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Chengdu Lhasa Train Tour

Duration:
6 Days
Price:
From USD785
Route:
Chengdu-Lhasa
Season:
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tour Type:
Private Tour
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Overview

Explore Lhasa on the highest-altitude railway adventure from Chengdu. The plateau landscape such as boundless plains, endless grasslands, desolate deserts, snow-capped mountains, and blue lakes may fascinate you. On the other hand, train travel is a great help in getting used to the high altitude. Lhasa is a very popular destination for travelers, here you will appreciate its famous historical buildings Potala Palace, mysterious Jokhang Temple, bustling Barkhor Street, the biggest Tibetan monastery Drepung, and the most distinctive Monastery Sera, to get acquainted with Tibetan Buddhism and the daily life of local Tibetans.

DayRouteAttractions & Activities
1 Chengdu-Lhasa Train Get to Chengdu West Railway Station on your own
2 On the Train Enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way
3 Arrival in Lhasa (3650m) Pick up and transfer to the hotel
4 Lhasa Sightseeing Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
5 Lhasa Sightseeing Drak Yerpa, Sera Monastery
6 Lhasa Departure Send off to the airport/railway station

Daily Itinerary

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Please go to Chengdu West Railway Station on your own and you'd better reach there 2 hours before departure. Usually, you need to show your original passport, the booking number & a copy of your Tibet Travel Permit (maybe 1 copy will be kept by the conductor) to pick up the train ticket at the ticket office. Your travel consultant will send you a copy of the Tibet permit at least several days in advance and you need to print it out (3 copies are highly recommended) to bring with you. You may also need to show a copy of your Tibet permit to get on the train.

Stay overnight on the train

Today, you will spend the whole day on the train and you can enjoy the fantastic view along the railway. In the morning, you will pass through Shaanxi and Gansu provinces to witness the majestic mountains and the barren land of western China. At noon, you will arrive in Xining - the start point of the Qinghai Tibet Railway. You will see massive deserts, immense grasslands, vast valleys, snow-capped mountains, picturesque lakes, and flocks of yaks and sheep.

Stay overnight on the train

Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Railway Station, it usually takes about 20 mins. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water and eat light. Not to have a shower if you can help it.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you will visit the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of old Lhasa city town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After visiting the temple, you will have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa. In the early days, it was the most famous local market but now it's the tourist shopping center.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, you are heading to Drak Yerpa, the most famous meditation retreat near Lhasa. It's a monastery embedded in the cliff wall. Drak Yerpa is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. The site had strong spiritual power, having been visited by almost all great Tibetan masters. You can feel the power of the meditation caves here.

In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Sera Monastery, which is one of the "great three" Gelug monasteries of Tibet. Monks debate from 3 pm to 5 pm. If the debate is not your type, you can also enjoy the three sand Mandalas and colorful rock paintings of Buddha. The sight here is splendid because you can see wild roses around. That's why people also call it "the court of wild rose."

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.
Tour Price and Service

From US$785 p/p

Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.

INCLUSIONS

  • Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • Soft-sleepers from Chengdu to Lhasa;
  • All entrance tickets fee for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
  • Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
  • Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
  • 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 guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
  • Breakfasts provided by hotels;
  • Pick-up & Drop-off service from Airport/railway station;
  • Travel Agency Liability insurance;
  • Government tax;
  • Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
  • Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
  • Oxygen tank for emergency use;
  • Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.

EXCLUSIONS

  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
  • Other domestic flights/trains to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
  • Meals are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 3-10 USD per person for each meal.
  • While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 5-10 USD/day in total;
  • All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
  • Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.

Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients

Asked by An***

I do not understand how we will get food, if we are always travelling to somewhere and on the first day we are fully on the train...

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Ana, 

We can arrange 6 days Chengdu Lhasa train tour around January 1st. There is no direct train from Chengdu to Lhasa on 1st January but connecting trains are available. Up to now, there is only one direct train from Chengdu to Lhasa departing every other day.

