Guangzhou Lhasa Shigatse Namtso Train Tour
- Duration:
- 9 Days
- Price:
- From USD1604
- Route:
- Guangzhou-Lhasa-Shigatse-Namtso-Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
Guangzhou, once known as "Canton" by Westerners, offers a wide range of traditional Chinese culture and the best Cantonese cuisine in the world, also a gateway for international travelers into China. You will start from Guangzhou Railway Station and take the Z264 train to Tibet. The whole journey is 53 hours, and you will arrive at Lhasa Railway Station on the third day, spending two nights on the train. The time is a little bit longer, but you can experience the world's highest railway - Qinghai Tibet Railway and its amazing landscape. Also, the train ride can lower the risk of altitude sickness. During your stay in Tibet, you will learn about the Buddhist religion that is closely related to the daily life of all Tibetans. And follow the classic Lhasa to Shigatse route, passing through Gyantse, visiting a series of natural and cultural attractions, and returning to Lhasa via heavenly lake Namtso.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Train: Guangzhou-Lhasa | Go to Guangzhou Railway Station on your own |
| 2 | On the Train | Enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way |
| 3 | Arrival in Lhasa by Train | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 4 | Lhasa City | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan Thangka Studio |
| 5 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
| 6 | Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse, 360km, Approx, 7hrs | Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chode Monastery |
| 7 | Shigatse - Namtso | Tashilhunpo Monastery, Namtso Lake |
| 8 | Namtso - Yampachen - Tsurphu - Lhasa | Tsurphu Monastery, Yampachen Hot Springs |
| 9 | Departure from Lhasa | Send off to the airport/railway station |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseGo to Guangzhou Railway Station on your own. Exchange the E-Ticket to the actual paper ticket at the ticket booth. A copy of your Tibet Travel Permit and your original passport is required. It's recommended to arrive at the train station 2 hours in advance.
Stay overnight on the train
The train starts from Guangzhou to Lhasa, with a total length of 4,980 kilometers. It takes about 53 hours, which means you have to stay on the train for three days and two nights. It sounds long but you can witness countless beautiful scenery along the way. You will move northwards first and then westward to cross Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, till Xi'ning, which is the starting 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 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 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
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
From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Gambala Mountain Pass (4790m), where's the best place to overlook the Yamdroktso Lake. Later we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway. Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues. Finally head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to cultivate this land.
Stay overnight in Shigatse
Drive along the Friendship Highway from Shigatse, turn north at Tadruka village, pass Shoggu-la Pass (5440m) followed by Kyang-la Pass (5240m) before reach today's destination of Namtso Lake.
Note that lodgings at the lakeside of Namtso are very basic without private bathroom, kinda like Wild West mining camp, also nights can get very cold here, suitable from May~Oct. Most travelers bear with it for the stunning view at Namtso.
Stay overnight in Damxung
You are highly suggested to wake a bit earlier today to watch the sunrise at Namtso Lake. After breakfast, head back to Lhasa which is abt 200km. En route, visit Yampachen and Tsurphu Monastery.
We usually only include the entry fee of Yampachen, for bathing you can pay at the spot, choose for yourself of the different pools which charges differently, abt CNY 50~100/person.
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
From US$1604 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 Guangzhou 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.
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 Terf***
I would like to take the train from Guangzhou to Lhasa. From there I will go to Nepal.
We can arrange the tour for you. May I know when do you plan to have this tour? The nearest fixed departure date for this tour is on June 21st. Kindly note it takes at least 12 working days to obtain your Tibet Permit.
Asked by Ngo ***
I am Thu from travel agency in Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam.
Please can you offer to us the price for my group
- Group: 10 persons
- Time: August
- Hotel: 3*
Looking forward your reply
Thanks
Hoai Thu
Thanks for your inquiry. Please refer to my quotation in the attachment.
Asked by mart***
pls quote for
single
2 persons
In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to do a private tour to Lhasa by train. May I know which itinerary do you prefer?
Itinerary for 12 Days Xian Tibet Train Tour
Itinerary for 9 Days Guangzhou Tibet Train Tour
I will quote you after you confirm your itinerary. By the way, which hotel star will you prefer，Economic 3-star hotel or Comfortable 4-star hotel? And may I know when would you like to have this trip?
Asked by Mats***
Myself (Singapore Passport) and my spouse (Vietnam Passport), both of us are interested to join your group tour in the above 9 days Guangzhou Tibet Train Tour, starting from about 10 May 2019.
After the last day of the tour, I plan to fly from Lhasa to Chongqin.
Kindly advise the total costs for each of us.
regards
mats
In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have the 9 Days Guangzhou Tibet Train Tour which is a private tour. As a traveler less than five, we often suggest they join our small group tour to keep the cost down.
We have 8 Days Lhasa to Shigatse and Namtso Group Tour with the departure date on May.10th and May.20th. Which departure date do you prefer?
We can also book the train ticket from Guangzhou to Lhasa for you.
Asked by Carl***
We would like to take this tour starting around 2nd week of december from guangzhou
In your inquiry, you mentioned that you would like to visit Tibet in December. The tour you are interested in is not available for winter since the Lake Namtso will be blocked due to the cold weather. So, how about the following itinerary.
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