9-Day Xining Lhasa Everest Tour by Train

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Overview

Tour Type: Private Tour: Flexible Travel Date & Travel Routes

Guide & Driver: Chinese-English-speaking guide & air-conditioned

Experience the thrill of the world’s highest train trip, along the Qinghai – Tibet Railway from Xining to Lhasa;
Immerse yourself in the devout spiritualism of some of Tibetan Buddhism’s most sacred sites in Lhasa, including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monasteries and more;
Explore rural Tibet on a fantastic journey from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp, seeing the holy Yamdrok Lake, Tashilunpo Monastery, the peak of Mount Everest and so much more.

Itinerary Day by Day

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Day1 Board the Overnight Train to Lhasa at Xining

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Your memorable trip of a lifetime begins with boarding the Xining to Lhasa train at the Xining Railway Station. Our local tour guide will deliver the train ticket and your required Tibet Travel Permit to you at the train station or your hotel in plenty of time before your train departs. Please be sure to arrive at the train station about 90 minutes before your train’s scheduled departure time.

Accommodation：Overnight on the train

Day2 Qinghai – Tibet Railway, Arrival in Lhasa

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This morning you will awake to the fantastic scenery along the Tibetan Plateau as you travel onward to Lhasa on board the train. You will pass through the Kekexili Nature Reserve, see the wonderful blue waters of Qinghai – Tibet Plateau lakes, vast grasslands, deserts and the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan mountain range as you approach Lhasa. Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your local tour guide will greet you and escort you to your private vehicle as we transfer you to your downtown Lhasa hotel. You will have the rest of the evening free to rest, relax and acclimatize yourself to the higher altitude.

Tips for High Altitude Acclimatization:
1) Go for a leisurely walk in the fresh high altitude air, but avoid any strenuous activity after your arrival.
2) It's better to avoid taking a bath to avoid catching a cold.
3) Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and eat some fresh fruit.
4) Get plenty of rest.

Accommodation：Overnight in Lhasa

Day3 Lhasa Full Day Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

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Start your exploration of Lhasa today with a visit to a world-famous landmark - the Potala Palace, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of architecture in the world. Climb up to the palace along zig-zagging stone paths alongside the white and red walls to the top of the palace where you can gain a greater appreciation of the exotic Tibetan-style buildings as well as for a great view of Lhasa's entire urban area. After admiring the sweeping outside views, explore the inner spaces of the Potala Palace to find the stately chapels and learn more about the fascinating history of this special place.

From one historic landmark to another, your next stop will be at the Jokhang Temple, considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Every day thousands of pilgrims come from all over Tibet and other places to the temple to worship the Buddha. The Jokhang Temple is also known as the "House of Buddha" because it houses the precious Jowo Rinpoche, a life-sized (1.5 meter/5 feet) image of the Sakyamuni at the age of 12.

The last stop for today's Lhasa exploration is Barkhor Street, the wide, circular street that surrounds the Jokhang Temple. Local residents enjoy walking on the street, completing several circuits around the temple as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many small shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handicrafts.

After your visit to the Jokhang Temple, we will take you back to your hotel for the evening.

Tips for Visiting the Potala Palace
1. The number of visitors to the palace is strictly limited to 2,300 per day. Visitors can only visit during the time specified on the admission ticket.
2. Admission tickets to visit the Potala Palace are sold out almost every day, so it is strongly recommended to book your tickets several days in advance.
3. There are many steps at the Potala Palace, so it’s best to take it slowly to avoid possible altitude discomfort.
4. Visitors should respect the rules while visiting. Do not wear hats, wear revealing clothes or step on thresholds as these actions violate local customs.
5. Photography and the taking of videos are forbidden inside the Potala Palace.
6. A security search will take place at the entrance to the palace. Explosives, flammables, knives, lighters and even water bottles are not allowed inside the Potala Palace.

