Chongqing Tibet with Mt.Everest Train Tour

Go to the West Railway Station on your own. Exchange your e-tickets to the actual paper ticket at the ticket booth by showing them your Tibet travel permit and passport. You are recommended to arrive at the railway station 2 hours in advance.

Stay overnight on the train

The train from Chongqing to Lhasa will run through Xian and Lanzhou where you can also see the Gobi desert landscapes of western China. When the train passes through Xining - the start point of Qinghai Tibet Railway, the breathtaking sceneries will appear one after another. Be sure to capture the memorable scenes with your camera. Major attractions are Qinghai Salt Lake, Yuzhu Peak, Kekexili Nature Reserve, Tuotuo River, Tangula Pass, Tsonag Lake, Qiangtang Prairie, and Namtso Lake, etc.

Stay overnight on the train

Welcome to Lhasa! Our local Tibetan guide and driver will wait for you at Lhasa Railway Station by holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashidelek (meaning hello with blessing), and be presented with a white Hada (traditional Tibetan ceremonial). Then transfer you to the hotel in Lhasa city. On the way, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. After checking in your hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to have a good rest and acclimatize to the high altitude at the top of the world. If you physically feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, have a far view of the Yaowang Mountain, and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, eat lighter and have high carbohydrate food, which will be helpful for you to adapt to the high altitude better.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, you are heading to Drak Yerpa, the most famous meditation retreat near Lhasa. It's a monastery embedded in the cliff wall. Drak Yerpa is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. The site had strong spiritual power, having been visited by almost all great Tibetan masters. You can feel the power of the meditation caves here.

In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Sera Monastery, which is one of the "great three" Gelug monasteries of Tibet. Monks debate from 3 pm to 5 pm. If the debate is not your type, you can also enjoy the three sand Mandalas and colorful rock paintings of Buddha. The sight here is splendid because you can see wild roses around. That's why people also call it "the Court of Wild Rose."

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it is a museum and a world heritage site. 

In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you are going to Shigatse. After passing Kampala pass(4790m), you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdroktso Lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar. Yamdroktso Lake is known as one of the "Three Holiest Lakes" in Tibet. Peaceful Tibetan villages surround the lakeshore in the neighboring flat valleys. Looking in the distance, you can see yaks and sheep grazing on the grassland. Next, you will see the grand and vast Karola Glacier. It isn't a big glacier, but the white glacier looks spectacular from the highway, and it's close enough(about 300 yards) from the highway.

In Gyantse, you will pay a visit to the key landmark Pelkor Chöde Monastery. Gyantse Kumbum is the symbol of the monastery, famous for its 100000 Buddhist figures, paintings, and statues in the chapels, and wall niches.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery, which was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447, a culturally important monastery in Shigatse. Then you will leave Shigatse for Lhatse for lunch. After a short break, you will continue to Tingri via Tsola Pass(4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass(5,248m). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, with countless prayer flags flying in the wind. After ascending to Gawula Pass(5,198m), you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the zigzag road to Rongbuk Monastery .

You will stay overnight at Everest Base Camp(5,200m). You can see the glorious sunset of Golden Everest Peak if the weather is good.

Stay overnight at EBC

You are highly suggested to get up early to catch the sunrise of Everest Peak at the lodging area if the weather is good. And then, we can drive you to the Everest Base Camp. After sightseeing, we will drive back to Shigatse and enjoy the fabulous view along the way back.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Today we will visit Yungdrungling Monastery on our way back to Lhasa. Yungdrungling is a typical Bon monastery with many friendly monks here and some of them can even speak English. If you are lucky to meet the key holder, he can show you the large dukhang. Inside the house are the impressive thrones of the monastery's two resident Shiromo along the walls-look for the deity's characteristic swastika mace. There are also a couple of more behind the main hall that you can pay a visit to. Those chapels' include the Namjya Lhakhang. Keep in mind that you should visit those chapels in an anticlockwise direction.

Stay overnight in Lhasa