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Great Tibet Tour · Private Tour

8 Days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour

Overnight train to Lhasa, then overland to Kathmandu via Everest Base Camp

Illustration of 8 Days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour

Great Tibet Tour operates this 8-day private journey from Lanzhou, China to Kathmandu, Nepal. The trip opens with an overnight soft-sleeper train on the world's highest railway, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, as you travel from Lanzhou to Lhasa. After two days of sightseeing in Lhasa, including Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, you spend five days driving through Tibet and across the Himalayas. The route takes you over mountain passes with views of Yamdroktso Lake and Karola Glacier, to Everest Base Camp, and through remote high-altitude terrain before crossing into Nepal. An experienced English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout, and accommodation is available in four tiers from guesthouse to five-star hotel. The pace is fast with long daily drives and high altitude exposure; this trip suits history lovers, photographers, and travelers who want guided structure with private flexibility.

What to know before you look closer

  • Meals are not included except breakfast and a welcome dinner; typical restaurant meals cost USD 5-15 per person and are booked separately.
  • The from-price does not include flights to Lanzhou or the Chinese visa; the operator can provide documents to support your visa application.
  • Gratuity for the guide and driver is not mandatory but is customary (USD 8-15 per person per day).
  • The accommodation class is your choice at booking (5-star, 4-star, 3-star, or guesthouse), which affects the final hotel list in Lhasa and other towns.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: on the train

    Train: Lanzhou - Lhasa

    Board the train at Lanzhou Railway Station (arrive 1 hour early with passport and Tibet Travel Permit).

  2. Day 2railovernight: 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).

  3. Day 3overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

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

  4. Day 4overnight: Lhasa

    Lhasa Sightseeing

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

  5. Day 5overnight: Shigatse

    Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs

    Via Gambala Mountain Pass with views of Yamdroktso Lake and the Karola Glacier; visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse.

  6. Day 6overnight: EBC

    Shigatse - Tingri - EBC, 350km, Approx. 7hrs

    Cross Tsola and Gyatsola Passes and Gawula Pass into the Everest National Nature Reserve, arriving at Everest Base Camp.

  7. Day 7overnight: Gyirong Town

    EBC - Gyirong, 350km, Approx. 6.5hrs

    Optional sunrise over Everest, visit Rongbuk Monastery, then drive to the Tibet-Nepal border town of Gyirong via Peikutso Lake.

  8. Day 8

    Gyirong - Kathmandu, 160km, Approx. 8hrs

    Walk across the Gyirong Port border bridge and transfer by Nepali driver to Kathmandu.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board the Qinghai-Tibet Railway soft-sleeper train at Lanzhou, traveling overnight across grasslands, deserts, snow-capped mountains, and blue lakes to Lhasa.
  • Day 3Visit Potala Palace and walk Barkhor Street in Lhasa after acclimatizing to the 3,650-meter altitude.
  • Day 5Cross Gambala Mountain Pass with views of Yamdroktso Lake and Karola Glacier, then visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse.
  • Day 6Drive through three high passes into Everest National Nature Reserve to reach Everest Base Camp.
  • Day 7Watch optional sunrise over Everest, visit Rongbuk Monastery, then drive via Peikutso Lake toward the Tibet-Nepal border.

Included

  • Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
  • Soft-sleepers from Lanzhou 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
  • Transfer from Gyirong border to Kathmandu by jeep
  • 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 the train included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of USD 1,708 includes the soft-sleeper train from Lanzhou to Lhasa and all subsequent coach travel, permits, entrance fees, and lodging.
Is the trip escorted or independent?
It is a private escorted tour. Great Tibet Tour provides an experienced local English-speaking guide for the entire journey and a Nepali driver from the border onwards.
Which train is used and when does it run?
The Lanzhou-Lhasa Train (Qinghai-Tibet Railway) in soft-sleeper class. No specific departure dates are listed; confirm with Great Tibet Tour when booking.
What hotels are included?
You choose your accommodation class at booking: luxury 5-star, comfortable 4-star, economical 3-star, or guesthouse. Great Tibet Tour will assign specific hotels based on your tier and the city.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast is provided by hotels and a welcome dinner is included. Other meals are not included; the operator estimates USD 5-15 per meal and can recommend restaurants.
How much walking is involved?
Day 3 and 4 include walks around Lhasa temples and Barkhor Street. Most other days involve long coach travel; Day 7 includes a walk across the Gyirong border bridge.

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