7 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour with Qinghai-Tibet Train Experience

Fantastic Tibet travel will start with boarding on Xining-Lhasa trains from Xining Railway Station. Our local guide would sent train ticket and Tibet travel permit to you before train depart s. Please be sure to bring all your belongings and Tibet visa to Xining Railway Station one and a half hour ahead.

After checking in, you can find your seat or sleeper easily according to train tickets. And all the train tickets would be checked again before getting out of Lhasa Railway Station. So please keep your train tickets safe!

Today is your first day on Tibet train. Take things easy and acclimate to high altitude gradually.

Stay overnight on the train.

Note:
If you bought ticket for hard or soft sleeper, the train conductor would ask you to exchange it for berth number plate and then change it back to train ticket when reaching Lhasa Railway Station.

Start your amazing trip as you land in Lhasa, Tibet's heart. You'll be warmly welcomed at the airport or train station by our local guide who'll present you with a Hada, a traditional scarf that's a sign of good luck for your journey.

On your way to the hotel in downtown Lhasa, enjoy the beautiful sights of the Yarlung Tsangpo and Lhasa Rivers, and see quaint Tibetan villages.

Once you get to your hotel, take it easy to get used to the high altitude. Rest up, move around at your own pace, and drink plenty of water to help your body adjust the high altitude.

Later in the day, your guide will give you some cool Tibetan gifts and useful tips for your trip. You'll also meet the rest of the people in your tour group.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Note:
If you need any help or have special needs, our service center at the Gangjian Hotel is here for you.

After having breakfast, we’ll keep exploring Lhasa with a trip to Drepung Monastery, the biggest in Tibet and once home to over 10,000 monks. Here, dive into Tibetan Buddhism at Coqen Hall, where your guide will share insights into its teachings and the lives of its most famous figures.

Then, take a stroll through Loseling College, or a similar place, within Drepung Monastery. This gives you a peek into how monks live and study, including a look at their dorm rooms.

In the afternoon, head over to Sera Monastery, established in 1419 and an important place for Buddhist study. The monk debates are the highlight of this spot, a key part of their learning process that your guide will explain.

End your day with a welcome dinner in a local Tibetan style restaurant.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, begin your day with a trip to the magnificent Potala Palace, which offers stunning views of Lhasa. Listen as your guide recounts the histories of the Dalai Lamas and shows you around the palace's many halls and treasures. And then, you’ll participate in the folk activities of the local Tibetan people at the Longwangtan Park near the Potala Palace.

In the afternoon, head to the sacred Jokhang Temple, home to the remarkable statue of the 12-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha. Afterwards, take a walk around Barkhor Street to see the religious customs of the local Tibetans.

Finish your day with a tour to visit a bustling Tibetan tea house in Lhasa to enjoy some sweet tea and learn about Tibetan social customs.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, begin your journey from Lhasa to Shigatse, the second-biggest city in Tibet.

Your first destination is Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet's three most sacred lakes. You'll see the lake's beauty from the Gambala Pass, where it looks like a blue ribbon against the landscape, with the tall Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the background. When you go down to the lake, there are many spots to see it up close. Near the end of the lake, you'll get to visit a local family who will host you for lunch.

After that, you'll drive past the Karola Glacier. This glacier is right next to the road and looks calm and beautiful, with big snowy mountains in the distance.

Next, on your way to Gyantse, you'll stop at the Simila Mountain Pass. There, you can hang prayer flags, which is a way to pray for peace in the world and for the people you care about.

After arriving in Gyantse, you can spend some time taking photos of the ancient city of Gyantse. From Gyantse to Shigatse, you will pass by green (in summer) and golden (in autumn) Tibetan barley fields and countless farms.

Finally, you’ll arrive in Shigatse. After checking in to the hotel, you can take a good rest and prepare for the next day’s trip to Mount Everest.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, you'll visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, where is the home of Panchen Lama. This monastery is the largest in Shigatse and it covers a big area on the hillside. It's known for having the biggest statue of Maitreya Buddha in the world, making it an important spiritual place in Shigatse.

After lunch, you’ll visit the most distinctive Samzhubze Old Market, where you can experience the daily activities of the local residents.

Then, you will return to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the mother river of the Tibetan people.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, your guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board. Please confirm your departure flight or train details in advance with your guide.

The tour ends.