Ali

Ali is high in elevation and has a large temperature difference between day and night, so prepare for both cold weather and strong sun.

The Ali region is often called “the roof of the roof of the world.” Its average elevation is above 4,500 meters, with snow mountains, sacred lakes, earth forests, and no-man’s-land landscapes concentrated in one area. However, travel here is physically demanding and requires good altitude adaptation. The following can be used as a reference for an in-depth trip to Ali.

• Zanda Earth Forest: This is a world-class geological landscape covering more than 2,400 square kilometers. The light in the early morning and evening makes the layers of the earth forest more distinct, giving the terrain a texture similar to a desert planet.

• Lake Manasarovar: This lake holds great importance in Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded as the sacred lake at the “center of the world.” It faces the sacred Mount Kailash, and its water is a clear blue.

• Zhari Namco: One of Ali’s three major sacred lakes, it has striking changes in water color, with gradients from sapphire blue to mint blue. It is well suited for self-driving sightseeing along the lakeshore.

• Ruins of the Guge Kingdom: Located within an earth forest setting, these ruins are the remains of an ancient kingdom’s capital. Human history and natural landforms are intertwined here, creating an overall atmosphere that feels desolate and weighty.

• Siling Co: This is the largest lake in Tibet, with its surface like a blue gem set in the wilderness. In the evening, the grassland light and shadows change richly, and most viewing spots do not require tickets.

• Dangra Yumco: A sacred lake of Bon, with deep blue water. Driving along its eastern shore, you can enjoy a plateau landscape made up of the lake surface, snow mountains, and their reflections.

9-Day, 8-Night Ali Grand Loop Itinerary

This route links Ali’s core snow mountains, sacred lakes, and cultural ruins, covering about 3,700 kilometers in total. It is recommended to complete it by self-driving or with a chartered vehicle.

• Day 1: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse (adapt to the altitude; stay overnight in Shigatse).
• Day 2: Shigatse → Gawula Pass (distant view of Mount Everest) → Everest Base Camp → Basong Village (stay overnight in Basong Village).
• Day 3: Basong Village → Peiku Tso → Shishapangma → Saga County (stay overnight in Saga).
• Day 4: Saga → Lake Manasarovar → Lake Rakshastal → Mount Kailash (distant view) → Darchen (stay overnight in Darchen).
• Day 5: Darchen → Qionglong Silver City → Zanda Earth Forest → Malang Canyon → Zanda County (stay overnight in Zanda).
• Day 6: Zanda County → Ruins of the Guge Kingdom → Xiayigou → Shiquanhe Town (collect the Warrior Certificate; stay overnight in Shiquanhe).
• Day 7: Shiquanhe → Rindo Township → Rinchen Shubtso → Coqen County (cross part of the no-man’s-land area; stay overnight in Coqen).
• Day 8: Coqen → Zhari Namco → Dangqiong Co → Wenbu South Village (stay overnight in Wenbu South Village; conditions are relatively basic).
• Day 9: Wenbu South Village → Dangra Yumco → Nyima County → Siling Co → Baingoin County (stay overnight in Baingoin).
• Day 10: Baingoin → Namtso → Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains → Lhasa (end of the trip).

Pre-Trip Essentials and Documents

• Border Permit: A border permit is required to travel to Ali. It is recommended to apply in advance in your place of household registration and specify “all areas of Ali Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Shigatse Prefecture (Tingri, Gyirong, Saga, etc.).” If you do not apply in your place of household registration, you can also apply in Lhasa, but it usually takes half a day.
• Vehicle Preparation: The Ali northern route includes many washboard roads, gravel roads, and unpaved sections. A hard-core 4WD off-road vehicle is recommended, such as a Prado or Tank 300. Sedans can easily scrape the undercarriage and are not recommended for entering complicated road sections rashly. Carry a full-size spare tire, tow rope, and air pump in the vehicle.
• Clothing and Gear: From September to October, daytime temperatures are about 5–15°C, while nighttime temperatures can approach 0°C. Bring a 3-in-1 hardshell jacket, light down jacket, thermal underwear, and fleece hat. UV rays are strong on the plateau, so also carry sunscreen (SPF50+), sunglasses, lip balm, and moisturizing face masks.
• Medicine Preparation: You can prepare portable oxygen bottles, glucose oral solution, ibuprofen (for headache relief), motion sickness medicine, stomach and intestinal medicine, and erythromycin ointment (to apply inside the nasal cavity to prevent dryness).

Guide to Preventing and Handling Altitude Sickness

The average elevation throughout Ali is above 4,500 meters, and altitude sickness is the main risk on the trip. Understand it in advance and handle it carefully.

• Gradual Acclimatization: After arrival, first spend 1–2 days in Lhasa (3,650 meters above sea level) to acclimatize. Avoid washing your hair, taking showers, and strenuous exercise, so your body can gradually adapt to the high-altitude environment.
• Medication Support: You may take rhodiola one week before departure. After entering Tibet, keep Gaoyuan’an and glucose on hand. If you exercise regularly and have no history of drug allergies, consult a doctor about whether to take acetazolamide in advance for prevention.
• Breathing Adjustment: If you develop a mild headache or shortness of breath, you do not need to use oxygen immediately. First try abdominal breathing to adjust blood oxygen levels. If blood oxygen falls below 80% and symptoms cannot be relieved, then use an oxygen bottle.
• Keep Warm and Prevent Colds: A cold on the plateau may trigger pulmonary edema, which carries a high risk. Keep your head and neck warm, wear a hat in time, and dry off or change clothes as soon as possible after sweating.

Accommodation and Notes

• Accommodation Conditions: Accommodation in Ali is generally basic, especially in Wenbu South Village, Coqen, Gerze, and similar places. Many options are simple guesthouses or hotels, and some may not have private bathrooms or oxygen supply equipment. It is recommended to book hotels with diffused oxygen supply in advance and bring your own sleeping bag liner.
• Signal and Navigation: Some sections, such as Rindo–Coqen–Nyima and parts of the Changtang no-man’s-land area, may have no mobile signal at all. Download offline maps before departure and inform your family of your detailed itinerary.
• Refueling Principle: Gas stations in Ali are far apart. When you encounter a gas station along the way, refuel promptly. Do not wait until the fuel gauge warning comes on before looking for somewhere to refuel.
• Travel Reminders:
  • It is not recommended to go blindly to the Holy Elephant Gate of Namtso. Tickets are relatively expensive, and reaching it requires 4 hours on bumpy washboard roads. Lakes along the Ali route, such as Peiku Tso and Siling Co, are also very scenic, and many viewing spots are free.
  • If you encounter wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes or Tibetan wild donkeys, do not get out of the vehicle to feed or chase them. Keep a safe distance when taking photos.
  • Drone use is strictly controlled near border areas and military facilities. Be sure to confirm local policies before takeoff to avoid having your equipment confiscated or being fined.