For the food, you can bring some snacks on the way. Usually, there is a dining hall on the train. In addition, meals, food and drinks, etc. are sold on the train. For the following sightseeing days, the attractions in the itinerary are all in/around Lhasa City. It's easy to get food/meals on the way.

Asked by Sawi***

I am traveling with my friends (total 4-5 persons). I will arrive at TFU airport at 2 am on 22 June 2024. I plan to catch a train to Tibet (soft sleeper)and depart from Lhasa by airplane, China Eastern Lhasa 17:15 - TFU 19:20 on 29 June 2023, then transit to Bangkok at 2 am on 30 June 2023.

I would like to visit Namtso Lake and Yamdrok Lake. Your official trip plan includes Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drak Yerpa, and Sera Monastery. Could you arrange or suggest a plan that includes all these places? Also, is it possible to visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street on the day I arrive in Lhasa by train?

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Sawi****,

As per your request, we can arrange a private Chengdu-Tibet tour on 22 June 2024 for you. The entrance tickets of Potala are limited daily and required to be reserved in advance. Usually, we suggest guests visit it on Day 2.

Here is the itinerary for your reference. If you agree, I'll quote you in my next email. Let me know your preferred hotel class. Thanks.

Day Route Attractions & Activities
June 22 Chengdu-Lhasa Train Get to Chengdu West Railway Station on your own
23 In the train Enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way
24 Arrival in Lhasa and sightseeing(3650m) Pick up, Drak Yerpa, Sera Monastery
25 Lhasa Sightseeing Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
26 Lhasa- Gyantse- Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 6hrs Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chöde Monastery
27 Shigatse - Lhasa, 300km, Approx. 5hrs Tashilhunpo Monastery
28 Lhasa- Namtso- Lhasa, 460km, Approx. 6hrs Holy Namtso Lake
29 Lhasa Departure Send off to the airport/railway station

Asked by Jaso***

We would like to take the train from Chengdu to Lhasa. We would like to have the soft sleeper cabin Spend about 4 to 5 days in Lhasa depending itinerary. We would like to fly back from Lhasa to Chengdu on 31 May 2024 or 1 Jun 2024. Our flight back to Singapore would be on 2 Jun 2024

Jennie
Answered by Jennie

Dear Jason****,

We can arrange the Chengdu Lhasa train tour for you on 25 May 2024. Please kindly note, that the train from Chengdu to Lhasa departs every other day. We will know the train timetable by next year. We can help you book a cabin for soft-sleeper train tickets from Chengdu to Lhasa on 25/26 May for you.

Asked by Lee ***

Train trip from Chengdu to Lhasa as described in itinery.

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Lee****, 

Thank you for sending us an inquiry!

As per your request, we can arrange 6 days Chengdu Lhasa Train Tour on 22 November for you. The direct train from Chengdu to Lhasa departs every other day and there is no direct one on 22 November but connecting trains are available. I suggest you start your tour on 23 September from Chengdu. What's your idea?

Asked by Mr M***

I am a HK permanent resident with a Pakistani passport and wish to fly into Chengdu

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Dear Mr Muhammad ***, There's no problem to fly to Chengdu from Hongkong in March. But from Chengdu to Tibet, according to the latest insider resource of Tibet tourism bureau, Tibet would open to ex-pats in China from April 1st and inbound tourists from May 1st, 2023. So the earliest time you can board the Chengdu-Lhasa train is after April 1st. By the way, due to Tibet's unique background, apart from a Passport and a Chinese Visa, all foreign tourists allowed to enter Tibet must have Tibet Travel Permits. We can obtain a Tibet travel permit for you. 

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What Our Customers Say

Now that our tour is over, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all your help in organizing this great experience! We would like to point out that we really liked the driver who picked us up from the train station on our first day! Of course we only interacted with him shortly b ....

Read more testimonials...
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