14 Days Mt. Everest Adventure Tour from Beijing by Train

This 14 days Mt. Everest Adventure Tour from Beijing will bring you first visit the city highlights of Beijing–the majestic Great Wall, built to resist foreign invasion; mausoleum of Wanli, who was one of the most famous emperors of Ming dynasty; 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, take the train to visit the top attraction in Xi’anthe Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.Then board the overnight train from Xi’an to the holy land of Tibet–Lhasa. You will be accompanied by famous Palaces, temples, monasteries, and enjoy the Tibet’s superb scenery of holy Namtso Lake and Mt. Everest.

Highlights:

  • Visit the main highlights of Beijing-the Great Wall, Forbidden Palace, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace.
  • Appreciate the top attractions of Xi’an-the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, BanPo Museum.
  • Meet snown mountains, tranquil lakes, shimmering rivers, ethnic villages and rare animals on your way.
  • Experience Tibetan Buddhism in significant monasteries along your way and in Lhasa city.
  • Enjoy the starry sky and the charming sunrise of Mt. Everest.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Beijing Arrival
  • Day 2: Beijing
  • Day 3: Beijing-Xi’an
  • Day 4: Xi’an
  • Day 5: Xi’an-Lhasa
  • Day 6: Lhasa
  • Day 7: Lhasa
  • Day 8: Lhasa
  • Day 9: Lhasa-Namtso
  • Day 10: Namtso-Shigatse
  • Day 11: Shigatse-Everest Base Camp
  • Day 12: Everest Base Camp-Shigatse
  • Day 13: Shigatse-Lhasa
  • Day 14: Lhasa Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Sightseeing and Activities:
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: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:Beijing Sightseeing: Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven,Summer Palace
Accommodation:None
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 Xi’an. 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

Transfer to your hotel after arriving in Xian train station. And visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will not only be attracted by the life-sized warrior figures and horses, each of which has distinct facial expressions and positions, but also be astonished by various kinds of ancient weapons which reflect the highly advanced technology in weapon-making 2,200 years ago.

Then visit the BanPo Museum, the Underground Palace as well. Stay overnight in Xian。

Day 5 Xi’an-Lhasa by Train

Sightseeing and Activities:Board the overnight train to Lhasa from Xi’an
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, you will board the famous sky train to Lhasa in Xi’an train station to start the wonderful journey of exploring the highest train ride in the world. The train journey will take you about 32 hours. Stay overnight in the train

Day 6 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Sightseeing along the railway and arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

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/Tibet Museum/Jokhang Temple/Barkhor Street
Accommodation:Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, 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. Tibet Museum is an important window to introduce the glorious culture of Tibet, and as a free Museum in Lhasa, you should not miss.

In the afternoon, visit the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang 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 Thangka workroom at Barkhor. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 8 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery/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 was used as Dalai lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

In the afternoon, Sera Monastery–It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419 by Jamchen chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The Most attraction is the Monks debate at around 3:00 – 5:00 in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9 Lhasa-Namtso Lake

Sightseeing and Activities:Lhasa to Namtso Lake (220km,4 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition)
Accommodation:Namtso
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Tashi Dor Island of Namtso Lake in Tibet

In the morning around 08:00am, our guide and driver pick you up from your hotel, and then leave Lhasa to Namtso Lake. Nyenchen Thanglha Snow Mountain ranges appear in front of you all the way. In summer (May to August), the sheepherders and their family move to grassland and set up their tents, you could see green grassland, groups of sheep and yaks, nomad tents by the road.

Namtso Lake is the Heavenly lake which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. You can do a very relaxing trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island.

Spending a night at lake shore is fantastic. The night sky is so clean that you could see all the stars twinkling on the sky, which are so close to you as if you could stretch your hands to pick them. Namtso lake is actually the lake in the sky, and it is about 5000m high lies on the highest plateau in the world. Stay overnight at Lake Shore Tent Guest House, dorm bed.

Day 10 Namtso-Dazhuka-Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities:Namtso to Shigatse via Dazhuka (385km, 8-9hours driving)
Accommodation:Shigatse
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy the clear morning at the lake shore, and you can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. After that, continue to Shigatse, the second biggest city in Tibet, you will go through a long distance of rough road between Yanpanchen and Dazhuka, and finally get to Shigatse in the late afternoon. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 11 Shigatse(3900m)Lhatse-Shegar-Everest Base Camp(5200m)

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

Tibet Hiking and Climbing Tour to Eastern Slope of Mount Everest-16

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 in tent or Guesthouse.

Day 12 Everest Base Camp (5200m)-Shigatse (3900m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Everest Base Camp (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 13 Shigatse(3900m)-Lhasa(3650m)

Sightseeing and Activities:Shigatse(3900m) to Lhasa(3650m): Tashilunpo monastery
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). On the way, we will visit the largest Monastery in west Tibet, the Tashilhunpo Monastery which is one of the six great Gelukpa institutions and was founded in 1447 by a disciple of Tsongkapa, contains the world’s largest gilded copper image (26m high) of future god Jampa. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 14 Departure from Lhasa

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

You will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your flight to next destination.

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star Hostels
Beijing        
Xi’an        
Lhasa        
Shigatse        

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.)

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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).

  1. 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.