11 Days Beijing-Xian-Lhasa Train Tour
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Price: from 0 USD Explain>>2. Comfortable hotels in cities and guesthouses in some remote places.
3. Flight and train are not included.
4. Tour cost is only for reference, please inquire for detailed quotation.
5. The more people, the cheaper cost.
Explain>>
In order to make it easier for you to choose the right trip, we have graded our trips with certain Trip Level System from 1 to 4 according to the degree of activities and altitude. We have also suggested the most suitable groups or individuals for each Trip Level.
In the Trip Overview of each itinerary there is also a brief description of what the Trip is like.
Our staffs at the Explore Tibet are always happy to answer any questions you have and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness.
1. Easy
Light walking and hiking that is suitable for all level of fitness, generally altitude range between 3500m/9800ft to 4000m/13000ft. Hotels and guesthouses accommodation.
Suitable for family with kids and senior groups.
2. Moderate
May included moderate level of hiking, biking, horse riding and maximum altitude of 5000m/16000ft. Hotels and guesthouses accommodation.
Suitable for family with kids bigger than 12 years, individual having average level for fitness.
3. Moderate to Strenuous
May include high altitude hiking up to 6 hours, long hour driving and sometimes overnight at around 5000m/16000ft, require a moderately high level of fitness, camping and basic lodging facility.
Suitable for adult family, individuals physically fit and have experiences of high altitude trekking.
4. Strenuous
May include high altitude trekking and mountaineering, camping and basic lodging facilities, altitude range from 3600m/9800ft to 6000m/19000ft.
Suitable for adventures and individual with physically fit and healthy.
It highlights most prominent historical cities of Beijing, Xian and Lhasa, these three cities has long historical background and sustain lots of world heritages and masterpieces of local architecture, Xian was the ancient capital of China prior to Beijing, and Lhasa is the capital of Tibet since from 7th century, it is a beautiful experience to visit the historical monuments from terracotta warriors in Xian to Lhasa train, one of the world seven wonders-Great wall of China in Beijing to once the world largest monastery Drepung in Lhasa.
Tibet railway provides the sceneries of the train ride with spectacular views of stunning Kokornor lake, snow caped peaks and bloomy glaciers from the Thangula ridge (5072m), endangered wild lives like Tibetan antelopes by traversing the Kekexilin Wildlife Reserve, lone nomad families dwelling black tents and scattered villages in the isolated Changthang (Northern plain), and your arrival at the holy city Lhasa will greet by its fair blue sky and glimpse of Potala palace perching on the red hill, in the following days, you will be overwhelmed by mystical buildings and temples which reflects rich culture and tradition of the ancient city, moreover, it is a great pleasure to mingle into the bustling Bakhor street with devoted pilgrims
Click on the map to enlarge
| Day | Trip Outline | Activity | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Beijing (550m) | Pick up and transfer to hotel, rest at hotel. | Hotel in Beijing |
| Day 2 | Beijing sightseeing | Tian’an men square, Forbidden city, summer palace. | Hotel in Beijing |
| Day 3 | Beijing sightseeing | Most beautiful part of the Great wall, Changling Ming tomb. | On the train |
| Day 4 | Arrival in Xian (405m) | Pick up and transfer to hotel, rest at hotel. | Hotel in Xian |
| Day 5 | Xian sightseeing | Terracotta Warriors, largest mosque in China, dumpling banquet with traditional Tang dynasty show. | Hotel in Xian |
| Day 6 | Board on train to Lhasa (3680m) | Mysterious veiws along the way | On train |
| Day 7 | Arrival in Lhasa | Pick up and transfer to hotel, rest at hotel. | Hotel in Lhasa |
| Day 8 | Lhasa sightseeing | Bakhor street, Johkang Temple, Potala Palace | Hotel in Lhasa |
| Day 9 | Lhasa sightseeing | Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery | Hotel in Lhasa |
| Day 10 | Lhasa-Namtso (4600m)-Lhasa (3680m), 500km approx 8.5hrs | Lagen pass, Namtso lake | Hotel in Lhasa |
| Day 11 | Depart from Tibet | Send off to train/airport |
- All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canister for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver:
Today your arrival at Beijing International airport will be greeted by our local guide and driver at and transfer you to the hotel in Beijing downtown, rest in the hotel and alleviate jet-lag. Overnight in Beijing.
