Itinerary Details

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  Day 1: Lanzhou Train to Lhasa

  Attractions: Scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
  Meals: No
  Hotel: On the Train

  Today, you will go to Lanzhou Railway Station to take a Tibet train to Lhasa. On the train, you will get excited by the amazing landscapes outside the train window.

  Qilian Mountains: As the train departs from Lanzhou to Xining, you can see the continuous Qilian Mountains with grassland, glaciers, meadows, forests, and wildlife. The view will gradually change into a colorful Danxia landform, showing you the beauty of northwestern China.

  Qinghai Lake: As the train departs Xining, you will be greeted by Qinghai Lake. Located in the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, it is China’s largest alkaline salt lake. The heavenly blue lake is like a sapphire set in the land. The lake is located at the intersection of several bird migration routes. You may witness many species here during migration.

  Delingha: Delingha area offers a unique blend of diverse landscapes, including lakes, deserts, and mountains. On the train, you may catch the sight of serene blue lake surrounded by red rocks and colorful hills.

  Tanggula Mountain Range: It’s the natural boundary of Qinghai and Tibet and marks the highest section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. As the train climbs to a higher altitude, you can enjoy the stunning view of the blue sky and snow-white mountains.

  Stay overnight on the train.

  

  Lanzhou Railway Station

  

  Appreciate Scenery Outside the Window
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  Day 2: Train to Lhasa (3600m)

  Attractions: No
  Meals: No
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Lhasa

  Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Lhasa Railway Station, your tour guide and driver will meet you in the hall on time, holding a sign with your name.

  Then you’ll be transferred to your hotel downtown by the experienced driver. It only takes less than an hour through the Airport Expressway and takes about half an hour from the Railway Station to your hotel.

  After arriving at the hotel, your tour guide will help you check in. You can have a good rest to get used to the altitude. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

  Tips:
  1. For first-time visitors, it is common to get symptoms of altitude sickness like fatigue, headache, and vomiting.
  2. To adapt to the high altitude (over 3,600m), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel and avoid strenuous activities like running. Do not smoke or drink. Avoid showers for the first one or two days.
  3. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetables, fruits, meat, and eggs for sufficient energy intake.
  4. Don’t hesitate to ask your guide or hotel staff for help if you feel unwell or need help.

  

  Lhasa Railway Station Pickup

  

  Lhasa Railway Station
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  Day 3: Lhasa City Tour

  Attractions: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
  Meals: B
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Lhasa

  After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will lead you to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet.

  Drepung Monastery
  1. Coqen Hall: the main assembly hall, located in the center of the monastery, where you can find a fine statue of Usnisa-sitapatra, a huge statue of Maitreya (Qamba Budda) and a mass collection of Buddhist sutras.
  2. Loseling College: the biggest one of the four colleges of Drepung Monastery, offering you an insight into the monks’ practices and studies.

  In the afternoon, you’ll continue your trip to visit another famous monastery.

  Sera Monastery
  1. Coqen Hall: the main assembly hall where you can see the statue of Shvakya-ye-shes, the founder of this monastery.
  2. Sera Je College: the largest college in Sera Monastery where you can visit the chapel of Hayagriva and pray for blessings.
  3. Tibetan Monks Debates: the debates among monks (15:00-17:00, from Monday to Friday) offer you a chance to see how they gain a better comprehension of Buddhist philosophy in this process.

  Then back to the hotel for a good rest. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

  

  Drepung Monastery

  

  Sera Monastery
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  Day 4: Lhasa City Tour

  Attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
  Meals: B
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Lhasa

  After your breakfast at the hotel, you will head to the famous landmark Potala Palace.

  Potala Palace
  1. The Viewing Platform of Jag Pori: a popular photo spot where you may appreciate the splendid sunrise.
  2. Treasure Hall of Potala: offering you an insight into Tibetan history and culture with precious artworks and cultural relics.
  3. Mountain Path to the Palace: climbing up along the zigzag mountain path with over 900 steps gives you a sense of fulfillment.
  4. White Palace: the winter palace of Dalai Lamas shows you Tibetan architectural art.
  5. Red Palace: the chapel housing stupas, tombs, and relics of Dalai Lamas where you can experience the sanctity and solemnity of religion.

  In the afternoon you will head to the oldest temple in Tibet.

  Jokhang Temple
  1. Main Hall: the central hall serves as the main point for worship and houses the precious statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve.
  2. Golden Roof: an ideal site to overlook Jokhang Temple Square and Potala Palace.

  After viewing the holiest temple, you can visit Barkhor Street encircling it.

  Barkhor Street
  1. The Circumambulation Road: an essential pilgrim route where you can join pilgrims to do a kora around the Temple.
  2. Shops and Restaurants: you can eat local food and buy handcrafts like prayer beads, prayer wheels, and thangkas in this old market.

  Back to your hotel and stay overnight in Lhasa.

  

  Potala Palace

  

  Jokhang Temple
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  Day 5: Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Gyantse-Shigatse (380km)

  Attractions: Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Simila Mountain Pass, Pelkor Chode Monastery
  Meals: B
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Shigatse

  After breakfast, you will start your ride to Shigatse.

  Yamdrok Lake: cycle southwest to the Gampala Pass where you can have a perfect view of the turquoise lake and the majestic Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m).

