Great Tibet Tour · Private Tour

16 Days Xining Lhasa Tsetang Everest Namtso Train Tour

16 Days Xining Lhasa Tsetang Everest Namtso Train Tour, a rail journey with Great Tibet Tour

This adventure tour from Xining with Qinghai-Tibet train experience to Tibet offers you unique culture and landscape including magnificent Mt.Everest.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Xining

    Arrival in Xining by Flight

    Met at Xining Airport and transferred to a hotel downtown; free time to explore the city.

  2. Day 2overnight: lakeside near Qinghai Lake

    Xining - Qinghai Lake, 150km, Approx. 2.5hrs

    Visit Qinghai Lake, China's largest saltwater lake; overnight at the lakeside for sunset and sunrise.

  3. Day 3railovernight: on the train

    Qinghai Lake - Xining - Lhasa

    Return to Xining and board the ~22hr, 1,960km train to Lhasa along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lhasa

    Arrival in Lhasa by Train

    Met at Lhasa railway station with a Tashi Delek greeting and white Hada, transfer to the hotel; rest to acclimatize to altitude (3,650m).

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

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

  6. Day 6overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

    Visit Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's summer palace, and Drepung Monastery.

  7. Day 7overnight: Tsetang

    Lhasa- Samye- Tsetang, 150km, Approx. 2.5hrs

    Transfer to Samye Monastery, the first complete Triratna temple in Tibetan Buddhist history, then continue to Tsetang.

  8. Day 8overnight: Tsetang

    Tsetang- Chongye- Tsetang, 70km, Approx. 1.5hrs

    Visit Trandruk Monastery, Yumbulagang Palace (the first palace in Tibetan history), and the Chongye Burial Mounds.

  9. Day 9overnight: Gyantse

    Tsetang - Gyantse, 301km, Approx. 5hrs

    Cross Gampala Pass for views of Yamdroktso Lake and Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, then pass the Karola Glacier.

  10. Day 10overnight: Shigatse

    Gyantse - Shigatse, 96km, Approx. 2hrs

    Visit Pelkor Chode Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum and Gyantse Fortress, then drive to Shigatse via the Nyangchu Valley.

  11. Day 11overnight: Tingri

    Shigatse- Sakya- Tingri, 290km, Approx. 5.6hrs

    Drive from Shigatse to Tingri via Sakya County, visiting Sakya Monastery.

  12. Day 12overnight: Tingri

    Tingri - EBC - Tingri, 220km, Approx. 5hrs

    Via Gawu La Pass and the 108 bends of Everest to Everest Base Camp, then Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest-altitude monastery.

  13. Day 13overnight: Shigatse

    Tingri - Shigatse, 240km, Approx. 4.5hrs

    Drive via G318 to Shigatse, visiting Tashilhunpo Monastery, home of the Panchen Lama.

  14. Day 14overnight: Damxung

    Shigatse - Namtso Lake - Damxung, 400km, Approx. 6hrs

    Drive via Yangbajing and the 5,400m Xuegela Mountain to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's top three holy lakes.

  15. Day 15overnight: Lhasa

    Namtso - Lhasa, 220km, Approx. 3.5hrs

    Drive back to Lhasa, visiting Tsurphu Monastery, the main temple of the Karma Kagyu sect, en route.

  16. Day 16rail

    Departure from Lhasa

    Transfer to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for onward travel.

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
  • 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

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