DAY 02: BEIJING ESCORTED TOUR (B)
Attractions; Tian’an men square, Forbidden city, summer palace.
Today our local guide meet you at the hotel as scheduled and then we will visit Tian'anmen Square that is the largest public square in the world and Forbidden City which is the magnificent imperial Palaces of Ming and Qing dynasties for almost 500 years, and then head to the Temple of Heaven, the place where the Emperors pray for peace and achiement. After lunch, we visit Summer Palace, originally a royal garden and a temporary dwelling palace for emperors of Qing Dynasty. After the dinner we will arrange you to enjoy the Chinese Kongfu Show. Overnight in Beijing.
DAY 03: BEIJING ESCORTED TOUR (B)
Attractions; Most beautiful part of the Great wall, Changling Ming tomb.
Today another beautiful day will start with an excursion to the most beautiful section of the Great Wall which also called the Mutianyu(in Chinese) Great Wall, best way of experiencing the great wall is walking over it and about 2-3 hours hiking give you beautiful views of surroundings. After lunch drive to Changling, it is one of the 13 Ming Tombs of the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty ( 1368 - 1644), the bizarre and mythical stone monsters standing as guard along the roads and memorial stones attract people’s view. Then drive back to hotel and pack for the long train ride to Tibet, then your guide and drive will transfer you to the train station per the train schedule, which depart around 8p.m. Overnight on the train.
DAY 04. ARRIVAL IN XIAN AND XIAN EXPLORATION
Attractions; Rural sceneries from the train, big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shanxi provincial historical museum.
Today you will meet by our local guide and staff at the train station and take you to the hotel, in the morning you have a short rest after the long train ride. After lunch we will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the 64.5-meter-high (211.6 feet) pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty (about 1,300 years ago) to house the Buddhist scriptures and statues brought back form India. Not far from the pagoda, you will then come to one of the best museums in China, Shanxi Provincial History Museum, to gain further insight into Chinese history and culture through the large collection of historical items. Overnight in Xian.
DAY 05. XIAN ESCORTED TOUR (B)
Attractions; Terracotta Warriors, largest mosque in China and dumpling banquet with traditional Tang dynasty show.
Today we will visit the extraordinary 2,200-year-old Terracotta Warriors of China's first ever Emperor-Chin Shihuang, it was discovered in 1974 by farmers while digging a well. most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century, the amazing Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, which boasts the title of the World Eighth Great Wonder. Here, the museum is significant with archaeological excavation more than 7,000 ancient life-size terracotta statues of soldiers and officers with distinct facial expressions and positions orderly arranged in battle formations, the famous Bronze Chariots, Horses and other artifacts, as well as many delicate bronze weapons that warriors used in ancient time. After lunch, drive back to the city, visit the Great Mosque which is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China, it is distinct by merging traditional Chinese construction and the Islamic culture, on the way to the mosque, you will pass through local Muslim street, mouthwatering snacks and different souvenirs made the whole street interesting. In the evening we have arranged - Dumpling Banquet for dinner, you will enjoy the splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show and local specialty dumpling. Overnight in Xi'an.
DAY 06. BOARD THE TRAIN TO TIBET
Attraction: views of Chinese rural scenes;
Today our guide and driver deliver you to the train station in the morning and depart to Tibet, the train will traverse into Qinghai plateau and appearance of snow capped mountains notice your approaching to the Tibet plateau, the cloudy and moist weather change into dry and sunny blue sky. Overnight on the train.
DAY 07. ARRIVAL IN LHASA.
Attractions; Perennial snow covered Thangula ranges, Tibet northern lakes and vast pastures, lone wild animals and scattered nomads families.
