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Great Tibet Tour · Private Tour

16 Days Xining Lhasa Tsetang Everest Namtso Train Tour

16-day Tibet loop from Xining by train, monasteries, Everest Base Camp, Namtso Lake

Illustration of 16 Days Xining Lhasa Tsetang Everest Namtso Train Tour

Great Tibet Tour operates this 16-day private guided adventure through the Tibetan plateau, beginning in Xining and ending at Namtso Lake. The signature experience is a 22-hour soft-sleeper train journey on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which ascends to 5,072m at the Tanggula Pass, the world's highest railway point. From Lhasa, an experienced local English-speaking guide leads you through three days of sightseeing at Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and surrounding monasteries before moving south and west to Tsetang, Gyantse, and Shigatse, then to Everest Base Camp and Rongbuk Monastery. The route finishes at Namtso Lake at 4,718m. Coach travel covers longer distances; you choose your hotel tier from guesthouse to five-star. The operator handles permits, ground transport, most meals, and a guide throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • Meals are not included except breakfasts and one welcome dinner; budget USD 5-15 per meal per day. Great Tibet Tour can recommend options.
  • The from-price does not include international flights to China, Chinese visa, or domestic flights/trains to reach Xining or depart Lhasa; these can be booked separately.
  • Accommodation is chosen by tier (3-star guesthouse to 5-star international hotel); final hotel depends on your selection and availability in each city.
  • Gratuity for guide and driver is not mandatory but expected at USD 8-15 per person per day, paid on the last day.

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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Day 3: Board the Qinghai-Tibet Railway soft-sleeper for a 22-hour, 1,960km journey to Lhasa, crossing the Tanggula Pass at 5,072m, the world's highest railway point.
  • Day 5Day 5: Visit Potala Palace and walk the Barkhor Street pilgrimage circuit around Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.
  • Day 12Day 12: Drive to Everest Base Camp via the 108 bends of Everest and visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest-altitude monastery.
  • Day 14Day 14: Cross the 5,400m Xuegela Mountain to reach Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holiest lakes.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the from-price?
Yes, the soft-sleeper train from Xining to Lhasa is included in the USD 2,988 from-price, along with all permits, hotels, entrance fees, and ground transport.
Is this tour guided or independent?
This is a private guided tour. Great Tibet Tour provides an experienced local English-speaking guide throughout the 16 days, plus a driver.
What train do we take and for how long?
The Xining-Lhasa train on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, soft-sleeper class, departs on Day 3 and arrives on Day 4, a journey of approximately 22 hours covering 1,960km.
Which hotels are included?
All hotels listed in the itinerary are included. You choose your accommodation tier: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star, economical 3-star, or guesthouse.
What meals are included?
Breakfasts provided by hotels and a welcome dinner are included. Other meals are not included; Great Tibet Tour can recommend restaurants in each city.
Do I need a visa to enter Tibet, and is it included?
A Chinese visa and Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit are required. The visa is not included, but Great Tibet Tour can provide hotel/flight reservation copies or an invitation letter to support your visa application. The permit fee is included.

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