8 Days Beijing-Lhasa Train Tour
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Overview
Over the past centuries, it was a mere dream to travel into Tibet by train, but in 2006, when the Qinghai-Tibet train completed its mission over the mighty Thangula Pass (5072m) and snowy northern highland. It finally achieved the long dream of travelers. The Tibet tour from Beijing to Lhasa takes around 41 hours, and the Qinghai-Tibet railway covers 1,956 km (1216 miles) in total consisting of 2 phases:
The first phase 814 km (506 miles) from Xinning to Golmud opened in 1984; the second phase 1142 km (710 miles) from Golmud to Lhasa opened in 2006, the train ride offers 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).
Before heading up to the Tibet plateau, we spend a couple of days in Beijing, visiting a few most prominent historical sites that highlight the modern capital of China and its beauties, and then the wonderful trip will conclude by visiting the supernatural Potala palace, mystical Jokhang temple and hustling Bakhor street, sprawling Drepung and Sera monastery in holy city Lhasa.
Tibet tours from Beijing give the view of cultural differences between the two cities. Beijing to Lhasa train fare is reasonable and travelers can witness the amazing geographical features of two opposites of Chinese territories.
Included/Exclude
Tour Cost Includes:
- - 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 canisters 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:
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Today your arrival at Beijing International airport will be greeted by our local guide and driver and transfer you to your hotel in Beijing downtown, rest in the hotel and alleviate jet-lag. Overnight in Beijing.
Attractions; Tian’an men square, Forbidden city, summer palace.
This morning 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 achievement. 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.
Attractions; Most beautiful part of the Great wall, Changling Ming tomb.
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.
Attraction: views of Chinese rural scenes;
The Tibet train will traverse into Qinghai plateau and appearance of snowcapped mountains notice your approaching to the Tibet plateau, the cloudy and moist weather change into dry and sunny blue sky. Overnight on the train.
Attractions; Perennial snow covered Thangula ranges, Tibet northern lakes and vast pastures, lone wild animals and scattered nomad’s 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.
Attractions; Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor street and Sera monastery.
Today is 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 every day in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
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 monk’s apartments is thrilling. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.
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
Our Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
We are 3 people that will travel from Chengdu to Lahsa by train, arriving around August 5th. We want to take 4 days tour in Lhasa. We need to know how to book the tour with you, the price, how to pay it and what are the documents we need to go there. We will get our tourist visa to visit China after we book the tour. Two of us will travel form Chile in South America and our son -also chilean- will do it form South Africa. Stay tuned to reply
Explore Tibet is one of the few Tibetan owned agencies based in Lhasa, we practice Responsible travel by using local services and employ locals as much as possible. We use Tibetan drivers and tour guides for their strong Tibetan Cultural and religious background to make your travel unique and authentic.
We are an agency based in Lhasa, not anywhere in mainland China. Since if something happened or you need anything during the tour, we local agency will be more convenient.
Tour information: Yes, you can join our group tour 4 Days Lhasa Highlight group tour departure on July 9th it will end on July 12th, For group tour, there will be at most 12 group members in one group, and the starting and ending dates are fixed, price will be cheaper. http://www.exploretibet.com/tibet-group-tours/4-Days-Lhasa-Highlight.html
The cost of the Group tour 4 Days Lhasa Highlight costs USD532 per person based on maximum 12 people in the group& triple-bed rooms
Best Regards
Mia (Trip Advisor)
Hi, I am interested in this tour. But I cannot exert myself much and was wondering if I can skip the Kailash Kora and use other forms of transportation. I do however want to see Mt. Kailash. Also are you able to provide oxygen?
Permit application:
Tibet travel permit process takes around 22 days and we need 3 days to send you the permit in mainland China . We also need your passport and China visa copy for the permit application. Please send me clear photos or scan copies. If your China Visa is not an “L” visa, then you must also provide additional documents such as student certificates, work permits, residence permits and so on. If you enter Tibet by plane, you need original permit which we will mail it to your last hotel in mainland China, if you by train, only need copy of the permit, which we will send you by email. Tour Information:
Here I recommend you 15 days Kailash group tour below, sorry, since this is group tour, basically everything is fixed, so, we cannot find other transportation for you to avoid the trekking. What’s more, there is no public bus.
Please check the details below. Also, please let me know if your nationality is India, thank you!
Have a wonderful day!
Best Regards,
Rex(Your personal trip advisor)
Hello! we would kindly like to know what’s the cheapest offer you have for this guided tour. We’re two people thank you!!
Explore Tibet is one of the few Tibetan owned agencies based in Lhasa, we practice Responsible travel by using local services and employ locals as much as possible. We use Tibetan drivers and tour guides for their strong Tibetan Cultural and religious background to make your travel unique and authentic.
As you have 2 pax, the cheapest way for this tour must be joining our group tour, in June, it’s still not high season, cost is USD900 per person. Max. 10 pax.
We have fixed dates starting on June 11th, 14th, 21st, 25th, and 28th. Which date is suitable for you?
In July, cost is USD1020 per person.
Best Regards
Sherry (Your Trip Advisor)
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