13 Days Xining and Tibet Train Tour from Beijing

Tour Overview

This 13 Days Xining and Tibet Train Tour will take you to first visit the city highlights of Beijing–the majestic Great Wall, built to resist foreign invasion; imperial palace of...

Code of Tour: YCT0000001821

Length of Travel: 13 Day

Destinations of Tour: Beijing-Xining-Qinghai Lake-Lhasa-Shigatse-Mt.Everest-Lhasa

Departure City: Beijing

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour:

Features of Tour: Nature Culture Minority Landscape

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This 13 Days Xining and Tibet Train Tour will take you to first visit the city highlights of Beijing–the majestic Great Wall, built to resist foreign invasion; imperial palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty in Beijing- Forbidden City; a royal sacred site – Temple of Heaven; and the most splendid classical garden in China-Summer Palace. Then the top attractions of Xining, including Qinghai Lake. After that, take the Qinghai-Tibet Train to Lhasa, this train tour will be the most unforgettable part in yourtour as you will pass by grasslands, snow mountains, plateau lakes, Tibetan villages and rare animals out of your window. After arrive at Lhasa, you will visit several significant monasteries in tibet, including Jokhang temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Tashilunpo monastery. Then drive to Shigatse to appreciate starry sky above the camp and the stunning sunrise of Mt.Everest and visit the highest monastery in the world-Rongphu Monastery. 

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Beijing Arrival
• Day 2: Beijing
• Day 3: Beijing
• Day 4: Beijing-Xining
• Day 5: Xining-Lhasa
• Day 6: Lhasa
• Day 7: Lhasa
• Day 8: Lhasa
• Day 9: Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse
• Day 10: Shigatse-Everest Base Camp
• Day 11: Everest Base Camp-Shigatse
• Day 12: Shigatse-Lhasa
• Day 13: Lhasa Departure

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:arrive in Beijing
Accommodation:Beijing
Meals:None

A private car will take you to your Hotel in Beijing, and you could have a rest in your hotel or look around in Beijing on your own. Stay overnight in Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:Beijing Sightseeing: Great Wall at Badaling, Ming Tombs-Changling
Accommodation:Beijing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Visit the majestic Great Wall (Badaling section) and the Ming Tombs. You will be taken on a group tour to the Great Wall, the most famous symbol of China and one of the world’s most remarkable architectural wonders. This section was first built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

Then visit the Ming Tombs, the burial site of the emperor Wanli, who was the 13th emperor of the Ming Dynasty who ruled for 48 years until his death in 1620. Stay overnight in Beijing.

Day 3 Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:Beijing Sightseeing: Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven,Summer Palace
Accommodation:Beijing
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

First visit the historic Tiananmen Square which is the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, and then the magnificent Forbidden City which located in the center of Beijing and used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years.

In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. Summer Palace was an imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. It is the most splendid classical garden in China. The Temple of Heaven is a royal sacred site where prayers for good harvests, prosperity and harmonious life are offered. Stay overnight in Beijing.

Day 4 Fly to Xining

Sightseeing and Activities:Fly to Xining from Beijing
Accommodation:Xining
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Take a flight from Beijing to Xining. You will be transferred to your hotel after arriving in Xining airport. The rest of the time is at leisure. You can have a good rest or walk around in the city. Stay overnight in Xining.

Day 5 Qinghai Lake-Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Qinghai Lake Day Tour and Take overnight Train to Lhasa
Accommodation:on the train
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, drive about 2.5 hours from Xining to Qinghai Lake, China’s largest inland salt water lake. The ellipse-shaped lake looks like a huge poplar leaf sitting on the alpine prairie. Scenery in Qinghai lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn have the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake’s scenery is most beautiful during these seasons.

The most charming and attractive place in Qinghai Lake is the Bird Island. It situates on the western shore of the Lake. Cruising for about 30 minutes is a popular way to appreciate the lake. On the way to this charming lake, you can get a view of Riyue mountain.

In the afternoon, drive back to Xining. Then, transfer to railway station for your overnight train to Lhasa. Stay overnight in the train.

