9 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour with Tibet Train Experience

Tibet train (from Xining) - Lhasa - Lake Namtso - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa

From USD1045 p.p

The panorama of Tibet will be displayed in this Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Namtso Tour. Here are some famous impressive visions: Potala Palaces, Jokhang temples, Drepung and Sera monastery, and holy lakes Yamdrok. Tourists will also visit the Buddhist monasteries such as Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse and Tashilhunpho monastery in Shigatse. What's more, Lhasa with the altitude of about 3600 meters is one of the highest cities in the world and it is the important tourist site in this tour. Another one is Namtso, the largest lake in Tibet.

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1: Board the train to Lhasa from Xining

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 departs. 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.

Day 2: Arrive in Lhasa

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.

Day 3: Exploring Lhasa - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B, D)

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.

Day 4: Exploring Lhasa - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street (B)

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.

Day 5: Lhasa to Shigatse Via Gyantse (B, L)

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.

Day 6: Return to Lhasa from Shigatse via Nyemo (B)

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.

Day 7: Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung (B)

Start your day after breakfast, enjoying the morning warmth. Today's journey takes you to the beautiful Namtso Lake, known as one of Tibet's 'Three Holy Lakes.' Get ready to be amazed by the peaceful lake and the stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

Heading north, you'll travel through the vast Damxung Grassland, a pastoral area filled with herds of cattle and sheep, closest to Lhasa. As you go up the 5,190-meter-high Lagenla Pass, you'll see a breathtaking view of Namtso Lake, like an emerald jewel in the northern Tibetan landscape.

Descending from the pass, you'll reach Namtso Lake, covering 1,920 square kilometers and considered one of Tibet's sacred lakes. Follow your guide to the lakeshore and take a trek to Tashi Dor Island for a close-up view. The scenery here is like a vast blue ocean, with cattle and sheep grazing peacefully under the warm sun. The Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains calmly oversee the northern Tibetan grasslands, creating a serene view. Sometimes, passing trains add liveliness to the pure plateau.

After that, your guide will lead you on a hike along the lakeside, showing you mystical stone columns, peaks, meditation caves, and Buddhist sacred sites. Take your time to enjoy Namtso Lake.

After visiting Namtso Lake, you will return to Damxung via the mountain pass.

Stay overnight in Damxung.

Day 8: Damxung - Chimelong Nunnery - Tsurphu Monastery - Lhasa (B, L)

Today, you will go back to Lhasa from Damxung, filled with cultural explorations and scenic wonders.

You will firstly visit Chimelong Nunnery, the largest nunnery near Lhasa. Here, you'll encounter a community of dedicated female practitioners. Wander through the tranquil nunnery, gaining insights into various Buddhist studies in Tibet. As you explore, you might catch a glimpse of a sky burial site in the distance, a unique aspect of Tibetan funeral traditions.

Then, you’ll head to visit Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Nestled in a picturesque valley, Tsurphu Monastery holds historical significance as the birthplace of the first Karmapa, a revered figure in Tibetan history. The monastery houses a wealth of precious artifacts, including relics of the 16th Karmapa, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

During the summertime, the valley of Tsurphu Monastery becomes a gathering place for local Tibetans enjoying a 'Linka outing' (a Tibetan-style picnic). If time allows, you may join in for a pleasant lunch or dine at the monastery's restaurant.

Following lunch, you will go back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9: Finish Your Memorable Journey and Depart from Lhasa (B)

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.

Route Map

Dates & Cost

Please Note:
1. The inclusive train ticket price above is the NET price for reference only. You may need to pay more than the above price to buy train tickets, as the Tibet train journey is so popular that actual ticket demand far exceeds the supply. For exact price, we will get you a quote based on your departure date.

2. The train ticket included in our price is for one hard sleeper berth only. If you want to upgrade to a soft-sleeper berth, you need to pay the difference of the fare.

3. Since all Chinese train tickets are released only 60 days ahead of departure, you may not get the train ticket information as soon as you book the tour. Please be patient. We will offer you the train ticket information immediately when your ticket is issued.

4. Please make sure you will arrive in Xining in advance so that you can catch the train to Tibet.

5. The dates marked on the calendar are the starting day of the tour. If you join in a tour on May 5th, you will take a train from Xining to Lhasa on that day and arrive in Lhasa on May 6th.

6. Our Tibet train group tour packages include the train journey from Xining to Lhasa. You can change the train route to Tibet from other major cities in mainland China. In this case, you need to pay the price difference of the train tickets.

7. If you decide to take other trains to Tibet, please make sure you will arrive in Lhasa on the same day as our scheduled tour.

8. If you take a train from Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou / Chengdu / Chongqing, you need to go 1 day before our fixed departure date.

9. If you prefer to depart from Lanzhou or Xi'an, you can take a train on the same day as our tour start.

10. Please feel free to contact us and tell us your travel plan. We will help you choose the proper train route according to your needs.

Service Inclusion

  1. Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permit to Tibet
  2. A hard sleeper train ticket from Xining to Lhasa (Price difference need to be paid for upgrading to a soft-sleeper train ticket.)
  3. All lodging listed in the itinerary. If you travel individually, you will need to share one room with another tourist. If you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement
  4. Meals listed in itinerary
  5. Entrance fees of all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
  6. Local Tour Transfers according to group size
  7. Local Tibetan English-speaking guide
  8. One shared big Oxygen tank in the car

Service Exclusion

  1. Chinese visa
  2. International flight to and out of China
  3. Domestic train/flight out of Tibet.(We offer domestic train/flight ticket booking service, please contact our travel experts for the details.)
  4. Price difference occurred if you upgrade your train ticket or choose to take other trains to Tibet
  5. Meals not specified the itinerary
  6. Tips and gratitude to tour guide and drive
  7. Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.

Let's Start Your Hassle-free Tibet Train Tour with Us!

From handling and delivery of your Tibet Travel Permit to sorting out the details like itineraries, hotels and booking the Tibet train tickets and flight tickets, we care deeply about your ideas and work 24/7 to ensure you a worry-free and pleasant travel.

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Tibet Train + Central Tibet and Namtso Group Tour (9 Days)

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