9 Days Train Tour from Xining to Lhasa

Taking train from Xining to Lhasa via the Sky Road, visit the most famous sceneries in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse. By choosing this trip, you will witness thousands of miles of the unforgettable stunning landscape that you will never see from a plane window.

Day 1.
Xining Day Trip – Riyue Mountain – Qinghai Lake – Gold and Silver Grassland

Accommodation: Overnight at Xining 3-Star hotel

Meals: None

The first stop on your tour schedule is Riyue Mountain, which is situated in Huangyuan County, Xining, Qinghai Province. A Chinese legend tells the story of Princess Wencheng who lost a mirror that she called “Sun and Moon”. This magical mirror allowed her to see all the way to Xi’an, so upon its loss, she cried so many tears that it became the Daotang River that now flows near the mountain. After our mountain visit, your personal tour guide will take you to visit Qinghai Lake, located 150 kilometers west of Xining. Qinghai Lake is the largest saltwater lake in all of China, looking as large as a sea from some viewpoints. Before driving back to Xining for your overnight stay, we’ll pay a visit to the Gold and Silver Grassland. This grassland area features a never-ending blue sky, billowing white clouds, green grass, grazing flocks of sheep and goats, and numerous species of birds that make for a picturesque landscape for all visitors to see.

Day 2.
Xining – Ta’er Monastery – Board the Train to Lhasa

Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

Meals: Breakfast None

This morning we will visit the centuries-old Ta’er Monastery. This ancient monastery was built in 1557 during the Ming Dynasty to commemorate Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Ta’er Monastery is famous for its three treasures – the Butter Sculpture, intricate murals and ancient and magnificent “barbola” (Tibetan embroidery). After exploring the monastery, we will take you to the train station for your train to Lhasa.

Day 3.
Arrival in Lhasa

Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

Meals: Breakfast None

We will transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa after your arrival at the Lhasa train station. You will have time to relax with a free afternoon and evening after your arrival in Lhasa to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Day 4.
Lhasa City Sightseeing – Potala Palace – Jokhang Temple – Barkhor Street

Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

Meals: Breakfast None

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the incredible Potala Palace – the highest palace in the world. As we climb to the entrance gate, you will have a spectacular view over all of Lhasa. After exploring the numerous interesting chapels and learning about the traditional culture and history of the palace and the city, we will move on to the spiritually significant Jokhang Temple, one of the most important temples in Tibetan Buddhism. To see the “real” Lhasa, we’ll stroll through Barkhor Street with its thriving local market where you can pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.
Tips for Visiting Potala Palace
1. The number of visitors to the palace is strictly limited to 2,300 per day. Visitors can only visit during the time specified on the admission ticket.
2. Admission tickets to visit the Potala Palace are sold out almost every day, so it is strongly recommended to book your tickets several days in advance.
3. There are many steps at the Potala Palace, so it’s best to take it slowly to avoid possible altitude discomfort.
4. Visitors should respect the rules while visiting. Do not wear hats, wear revealing clothes or step on thresholds as these actions violate local customs.
5. Photography and the taking of videos are forbidden inside the Potala Palace.
6. A security search will take place at the entrance to the palace. Explosives, flammables, knives, lighters and even water bottles are not allowed inside the Potala Palace.

Day 5.
Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Karola Glacier – Gyantse (Kumbum Monastery) – Shigatse

Accommodation: Overnight at Shigatse 3-Star hotel

Meals: Breakfast None

This morning we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karol la Pass. Later on we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon we will continue on to Shigatse, the location of the Tashilunpo Monastery.

Day 6.
Shigatse – Tingri – Rongphu Monastery – Everest Base Camp

Accommodation: Overnight at Guest house or Tent

Meals: Breakfast None

After breakfast we’ll set out towards the peak of the world – Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse and traveling via Lhatse and Tingri, you will see some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the world – incredibly blue skies, floating high clouds, endless grasslands and the highest mountain peaks in the world. We’ll also stop by the Rongbuk Monastery – the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp.
Travel Tip:
Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.

