11 Days Classic Xining Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour

Upon arrival in Xining, you will be greeted by your local guide at the airport or railway station and then escorted to your hotel in Xining.

The rest time is at leisure. You can have a good rest or walk around in the city.

Stay overnight in Xining.

In the morning, drive about 2.5 hours from Xining to Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland salt water lake. The ellipse-shaped lake looks like a huge poplar leaf sitting on the alpine prairie.

Scenery in Qinghai Lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn are the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake's scenery is most beautiful during these seasons. The most charming and attractive place in Qinghai Lake is the Bird Island. It situated on the western shore of the Lake. In the noisiest months of April and May, ten thousands of birds stop on the Haixi Shan of Qinghai Lake and lay eggs there. A cruising for about 30 minutes is a popular way to appreciate the lake. On the way to this charming lake, you can get a view of Riyue Mountain.

In late afternoon, drive back to Xining.

Stay overnight in Xining.

First visit Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) in the town of Huangzhong, 26km south of Xining. It is the birthplace of the founder of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism - Tsongkhapa. The temple was later built in 1577. Then move on a 15-minute trip to the North Hill Temple to have a bird's-view of the city. Finally visit Qinghai Provincial Museum with a few Silk Road exhibitions and some amazing Stone Age artifacts.

Then transferred to train station for your overnight train to Lhasa.

Stay overnight on the train.

You will spend a whole day on the train to Lhasa and enjoy fabulous scenery along the world famous Qinghai-Tibet railway, the highest railway in the world. Spectacular land of snows, boundless desert, vast grassland, grand ice mountains, and beautiful lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart.

You will arrive in Lhasa in the evening. Your Tibetan guide will meet you at the railway station and take you to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Morning section to visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, you will experience its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala etc.

Afternoon section visiting to the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during songtsen gonpo's reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkor Kora, where you can buy or appreciate traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition tibetan clothes etc. you will have chance to get close to appreciate how the artists draw Thangkas at the Thakangka workroom at Barkor.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It was once home of 10000 monks and Ganden podrang in Drepung is famous it was the government centre during fifth dalai lama and later moved to the famous potala palace during fifth dalai lama.

After having lunch, continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most attractive is that Monks debiting is held there in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon section most of the time.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Passing by the green farmland of Nyangchu Valley, Yamdro-tso lakes, karo-la glacier roadside at 4960m, We move westwards to the second biggest city Shigatse, the Area spiritually hosted by Pamchan Lama.

The most important attraction for today is Yamdro-tso Lake and Kubum monastery in Gyantse. Yamdro-tso Lake is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour and Kubum monastery has a 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome.

Stay Overnight in Shigatse.

Visit Tashilunpo Monastery in the morning, while the tour guide take your passport to PSB to apply for your Alien’s travel permit.

Drive westwards the Friendship way to Tingri. There is about 90km bumpy road from Tingri to Rongpuk, road is under construction. From Tingri to E.B.C with the very rough road, pass the wild grassland, cross the rapids river and high mountains.

If it is in clear whether, you can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which is 8000m high or more, such as: Mt. Lhotse(8516m),Mt. Everes(8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag(8201m),Mt Mayalu(8463m).

Stay overnight at Rongphu Monastery Tent or Guest House.

Early in the morning to see the sunrise from Rongpuk, then to view Mt. Everest. It is fabulous and splendid.

After walking arrive the place get on the local bus then use half of an hour arrive at Everest Base Camp (Or you also can trekking to Base Camp around 1.5-2 hours one way. It's interesting and much warmer, but hard to breathe). Hiking up to the top of the photo point to take pictures of the splendid- Mt. Everest.

Then late in the afternoon around 13:00 go down from E.B.C back to Shigatse.

Return to Lhasa from Shigatse, have a rest in Lhasa after such a long journey. In this afternoon, you could go to the Barkor or local handicraft Market to buy some souvenirs.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

You will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your flight to next destination.