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Great Tibet Tour · Private Tour

7 Days Beijing Lhasa Train Tour

Beijing to Lhasa on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway sleeper train, 7 days

Illustration of 7 Days Beijing Lhasa Train Tour

Great Tibet Tour operates this 7-day private tour combining a 40-hour train journey across the Tibetan plateau with three nights exploring Lhasa and its surroundings. The trip begins in Beijing and ends in Namtso Lake, with the centrepiece being the Qinghai-Tibet Railway soft-sleeper train from Beijing to Lhasa. On Days 1 and 2, you travel through vast landscapes of desert, grassland, mountains, and lakes, passing Qinghai Salt Lake, Kekexili Nature Reserve, and Tangula Pass. After arriving in Lhasa on Day 3 at 3,650 metres altitude, you spend three nights acclimatising and touring the city's temples and monasteries, including the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. On Day 6, you take a day trip 440 kilometres to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holiest sites. The package includes the train fare, your choice of hotel class, entrance fees, an English-speaking local guide, vehicle transfers, and most meals. This tour suits first-time rail travellers, those seeking guided comfort, photographers drawn to high-altitude scenery, and history lovers interested in Tibetan culture and Buddhist sites.

What to know before you look closer

  • Meals other than breakfast and the welcome dinner are not included and typically cost USD 5-15 per person per meal; the operator can recommend options.
  • The price excludes gratuity for the guide and driver, which is not mandatory but customary at USD 8-15 per person per day.
  • Acclimatisation to the high altitude in Lhasa (3,650 metres) is essential; the itinerary includes a rest day on Day 3.
  • A Chinese visa and Tibet Travel Permit are required and not included; the operator can provide supporting documents or an invitation letter for visa application.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: on the train

    Beijing - Lhasa Train

    Arrive at Beijing West Railway Station at least 1 hour in advance, show passport and Tibet Travel Permit, board the train.

  2. Day 2railovernight: on the train

    On the Train

    Full day on the train through Xining and Golmud; major sights include Qinghai Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula Pass, Tsonag Lake, Qiangtang Prairie and Namtso Lake.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lhasa

    Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m)

    Met at Lhasa Railway Station with a Tashidelek greeting and white Hada, transfer to the hotel via views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River; rest to acclimatize, optional visit to Potala Palace Square.

  4. Day 4overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Suburb

    Visit Drak Yerpa, a meditation retreat monastery embedded in a cliff wall, and a local Tibetan family visit with butter tea.

  5. Day 5overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

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

  6. Day 6overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa - Namtso - Lhasa, 440km, Approx. 6hrs

    Excursion to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holiest lakes, passing Yampachen and Tsuphu Monastery.

  7. Day 7rail

    Depart from Lhasa

    Transfer to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for onward travel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Depart Beijing West Railway Station and board the Qinghai-Tibet Railway soft-sleeper train bound for Lhasa.
  • Day 2Spend a full day on the train passing through Xining and Golmud, with views of Qinghai Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula Pass, and Tsonag Lake.
  • Day 3Arrive in Lhasa at 3,650 metres; receive a Tashidelek greeting and white Hada scarf, then transfer to the hotel past the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
  • Day 5Visit the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, then walk Barkhor Street in Lhasa's sacred centre.
  • Day 6Make a 440-kilometre day trip to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holiest lakes, passing Yampachen and Tsuphu Monastery.

Included

  • Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
  • Soft-sleepers from Beijing 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 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 price?
Yes. The soft-sleeper train from Beijing to Lhasa is included, along with all hotel accommodation, entrance fees, the English-speaking guide, vehicle transfers, breakfast, a welcome dinner, and permits.
What is the train journey like?
The Beijing-Lhasa train on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a soft-sleeper service lasting about 40 hours. Days 1 and 2, you travel through Xining, Golmud, and across the Tibetan plateau, passing Qinghai Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula Pass, and Namtso Lake.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
Great Tibet Tour provides an experienced local English-speaking guide throughout, along with a licensed vehicle and driver, so it is an escorted private tour.
What are the main activities in Lhasa?
Over three nights in Lhasa, you visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and walk Barkhor Street. You also visit Drak Yerpa, a meditation retreat monastery built into a cliff wall, and a local Tibetan family home. A day trip takes you to Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's holiest sites.
How much walking and physical activity is involved?
The tour includes city walking in Lhasa, visits to temples and monasteries, and a visit to Namtso Lake. The main physical challenge is the high altitude in Lhasa (3,650 metres); the itinerary includes a rest day for acclimatisation and provides an oxygen tank for emergency use.
What hotel options are available?
You choose your accommodation class: a luxury 5-star international hotel, a comfortable 4-star hotel, an economical 3-star hotel, or a guesthouse. The price varies by class.

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