Today we will cross over the mighty Thangula ranges at mid night around 2a.m. with altitude of 5072m set the world highest train, rest of day you will impress by the vast pastures and plains with sparsely populated nomadic region, then finally you will get to the terminal station as Lhasa in the afternoon, there our local Tibetan guide and driver will greet for your arrival and transfer to your hotel in Lhasa city, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half hour, check in the hotel and take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 08. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR. B
Attractions; Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor street and Sera monastery.
Today is the your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have little head ach which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the centre of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is one of the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from early days. After that you have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa, during the old days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping centre. The amazing day will ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 09. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR. B
Attractions; Potala palace and Drepung monastery.
Today we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking though the long steps are quite challenging but it is worthwhile to leave your foot steps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion which listed in the world heritage in 1994. And in the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung monastery, once the world's largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, but several destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see by walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monks apartments is thrilling. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 10. NAMTSO LAKE(4700m) DAY TRIP, 8.5hrs,500km, (B)
Attractions; Namtso lake, Mt. Nyechen Thangla, Lagen la pass(5190m), view of Thangula range and Nomad family.
Today we drive to north-west of Lhasa via Qinghai-Tibet highway, tracing the Tibet train track till Damshong and then cross the Lagen la pass by driving further west to Namtso lake, north-western part of Tibet is vast pastures for the plateau nomads since from long time and we call it Jiangthang (Northern nomads land), from ridge of the Lagen la(5190m) it gives you the first view of the amazing Namtso lake vista, the paved road cut through the nomad grasslands and black tents of nomad families can be seen along the road side during summer season, Tashi peninsula is the final destination of the day, in the afternoon you have enough time to explore around the Tashi Do peninsula and surroundings.
Namtso lake is one of the Tibet’s three most holy lake and Tibetans makes pilgrimage circumambulation around the lake on some ritual time which takes about a month or less to complete the whole circle, it is world highest salt water lake and second largest salt water lake in China with 70km in length and 30km in breadth(1st largest salt water lake in China is Kokorno lake in Qinghai province). Late afternoon, drive back to Lhasa, en route you will visit a nomad family to experience the yak wool tent from the inside and get you chance to understand little more about their lifestyle. Overnight in Lhasa.
DAY 11. LHASA AIRPOR/TRAIN STATION SEND OFF.
Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station and it is time to say your good bye and depart to your next destination. End the trip officially
- All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canister for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver:
In order to make your trip worry free and indisputable, here we have carefully collected all the essential information that will give you a clear image of the trip as well as logistics during your stay in Tibet, this also will be helpful for your trip preparation before you leave, so please go through it and make sure you are well prepare for the trip, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our tour consultant or write us on sales@exploretibet.com
Legitimate Claim;
As we mentioned above, Tibet is politically very sensitive and any political activities are restrictedly prohibited, so we always advising our clients to keep away from any political conversations or activities that bound against the policy of People’s republic of China. Your involvement in such activities would influence the whole group as well as future of all your guides, driver and the company. If any one does, then we have the full right to cancel the trip and we are not responsible for so caused hassle and costs.
Emergency contacts:
Being a responsible company, we are always available for 24 hours a day, in case if you need any emergency help. It is best to first call your designated travel coordinator or sales person (whose contact numbers are will be listed on your tour agreement), for any reason if you are not able to reach to him/her then please ring us on the below numbers;
Lhasa Head Office: (0891)-6329441 (the area code 0891 is not necessary if you are calling from Lhasa)
Chengdu Office: (028)-86262365
Note: office working time is 9am – 7pm from Monday to Friday.
Sonam Jamphel (Sales Manager) 0158890904080 or 013398000993 (Available for 24 hours a day)
Chinese Visa
Every one should have the valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity) and Chinese visa to travel into China and the Chinese visa is also valid in Tibet, generally the Chinese visa is can be applied either by your self or use a visa service agency in your home country, but the visa application and requirements are little vary in different countries, so please check with your regional Chinese Embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements.
