Great Tibet Tour Logo GREAT TIBET TOUR ®

Xining Lhasa Train Tour

Duration:
6 Days
Price:
From USD880
Route:
Xining-Lhasa
Season:
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tour Type:
Private Tour
Add to Favorites

Overview

As the beginning of the world's highest railway, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Xining is the closest city for travelers to travel to Tibet by train. It is also the best part of the scenery that offers spectacular views of snowcapped peaks and beautiful glaciers from the Thangula ridge (5072m), endangered wildlives like Tibetan antelopes by traversing the Kekexili Wildlife Reserve, lone nomad families dwelling in black tents and scattered villages in the isolated Chiangtang. And on your arrival in the holy city, Lhasa, you will be greeted by its fair blue sky and have a glimpse of Potala palace perching on the red hill. In the following days, you will be overwhelmed by mystical buildings and temples that reflect the rich culture and tradition of the ancient city. Moreover, it is a great pleasure to mingle in the bustling Barkhor Street with devoted pilgrims.

DayRouteAttractions & Activities
1 Xining-Lhasa Train Get on the train at Xining Railway Station
2 Arrival in Lhasa (3650m) Pick up and transfer to the hotel
3 Lhasa City Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
4 Lhasa Sightseeing Drak Yerpa, Sera Monastery
5 Lhasa Suburb Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka
6 Depart from Lhasa Send off to the airport/railway station

Daily Itinerary

Collapse

To arrive at the train station about 2hrs in advance is suggested. Exchange your E-ticket to an actual paper ticket at the ticket booth by showing them your E-ticket, a copy of your Tibet Travel Permit, and your original passport. Trains are departing from Xining to Lhasa every day, about 22hrs covering a distance of 1960km. 

You will spend the rest of the day on the train and enjoy the fabulous scenery along the highest railway in the world - Qinghai Tibet Railway. You will see the gorgeous natural scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau such as nomadic pasture, sapphire lakes, flocks of goats and yaks, snow-capped mountains, etc.

Stay overnight on 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, 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 the 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 a 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 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

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

After breakfast in the hotel, you will visit Drepung Monastery which was the world's largest monastery that ever housed over 10,000 monks, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. Drepung means Rice Heaps in the Tibetan language and the whole monastery does look like rice heaps in the distance.

After that, we will go to 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.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today your guide and driver will escort you to the Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for your next destination. Before your departure, we will appreciate it if you can spend a few minutes evaluating our services either by filling out the feedback form or simply sending us an email when you get back home. Your tour is officially ended.
Tour Price and Service

From US$880 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 Xining 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 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 Eliz***

My partner and I are planning to China and Tibet in August. We haven't booked flights to China yet, but based on a draft itinerary we are thinking of traveling from Xining to Lhasa by train around 20 August and maybe doing the 8 day tour to Lhasa and Everest Base Camp. Is there availability at this time and what would the cost be?

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Eliz****,

We can open an 8 days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour departure on 20 August for you and recruit enough tourists to join this group.

We can help you book the soft sleeper train ticket from Xining to Lhasa. Taking a train to Lhasa is a good way to adapt to the high altitude.

Asked by Ravi***

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to have a quote for this 6 day tour for 1 person. I will be traveling from Hong Kong, i have a permanent residency card here but assume i need to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit, correct? I have a Dutch passport. Please let me know if the date is feasible to arrange tour, tickets and permit. Thank you.

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Ravi****, 

We can arrange 6 days Xining Lhasa train tour on 4 March for you. You need a Tibet permit and we can help you apply for the Tibet permit.

 

Asked by Ms L***

Hi , Im interested to do the 6 day tour from Xining to Lhasa Train tour . Me and my brother. We dont mind join a group tour to obtain a lower price package. Would love to hear what are our options available

Jennie
Answered by Jennie

Dear Ms Lau,

We can arrange a 6-day Xining Lhasa Train Tour for you on 22 May 2024. I suggest you consider our group tour after you arrive in Lhasa. We can open a group departure for you after you book and wait for other tourists to join. We can help you book the soft-sleeper train tickets from Xining to Lhasa on 22 May.

Here are the two recommended group itineraries.

OptionⅠ: 5 Days Lhasa & Namtso Lake Group Tour

Option Ⅱ: 5 Days Lhasa & Ganden Monastery Group Tour

 

Asked by Dekk***

We want to Isis Lhasa walk in the surroundgeluid mountainbiken If possible and go by train

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Dear Dekk**, We can arrange your Xining to train tour. Also you mentioned you would ride mountain bikes near Lhasa and it's possible. May I know if you are traveling to Tibet in March 2024? Usually Tibet would close in February and March due to the Tibetan New Year. The best time to visit Tibet is from May to October. Please let me know without hesitation if you have any further questions or doubts. 

Asked by robe***

I am American. My girlfriend is Chinese. We both live and work in Shanghai. Our dates are flexible to join a group to save the cost in July or August. Thank you

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Currently, Tibet has not yet been opened. But we hear some rumors that Tibet would open after July 1st. So there's a possibility to visit Tibet in July or August as you requested. 

As a senior Tibet travel agency, we can arrange group tours for you and your girlfriend once Tibet opens. We will send you a newsletter if there's any update.

Read More ...

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...
INQUIRY ABOUT THE TRIP
Email response within 0.5~24 hours.
You may also like
Lhasa Tsetang Shigatse Namtso Tour
Lhasa–Tsetang–Shigatse–Namtso–Lhasa
FROM USD1881

10 Days Lhasa Tsetang Shigatse Namtso Tour

View more
Lhasa City Culture Tour
Lhasa
FROM USD735

5 Days Lhasa City Culture Tour

View more
Chengdu Lhasa Train Tour
Chengdu-Lhasa
FROM USD785

6 Days Chengdu Lhasa Train Tour

View more
Shanghai Tibet Train Tour
Shanghai-Lhasa-Shigatse-Lhasa-Shigatse-Lhasa
FROM USD1235

8 Days Shanghai Tibet Train Tour

View more

Tailor-made your tours within 0.5~24 hours

Want something different and unique? Just let us know! Please send us your ideas about the travel plans, destinations, attractions, your group, hotel class, etc. We specialize in planning your journey based on our first-hand experience, your budget, style, and interest!