Beijing Chengdu Tibet Train Tour
- Duration:
- 13 Days
- Route:
- Beijing-Chengdu-Emei-Chengdu-Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
Beijing, Chengdu, and Lhasa, the three mighty cities in China, each have their own characteristics. In Beijing, the capital of China, you will experience ancient flavors by visiting the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven Park, and the Mutianyu Great Wall, etc. In Chengdu, the capital of the "Land of Abundance", you will meet adorable pandas and explore Leshan Giant Buddha and Emei mountain - recognized by UNESCO-certified world cultural and natural heritage sites. In the evening, we can also arrange for you to watch the Sichuan Opera of Shu Feng Ya Yun. Then you will take the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa. In Lhasa, the holy place of Buddhism, you will visit Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and heavenly lake Namtso...
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Beijing | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 2 | Beijing Sightseeing | Forbidden City and Hutongs |
| 3 | Beijing Sightseeing | Temple of Heaven Park, Less-Crowded Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall |
| 4 | Flight: Beijing - Chengdu | Culture Show |
| 5 | Chengdu - Panda Base - Leshan - Emei | Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Leshan Giant Buddha |
| 6 | Emei - Chengdu | Mt. Emei |
| 7 | Chengdu Sightseeing | Wenshu Monastery, Kuan Zhai Lane |
| 8 | On the Train | Enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way |
| 9 | Arrival in Lhasa by Train | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 10 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
| 11 | Lhasa City | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street |
| 12 | Lhasa-Namtso-Lhasa, 460km, Approx. 6hrs | Namtso Lake |
| 13 | Departure from Lhasa | Send off to the airport/railway station |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseWelcome to Beijing! Your guide will greet you at Beijing Airport holding your name sign. Transfer to your hotel in downtown Beijing. Enjoy yourself in the rest of the day to recover from your longtime international flight or explore the city on your own.
Stay overnight in Beijing
In the morning, we will set out to see the mysterious Forbidden City which is the world's largest imperial palace complex. Since it was built in Ming Dynasty, The Forbidden City was home for 24 emperors (from 1420 to 1911 AD). It's said to have 9,999½ forbidden imperial chambers. After that, you are moving to Tian'anmen Square with a great cultural significance which has been the site of several key events in Chinese history. Later, you can take a rickshaw going through a maze of Hutongs to explore old Beijing neighborhoods, discover the courtyard house of traditional Chinese characters.
Stay overnight in Beijing
You will have many interesting things to do today. In the morning, you are suggested to do Morning Exercises at the Temple of Heaven, which was founded in the early 15th century. Known as the Imperial Sacrificial Altar, Temple of Heaven always attracts numerous tourists. To avoid crowds and enjoy local people's morning exercises, we are going to this place in the morning. After visiting Temple of Heaven, we'll drive 2.5 hours to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, where you can go through the watchtowers and enjoy breathtaking views as it snakes across the hills and mountains.
Stay overnight in Beijing
Transfer to Beijing Airport to take the flight to Chengdu.
Our local guide will wait for you at the airport by holding your name sign. You will be picked up and then transferred to the hotel in Chengdu city.
In the evening, you can enjoy the Culture Show at a teahouse theatre. Here you can not only enjoy bowled tea and snacks but also watch Sichuan opera, fire-breathing, face changing, hand shadow show, traditional acrobatics such as rolling lights, etc.
Stay overnight in Chengdu
We’ll pick you up at your hotel in Chengdu (inside 2nd Ring Road) at about 7:00 am and then drive to visit the Panda Research Base in the northern suburb of Chengdu this morning. The Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987. It started with 6 giant pandas that were rescued from the wild. Through 2007, it has had 110 panda births, and its panda population has grown to 62. It is a huge, beautifully landscaped park.
After lunch (about 13:00 pm), drive to Leshan city to see the famous Giant Buddha which is a statue of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) high and has 8.3-meter-long (about 27 feet) fingers. The 9-meter-wide (about 30 feet) instep is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 24-meter-wide (about 79 feet) shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground. (Optional: ferry boat ride at Leshan Giant Buddha, about USD 10/person). We’ll continue to go to the foot of Mt. Emei around 18:00 pm.
Stay overnight in Emei
Today, you will spend the whole day exploring Mount Emei. In the early morning at 7:00 am, take the shuttle bus in the Scenic Spot to Leidongpin, then hike to Jieyin Palace to take the cable car up to Golden Summit which is the mountain's main peak at 3,077 meters above sea level, seems to almost touching the sky. At Golden Summit, the highest peak of the mountain, you will be amazed by the awe-inspiring view of the Huazhang Temple and enjoy the magnificent view of the clouds, mountains, and forests. Then take the sightseeing bus down to Wannian Temple, you’ll experience the beautiful scenery by walking from Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion and Moneky Zone to WuxianGang.
At About 17:00 pm, go down the mountain by the eco bus and then drive back to Chengdu in 1.5 hours. We will send you back to your hotel in Chengdu.