Accommodation：Overnight in Lhasa

Day4 Lhasa Full Day Tour – Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

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This morning we will visit the beautiful Norbulingka Palace and Park, the location of the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until 1959. It features the famous Potrang, the private palaces of former Dalai Lamas built in the grandiose style of traditional Tibetan architecture.After visiting the palaces and park at Norbulingka, we will travel around 5 kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit the Drepung Monastery. The word "drepung" in Tibetan language means "prosperity". Since its establishment in 1416, Drepung Monastery has served as one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. During its prime, more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Throughout its history, many important and famous Tibetan leaders studied at this monastery, including the Dalai Lamas. Accordingly, Drepung Monastery is also respectfully known as the “Mother School of Dalai Lamas”.In the afternoon, we will escort you on to another famous monastery in Lhasa - the Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery is famous for its spectacular “Buddhist Debates”. As a daily routine, the monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the various Buddhist doctrines with exaggerated gestures, which is thought to be helpful in facilitating a better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy to attain higher levels of study. After enjoying the "Buddhist Debates", we will take you back to your hotel with the rest of the day and evening to relax or explore on your own.Tips for Proper Etiquette While Visiting Monasteries1) For clothing, shorts and/or bare shoulders are not allowed. 2) Hats and sunglasses should be removed before entering the chapels. 3) Taking photos is usually not allowed inside the chapels.

Accommodation：Overnight in Lhasa

Day5 Lhasa - Yamdrotso Lake - Gyangtse - Shigatse

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We will get an early start this morning as we begin the drive from Lhasa to Shigatse through some fantastically beautiful scenery along the way. Driving through the green pastures of Nyangchu Valley, we will travel through the Gampala Pass (elevation 4790 meters) and get a look at the stunning Yamdrok Lake, one of the holiest lakes in Tibet. We will also pass by the Karola Glacier (elevation 4960 meters) as we travel westward to Gyantse. At Gyantse, we will have the opportunity to stop at the Palcho Monastery and the Gyantse Kumbum. A “kumbum” is a multistoried aggregate of chapels in Tibetan Buddhism, and the one in Gyantse is of the largest in all of Tibet. From there we will travel on another hour and a half to reach Shigatse to spend the night.

Accommodation：Overnight in Shigatse

Day6 Shigatse to Ronghu Monastery

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We will get an early start today to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama The Tashilunpo Monastery is the officlal seat of the Panchen Lama, and as such, it is the largest and most influential Gelug Monastery in Shigatse Prefecture. It contains a giant statue of the Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind in the world, standing 26.2 meters tall and 11.5 meters wide and decorated with precious pearls, turquoise, coral and amber. Before leaving Shigatse, we will need to obtain your Alien Travel Permit, which will allow us to travel on to the Everest Base Camp. We will stop at Lhatse for lunch, and then travel over Tsola Pass (elevation 4600 meters) and Gyatsola Pass (5248 meters). At Gawula Pass (elevation 5180 meters), we will stop for an incredible panoramic view of some of the tallest mountain peaks in the Himalayan mountain range. From there, we will drive on towards the Everest Base Camp. If the weather permits, we should be able to see the golden peak of Mount Everest as the sun sets.

Today’s trip notes:
1) To protect the fragile environment of Mount Everest, Everest Base Camp is currently not open for tourists, but the Everest landscape can still be enjoyed at the Rongbuk Monastery and the Tibetan Tent Camp. The Everest Base Camp marker, a tablet reading “Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp” has been transferred to the Tibetan Tent Camp. We suggest that you take a photo with this marker to commemorate this wonderful adventure tour;
2) Sunrise usually begins around 6:30 to 7 a.m. on Mount Everest;
3) Please remember to dress warmly for the cold mountain temperatures.

