Chongqing Tibet with Mt Everest Train Tour

The train from Chongqing to Lhasa will run through Xian and Lanzhou where you can also see the Gobi desert landscapes of western China. When the train passes through Xining - the start point of Qinghai Tibet Railway, the breathtaking sceneries will appear one after another. Be sure to capture the memorable scenes with your camera. Major attractions are Qinghai Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula pass, Tsonag Lake, Qiangtang Prairie, and Namtso Lake, etc.

Stay overnight in the train

Welcome to Lhasa! Our local Tibetan guide and driver will wait for you at Lhasa Railway Station by holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashidelek (meaning hello with blessing), and be presented with a white Hada (traditional Tibetan ceremonial). Then transfer you to the hotel in Lhasa city. On the way, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. After checking in your hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to have a good rest and acclimatize to the high altitude at the top of the world. If you physically feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, have a far view of the Yaowang Mountain, and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, eat lighter and have high carbohydrate food, which will be helpful for you to adapt to the high altitude better.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, you are heading to Drak Yerpa, a place maybe not that famous but with its advantage. It consists of a monastery and several ancient meditation caves. Some arrow holes on the cliffs are believed to prove that the legendary hero Ling Gesar had visited this valley.

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 3pm to 5pm. It's exciting, even if you don't understand what they are talking about at all. If the debate is not your type, you can also see the three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha inside the monastery. Besides, the sight in the Sera monastery is splendid because you can see roses around. That's why people also call it "the court of wild rose."

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby 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 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it is 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 one of the most sacred temples all over 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 which is 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 is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you will be taken to the second largest city Shigatse while viewing the highlights along the road. After about 2 hours of driving, you will arrive at the famous holy Yamdrok Lake with an altitude of 4,441m, Yamdrok Lake is known as one of the "Three Holiest Lakes" in the world, and also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. The turquoise pure waters of the lake are overlooked by incredible snow-capped mountains. Peaceful Tibetan villages surround the lakeshore in the neighboring flat valleys. Looking in the distance, you can see clearly yaks and sheep grazing on the grassland. After this stop, we will continue driving to the next destination Gyantse and the grand and vast Karola Glacier.

You will have lunch in Gyantse town and then make a visit to the key landmark of Pelkor Chöde Monastery. This is a traditional Tibetan monastery with a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture in its Gyantse Kumbum. Gyantse Kumbum is the symbol of the monastery, famous for its 100000 Buddhist figures, paintings, and statues in the chapels, wall niches and on the walls. After the visit, you will leave Gyantse and drive ahead to Shigatse for overnight.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Today we will leave Shigatse for a small town Lhatse is located around 150km from Shigatse and you may have lunch in a local restaurant there. After a short break, we will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery before going ahead to Tingri. Tashilunpo Monastery was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447, and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse and also the second-largest city in Tibet. Then we will continue to Tingri via pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass(5198m).Then we drive along the new zigzag road to Rongbuk or the Tent Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of golden Everest peak.

If it’s summertime (usually May~Oct), we will carry on the last few kilometers to Everest Tent Camp to stay the night; if winter time (usually Nov~Apr), we will stay at Rongbuk Monastery’s guesthouse. Both places you can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good.

Stay overnight in Nomad Tent, (Dorm Bed) or Rongbuk guesthouse

You are highly suggested to get up early to catch watching the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if the weather is good. And then, we can drive you to the Everest Base Camp. After sightseeing, we will drive back to Shigatse and enjoy the fabulous view along the way back.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Today we will visit Yungdrungling Monastery on our way back to Lhasa, Yungdrungling is a typical Buddhist monastery with many friendly monks here and some of them can even speak English. If you are lucky to meet the key holder, he can show you the large dukhang. Inside the house are the impressive thrones of the monastery's two resident Shiromo along the walls-look for the deity's characteristic swastika mace. There are also a couple of more behind the main hall that you can pay a visit to. Those chapels' include the Namjya Lhakhang. Keep in mind that you should visit those chapels in an anticlockwise direction.

Stay overnight in Lhasa