Stay overnight in Chengdu
Wenshu Monastery was founded in the Sui Dynasty and is a famous Buddhist temple in western Sichuan. There are many precious cultural relics and tens of thousands of Buddhist scriptures and documents in the courtyard. Unlike other tourist places in Chengdu with a large number of tourists, this old monastery reserves quietness, adding a sense of history.
In the afternoon, you will visit a nostalgic place - Kuan Zhai Lane. It shows the courtyard culture of old Chengdu. Most of these courtyards are occupied by stylish bars and restaurants. Tourists and youths stay in the alleys and spend the whole afternoon leisurely, feeling the stop of time.
In the evening, your tour guide will escort you to Chengdu West Railway Station, where you will board the Chengdu-Lhasa train.
Stay overnight on the train
Today, you will spend the whole day on the train and enjoy the fantastic view of the Qinghai Tibet Railway. Along the way, you will see snow-capped mountains, Ho Xil, vast grassland, Qinghai Lake, etc., and get charmed by the spectacular natural scenery. Chengdu Lhasa train will pass by five provinces in China, namely, Sichuan, Shanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Tibet. So you will see the different landscapes and the terrain on the train.
Stay overnight on the train
Our local Tibetan guide will wait for you at Lhasa railway station by holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashi Delek (a kind of blessing), and be presented with a white Hada (traditional Tibetan ceremonial by giving you a white scarf). Then transfer to the hotel in Lhasa city. On your first arrival day in Lhasa (3650m), it's essential to have a good rest to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS, also known as altitude sickness). Remember to drink lots of water, eat lighter and have high carbohydrate food which will be helpful to you to adapt to the high altitude better.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.
In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it's a museum and world heritage site.
In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Today you are going to see Namtso Lake, one of the three most holy lakes in Tibet. It's also the highest lake in the world and the third-largest salt lake in China. The name of Namtso means “lake from heaven” in the Tibetan language. And the gorgeous landscape is really like heaven. You will be totally intoxicated in it. After that, we will go back to Lhasa by passing through Yampachen(4300m) and Tsuphu Monastery(4300m).
Located 92km from Lhasa city, Yampachen is rich in geothermal energy and is known for its hot spring baths. People enjoy the blue sky and white clouds when taking a bath in the outdoor hot spring. It's optional.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel to transfer to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.
Tour Price and Service
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- 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)
- Domestic flight/train 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.
As I return home from my Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet adventures, I owe you a very BIG “ THANK YOU “, for making it one if not the best trip ever! Your thorough planning, flawless execution and above all your willingness to respond to ALL of my questions is most appreciated. I must give a big compl ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Ms F***
Hi there, we will arrive in Beijing on 5th June and would like to stay 1-2 nights there before going on a train to Tibet. Could you suggest an itinerary for 2 adults and a child, 6.5 yrs old? Thanks!
Dear Ms Fion***,
As per your request, I suggest 10 days Beijing-Tibet private tour on 6 June for you.
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.
Asked by Ms M***
We would love to go on the Beijing Tibet Chengdu Train Tour. Our arrival is flexible in May 2024. Hope to hear from you.
Dear Ms Mett***,
For 13 days Beijing Tibet Chengdu Train Tour, we can open one for you on 11 May.
Asked by Jed ***
We are 5 Chinese Americans (2 adults, 2 kids, and 1 grandmother) who are interested in this trip. Thank you!
Dear Jed, We can arrange this trip for you. May I know the age of your kids and the grandmother? Also, please let me know your preferred hotel class(3-star, 4-star or 5-star) so that I can quote you in my next email.
Asked by Vict***
Good afternoon,
I am writing due to my interest in the 13 Days Beijing Tibet Chengdu Train Tour". Its is just me, and planning to do it around May/June.
I am student and really intrigued and curious about this culture and history. I'd be interested in the cheapest hotel category as as I said, I am a student so can't afford the rest.
I was wondering what would be the cost of this tour in that case.
Looking forward to your response and thanks a lot!!!
Dear Victo**, As you are a student traveling alone, I suggest you join group tours in Beijing, Chengdu and Tibet separately but the group tour itineraries are not exactly as same as this private tour. If you agree, I can show you the group tour itineraries and prices in my next email. Also, for the train ticket from Chengdu to Lhasa, we can book it for you. Do you want a soft sleeper or a hard sleeper? I can quote you as well. Please let me know without hesitation if you have any further questions or doubts.
Asked by sama***
Im interested in this one becuase it has a mix of suburb/rural and cities and includes the great wall and a mountain. IS there any other packages that include the great wall?
In your inquiry, you mentioned two of you would like to have the 14 Days Beijing Tibet Chengdu Train Tour which is a private tour. May I know when would you like to have this private tour?
I will quote for you after you confirm the itinerary. By the way, which hotel star do you prefer? Economy 3-star hotel or comfortable 4-star hotel.
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