Name: Tibetan Camping Retreat
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1

Indulge in conscious, sustainable luxury in the Tibetan area of Gansu. You’ll stay in a camp staffed by local nomads, surrounded by summer flowers and wildlife. Embark on horseback or foot throughout the surrounding countryside and gaze at the stars during this camping getaway.

About this Journey

Experience luxury camping Tibetan nomad style in Gansu. Surrounded by endless miles of fields, abundant wildlife including foxes and gazelles, and summer flowers, you’ll stay in your choice of yak wool tent or log cabin and sleep under hand-woven yak wool blankets. Founded and staffed by local nomads, Norden Camp offers a chance to experience low-impact camping with a Tibetan twist. Indulge in some stargazing, go horseback riding through winter grazing lands, hike through the surrounding countryside, or visit a local nomad family. Norden Camp is the perfect place to escape from the everyday grind and reconnect with a simpler way of life.

What we love

Learning how to weave delicate yak wool fibers together at Norden Camp's sister project Norlha
Camping in the style of local nomads, sleeping under yak wool blankets and gazing at the star-filled sky
Sampling local Tibetan delicacies such as boiled lamb and sweet droma root

Map

Itinerary

Day 1 Lanzhou

First Stop: Lanzhou

For people crossing through China, Lanzhou – the capital city of Gansu province – marks the middle point. Located on the Yellow River, Lanzhou is home to more than 3 million people and was once a key city connecting Central and Western China, as well as a primary link to Eastern Europe. With 5th century shrines and stone statues of the Thousand Buddha Caves located close by, the city is an interesting cultural hub due to its positioning on the Silk Road.

Your Journey Begins

Today is the day, the start of your WildChina adventure. Step off the plane in Lanzhou and meet your local WildChina guide in the airport arrivals hall. They’ll be waiting to welcome you and will have your private vehicle on standby, ready to whisk you off to Norden Camp.

An Evening to Yourself

Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, resting up for your adventures to come.

Day 2Norden Camp

Today, choose one of the following options to participate in:

Visit Labrang Monastery

Sitting at an elevation of 3000 meters in the remote hills of southwest Gansu, Xiahe (Labrang) is one of the most important Tibetan monastery towns outside of Tibet. At the center of the town sits Labrang Monastery, one of the six most important monasteries of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery’s red walls and elaborate gold and copper-colored roofs are incredible against the dramatic Tibetan scenery as you follow the pilgrimage trail around the monastery.

An Afternoon to Yourself

After, spend the rest of the afternoon taking a break off the road and explore the surrounding area of the campsite with a leisurely hike around the surrounding area- make sure to keep an eye open for birds only native to the area and other wildlife sightings. After returning to the campsite, you can visit a handicraft workshop and learn about local ware and how it’s made. Other activities that can be organized at the campsite include: relaxing in a spa, visiting a local nomadic family, lunch at a monk’s home, and horseback riding.

Meals included: breakfast and lunch

Day 3Norden Camp

An Afternoon to Yourself

Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure: relax in the camp’s spa, go horseback riding, or hike through the surrounding area (payment on site on your own)

Day 4Depart Norden Camp

Your Flight Back Home

Spend the morning hiking and exploring the camp’s verdant Tibetan grasslands at leisure before your WildChina guide escorts you to the airport and helps you check in for your flight home.

Hotels

Norden Camp

Camp

Established in 2013, Norden was born from the desire to share Tibetan nomadic life with the outside world. Founded by Yidam, born into a nomadic family, and his wife Dechen, daughter of a Tibetan father and European mother, Norden exemplifies a community searching for their voice in a time of change. Located on winter pasture on the Sangke Grassland at 3,200 meters in altitude, the camp blends the lush landscapes of the Tibetan plateau with contemporary interiors and carefully curated local food, ambiance, and experiences. By sharing its environment and cultural heritage, Norden acts as a platform to amplify the voices of Tibetan artists, craftspeople, and those of the surrounding communities.

Photos

Details

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Next Steps

How do I book this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email info@wildchina.com to get started. One of our travel designers will be in touch accordingly to start the process of planning your custom China trip!

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

2. Full payment:

Full trip payment will be requested 60 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 60 days of your departure, you may be asked to make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

Our team of advisors will design every detail of the trip with you through close consultation, then orchestrate your entire journey while on the ground. We’re in the same time zone as you, so we can fulfill requests and handle issues without a hitch. With over 40 staff in Beijing and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we have the manpower to ensure your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. We pull off journeys for pioneers with a 6-hour layover to Hollywood’s elite, and everywhere in between. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

Supporting inspired local economies allows you to experience the soul of the destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s artisanal culture. From watching artisans hand make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Tibetan Camping Retreat

Have questions?