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Tibet Travel (Tibet Vista) · Private escorted tour

12 Days Guangzhou Lhasa Namtso Everest Base Camp Tour by Tibet Train

Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa, then overland to Everest Base Camp

Illustration of 12 Days Guangzhou Lhasa Namtso Everest Base Camp Tour by Tibet Train

Tibet Travel operates this 12-day private escorted tour from Guangzhou to Sakya via Lhasa, Namtso Lake, and Everest Base Camp. The journey begins with a three-day ride on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Guangzhou to Lhasa in a soft sleeper cabin, crossing the plateau through Lanzhou and Xining. Upon arrival in Lhasa, a personal English-speaking Tibetan guide and driver accompany you for the remainder of the tour. Days 5 and 6 in Lhasa include visits to Drepung Monastery, one of Tibet's largest with historical ties to over 10,000 monks, Sera Monastery and its monk debate, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the Barkhor Street pilgrimage circuit. From Lhasa, the overland portion takes you north across Lagenla Pass to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes at over 4,700 metres, then west via Chimelong Nunnery and Tsurphu Monastery (the oldest in Tibet) to Shigatse. The tour culminates in a drive to Everest Base Camp at 5,200 metres for an overnight stay. The guide and private vehicle remain with you throughout. All permits, entrance fees, meals listed in the itinerary, and accommodation (your choice of economic guesthouse to luxury five-star hotel) are included.

What to know before you look closer

  • The tour includes accommodation from budget guesthouses and tents to luxury 5-star hotels depending on the tier you select; final accommodation standard depends on your choice.
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary (estimated USD 3-15 per meal in Tibet) are not included; tips for guide and driver are separate.
  • A Chinese visa is required and not included; the operator offers application support on request.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Guangzhou

    Arrive in Guangzhou

    Airport transfer to the hotel in Guangzhou (own arrangement if no pickup booked); free time.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Train

    Board the Train to Lhasa from Guangzhou

    Free day until boarding the Guangzhou-Lhasa train in the morning at Guangzhou Railway Station.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Train

    Travel on the Tibet Train

    Train passes through Lanzhou and Xining, the start of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lhasa

    Travel on the Tibet Train and Arrive in Lhasa

    Scenic day on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway across the plateau; met at Lhasa Railway Station and transferred to the hotel to acclimatize.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

    Drepung Monastery, once home to over 10,000 monks, in the morning; Sera Monastery and the monk debate in the afternoon.

  6. Day 6overnight: 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.

  7. Day 7overnight: Damxung

    Lhasa to Namtso Lake and Drive back to Damxung

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

  8. Day 8overnight: Shigatse

    Damxung to Shigatse via Chimelong Nunnery and Tsurphu Monastery

    Visit Chimelong Nunnery, then Tsurphu Monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet and seat of the Karmapa, before continuing to Shigatse.

  9. Day 9overnight: Everest Base Camp (tent, or nearby village in winter)

    Shigatse to Everest Base Camp (5,200m)

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

  10. Day 10overnight: 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.

  11. Day 11overnight: 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.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Tour ends

    Departure from Lhasa

    Transfer to the airport or Lhasa Railway Station for departure.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Guangzhou-Lhasa train at Guangzhou Railway Station for a three-day journey on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in a soft sleeper cabin.
  • Day 4Arrive in Lhasa after crossing the plateau on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway; the guide meets you at Lhasa Railway Station.
  • Day 6Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa; walk the Barkhor Street kora and stop at a Tibetan tea house.
  • Day 7Drive north to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes at over 4,700 metres, ringed by snow peaks.
  • Day 9Spend the night at Everest Base Camp at 5,200 metres beneath Mount Everest 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 the train travel included?
Yes. The Guangzhou-Lhasa train ticket (soft sleeper class on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway) is included in the package price.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Tibet Travel provides a personal English-speaking Tibetan guide and driver throughout the entire 12 days in a private vehicle.
What class of train?
Soft sleeper, which is a shared cabin typically with two or four berths.
How much walking is involved?
The activity level is described as Easy, suitable for all fitness levels, families with kids, and senior groups. Days include visits to monasteries, temples, and high-altitude sightseeing.
What is included in the price?
Tibet permits, all entrance fees, guide and vehicle, lodging (choice of economic to luxury tier), domestic train ticket, meals listed in the itinerary, tourist insurance, and a first aid kit.
When does the tour run?
Tibet Travel operates this tour 365 days a year with private departures.

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