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Qamdo Travel Guide

Regarded as the East Gate of Tibet, Qamdo(Chamdo) has a strategic geographical position. It will show you the cradle of Khamba culture which is the most characteristic part of Tibet.

In Qamdo, there are many tourist attractions is including snow-capped mountains, fast-running rivers, thunderous waterfalls and dense forests. Laigu Glacier is a hot attraction to admire the grandeur of Qamdo. Because of the different geological conditions, glacier lakes will appear the different colors. You also visit a lot of ancient monasteries such as Triten Norbutse, Jampaling Monastery, Kanuo Ruins in Qamdo and view the splendid sceneries of the sacred mountain and holy lake. Historically, Tea and Horse Ancient Road passed through Qamdo, which left an everlasting mystery. In a word, the beautiful natural landscape and rich Tibet culture together make the irresistible charm of Qamdo.

Qamdo Attractions

As the hinterland of Khamba culture, Qamdo has unique and mysterious local customs as well as beautiful scenery comparable to the Alps. Due to the unique complicated topography, Qamdo is endowed with many wonderful landscapes, like thundering waterfalls, sacred lakes, snow-capped mountains, etc. It has some famous attractions, such as Ranwu Lake, Galden Jampaling Monastery, Zelzhol Monastery, Laigu Glacier, etc. View all>>

How to Get to Qamdo

Road to Qamdo via G317

There are two major ways for tourists to get to Qamdo. They can either take a flight from other mainland cities that are connected with Qambo or drive from other Tibetan cities to Qamdo.

Flights to Qamdo

The fastest and most comfortable way of traveling to Qamdo is by taking a flight. Travelers can take flights from connecting cities such as Chengdu and Chongqing to Qamdo. The flight only takes about 2 hours. Chengdu and Chongqing operate regular direct flights to Qamdo. There is also a round-trip daily flight from Lhasa to Qamdo, which only takes 1 hour 30 minutes.

Driving to Qamdo

Qamdo is a far and remote area in Eastern Tibet. It is less visited than Shigatse and Lhasa. Driving from Lhasa or Shigatse to Qamdo is a long journey that takes more than 20 hours. Qamdo is about 1,100 km away from Lhasa.

Best Time to Visit Qamdo

Galden Jampaling Monastery

Qamdo has a humid continental climate with a geographical location of mid and low latitudes. The climatic conditions in various areas of Qamdo are largely different. Most areas in Qamdo are cold and dry while the southeast area is humid and warm.

Qamdo is 3,500 m above sea level and it enjoys long hours of sunshine. It receives about 2700 hours of sunshine and 80 – 120 frost-free days per year. The temperature in Qamdo can change surprisingly between day and night and has an annual temperature of 7.6 °C. The rainy season in Qamdo is between May and September with an annual rainfall of about 680 mm. The area has a difficult topography with deep valleys and high mountains, which gives it diverse weather every ten miles.

The best time to visit Qamdo is between April and May, September and October. The snowy condition during cold November to March, mudslides and landslides caused by heavy rain in July and August during the rainy season usually make many places very different to access especially the places in the valley.

So it is advisable that all travelers visiting Qamdo should go with protective clothes and other materials to protect themselves against harsh weather conditions.

Qamdo Food and Cuisine

Qamdo's diet is a typical Tibetan style, where you can taste traditional Tibetan foods such as butter tea, Zanba, dried meat, etc. Note: It is not advisable to try too much Tibetan food for the first time to avoid indigestion. If you go deep into a remote area far away from the town, catering is less convenient and you should carry some dry food and drinking water.

The Best Place to Stay

Jintai Celebrity Hotel

Most of the accommodation facilities in Qamdo are located in the downtown areas of Qamdo city. There are many economical and comfortable hotels for tourists to choose from in Qamdo. Qamdo also has 1 four-star and 1 five-star hotel. Here are two recommended hotels in Qamdo.

Jintai Celebrity Hotel

Jintai Celebrity Hotel is the only five-star hotel in Qamdo and it is located in the City Tower of Tea Horse Square, Qamdo city. The hotel started operation in 2017. The location of the hotel is very good and it enjoys a good transportation system. The popular Galden Jampaling Monastery is just 730m away from the hotel. The hotel rooms are spacious and well-equipped with good facilities. The hotel offers dining, accommodation, business, recreation and shopping services to all its guests. There are superior rooms or deluxe rooms for tourists to book. These rooms have air conditioners, oxygen supply systems and an uninterrupted water supply.

Qamdo Tea Horse Post

Qamdo Tea Horse Post is the number 1 economic hotel in Qamdo. This Tibetan-styled hotel was built in 2016 and it is located next to downtown Tea Horse Square. The popular Galden Jampaling Monastery is located far away from this hotel. It offers standard rooms, business single rooms, great dishes, and free WIFI.

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