Search

Tibet Travel (Tibet Vista) · Private escorted tour

11 Days Shanghai Lhasa Namtso Everest Base Camp Tour by Tibet Train

Shanghai to Lhasa by overnight train, then overland to Everest Base Camp

Illustration of 11 Days Shanghai Lhasa Namtso Everest Base Camp Tour by Tibet Train

Tibet Travel operates this 11-day private escorted tour from Shanghai to Tibet's spiritual heartland, reaching the slopes of Mount Everest. The journey begins with a 46-hour overnight train voyage on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (Z164), window-seatwatching the landscape transform from Chinese plains to Tibetan plateau. After arriving in Lhasa on day 3, you spend two days exploring the city's sacred sites: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the Barkhor Street pilgrimage path, with visits to Drepung and Sera Monasteries where monks debate Buddhist philosophy. Days 6 through 10 shift to overland travel by private vehicle, climbing from Lhasa northward to Namtso Lake (one of Tibet's three holiest lakes), then southwestward across the high plateau to Shigatse, and finally to Everest Base Camp at 5,200 metres, where you overnight under Mount Everest's starlit peak. A personal English-speaking Tibetan guide and driver accompany you throughout. The tour suits first-time rail travellers drawn to the train experience, families with children and seniors, photographers seeking mountain and monastery scenes, and guided travellers who prefer their permits and logistics handled.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price covers the package, but domestic flights or trains not listed in the itinerary are not included; confirm transport costs with the operator.
  • Accommodation is provided at your chosen tier (luxury 5-star, standard 4-star, economic 3-star, or budget guesthouse/tent); final hotel depends on the class selected.
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary are not included; budget approximately USD 3 to 15 per meal in Tibet.
  • The tour requires a Chinese visa and Tibet travel permits; the operator offers application support on request.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Train

    Arrive in Shanghai

    Free time in Shanghai, then transfer to Shanghai Railway Station in the evening to board the overnight train (Z164) to Lhasa, departing ~19:16 and arriving on the third day.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train

    Enjoy Scenic Tibet Train Journey and Arrive in Lhasa (day 2 of 2)

    Full day of window sightseeing along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lhasa

    Enjoy Scenic Tibet Train Journey and Arrive in Lhasa

    Arrive in Lhasa in the late afternoon of the third day; met by the guide and transferred to the hotel to acclimatize.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street

    Potala Palace and Longwangtan Park; Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street kora and a Tibetan tea house in the afternoon.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

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

  6. Day 6overnight: Damxung

    Lhasa to Namtso Lake and Drive to Damxung

    Drive north through Damxung and over Lagenla Pass to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes.

  7. Day 7overnight: Shigatse

    Damxung to Shigatse

    Long drive (8-9 hours) through northern Tibet via Yanpachen and Dazhuka 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 1Board the overnight Z164 train in Shanghai in the evening, departing for a 46-hour journey to Lhasa on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
  • Day 4Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, then walk the Barkhor Street kora and rest in a Tibetan tea house.
  • Day 5Witness monk debate in the afternoon at Sera Monastery.
  • Day 8Arrive at Everest Base Camp at 5,200 metres for sunset and night views of Mount Everest.
  • Day 9Visit Rongbuk Monastery and the Dinggye Xilin Viewpoint; enjoy a Tibetan song-and-dance dinner in Shigatse.

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 Shanghai-Lhasa overnight train (Z164) is included. The journey takes approximately 46 hours and 24 minutes. Other domestic transport is by private vehicle with your guide and driver.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
It is a private escorted tour. Tibet Travel provides a personal English-speaking Tibetan local guide and a reliable driver with a 4WD vehicle throughout the 11 days.
What is included in the price?
Tibet travel permits, all entrance fees, accommodation, train ticket Shanghai to Lhasa, all meals listed in the itinerary, guide and driver, vehicle, tourist accident insurance, and a first aid kit.
How much walking is involved?
The activity level is rated Easy, suitable for all fitness levels, families, and senior groups. Days combine coach travel with moderate walking at monasteries, temples, and scenic viewpoints. Day 3 is an acclimatization day in Lhasa.
When does the tour depart?
Tibet Travel offers this tour 365 days a year, year-round.
What accommodation options are available?
You choose your accommodation class: luxury 5-star hotels, standard 4-star hotels, economic 3-star hotels, or budget guesthouses and tent camps. The final hotel depends on your tier and the city.

Similar journeys