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Tibet Travel (Tibet Vista) · Private escorted tour

11 Days Hong Kong Chengdu Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour by Scenic Tibet Train

Hong Kong to Everest Base Camp via Chengdu-Lhasa train and Tibetan highlands

Illustration of 11 Days Hong Kong Chengdu Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour by Scenic Tibet Train

Tibet Travel operates this 11-day private escorted tour departing from Hong Kong year-round, combining urban exploration, rail travel, and high-altitude trekking across Tibet. The journey begins with a two-hour flight to Chengdu, where you visit the Panda Breeding and Research Center and the historic Broad and Narrow Alleys before boarding the overnight Qinghai-Tibet Railway for the two-night journey to Lhasa. Across days 4 through 6, you spend three nights in Lhasa acclimatising and touring the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the Drepung and Sera Monasteries with a Tibetan local guide. Days 7 through 10 involve overland travel by private four-wheel-drive vehicle south through the high passes, Yamdrok Lake, and the Korola Glacier to Shigatse, then up to Everest Base Camp at 5,010 metres for an overnight stop beneath Mount Everest. All permits, entrance fees, lodging (at your chosen tier from budget to luxury), domestic flights, train berths, meals, guide, and vehicle are included. The tour suits first-time rail travellers, families, and those seeking guided comfort with cultural and natural history alongside high-altitude adventure.

What to know before you look closer

  • The price covers the escorted tour package; your international flight from Hong Kong to China and Chinese visa are not included.
  • Accommodation tier (luxury five-star, standard four-star, economic three-star, or budget guesthouse/tent) is your choice and affects the final cost; confirm the tier before booking.
  • Day 8 overnight at Everest Base Camp may be in a tent or nearby village accommodation in winter; confirm the accommodation type for your travel dates.
  • The tour operates every day of the year, but high-altitude acclimatisation is essential; allow time to rest on days 4 and 5 in Lhasa.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Chengdu

    Arrive in Chengdu

    Two-hour flight from Hong Kong to Chengdu; airport transfer to the hotel; free time (Chunxi Road, Kuanzhai Valley, Renmin Park suggested).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train

    Chengdu Tour - Giant Panda Research & Breeding Center, Broad and Narrow Alley, and board the train in the evening

    Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, then the Broad and Narrow Alley, before boarding the evening train to Lhasa.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Train

    Enjoy Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Sightseeing by Train

    Train passes Yuzhufeng (Kunlun Mountain), the Kekexili Nature Reserve, the Tuotuo River and Naqu Grassland.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lhasa

    Arrive in Lhasa in the morning

    Met at Lhasa Railway Station by the local guide and transferred to the hotel; rest to acclimatize.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

    Potala Palace in the morning; Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Kora in the afternoon.

  6. Day 6overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

    Drepung Monastery in the morning; Sera Monastery and the monk debate in the afternoon.

  7. Day 7overnight: Shigatse

    Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse 360km

    Drive over Gampala Pass to Yamdrok Lake, past the Korola Glacier and Simila Mountain Pass, via Gyantse to Shigatse.

  8. Day 8overnight: Everest Base Camp (tent, or nearby village in winter)

    Shigatse (3,850m) to Everest Base Camp (5,000m)

    Drive via Gyatsola Pass and Gawula Pass to the Everest Base Camp zigzag road, with an overnight beneath Mount Everest.

  9. Day 9overnight: Shigatse

    EBC to Sakya via Dinggye and Return to Shigatse

    Visit Rongbuk Monastery, return via the Dinggye Xilin Viewpoint and Sakya's Saga Ancient Town, with a Tibetan song-and-dance dinner in Shigatse.

  10. Day 10overnight: Lhasa

    Shigatse to Lhasa via Nyemo

    Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, then drive back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River; free time on Barkhor Street.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Tour ends

    Departure from Lhasa

    Transfer to the airport or Lhasa Railway Station for departure.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center to see giant pandas, then board the evening train to Lhasa.
  • Day 3Watch from the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as the train passes Yuzhufeng (Kunlun Mountain), the Kekexili Nature Reserve, and the Naqu Grassland.
  • Day 5Tour the Potala Palace in the morning and Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Kora in the afternoon in Lhasa.
  • Day 7Drive over Gampala Pass to view Yamdrok Lake and pass the Korola Glacier and Simila Mountain Pass on the way to Shigatse.
  • Day 8Spend the night at Everest Base Camp (5,010 metres) after driving via Gyatsola and Gawula Passes.

Included

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
  • Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide
  • Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver (4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on group size)
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary (traveller chooses accommodation class: luxury 5-star, standard 4-star, economic 3-star, or budget guesthouse/tent)
  • Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary
  • All meals listed in the itinerary
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance
  • First aid kit

Not included

  • International flight to and from China
  • Chinese visa (application support available on request)
  • Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary (approx. USD 3-15 per meal in Tibet)
  • Tips and gratuities for guide and driver
  • Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, snacks, drinks, optional activities, etc.)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes the overnight train from Chengdu to Lhasa on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway with soft or hard sleeper berths, plus the domestic flight from Hong Kong to Chengdu.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Escorted. Tibet Travel provides a personal English-speaking Tibetan local guide and private vehicle with a driver throughout the 11 days.
What are the hotels like?
You choose the accommodation class: luxury five-star hotels, standard four-star hotels, economic three-star hotels, or budget guesthouses and tent. All lodging listed in the itinerary is included.
What meals are included?
All meals listed in the itinerary are included. Meals not specified (estimated USD 3 to 15 per meal in Tibet) are your own expense.
When can I depart?
The tour departs 365 days a year. You can book any date, subject to availability.
How much walking is involved?
Activity level is rated easy, suitable for all fitness levels, families with kids, and senior groups. High-altitude acclimatisation time is built into the itinerary in Lhasa.

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