Xining Lhasa Train Tour
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
Tour Length
6 Days
Price From
$750
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
Maximum group size of 12 travelers.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
This journey is rated as Moderate difficulty.
Trip Overview
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. It is also the best part of the scenery that offers spectacular views of snowcapped peaks and beautiful glaciers from the Thangula ridge (5,072m), endangered wildlife like Tibetan antelopes by traversing the Kekexili Wildlife Reserve, lone nomad families dwelling in black tents and scattered villages in the isolated Chiangtang. On your arrival in the holy city of Lhasa, you will be greeted by its fair blue sky and have a glimpse of the Potala palace perched on the red hill. In the following days, you will be overwhelmed by mystical buildings and temples that reflect the rich culture and tradition of the ancient city. Moreover, it is a great pleasure to mingle with devoted pilgrims on bustling Barkhor Street
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: Train: Xining - Lhasa
Arriving at the train station about 1 hour in advance is suggested. Exchange your E-ticket for an actual paper ticket at the ticket booth by showing them your E-ticket, a copy of your Tibet Travel Permit, and your original passport. Trains are departing from Xining to Lhasa every day, about 22hrs covering a distance of 1960km. You will spend the rest of the day on the train and enjoy the fabulous scenery along the highest railway in the world - Qinghai Tibet Railway. You will see the gorgeous natural scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, such as nomadic pastures, sapphire lakes, flocks of goats and yaks, snow-capped mountains, etc. Stay overnight on the train
Day 2: Arrival in Lhasa
Welcome to Lhasa! Your local Tibetan guide and driver will wait for you at Lhasa Railway Station by holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashidelek (meaning hello with blessing), and be presented with a white Hada (traditional Tibetan ceremonial). Then transfer you to the hotel in Lhasa city. On the way, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. After checking in at your hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to have a good rest and acclimatize to the high altitude at the top of the world. If you physically feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, have a far view of the Yaowang Mountain, and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, eat lighter and have high-carbohydrate food, which will be helpful for you to adapt to the high altitude better. Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing
In the morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it is a museum and a world heritage site. In the afternoon, you will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors. Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 4: Lhasa Sightseeing
In the morning, you are heading to Drak Yerpa, the most famous meditation retreat near Lhasa. It's a monastery embedded in the cliff wall. Drak Yerpa is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. The site had strong spiritual power, having been visited by almost all great Tibetan masters. You can feel the power of the meditation caves here. In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Sera Monastery, which is one of the "great three" Gelug monasteries of Tibet. Monks debate from 3 pm to 5 pm. If the debate is not your type, you can also enjoy the three sand Mandalas and colorful rock paintings of Buddha. The sight here is splendid because you can see wild roses around. That's why people also call it "the Court of Wild Rose." Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 5: Lhasa Sightseeing
After breakfast in the hotel, you will visit Drepung Monastery which was the world's largest monastery that ever housed over 10,000 monks, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. Drepung means Rice Heaps in the Tibetan language and the whole monastery does look like rice heaps in the distance. After that, we will go to visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures. Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 6: Depart from Lhasa
Today your guide and driver will escort you to the Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for your next destination. Before your departure, we would appreciate it if you could spend a few minutes evaluating our services either by filling out the feedback form or simply sending us an email when you get back home. Your tour has officially ended.
What's Included
Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
Soft-sleepers from Xining to Lhasa;
All entrance ticket fees for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as needed by the itinerary including gas and parking fees;
All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision to choose the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economical 3-star hotel, or guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
Breakfasts provided by hotels;
Pick-up & Drop-off service from the airport/railway station;
Travel Agency Liability Insurance;
Government tax;
Express delivery fee of the Permit (eg. SF Express);
Food for guide & driver;
Oxygen tank for emergency use;
Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
What's not included in this package
International flights to and from China;
Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
Other domestic flights to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
Meals are not included but we will recommend some good options for you according to your requirements. Usually, it costs USD 5-15/person for each meal.
While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them USD 8-15/day in total;
All the commissions and taxes charged by PayPal or Bank, and government when making a payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone calls, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
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