NOTE; It is your responsibility to obtain the Chinese visa, so just for your information it is better not to list Tibet as your travel destination on your visa application form, just list Chengdu or Beijing, whichever your in-bound city is as your travel destination. If you enter Tibet from Nepal then you don’t need the Chinese individual visa and please check the next line for what you need.
If You Enter Tibet From Nepal
If you enter Tibet from Nepal, then the permit and Chinese visa formalities are slightly different, to enter from Nepal, you don't need the Chinese individual visa and instead you should obtain the Tibet group visa from Chinese Embassy in Nepal, you can’t apply it directly and you should have a local Nepalese agency to apply for it, so our Nepalese partner agency will assist you for that application, normally the application takes 2 to 5 working days for different cost and it only can be applied when you arrive in Nepal, because your original passport is needed along the application. More about the Tibet Group Visa and cost please check here
Tibet Travel Permit and Its Process
Tibet travel permit is compulsory for all the travelers to visit Tibet and it can be obtained within 15 days prior to the trip starting dates, once you have booked the tour with us, we will obtain it for you which is included in the tour package. We need clear scan copies of your Chinese visa and passports to apply for the permit.
For more detail and latest permit updates, please check here
Etiquettes and Taboos:
Cultural Considerations: Be aware that your cultural values may differ from those of locals. These may include different concepts of time, personal space, communication, etc., which are not wrong or inferior, just different. Making the extra effort to respect local customs and cultural differences will enhance your interactions with locals during your time in Tibet and contribute to building mutual respect between locals and tourists.
Appropriate attire: Most Tibetans are pretty conservative from our western perspective so it is always polite to wear long pants at all times (guys and girls). If you wear shorts in rural villages or in the Bakhor district in Lhasa you will definitely get stranger looks than normal! Women should wear long pants or skirts. Shirts should not be revealing and bras should be worn. Unfortunately, many tourists ignore these cultural norms and can be seen in towns and villages wearing shorts and revealing summer attire; while it may be comfortable, it is not appropriate, especially when visiting monasteries. Don’t be shy to inform other tourists of the proper dress for monasteries; perhaps they are not aware of the cultural considerations and etiquette.
Itinerary Disclaimer
Generally we adhere to the original itinerary that we described but sometimes little alterations can be born due to the situations that are beyond our control. On the other hand, in order to make our trip for your personal experiences and flexible, we allowed our clients to make minor changes by discussing with us (office staff) and guide (field staff). The trip detail itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destination or activities is by no means of guarantee that they will be encountered or carried due to the local circumstances and climate.
Keeping in touch with folks at home
If your family members or colleagues or friends want to connect with you during the tour, then you can either provide your guide mobile number to reach you during the trip or if you don’t know your guide number at the time, please don’t feel hesitate to provide our company contact numbers listed in the Emergency Contact section and we can find a way to reach you through guide mobile.
Meals
In order to provide you the maximum flexibility of what, where and when to eat, we generally doesn’t include meals in the tour cost except breakfast included at the hotels, but our local guide will suggest you good local restaurant per your requirements. In the cities like Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Shigatse and Zhangmu you can find good restaurants serve wide range of Tibetan food, continental food, Nepalese food, Indian food and Chinese cuisine, but in Tingri, EBC and in remote places, there is a limited choice for noodles and pan cakes. Approximate cost of a meal in Tibet is USD3 – USD10 per person/meal depending on your individual requirement.
Destination Guide & Recommended Reading List:
Tibet is a unique travel destination with some special considerations. It is highly recommended that you undertake some background reading before travel to Tibet. The more you learn about your destination, the more rewarding your travel experience will be. While we include a recommended reading list, which you can refer to for in-depth information, the following is a recommended reading list that might be helpful for you.
