8 Days Tibet Discovery Tour by Train from Xining

Welcome to Xining, the real starting point of Qinghai Tibet Railway and the central of Qinghai Tibetan Area, with rich in history and culture. Your lifetime Tibet tour begins with welcome from your local Qinghai guide at the Xining airport. Then be escorted to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Tour Option
If you arrive in Xining in the morning or at early afternoon, one-day Qinghai Lake tour is your options. Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level. Especially in May and June, the bird island is a must-see.

Stay overnight in Xining.

In the morning, you will visit Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) in the town of Huangzhong 26km south of Xining, where is the birthplace of the founder of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism - Tsongkhapa. The temple was later built in 1577. This monastery is one of the most important six monasteries in Tibet and the foremost in Qinghai Tibetan Area.

After lunch, you will board train to Tibet, and start your journey to Tibet Snow Land. The train leave Xining about 3 pm.

Stay overnight on the train.

Today, you will witness breathtaking scenery along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the land of snows, desert, grassland, snow-capped mountains, lakes, etc.

Highlights of your one-day Tibet Train journey.
. Kunlun Mountain(Mt. Yuzhu Station) - the snow-white scenery
. Tuotuo River - the the Source of China’s longest river, Yangtze River.
. Tanggula Mountains - the Tanggula Mountain Pass which is between two snow mountains is the highest point of Qinghai-Tibet Highway.
. Kekexili Nature Reserve - the paradise of plateau wildlife,where you can see Antelope.
. Cona Lake - a glittering blue pearl among the vast grassland
. Naqu - view the Changtang Grassland

Arrive in Lhasa in the afternoon. you will be welcome by our hospitality tour guide by saying Tashidelek, and offer a white and holy scurf. Then your whole trip in Tibet will be safe and being blessed.

Then a thoroughly rest in hotel is necessary and our professional tour guide will inform you Do and Don’t to protect yourself being suffering from High altitude sickness and acclimating to Lhasa's nearly 3658m elevation.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, go 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.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D, and its famous Barkhor Kora.

The Jokhang Temple, was often referred to by early Western visitors as Lhasa’s cathedral. “An endless, three-story high flight of chapels surrounds [the statue],” the pioneering Tibetologist Guissepe Tucci wrote, “decorated with the smiling and sneering Buddhist pantheon. Jokhang Temple was built by King Songsten Gampo in 647 A.D. No place in Tibet than the Johkang can attract so many pilgrims, so much spiritual longing.

The Jokhang is circled by the Barkhor, Lhasa's old market. In today's Barkhor we can bargain good naturedly for dorjes, phurbas, thangkas, and other religious implements, for Tibetan hats and boots, books, turquoise jewelry, everyday exotica, wall hangings, and maybe even some yak butter.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

At the second day in Lhasa, we visit two of the great monasteries of central Tibet: the Drepung Monastery (due west of Lhasa) and the Sera Monastery (just north).

Drepung Monastery was once home to 10,000 monks and the Dalai Lamas – it was the seat of central government until the Fifth Dalai Lama built the Potala – and Sera housed almost as many. Of the Gelugpa monasteries in Tibet, Drepung and Sera are the two greatest.

If we are lucky, we may quietly ease inside to hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras. Or perhaps we’ll sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, we’ll drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. On the way, you can see Nyenchen Tanggula Mountain Range and lots of nomads with yak and sheep grazing in the flourishing grassland (in summer). In addition, you can also appreciate the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background. Driving over Lagenla Mountain Pass(5190m), tourists can far view Namtso Lake shinning in the sun.

Then you can take a leisurely trek around Tashi Island and enjoy the stunning sunset of Namtso Lake. Finally, we will head to Damxung (or Yampachen) and spend the night there (since the accommodation facilities were closed by the government in late 2018). The lower altitude at Damxung and Yampachen shall bring you a sound sleep.

Stay overnight in Dumxung or Yampachen

The trip back to Lhasa is relaxing both to body and soul. You will make a stopover at Yampachen, where the famous mineral-rich hot spring will remove your tiredness and get your refreshed. Having enjoyed the joyful time at the outdoor hot spring, you again hit the road to Lhasa. The final leg of the road trip takes you to visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery) and you may have a far view of a sky burial site nearby.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Cultural Tips: Sky burial is a funeral practice commonly seen in Tibet. The corpse will be disposed of and later devoured by vultures. In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial is believed to represent their wishes to go to heaven. Only family members of the dead can attend the funeral.

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