8 Days Chengdu - Lhasa Train Tour
Chengdu to Lhasa tour is the top-selling tour in Tibet. The Chengdu to Lhasa train services are very comfortable and every year thousands of visitors travel from Chengdu to Tibet. You can witness one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes
Tour Length
8 Days
Price From
$0
At a glance
MINIMUM AGE
...
ACTIVE ELEMENTS
Include walking over steep, uneven terrain at high altitude
FIRST GROUP EVENT
Briefing will begin on Day 1, upon arrival to Kathmandu.
MAXIMUM ELEVATION
The maximum elevation is at Lhasa at 12,000 feet.
GROUP SIZE
Flexible group sizes available.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
This journey is rated as Moderate difficulty.
Trip Overview
After a couple of days of acquaintance in our neighboring city Chengdu by visiting its famous Giant Panda Breeding Centre, Manjushri Temple, and Leshan Giant Buddha statue. We will board the sky road train into the Tibet plateau.
Over the past centuries, it was a mere dream to travel into Tibet Plateau by train, but in 2006, when the Qinghai-Tibet train completed its mission over the mighty Thangula pass (5072m) and snowy northern highland, it finally achieved the long dream of travelers, the Qinghai-Tibet railway covers 1,956 km (1216 miles) in total consisting of 2 phases:
The first phase 814 km (506 miles) from Xinning to Golmud opened in 1984; the second phase 1142 km (710 miles) from Golmud to Lhasa opened in 2006. The train ride offers spectacular views of stunning Kokornor Lake and snow-capped peaks. And bloomy glaciers from the Thangula ridge (5072m), endangered wild lives like Tibetan antelopes by traversing the Kekexilin Wildlife Reserve.
The lone nomad families dwell in black tents and scattered villages in the isolated Changthang (Northern plain), and your arrival at the holy city of Lhasa will be greeted by its majestic blue sky and a glimpse of the iconic Potala palace perching on the red hill, in the following days. You will be overwhelmed by mystical buildings and temples which reflect the rich culture and tradition of the ancient city. Moreover, it is a great pleasure to mingle in the bustling Barkhor Street with devoted pilgrims.
Itinerary
Our experts have designed this gold-standard itinerary to inspire you, featuring our pick of the best hotels and experiences in every thrilling destination.
Day 1: ARRIVAL AT CHENGDU BY AI
Today you will be greeted by our local guide and driver at the Chengdu International Airport and a short drive of 30 minutes get you to hotel in the Chengdu downtown, rest in the hotel and alleviate jet-lag. Overnight in Chengdu.
Day 2: DAY TRIP TO LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA STATU
Attractions; close view of Leshan Giant Buddha, Chengdu suburb villages rapeseed farm view. Today our guide and driver meet you at the hotel lobby, we will drive to Leshan, it is only 160km that takes less than 2 hours drive, the Giant Buddha statue is situated southern face of the small hill that we will climb over. The Buddha statue is the world largest stone Buddha statue that date back to mid of Tang Dynasty(618-907), passing through caves and carved statues, the winding staircases within the trees lead us to the ridge of the hill, after 20 to 25 minutes climb we will enjoy the view of the 71m high statue right from his shoulder level. There is a steep stair down to get a full view of the statue. Then we will climb down to its exit gate and drive back to Chengdu in the afternoon. Overnight in Chengdu.
Day 3: CHENGDU CITY ESCORTED TOUR
Attraction: Giant Panda Breeding Centre and Jinli bustling street. We will start the beautiful day with a visit the Panda Breeding Centre, the cute pandas are very active in the morning and there you will see them rolling, climbing and eating bamboos, Chengdu Giant Panda breeding centre was founded in 1987 with 6 rescued Pandas from the wild and now there are about 83 Pandas rearing in it. You will enjoy the time by seeing both Giant Pandas and red Pandas, also the newly born Panda cubs in the nursery room, then we will drive to the Tibetan area and visit Jinli street, Jinli street have centuries history and now it is a folk-custom street decorated by traditional Chinese building walled the narrow street, there you will find different folk stuffs and plenty of Chengdu famous snack foods. Then about 2 pm, your guide and driver see you off at the Northern train station. Train departs at 14:48. Overnight on the train
Day 4: TIBET SKY TRAIN RIDE
Today the train will traverse into Qinghai plateau and appearance of snow capped mountains notice your approaching to the Tibet plateau, the cloudy and moist weather change into dry and sunny blue sky. Overnight on the train.
Day 5: ARRIVAL IN LHASA
Attractions; Perennial snow covered Thangula ranges, Tibet northern lakes and vast pastures, lone wild animals and scattered nomads families. Today we will cross over the mighty Thangula ranges at mid night around 2a.m. with altitude of 5072m set the world highest train, rest of day you will impress by the vast pastures and plains with sparsely populated nomadic region, then finally you will get to the terminal station as Lhasa in the afternoon, there our local Tibetan guide and driver will greet for your arrival and transfer to your hotel in Lhasa city, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half hour, check in the hotel and take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 6: LHASA ESCORTED TOUR
Attractions; Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor street and Sera monastery. Today is the your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have little head ach which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the centre of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is one of the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from early days. After that you have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa, during the old days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping centre. The amazing day will ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 7: LHASA ESCORTED TOUR
Attractions; Potala palace and Drepung monastery. Today we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking though the long steps are quite challenging but it is worthwhile to leave your foot steps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion which listed in the world heritage in 1994. And in the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung monastery, once the world's largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, but several destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see by walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monks apartments is thrilling. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 8: LHASA AIRPORT / TRAIN STATION SEND OFF
Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station and it is time to say your good bye and depart to your next destination. End the trip officially
What's Included
All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included)
Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide
Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses
Train tickets from Chengdu to Lhasa (soft sleeper or hard sleeper for optional);
Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Oxygen canisters: 2 canisters for each person;
Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
First aid kit;
Liability travel insurance
What's not included in this package
Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation (recommended);
Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
Gratuities for the guide and driver
Not quite what you wanted? Here's other similar adventures
8 Days Beijing - Lhasa Train Tour
8 Days & 7 Nights
Over the past centuries, it was a mere dream to travel into Tibet by train, but in 2006, when the Qinghai-Tibet train completed its mission over the mighty Thangula Pass (5072m) and snowy northern highland. It finally achieved the long dream of travelers. The Tibet tour from Beijing to Lhasa takes around 41 hours, and the Qinghai-Tibet railway covers 1,956 km (1216 miles) in total consisting of 2 phases:
$850 per person
Xining Lhasa Train Tour
6 Days & 5 Nights
As the beginning of the world's highest railway, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Xining is the closest city for travelers to travel to Tibet by train
$750 per person