| Tibetan History | Tibetan Culture & Arts | Tibetan Religion |
Lhasa and the TAR:
- Tibet: The Lonely Planet Country Guide
- Trekking in Tibet: A Traveler's Guide by Gary McCue
- Tibet Handbook: Moon Travel Guide
- Fodor's Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore On and Off the Beaten Path
- To a Mountain in Tibet by Colin Thubron
- The Mount Kailash Trek by Constance Roos/Sian Pritchard-Jones
- Trekking Tibet by Gary McCue/George Schaller
- The Heart of the World, A Journey to the Tibet's Lost Paradise by Ian Baker
- My Journey to Lhasa by Alexandra David-Neel
Kham and Amdo regions:
- Footprints Tibet Handbook by Gyurme Dorje
- Lonely Planet China (See Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu Provinces)
- Bradt Guide Tibet by Michael Buckley
Domestic Flights and Trains to Tibet
There is only one international flight to Tibet, which is from Kathmandu (Nepal), and then there are lots of flights from different cities in Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and so on. Please Check Flight Schedule and Cost Here
There is no international train to Tibet and all the trains are from Mainland China like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xining and so on. Please Check Train Schedule and Cost Here
Responsible Tourism Initiative:
Tourism has the potential to have positive and negative effects on the local environment and peoples. Making a conscious decision about how you travel can make a difference. Whether you are traveling to the Amazon rainforest or to Mt. Everest Base Camp, taking the initiative to reduce negative impacts and help sustain local communities is the responsible thing to do. Read more how we practice Responsible Travel
How & What To Pack
It is important to pack light and effectively, specially when you travelling to a new place, you need to know some necessary items should be carry with, depending on the length of your trip and where you go, you can get away with a minimal amount of clothing. One medium-large backpack or rolling duffle and a day pack should be just right for a 2-4 week trip. We suggest you to check our packing guideline here
Complaint & Feedback
We are always trying to provide the best service that can achieve a memorable Tibet tour for you, but sometimes you might be dissatisfied with some arrangement as different people has various aspirations and requirement, so please let us know instantly and we will try to solve everything right away to avoid repeating mistakes unknowingly. As we are looking for every single opportunity to improve our services, so your valuable suggestions and constructive complaints are very much appreciated.
“Tashi Delek Sonam!
We had a wonderful time traveling in Tibet and I thank you for making our trip so fabulous
You are an amazing and special man Sonam.
I thought you might like some copies of the photos I took when we went out with you.
Your mother is a beautiful person.
Thank you again”
-------Amon and Margaret. Traveled in 28th April,2012.
“We enjoyed our trip and the experiences were above expectations. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!”
---From Paola Erba & family (Italy) , traveled on 8th August, 2012.
“Our guide and driver were excellent always glad to help, went out their way to make our experience the best”.
----From Alberto Zuniga (Costa Rica), traveled on 24th May, 2012.
“Visiting Tibet was a dream comes true for us, and particularly for Colin, who has wanted to visit the Potala Palace since he was a child. We've been to other Buddhist countries and regions -- Sikkim, Nepal, and all over Southeast Asia -- but Tibet seems particularly remote and starkly beautiful. We don't know anyone else who has been to Tibet."
-- From James & Colin (USA). Traveled in Oct 2012.
“We were extremely pleased with our guide and itinerary, our guide gave us good suggestions for activities when we were on our own, responded well to our requests and was adaptable, and was good company for these few days. he talked with local people and monks to give us more interesting experiences.”
----From Ruth Rosenfeld and her son (USA), traveled in May, 2011.
“Overall very enjoyable experiences, thanks to our knowledgeable and caring guide. We look forward to coming back next time.”
----From QuynhTien Cao & Gia Chan Vuong (Australia), traveled in December, 2011.
“Base camp was very nice. The stay with a Tibetan family very interesting. “
----From Silke Neumann (Germany), traveled on 15th May, 2012.
“Overall had a great trip and were very happy with the driver and the guide. Especially Phurtse was always available to help and was very knowledgeable, especially on the monasteries and temples. Greatly enjoyed the personal touch on my birthday from Phurtse and Explore Tibet. Thank you.”
----From Janie Neumann (Germany), traveled on 15th May, 2012.
“We had a wonderful time travelling in Tibet and i thank you for making our trip so fabulous.”
----From Margaret (Australia), traveled in April, 2012.
“We had a wonderful time traveling in Tibet and i thank you for making our trip so fabulous. You are an amazing and special man Sonam Jamphel.”
