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Great Tibet Tour · Private Tour

10 Days Chongqing Tibet with Mt.Everest Train Tour

Chongqing to Lhasa by train, then Tibet and Everest Base Camp.

Illustration of 10 Days Chongqing Tibet with Mt.Everest Train Tour

Great Tibet Tour operates this 10-day private journey combining train travel with guided exploration of Tibet and Mount Everest. The trip begins with a two-night soft-sleeper journey on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Chongqing to Lhasa, passing through Qinghai Salt Lake, the Kekexili Nature Reserve, and Namtso Lake. Upon arrival in Lhasa at 3,650 metres, you spend three days with an English-speaking guide visiting Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, and Drak Yerpa. The second half of the tour drives overland to Shigatse, passing Yamdroktso Lake and Karola Glacier, then continues to Everest Base Camp. The return journey includes stops at Tashilhunpo Monastery and Yungdrungling Monastery. Accommodation is at hotels of your choice, with breakfasts included. This tour suits guided-comfort travellers, repeat rail enthusiasts, and those interested in Tibetan Buddhist culture and high-altitude landscapes.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour price of USD 1,690 does not include international flights to China, a Chinese visa, domestic flights or trains to and from Lhasa, meals beyond hotel breakfasts and a welcome dinner, or gratuities (suggested USD 8-15 per person per day).
  • A Tibet Travel Permit is required and Great Tibet Tour secures it, but you must apply for a Chinese visa separately; the operator can provide supporting documents.
  • Accommodation is 'your decision' on class (luxury 5-star, comfortable 4-star, economical 3-star, or guesthouse), so the final hotel depends on your tier choice.
  • The tour involves two consecutive nights on a train and extended daily driving (5 to 7 hours on days 6, 7, and 8) at high altitude; acclimatization time in Lhasa is built in, but altitude sickness is a personal risk.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: on the train

    Chongqing - Lhasa Train

    Board the train at Chongqing West Railway Station (arrive 1 hour early with passport and Tibet Travel Permit).

  2. Day 2railovernight: on the train

    On the Train

    The train runs through Xi'an and Lanzhou, then the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Xining; major sights include Qinghai Salt Lake, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula Pass and Namtso Lake.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lhasa

    Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m)

    Met at Lhasa Railway Station, transfer to the hotel via views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River; rest to acclimatize, optional visit to Potala Palace Square.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

    Visit Drak Yerpa meditation retreat and Sera Monastery, known for its monk debating sessions.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

    Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and walk Barkhor Street.

  6. Day 6overnight: Shigatse

    Lhasa- Gyantse- Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs

    Via Kampala Pass with views of Yamdroktso Lake and the Karola Glacier; visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse.

  7. Day 7overnight: EBC

    Shigatse - Tingri - EBC, 350km, Approx. 7hrs

    Cross Tsola and Gyatsola Passes and Gawula Pass into the Everest National Nature Reserve, arriving at Everest Base Camp.

  8. Day 8overnight: Shigatse

    EBC - Shigatse, 350km, Approx. 7hrs

    Optional sunrise viewing, visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery, then drive back to Shigatse.

  9. Day 9overnight: Lhasa

    Shigatse - Lhasa, 280km, Approx. 5hrs

    Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, then Yungdrungling Monastery, a Bon monastery, en route back to Lhasa.

  10. Day 10rail

    Depart from Lhasa

    Transfer to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for onward travel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board the soft-sleeper train at Chongqing West Railway Station on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world's highest train route.
  • Day 2The train passes through Qinghai Salt Lake, Kekexili Nature Reserve, and crosses Tangula Pass and Namtso Lake en route to Lhasa.
  • Day 5Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, then walk Barkhor Street in Lhasa.
  • Day 6Drive to Shigatse via Kampala Pass with views of Yamdroktso Lake and Karola Glacier; visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse.
  • Day 7Cross Tsola, Gyatsola, and Gawula Passes into Everest National Nature Reserve, arriving at Everest Base Camp.

Included

  • Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
  • Soft-sleepers from Chongqing 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
  • Breakfasts provided by hotels & a welcome dinner
  • 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 & lodging for guide & driver
  • Oxygen tank for emergency use
  • Two bottles of mineral water per person per day

Not included

  • International flights to and from China
  • Chinese Visa/China Group Visa (the operator can provide hotel/flight reservation copies or an invitation letter to support the visa application)
  • Other domestic flights/trains to and out of Lhasa (the operator can book these at the best price on request)
  • Meals (not included; typically USD 5-15/person per meal, operator can recommend options)
  • Gratuity for guide and driver (not mandatory but expected; suggested USD 8-15/person/day, given on the last day)
  • 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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The soft-sleeper cabin on the Chongqing to Lhasa train (a two-night journey on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway) is included. Domestic flights or trains to and from Lhasa are not included and must be booked separately.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Great Tibet Tour provides an experienced local English-speaking guide and driver throughout the entire 10 days. It is a private, guided tour.
What is included in the accommodation?
Hotel lodging is included; you choose the standard (luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star, economical 3-star, or guesthouse). Breakfast is provided each morning. One welcome dinner is included; other meals are not.
What permits and visas do I need?
A Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit is required and included in the tour price. You must obtain a Chinese visa separately; Great Tibet Tour can provide hotel and flight reservation copies or an invitation letter to support your visa application.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The tour involves monastery visits and walking in Lhasa, daily vehicle drives of 5 to 7 hours on some days, and high altitude (Lhasa is 3,650 metres). An optional sunrise viewing and monastery visit at Everest Base Camp are offered. Acclimatization rest is advised upon arrival in Lhasa.
What is not included in the price?
Not included: international flights to and from China, Chinese visa, domestic flights or trains to and from Lhasa, meals beyond hotel breakfasts and the welcome dinner, gratuities for the guide and driver (suggested USD 8-15 per person per day), and personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, and optional activities.

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