  Enjoy your lunch at Nagartse hosted by a local Tibetan family, where you can savor the local flavors and engage in conversation with the locals. Then, continue your trip to Gyantse.

  Karola Glacier: the largest glacier in Tibet for you to enjoy at a distance on the vehicle.

  Simila Mountain Pass: a stop where you can hang prayer flags.

  Upon your arrival in Gyantse, you can stroll down the streets and take some photos. You can also visit the town’s main attraction Pelkor Chode Monastery.

  Pelkor Chode Monastery: a unique monastery that houses three schools of Tibetan Buddhism. You can see the majestic Kumbum Stupa, the tallest of its kind in Tibet. Its nine-layer white body is trimmed with decorative stripes and crowned with a golden dome.

  From Gyantse to Shigatse, you will pass by green Tibetan barley fields in summer and golden ones in autumn, along with countless farms. You will reach Shigatse before nightfall. Check in at the hotel and have a good night’s sleep.

  

  Yamdrok Lake

  

  Karola Glacier
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  Day 6: Shigatse-EBC (5200m)

  Attractions: Gyatso La Pass, Gyawu La Pass, Rongbuk Monastery, Everest Base Camp
  Meals: B
  Hotel: guestroom or tent at EBC

  After your breakfast, you will head to Mount Everest.

  Gyatso La Pass (5280m): the best scenic spot providing you the first glimpse of Mt. Everest.

  Gyawu La Pass (5250m): enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas and see Mount Everest for the second time.

  Then, you will continue your journey towards Everest Base Camp along the winding road with the grand Everest drawing nearer. You’ll visit the world’s highest monastery.

  Rongbuk Monastery (5,009m): the highest-elevation monastery on the north side of Mt. Everest. Its Observation Deck is a perfect site to view the towering mountain. You can also see a bronze statue of Qamba Buddha of 28 meters high.

  Everest Base Camp (5200m)
  1. Sunset View from EBC: a breathtaking spectacle that captivates your senses as you witness the sun descend toward the horizon, casting its golden hues on the towering peak.
  2. Milky Way: being situated at a high altitude, EBC has clear and unobstructed views of the night sky. You can enjoy a luminous band of stars, weaving its way through the darkness above the snow-white peak.
  3. 5200 Monument: a monument typically marks the elevation of Everest Base Camp itself where you can take a photo to commemorate your trip to EBC.
  4. 8848 Monument: a monument represents the elevation of Mount Everest about 500m from the tent area and the closest viewing spot to Mt. Everest. You can take photos here with the monument and the majestic Everest.

  Stay overnight at Everest Base Camp or in the local village near EBC.

  

  Rongbuk Monastery

  

  Arrival at EBC
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  Day 7: EBC-Shigatse (350km)

  Attractions: Sunrise of Mt. Everest, Jia Tsuo La Pass
  Meals: No
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Shigatse

  Weather permitting, you may appreciate the sunrise of Mt. Everest, seeing the sunlight casting its golden glow on the towering peak.

  Ascending to the view platform of Jia Tsuo La Pass, you can have a panoramic view of the grand Himalayan peaks. Beyond the towering Mount Everest (8,848m), you’ll see myriads of snow-capped summits, including Lhakpa Ri (7,367m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Makalu (8,463m).

  After fully appreciating the grandeur of the Himalayas, you’ll follow the winding road back to Shigatse and stay overnight in there.

  

  Golden Glow on Mt. Everest

  

  Photo Taking at EBC
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  Day 8: Shigatse-Lhasa (320km)

  Attractions: Tashilunpo Monastery
  Meals: B
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Lhasa

  After your breakfast, you will first visit the home of Panchen Lama.

  Tashilunpo Monastery
  1. Qamba Buddha Hall: a grand hall houses the tallest and largest bronze Qamba Buddha statue where you can appreciate Buddhist art.

  Then, you will head back to Lhasa. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of mountains, grasslands, lakes, and villages along the way. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

  

  Tashilunpo Monastery

  

  Visiting Tashilunpo Monastery
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  Day 9: Lhasa-Namtso-Lhasa

  Attractions: Namtso Lake
  Meals: B
  Hotel: 3★/4★ Hotel in Lhasa

  In the morning, you’ll go to visit Namtso Lake, also known as “Heavenly Lake”.

  Namtso Lake(4,718m)
  1. Breathtaking Scenery: Namtso Lake is renowned for its stunning beauty, with crystal-clear turquoise waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains. You can take perfect photos there.
  2.Tashi Dor Island: an island in the middle of Namtso Lake is a sacred site for Tibetan Buddhists. You can visit meditation caves on this island to explore and learn about Tibetan spirituality.

  After appreciating such a breathtaking sight, you’ll return to Lhasa with the sun westering behind the snowy mountains. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

  

  Namtso Lake

  

  Visiting Namtso Lake
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  Day 10: Depart from Lhasa

  Attractions: No
  Meals: B
  Hotel: No

  Your guide and driver will take you to the airport or train station and help you get on board. Please verify your travel information and let your guide know.

  Thank you for choosing Tibet Horizon for your Tibet tour. We are always here to extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet!

  

  Lhasa Railway Station Send Off

  

  Lhasa Gonggar Airport Send Off