalski's Nuthatch, Plain Laughingthrush, and Elliot's Laughingthrush.
The dense forest also holds many other noteworthy species, including Daurian Jackdaw, Rook, White-backed Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Common Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Red Crossbill, White-throated Redstart, and Rufous-vented Tit. We also spend some time looking for the Ibisbill and Przevalski's Pinktail before driving back to Xining.
Day 3:Fly to Yushu, then Drive to Nangqian (Alt.: 2,300–3,650m)
We take a morning flight to Yushu and then drive east for approximately three hours through rugged and spectacular valleys towards Nangqian, where we spend the next two nights.
Day 4: Kanda Mountain & Baizha Forest (Alt.: ~3,650m)
Nangqian also offers outstanding birding opportunities. During our stay, we mainly explore Kanda Mountain, Baizha Forest, and nearby valleys in search of some of the plateau’s most sought-after birds. Our top targets include the three range-restricted endemic species: Buff-throated Monal-Partridge, Tibetan Bunting, and Tibetan Babax. Other exciting species we look for include Tibetan Partridge, White Eared-Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Pigeon, Hill Pigeon, Salim Ali's Swift, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Grey-backed Shrike, Blue-fronted Redstart, Hodgson's Redstart, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, White-throated Dipper, White-winged Grosbeak, Godlewski's Bunting, and more. The river shoals shall give us more chance for Ibisbill.
Day 5: Nangqian to Yushu (Alt.: ~3,650m)
We spend most of the day birding around Nangqian, focusing on our priority species. In the late afternoon, we drive back to Yushu for an overnight stay. Along the way, we make a stop at a monastery to look for Tibetan Brown Bear.
Day 6-7: Hoh Xil Nature Reserve (Alt.: 4,000–4,600m)
As one of the least inhabited regions on the Tibetan Plateau, Hoh Xil features a remarkable diversity of landscapes and wildlife. Surrounded by snow-covered mountains, icy peaks, deserts, and vast grasslands, this spectacular wilderness is among the most breathtaking and biologically diverse areas in China. The strong Tibetan Buddhist traditions in the region have also contributed to the preservation of this vast natural landscape.
Hoh Xil is one of the most important habitats for Tibetan Antelope, and we often see them in groups of different sizes across the plateau. We also spend time searching for other mammals, including Pallas’s Cat, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Red Fox, Kiang, Wild Yak, and Tibetan Gazelle.
Day 8: Hoh Xil to Golmud (Alt.: 4,600–2,800m)
We continue exploring Hoh Xil in search of our target species before driving on to Golmud for a comfortable overnight stay. Along the way, we continue to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife of this vast plateau wilderness.
Day 9: Golmud to Snow Leopard Site (Alt.: 2,800–3,100m)
We spend some time around Golmud searching for Mongolian Ground Jay, Goitered Gazelle, and other interesting species such as Tarim Babbler and Isabelline Shrike. After our exploration, we continue driving towards our Snow Leopard site.
Day 10–12: Snow Leopard Site (Alt.: ~3,100m)
For the next three days, we explore the mountains and valleys around our campsite in search of Snow Leopard, accompanied by our experienced local Tibetan leopard guide, who has years of experience in snow leopard tracking and also works with several NGOs on plateau wildlife surveys and conservation projects.
We drive through nearby valleys, looking for signs of Snow Leopard activity and its main prey, Blue Sheep, which can provide important clues for locating this elusive predator. Our daily schedule remains flexible, and we adjust our strategy according to weather conditions, snow leopard movements, and field observations. Our goal is to maximize our chances of encountering this legendary “ghost cat” of the plateau.
During our exploration of this magnificent wilderness, we also have opportunities to see other mammals, including Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Pallas's Cat, Eurasian Lynx, Tibetan Gazelle, Blue Sheep, Mountain Weasel, and more.
Birding is also rewarding in this area, and we look for a variety of sought-after plateau species, including Upland Buzzard, Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, Little Owl, Tibetan Snowcock, Common Pheasant, Tibetan Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Blanford Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Ground Tit, Twite, Tibetan Lark, Black Redstart, and more.
Day 13: Snow Leopard Site to Xining via Qinghai Lake (Alt.: 3,200–2,300m)
We leave the Snow Leopard site and drive back towards Xining. Along the way, we visit Qinghai Lake, the largest lake in China and an important wetland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau. We explore the surrounding grasslands and wetlands in search of wintering birds and Przewalski's Gazelle, one of the world's rarest mammals. After our exploration around the lake, we continue to our hotel near Xining Airport for the night.
Day 14: Departure from Xining or Join Lhasa Extension
Following breakfast at the hotel, you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight from Xining, or join our 4-day “Lhasa Birding & Culture Exploration” extension. This concludes the scheduled itinerary services provided by AlpineBirding.
Guide(s)
Local Guide
Reports
We don't have a report available for this tour at this stage, please feel free to email us, we are more than happy to answer any of your questions and share the latest bird information with you.
Testimonials
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