Day 7.
Everest Base Camp – Shigatse

Accommodation: Overnight at Shigatse 3-Star hotel

Meals: None

Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise at the Everest Base Camp before we journey back through the spectacular scenery to spend the night again in Shigatse.

Day 8.
Shigatse – Tashilunpo Monastery – Lhasa

Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

Meals: Breakfast None

We’ll get an early start this morning to visit one of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism, the Tashilunpo Monastery. Here you can see the well-preserved statue of Jampa (future Buddha), the largest such statue in the world. This monastery is also the seat of Tibet’s second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. After our visit to Tashilunpo, we will make the scenic drive back to Lhasa to spend the night.

Day 9.
Transfer to Lhasa Airport

Accommodation: None

Meals: Breakfast None

We will pick you up from your hotel by private vehicle for the 90-minute drive to the Lhasa airport for your departing flight.

Price Guide

Price Exclude:

All necessary Tibet Travel Permit. (Including Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Boarder Pass)
Private professional English-Speaking local tour guide
Licensed Vehicle with an experienced driver
Airport (or train）pick up and drop off
Accommodation listed in the itinerary
Breakfast provided by the hotel
Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance
A container of Oxygen for emergency use
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Lodging and meal allowance to the guide & driver
Reservation fee for visiting Potala Palace
2 bottles of drinking water per person per day
One Welcome dinner in Lhasa

Price Exclude:

Meals not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners)
All Entrance tickets to the sightseeing places
Flight/Trian tickets in and out of Tibet
Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.
Tips to the guide & driver ( Tips is not required but expected)
Single room supplement

Booking Instructions

1.Reservations

1) Send your request through our website form or send us an email at inquiry@tibettravel.com. With each inquiry, please include the following information:

a. Your desired destinations;

b. Departure date

c. Length of your trip

d. Your name, email address and country of citizenship.

We will confirm your inquiry with a reply within 24 hours.

2) You can call us directly at our service center at +86-28-85012991 (landline) or +86-18889089998 (mobile)

3) You can come to our office in Chengdu in person to make a reservation

We highly recommend that you reserve your tour at least 30-50 days before the actual travel date. We will send you a letter of confirmation

via email once you have confirmed your booking with us, informing you of your proposed flights, hotels and your trip details.

2. Payment Methods

We can confirm your tour reservation with a payment of 30% of the total tour cost plus 100% of the cost of any flights or train tickets required for your tour. You can then pay the balance due for your tour to our local staff after your arrival in Lhasa.

3. Luggage Allowances

The regulations of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China states that the free baggage allowance within China is 20kg (44 pounds) for economy class flights, 30kg (66 pounds) for business class flights, and 40kg (88 pounds) for first-class flights, plus limited carry-on luggage. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the traveler. Regulations within China specify that all suitcases must have a locking device attached. Failure to follow this regulation may result in refusal by airport staff to load suitcases onto the aircraft.

4. Itinerary changes and cancellations

We make every effort to operate tours as listed on our website, however, we reserve the right to modify the itinerary or substitute the activities, hotels, meals or transportation as we deem necessary. We also have the right to cancel a trip at any time prior to its commencement for every reason, like unforeseen circumstances, or circumstances beyond our control. In these cases, we will re-book you on a different day. However, if we are unable to rebook you, we will issue a full field claim.

5. Meals

All of our tours include a daily breakfast. Lunch and dinner is not included as we prefer to give the freedom to our clients to try the local food by themselves. Meals are usually served at the hotel. Dinner may also be served at a local restaurant. Although we cannot guarantee special meal requests, we will do our best to provide you with specialized dietary needs for meals as well as your special needs for hotel rooms such as adjacent or connecting rooms, bed sizes, etc.

CONTACT

Adds: Global Center W1-1234, #1700 North Tianfu Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Tel:+00-86-136-884-676-80
Email: service@challengers.vip
Skype: stevenshi