15 Days Beijing, Xi’an, Tibet and Nepal Classic Tour by Train

Tour Overview

This is Beijing, Xi’an, Tibet and Nepal tour is the most welcomed and popular itinerary for whom like to take train to Tibet. Take a train from Beijing to...

Code of Tour: YCT0000003887

Length of Travel: 15 Day

Destinations of Tour: Beijing-Xian-Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse-EBC-Zhangmu-Kodari-Kathmandu

Departure City: Beijing

Price of Tour: Request

Type of Tour:

Features of Tour: Nature Hiking Culture History Minority Landscape

More Map & Picture

This is Beijing, Xi’an, Tibet and Nepal tour is the most welcomed and popular itinerary for whom like to take train to Tibet. Take a train from Beijing to Xi’an, visit the highlights of Beijing and Xi’an first. Then take Qinghai-Tibet train to Lhasa. Drive westwards along Friendship Highway to visit Gyantse and Shigatse – historical and cultural city of Tibet. You will reach your final destination–Kathmandu, visit some of its highlights to finish the tour. The whole trip includes whole snow-capped plateau, historical sites, temples, monasteries, snow-capped mountains, holy lakes, rushing rivers and other stunning natural landscapes along the way.

Highlights

• Climb the dazzling Gyantse Kumbum, a monumental chorten with mural-filled chapels.
• Marvel at the turquoise waters of Yamdrok-tso, one of Tibet’s most sacred lakes.
• Go down into the bowels of the Potala, the impressive but spiritless citadel of the Dalai Lamas.
• Join the shuffling, murmuring pilgrims around the shrines of the Jokhang, the spiritual heart of Tibet.
• Follow monks, mendicants and fellow pilgrims around the Barkhor, Lhasa’s fascinating medieval pilgrim circuit.
• Take in a prayer meeting or some monk debating at Sera and Drepung, two of the largest and most intact of Tibet’s great monasteries.
•  Well-designed private tour to explore China and Nepal together;
• Admire the modern and traditon, history and culture in China and stunned by world wonders, like Great Wall, Forbidden City, Qin Terrocatta Warrior, ect;
• Overnight train experience from Beijing to Xi’an, from Xi’an to Lhasa;
• Extend this inspuring tour from Tibet to Kathmandu valley Nepal, a land of snow peaks and monasteries

Brief Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing
Day 3 Beijing
Day 4 Beijing-Xi’an
Day 5 Xi’an-Lhasa
Day 6 Lhasa Arrival
Day 7 Lhasa
Day 8 Lhasa
Day 9 Lhasa-Gyangtse-Shigatse
Day 10 Shigatse-Lhatse-Tingri
Day 11 EBC to Gyirong Border 370km
Day 12 Gyirong to Nepal border(B)and Kathmandu Arrival
Day 13 Kathmandu Valley half a day Tour
Day 14 Kathmandu Valley half a day Tour-Bhaktapur
Day 15 Leave Kathmandu to continue to your other destination in Nepal

Google Map

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:Sightseeing in Beijing 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-Xi’an

Sightseeing and Activities:Sightseeing in Beijing Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven,Summer Palace
Accommodation:Xi’an
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.
In the evening, board overnight train to Xian.

Stay overnight in the train

Day 4 Xi’an

Sightseeing and Activities:Sightseeing in Xi’an-Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Accommodation:Xi’an
Meals:breakfast, lunch

Arrive in Xi’an in the morning. Today’s sightseeing is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, BanPo Museum, The Museum of the First Qin Emperor’s Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. You will also visit the shop of the Qin terra-cotta figures and Jades in Terra-cotta warriors Museum.

Stay overnight in Xi’an

Day 5 Xi’an-Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Board the train to Lhasa from Xi’an
Accommodation:overnight train
Meals:breakfast

In the early morning, you will board the famous sky train to Lhasa in Xian train station to start the wonderful journey of exploring the highest train ride in the world. The train journey will take you about 38 hours.

Stay overnight in the train

*Important Notice: Due to the extremely busy train tickets booking from end June to Late August, CITS may arrange you fly from Xian to Xining (the first train station of Tibet Railway), and then take train from Xining to Lhasa replaces the plan of taking train from Xian to Lhasa.

Day 6 Lhasa Arrival 

Sightseeing and Activities:Sightseeing along the railway, arrive in Lhasa in the late afternoon
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:none

A full day window sightseeing along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you will see land of snows, desert, immense grassland, ice mountain, beautiful lakes which will fairly entertaining.
Shortly after your arrival in Lhasa in the afternoon, you will be warmly received by your tour guide who would say Tashi Delek, which means wishing you all the best  and transferred to your reserved hotel in Lhasa. Then have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 7 Lhasa

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

Visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapel. You will appreciate its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala etc.

