Nomad Between Earth & Sky · 3% Nomad Family

Become a true nomad at 3,600m on the Yellow River grasslands

4 Days · NW Sichuan Plateau (flexible dates)

Venture deep into the Zoige-Hongyuan grasslands (N33°21′ E102°10′, altitude 3,500–3,600m) — home to the Orenda nomadic camp and the global 3% who still live as nomads. Milk yaks at dawn, churn butter tea, sleep in a black yak-hair tent, and ride across the Yellow River's first great bend. Supported by Bliss Mobil 4×4 expedition vehicles. As featured on CCTV and Discovery Channel.

Meeting Point

Downtown Chengdu (details before departure)

Meeting Time

Confirmed before departure

Per person

  • 2 guestsSmallest group, highest per-person share of camp costsUS$1,490 / person
  • 3 guestsUS$1,240 / person
  • 4 guestsMost popular group sizeUS$999 / person
  • 5–6 guestsBest value per personUS$875 / person

The camp is a fixed-cost stay, so the per-person price falls as your group grows — 2 guests US$1,490, 3 guests US$1,240, 4 guests US$999, 5–6 guests US$875. Four days, all meals and camp activities included. Travel-accident insurance is included.

Group size

2–6 guests (private departure)

Accommodation

Three nights in a traditional black yak-hair tent at the nomadic camp; one night in a Chengdu hotel at either end

Cancellation policy

  • 30 days or more before departure: full refund, less any camp deposit already paid
  • Under 30 days: the camp deposit is non-refundable
  • Dates are flexible — ask us to move your booking at no extra charge

Itinerary

1

Chengdu → NW Sichuan Nomadic Camp

Depart Chengdu in the morning, heading north along the Min River valley through Wenchuan and Li County onto the NW Sichuan plateau. As the elevation rises to 3,500m, the scenery transforms from city towers to alpine meadows dotted with yak herds. Arrive in the afternoon at the Orenda nomadic camp (N33°21′ E102°10′). Receive a traditional khata welcome, meet your nomadic family, and settle into your black tent. In the evening, gather around the stove for your first bowl of butter tea and listen to the herders' stories of the grasslands and the Yellow River.

Stay: Nomad Black Tent
2

Yaks · Grasslands · A Nomad's Day

A full day immersed in nomadic life. Rise early to milk yaks alongside the herders — the daily rhythm of every Tibetan pastoralist. Learn to churn butter tea and knead tsampa, and discover the meaning of '3% Nomad Family' — only 3% of the world's population still lives the nomadic way. In the morning, follow the herders onto the grasslands to find salt licks and tend the yaks. In the afternoon, ride horseback across the vast grasslands of the Yellow River bend — an endless sea of grass meeting the sky. At dusk, help round up the yaks. After nightfall, naro band performs under the stars, and the herders recount the Epic of King Gesar around the fire.

Stay: Nomad Black Tent
3

Grassland Gathering · Nomadic Crafts

The liveliest day on the grasslands. If your visit coincides with a horse-racing festival, wedding, or Dharma assembly, you will take part as family: wear a Tibetan robe, drink barley wine, and dance the Guozhuang. In the morning, follow the Yellow River bend to its upper-reach coordinates (N33°21′ E102°10′) — where the world's last 3% nomadic culture meets the cradle of Yellow River civilization. In the afternoon, learn traditional nomadic crafts — spinning yak-wool yarn, braiding black-tent rope, making air-dried yak meat and traditional yogurt. In the evening, a Bliss Mobil expedition vehicle takes you deep into the grasslands for panoramic sunset views of the Yellow River bend.

Stay: Nomad Black Tent
4

Grassland Sunrise → Chengdu

Wake early for one last grassland sunrise — at Zoige-Hongyuan, the morning sun turns the meadows gold as smoke curls from the black tents. Share a final breakfast with your nomadic family — tsampa, butter tea, fresh yak milk. Embrace and exchange contacts — from now on, you have a home on the grasslands. Return to Chengdu via Zhegu Mountain and Miyaluo, arriving in the afternoon.

Highlights

  • ✦Nomadic Family Homestay · Yak Milking · Butter Tea
  • ✦Bliss Mobil Expedition Vehicle Support
  • ✦Black Tent Camping · Fireside Under the Stars
  • ✦Plateau Horse Riding · Yellow River Bend Gallop
  • ✦naro band Grassland Concert
  • ✦As Featured on CCTV / Discovery Channel

What's included

Included

  • Bliss Mobil 4×4 expedition vehicle support throughout
  • All meals at the nomadic camp — breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Black yak-hair tent accommodation for three nights
  • Yak milking, butter-tea making and tsampa sessions with the family
  • Plateau horse riding on the Yellow River grasslands
  • Local Tibetan guide and camp hosts
  • Oxygen supply and a basic first-aid kit
  • Domestic travel-accident insurance, including highland rescue

Not included

  • Travel to and from Chengdu (we can advise on flights and trains)
  • Alcoholic drinks and personal shopping
  • Gratuities for camp staff and drivers (optional)

Common questions

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

+

Reasonably mobile is enough. There is no trekking — the expedition vehicles cover the ground. The real challenge is altitude, so we keep the schedule unhurried and build in rest.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

+

Three nights in a traditional black yak-hair tent at the nomadic camp, at roughly 3,600 m. Bedding is provided and the tents are warm, but facilities are simple: shared washing areas and no en-suite bathrooms.

Is there electricity, phone signal and hot water?

+

The camp has limited solar power for charging small devices. Mobile signal is patchy and there is no reliable data. Hot water is provided on request rather than from a running tap. Expect to disconnect — most guests find that is the point.

What if I feel unwell at 3,600 m?

+

We carry oxygen and a first-aid kit, and our team is experienced at recognising altitude sickness. If symptoms are serious we descend toward Hongyuan or Chengdu immediately. Tell your guide the moment you feel unwell rather than waiting.

Is the departure date fixed?

+

The listed dates are a sample. We run this journey on flexible dates for private groups, and it works best from June to September when the family is in their summer camp and the grasslands are green.

This experience is just the beginning — many of our travelers continue into the mountains of Western Sichuan.