Day 6 Arrive in Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Enjoy the train ride and arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

You will spend a whole day on the train to Lhasa and enjoy fabulous scenery along the world famous Qinghai-Tibet railway, the highest railway in the world. Spectacular land of snows, boundless desert, vast grassland, grand ice mountains, and beautiful lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart. You will arrive in Lhasa in late afternoon or evening. Then transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 7 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, you will head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the only most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism. Around the temple is Barkhor Street where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, in the meantime you can buy souvenirs. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 8 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung and Sera Monastery
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace is used as Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

In the afternoon, head to the Sera Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1419 by Jamchen chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The most popular attraction is the monk debate at around 3:00 – 5:00 in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9 Lhasa (3650m)-Gyantse-Shigatse (3900m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa (3650m) to Shigatse (3900m) via Gyantse
Accommodation:Shigatse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. On the way, the group will pass over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and tourists will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountain and in the distance you have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .

We head westward along the lake and drive towards Gyantse. Gyantse was historically Tibet’s third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum.

After one and a half hour’s driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we’ll visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of Tibet’s second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 10 Shigatse (3900m)-Lhatse-Shegar-Everest Base Camp(5200)

Sightseeing and Activities:Shigatse (3900m) to Everest Base Camp(5200) via Lhatse and Shegar
Accommodation:Everest Base Camp
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

We’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse. It is a small town where you can take lunch.
After that, you will drive to Shegar and if the weather is clear enough then on the way down to shegar you will view the Mt. Everest in the distance.

After 4 to 6 hours then you will arrive at Rongbuk Monastery but on the way, you will pass one of the highest passes in Tibet (pang la pass height 5050m) from that’s pass you will view the whole five highest peaks in the world. Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house.

Day 11 EBC (5200m)-Shigatse (3900m)

Sightseeing and Activities:EBC (5200m) and return to Shigatse (3900m)
Accommodation:Shigatse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you can see the sunrise appearing on the top of Mt. Everest, and have a full view the magnificent Mt. Everest standing like a snow-capped pyramid in front of you at Rongpuk, which is the vantage point for watching Mt. Everest. Then, tourists can visit Rongphu Monastery which is the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and belongs to Nyingma sect. After that drive back to Shigatse. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 12 Shigatse(3900m)-Lhasa(3650m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Shigatse(3900m) to Lhasa(3650m)
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa on the friendship Highway. The whole distance is almost 280km and it takes 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River / Bhamaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet). Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 13 Departure from Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Departure from Lhasa
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

The tour guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Recommended Hotels

Service 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; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
• All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent.
• Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
• Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
• All meals listed in the above itinerary;

Service Excluded:

• International flight to and out of China;
• Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need.
• Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.
• Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
• Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
• Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.

Travel Tips:

1. Tibet Permits

There are several permits required to visit Tibet. Tibet Entry Permit, issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, is the most important one which has to be obtained before your trip because you must have it to take your flight/train to Tibet. To get the permit, you have to book a Tibet tour with us, and send us your passport and Chinese visa about 20 days in advance, and then let us apply for the permit (all Tibet permits can only be applied by travel agency). If you travel to other prefectures like Shigatse, Nyingchi, Shannan, etc, you also have to obtain an Alien Travel Permit. If you travel to Mount Everest, you have to obtain a Border Permit. (Tibet Discovery, with office in Lhasa, has always kept up with the latest news on Tibet Permits. Traveling with us, all your permits are guaranteed as long as you are qualified to the requirements.)

2. Available Months to Visit Tibet

Generally speaking, May to early October is the best time to for a Mount Kailash trip. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. It may be too cold to travel in Kailash area from November to March. There is usually heavy snow. The conditions in Namtso Lake and Mount Everest area are quite similar with Kailash. While other places like Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year around.

3. High Altitude Sickness

The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival at Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.

4. How to Go to Tibet

Basically you have two options – flight and train. Currently, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Beijing(4.5hrs), Xian(3.7hrs), Chengdu(2.5hrs), Chongqing(3hrs), Kuming(3hrs), etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu and Xian have more frequent flights to Lhasa. Kathmandu also has several flights to Lhasa each week.

If you a train travel, you can take a train to from Beijing(40.5hrs), Xian(32hrs), Chengdu(43hrs), Shanghai(47hrs), Chongqing(42hrs), Lanzhou(25hrs), Xining(22hrs), Guangzhou(54hrs).

5. Packing and Wearing Ideas

Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring the necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended. As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.