In the afternoon, visit the holist temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during songtsen gonpo’s reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkhor Kora, where you can buy or appreciate traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc. You will have a chance to get close to appreciate how the artists draw Thangkas at the Thakangka workroom at Barkhor. Tibet Museum is an important window to introduce the glorious culture of Tibet, and as a free Museum in Lhasa, you could not afford to miss.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 8 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery,Sera Monastery
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:breakfast, lunch

Visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. The Drepung Monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once home to10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous as it was the government centre and later moved to the famous Potala palace during fifth dalai lama. Then visit the Carpet Factory, where you can see how the world-famous Tibetan carpets are made. After having lunch, continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is that Monks debiting held in the courtyard at around 6-7:30 in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 9 Lhasa-Yamdrotso lake-Gyangtse-Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa,Yamdrotso lake,Gyangtse,Shigatse
Accommodation:Shigatse
Meals:breakfast

Passing by the green farmland of Nyangchu Valley, Yamdrok Lake, and karo-la glacier roadside at 4960m, we move westwards to the second biggest city Shigatse, the area spiritually hosted by Pamchan Lama. The most important attraction for today is Yamdro-tso Lake and Kubum Monastery in Gyantse. Yamdro-tso Lake is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in color and Kubum monastery has a 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Day 10 Shigatse-Lhatse-Tingri (Shegar)-Tingri-Rongphu Monastery

Sightseeing and Activities:Shigatse,Lhatse,Tingri (Shegar),Tingri,Rongphu Monastery
Accommodation:Tingri
Meals:breakfast 

Drive westwards along the Friendship way to Tingri. There is about 90km bumpy road from Tingri to Rongpuk. The road is very rough from Tingri to E.B.C as the road is under construction. Pass the wild grassland and cross the rapids river and high mountains. In clear whether, you can have a glimpse of four mountains which is 8000m high or more, such as: Mt. Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Everest(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag(8201m),Mt Mayalu(8463m).

Stay overnight in Rongphu Monastery Tent or Guest House

Day 11 Rongphu Monastery-Everest Base Camp-Gyirong

Sightseeing and Activities:Rongphu Monastery,Everest Base Camp,Gyirong
Accommodation:Gyirong
Meals:breakfast,lunch

In the early morning, appreciate the sunrise from Rongbuk Monastery and then to view Mt. Everest. It is fabulous and splendid. You can stand on the hill beside Rongbuk Monastery  to take pictures of the splendid- Mt. Everest. In the late afternoon around 13:00, go back to Shegar from E.B.C. Then go westwards to Gyirong with our tour guide.

Stay overnight in Gyirong 

Day 12 Gyirong-Nepal Border-Kathmandu (123km)

Sightseeing and Activities:Gyirong,Nepal Border,Kathmandu (123km)
Accommodation:Kathmandu
Meals:breakfast, lunch

Tour Guide will assist the clients to exit China and arrange the staff in Nepal to escort you from Tibet to hotels in Kathmandu.
Optional:
Transfer from Gyirong to Kathmandu (250USD per car, does not included in Package, need pay extra if clients request)
Stay overnight in Kathmandu

Day 13 Kathmandu

Sightseeing and Activities:Kathmandu Valley half a day Tour
Accommodation:Kathmandu
Meals:breakfast, lunch

A half day sightseeing tour (Pashupathinath, Boudhanath and Paten)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the major sightseeing places in Kathmandu. You will see historic monuments, temples, monasteries, palaces and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like and Boudhanath,Hindu temples of Pashupatinath. After sightseeing, visit handicraft centre in Patan. Then go back to your hotel.
Stay overnight in Kathmandu

Day 14 Kathmandu-Bhaktapur-Kathmandu

Sightseeing and Activities:Kathmandu Valley half a day Tour-Bhaktapur
Accommodation:Kathmandu
Meals:breakfast,lunch

After breakfast, transfer to Bhaktapur, where you will explore unique culture and finest display of craftsmanship. Bhaktapur is the only place in Nepal which has not been touched by western culture. Lion Gate, Golden Gate, Art Gallery, Statue of King Bhupatindra, Nyatapola Temple and fifty-five windowed Malla Palace are the living prides of Bhaktapur and you will tour around all these places. Back to your hotel in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu

Day 15 Kathmandu Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Leave Kathmandu to continue to your other destination in Nepal
Accommodation:none
Meals:breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your flight to next destination. If you prefer to stay longer, you can extend your trip to other parts of Nepal, such as Safari at National parks, rafting, trekking etc. – If you need, please contact us.

Recommended Hotels

Quotations

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.