6-Day Xining and Lhasa Train Tour

The Train is going by the Holy Lake
The Beautiful Kekexili Grand Prairie
Qinghai Lake in Rape Flower Season
Potala Palace seen from Yaowang Hill
The Johkang Temple

Tour Outline: 6 Days & 5 Nights
Xining (1 N) - on the train (1N) - Lhasa(3N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
ENQUIRE NOW

Trip Overview

This 6-day train tour is our highly-recommended itinerary to travel to Tibet, traversing from Xining, when you are from other biggest cities of China. In the tour, you will have an good chance to cruise on the biggest inland Qinghai Lake and visit the famous Taer Monastery in Xining, and take an overnight train to Lhasa to enjoy the beautiful Kekexili Grand Prairies and overlook the continuous snow-capped mountains, and immerse yourself in the Buddhism culture in the highlights of Lhasa.

It takes about 22 hours to take a train to Lhasa from Xining on the world's highest railway - Qinghai Tibetan Railway. Its altitudes range from 2295m to 5231m. The highest part is at Tanggula Pass. Don't worry the high altitude sickness on the train. Because the train is equipped with advanced facilities, such as: air-conditioning, supercharging system, oxygen supply, altitude display and more.

[Taer Monastery] It is the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa; an important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine;
[Qinghai Lake] See the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China. It is also a good place for viewing by walking, riding and biking;
[Kekexili Grand Prairie] Witness the beautiful Tibetan Plateau with groups of nomads from the train window and overlook the continuous snow-capped mountains;
[Potala Palace] Touch this bright and flawless jewel in the roof of the world;
[Jokhang Temple] Marvel at the solemn silence with the serene sounds of chanting scriptures;
[Sera Monastery] Listen to the scriptures debating and comprehend the essence of Buddhism.

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

Expand All|Close All

Day 1: Xining Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Xining Caojiabao Airport/ Train Station, our tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Xining downtown. If time allows, we will go to visit the famous Taer Monastery, the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master - Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Gelug sect. The monastery is also famous as one of "six monasteries of Gelug", and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. You must not miss the "three treasures of the monastery": mural, barbola and butter sculptures. Every year, there are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here.

Drive 38km from airport to downtown
Altitude: Xining (2295m)
Xining business hotel
Meal: NO

Day 2: Xining - Qinghai Lake - Xining, train to Lhasa (356km)

Qinghai Lake in Rape Flower Season

The Yacht on the Qinghai Lake

Today after breakfast, we will drive about 2.5 hours to the Qinghai Lake, the biggest inland lake and biggest salt-water lake in China. The lake is the paradise for birds, where you can see more than ten thousand in the summer. It is surrounded by high mountains. At the foot of mountains are the endless beautiful grasslands. So you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking.

Then cruise on the lake and visit the Bird Island in the lake. After that, drive back to Xining. On the way, you will visit the Riyue Mountains (Sun and Moon Mountains), and the Ri Pagoda and Yue Pagoda. Both pagodas were built in Tang Dynasty to commemorate the intermarriage of marrying Princess Wencheng of Tang to Tubo. At the foot of Riyue Mountains, you will be amazed by the unique Daotang River which flows from east to west.

After dinner, take an overnight train to Lhasa from Xining West Train Station.

Drive 35km from Xining to Qinghai Lake and back
Altitude: Qinghai Lake (3260m), Riyue Mountains (3520-4877m)
Internet & Wifi: NO
Overnight stay on the train to Lhasa
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: On the train, arrival in Lhasa in the afternoon

Kekexili Grand Prairie

Lhasa Train Station

On the train, you will witness the beautiful Tibetan Plateau with groups of nomads from the window. Remember to choose a good angle to take beautiful pictures of Kekexili Grand Prairie and the continuous snow-capped mountains.

Upon your arrival in the Lhasa Train Station, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Lhasa. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest and acclimatize yourself to the high altitude of Lhasa.

Drive 8 km form train station to Lhasa downtown
Altitude: Qinghai-Tibet Railway (2295-5231m), Lhasa (3680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa business hotel
Meals: NO

Day 4: Visit the Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor Street

Potala Palace

Johkang Temple

After breakfast in your hotel, your personal private will pick you up to visit the splendid Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark in Lhasa. The whole morning is for you to appreciate this world-level architectural work.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Tibetan people from all over the world come here to kowtow in the front of the entrance with their pure heart. Finally, you can spend some time walking on around the Jokhang Temple in Barkhor Street where is full of religious atmosphere.

Drive in Lhasa down
Altitude: Lhasa (3680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa business hotel
Breakfast

Day 5: Visit the Norbulingka Park, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

The Beautiful Norbulingka Park

Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up to visit the Norbulingka Park, which was used as the summer palace for successive Lamas holding festival celebrations. After that, head to visit Drepung Monastery, the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism.

In the afternoon, head to visit Sera Monastery to see the famous scriptures debating in this monastery.

Drive in Lhasa down
Altitude: Lhasa (3680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa business hotel
Breakfast

Day 6: Lhasa Departure

Today is free for you to have fun in Lhasa, until our tour guide escort you to airport/ train station for your next destination.

Drive 65km to airport/ 8km to train station from the downtown
Altitude: Lhasa (3680m)
Hotel: NO
Breakfast

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;;
Lodging: one night in Xining business hotel, one night on the train, three nights in Lhasa local hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary (4 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch);
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Xining (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Xining from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availability and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!