Accommodation：Overnight at Rongphu Guest House or Tent

Day7 Everest Base Camp to Shigatse

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This morning, wake up early to see the incredible sunrise as it shines upon the peak of the world. If we have stayed overnight at the Rongbuk Guesthouse, we’ll drive to the Tibetan Tent Camp (elevation 4900 meters) to enjoy a closer view of Mount Everest. Of course the peak of Mount Everest is covered by snow year-round, so when the sun shines on the peak it looks like a giant white pyramid. This is one of the most famous views of Mount Everest in photographs, and if the day is clear enough you will be able to witness it with your own eyes. On bright days you may also see a wisp of a cloud hanging just above the tip of Mount Everest, which flies eastward in the fast-moving westerly wind, creating an effect just like a flapping flag. This unique effect is known as the “Cloud Flag” and it is spectacular as it changes from surging waves into a thin wisp of smoke, or from something resembling galloping stallions into the mysterious veil of a goddess.

After plenty of time taking in the incredible scenery of Mount Everest, we will drive back to Shigatse.

Accommodation：Overnight in Shigatse

Day8 Shigatse to Lhasa

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Today we will enjoy the scenery along the Friendship Highway as we make the 6-hour journey back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo/Bhramaputra River.

Accommodation：Overnight in Lhasa

Day9 Departure from Lhasa

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Today you will have free time until we meet you in the lobby of your hotel to transfer you to the Lhasa airport or train station for your departing flight or train.

Today's Tips:
1) Please take care to pack all of your belongings, particularly the small things that are easy to forget about, such as phone and camera chargers, power adapters, mobile phones, wallets, etc.
2) If your flight or train is in the afternoon, please be sure to check out of your hotel room by 12 p.m.

Accommodation：None

What's Included

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Private professional English-Speaking local tour guide

Licensed Vehicle with experienced driver

All necessary Tibet travel permits.

All accommodations listed in the itinerary

Meals specified in the itinerary as "B, L, D".

Entrance tickets listed in the itinerary

Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance

A container of Oxygen for emergency use in Tibet

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Lodging and meal allowance to the guide & driver

2 bottles of drinking water per person per day

International flight to and from China.

China visa.

Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary.

Meals not listed in the itinerary.

Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.

Tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.

Entrance tickets not listed in the itinerary

Single room supplement.

Additional Info

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Alterations of Itineraries

The travel date, service items, itinerary and number of visitors, visitors’ ID information, etc. can be modified free of charge 30 days or more before the trip. If the visitor needs to make a second modification, an additional service fee of 5% of the deposit will be charged. Every time the content of the travel contract is modified, the company reserves the right to re-quote.

Cancellation Policy

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Once the deposit is paid, your trip is confirmed. If you need to change or cancel your itinerary, please contact your travel consultant by email, phone, instant messenger, etc. There will be a charge for Cancellation or modification. The policy is as follows：

1. Notice of trip cancellation due to personal reasons before the trip starts
Cancellation 30 days or more before the trip starts, 10% penalty of the deposit.
Cancellation 29-15 days before the trip starts, 20% penalty of the deposit.
Cancellation 14-7 days before the trip starts, 30% penalty of the deposit.
Cancellation 6-2 days before the trip starts, 50% penalty of the deposit.
Cancellation within 48 hours prior to the trip starts, no refund of your deposit.

2. Trip cancellation due to irresistible factors before the trip starts

If you have to cancel the itinerary due to irresistible reasons such as traffic, weather, politics, etc., the deposit will be fully refunded by the company (for loss related to air ticket/train ticket, please take reference of the first item).

Traveler Photos

Reviews

 Dom B

Travel Date：June 23, 2019

We went to Tibet at June 2019,our tour was arrange by Amy from Chengdu, she is very kind and helpful, we have a lot of questions before the trip, she can answer them with full of patience.

First day, our driver and tour guide waited at airport and drive us to our lovely hotel (4 star himalaya hotel). the tour guide Mr Ba Sang from Tibet is very caring and helpful throughout the journey. Everything is well planned and taken care of. He brings us to nice local restaurants and have a good taste of local cuisine. In temple, we given detail explanation on the culture and explain to us the practice of the people. Experience at Everest Base camp is unforgettable, we able to see the remarkable view of everest mountain.

Tibet is a place you will want to visit again and again.

Driver Mr Xia is a good, responsible and steady driver. He drives us safely to all locations.

Hopefully next time we can join the Ling Zhi trip to see flowers in spring time.

Highly recommended this tour and this travel agents for their excellent service. We are happy to join on this tour.

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 minikoko

Travel Date：May 26, 2019

Vielen Dank, Claire, für die tolle Organisation unserer 10-tägigen Reise durch Tibet. Bei den teilweise sehr kurzfristigen Änderungen unserer Reiseroute, warst Du immer sofort zur Stelle und hast uns zusätzliche Optionen, Hotels und Flüge vorgeschlagen und gebucht... in perfektem Deutsch! Das war klasse! Wenn wir nochmals nach Tibet kommen, buchen wir auf jeden Fall wieder über Dich! Danke für alles!

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 thewhalecat3

Travel Date：July 20, 2019

This trip has been part of our family’s bragging card at get togethers and parties ever since we stepped foot out of Tibet. But it would have not been without the preparation and help from Xiao Yu, our tour planner from Chengdu. In addition our tour guide Julia was extremely informative and a joy to be around for those 8 days. The hotels were extremely nice and the places along the way were magnificent. Our family felt very welcomed to the area and we enjoyed the endless insight into the beautiful culture and religion (It helped out the person taking world history next year in our family). We would definitely recommend this trip to other family and friends as it is worth every single petty bit of the high elevation fatigue.

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 Travelprofi0

Travel Date：September 5, 2019

We are thankful so much again to our agency Asia Odyssey Travel and my dear Amy for the wonderful arrangement and make my trip to Mt Kailash trip possible, really apperiated! We did Kora around Mt.Kailash for 3 days in August as I had been looking forward this trip for quite a long time, even the second day of Kora are hardest to all of us because part of the roads are covered by snowing with long-distance walking and quite high altitude too, so we spent a lot of physical strength on this but it’s totally worth because the views along the way are very incredible, I think we may not have much chance or time to go there again.

Anyway, I really miss Tibet also my dear, hope we will come and see you one day again, many thanks again for all of your help!!!

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 Mary C

Travel Date：July 6, 2019

We worked with Shirley to build an itinerary of cycling through Tibet to EBC. She was incredibly helpful and responsive. She designed a trip that met our requests and exceeded our expectations. She worked with our tour members who would be traveling from North America and China to make sure we were all set with plenty of time to get visas and permits.

Our trip was 10 days in Tibet, with a rest and sightseeing day in Lhasa (Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple). Our amazing guide Phuntsok handled travel, permit, and hotel logistics with expertise and flexibility. He was a 5-star guide in every way- making sure we had everything we wanted and needed, giving cultural + historical context to the sights we saw, and having lots of fun with us.

We had 2 drivers (the van and a truck for our bikes) who were both very helpful, friendly, and good company.

We were worried it would get into rain season while we were there - instead we had beautiful, sunny days 9.5 out of our 10 days.

Thank you to all at Tibet Odyssey Tours for a trip we will remember for a lifetime.

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 Dale Roberts

Travel Date：April 15th 2018

Most of the people go to Tibet for spiritual enlightenment. I don’t see myself a purser of religion. But when I stood in front of Jokhang Temple, watching the numerous pilgrims. I was shocked than I would have imagined. Tibet is a wonderful place from local people to the natural resource. What makes this trip extradinary is our excellent guide. He accompanied us wherever we want to and showed us local spots off the beaten track. He is pretty good at English, always shared interesting stories. I learned a few Tibetan phrases from him. The hotel arranged by our agency is well located. We were able to walk around and found local restaurant easily. Anyway, great experience

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