Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour
- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Price:
- From USD1708
- Route:
- Lanzhou - Lhasa - Shigatse - EBC - Gyirong - Kathmandu
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
With its irreplaceable and spectacular charm, Lanzhou is chosen by many international tourists as the last stop before arriving in Tibet. Here you will board an overnight train on the world's highest railway to Lhasa. The scenery along the way such as endless grasslands, desolate deserts, snow-capped mountains, and blue lakes may fascinate you. Next, you will start a 7-day overland trip from Tibet to Kathmandu. Departing from the holy city of Lhasa, you will drive past tranquil plateau lakes, cross vast grasslands, and stop at Mount Everest Base Camp. You will then travel through the spectacular Himalayan passes to the warm and humid southern slopes of the mountains, finally exploring the ancient and mysterious Kathmandu.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanzhou - Lhasa Train | Qinghai Tibet Railway |
| 2 | Arrival in Lhasa by Train | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan Carpet Workshop |
| 4 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
| 5 | Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs | Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chode Monastery |
| 6 | Shigatse - Tingri - EBC, 350km, Approx. 7hrs | Tashilhunpo Monastery, Sunset of Golden Everest Peak |
| 7 | EBC – Gyirong Border, 370km, Approx. 8hrs | Everest Base Camp, Peikutso Lake |
| 8 | Gyirong - Kathmandu, 160km, Approx. 8hrs | Transfer to Kathmandu via Gyirong Border |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseGo to Lanzhou Railway Station on your own. Exchange e-tickets for paper tickets at the ticket booth by showing your Tibet Travel Permit and passport. Arriving 2 hours in advance is suggested.
Stay overnight on the train
Our local Tibetan guide will wait for you at Lhasa railway station by holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashi Delek (a kind of blessing), and be presented with a white Hada (traditional Tibetan ceremonial by giving you a white scarf). Then transfer to the hotel in Lhasa city. On your first arrival day in Lhasa (3,650m), it's essential to have a good rest to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS, also known as altitude sickness). Remember to drink lots of water, eat lighter and have high carbohydrate food which will be helpful to you to adapt to the high altitude better.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel 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's a museum and 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 - 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‘s also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.
In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Gambala Mountain Pass (4,790m), where's the best place to overlook the Yamdroktso Lake. Later we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway. Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues. Finally head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to cultivate this land.
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 can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at the lodging area if the weather is good. After sightseeing, we will drive to Gyirong, the border that connects Tibet & Nepal. On the way, tourists can enjoy the breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma and Peikutso Lake. After passing the Ghungtang Lhamo (5,236m), we will arrive in Gyirong in the late afternoon.
Stay overnight at Gyirong Town
Drive to Gyirong Port in the early morning. You are required to walk on your own to cross the border bridge which is about 50m long. Your Nepali driver will greet you on the other side of the bridge and transfer you to Kathmandu. Although the distance between Gyirong Port and Kathmandu is only over 160 kilometers, due to the poor mountain road conditions, it takes 7~9 hours from Gyirong Port to Kathmandu.
Stay overnight in Kathmandu
Tour Price and Service
From US$1708 p/p
Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- Soft-sleepers from Lanzhou to Lhasa;
- All entrance tickets fee for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
- Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
- Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel, or guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
- Breakfasts provided by hotels;
- Pick-up & Drop-off service from Airport/railway station;
- Travel Agency Liability insurance;
- Government tax;
- Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
- Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
- Oxygen tank for emergency use;
- Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
- Other domestic flights/trains to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
- Meals are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 USD per person for each meal.
- While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 8-15 USD/day in total;
- All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
I am well thankyou. It turned out to be a great trip. I have two excellent guides and the driver. Especially as Lakdun (not sure how to spell her name) was there to help me at the airport when my flight got cancelled. You might also be interested to know that I run spiritual retreats and pilgrimages ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Tobi***
Hi, this trip sounds interesting. We were also wondering if we can drive ourselves from Chengdu by car and get your help organizing this trip. Please let me know, if this is possible. Thank you!
Dear Tobi****,
We can arrange an 8 Days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour departing on 14 September for you. Foreign tourists are not allowed to drive the car in Tibet. We'll arrange a local driver with a travel license vehicle for the tourists.
Asked by Dere***
I would like to join this tour but, I would als like to start from Hong Kong and travel to Lanzhou via Guangzhou. I am willing to join a group and am flexible to some extent and my preferred travel date would be early May.
In your inquiry, you mentioned that you are interested in our 8-day Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour, which is a private tour. To be frank, the cost of a private tour for a solo traveler is expensive. So, how about joining our 7-day Lhasa Everest Gyirong Overland Group Tour with a departure date on 10th. May? We could help you book the train ticket from Lanzhou to Lhasa.
Asked by Paul***
The tour 8 days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal overland Train .
one person to join a group - how much will this cost in Australian dollars.
Kind Regards
Paula
In your inquiry, you mentioned that you are interested in our 8-day Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour which is a private tour. To be frank, the best option for a solo traveler is to join a small group tour to keep the cost down. We have a 7-day Lhasa Everest Gyirong Overland Group Tour which has a similar itinerary and I think perfectly matches your needs.
Asked by Raym***
hello, we are interested, to join your tour from Lanzhou to Lhasa by train and finally to Kathmandu by bus. we want to start on 26.02.2020 (NEXT year!). please tell me your offer incl. all permits (Tibet and Alien permit) and your costs of all accomodations and the complete transfer. most interesting is the Potala and to join a "Picnic at the base of the Mt. Everest". so we want to visit Kathmandu and the "Holi Fest" in India, we can only use these dates. please send me also your prices for a small group of 5 up persons (many friends are interested, but how many will start the tour definetly ;-) ) best wishes from Germany to the "Roof of the World" and sorry for my english ;-) Raymond
In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to to have the Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour on 26.02.2020 (NEXT year!). According to the regulations, Tibet is closed to foreigners in February and March. Can you have this tour in April?
Here is the itinerary of 8 Days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour.
Asked by erin***
Hello,
I am interested in about 1 week tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu at the end of this October or beginning of Dec.
And also I would like to enter Lhasa from Chengdu or Xining by train and stay 1 or 2 days in Lhasa.
Do you have any recommendation about tour?
Thanks a lot!
In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to do 8 Days Lanzhou Tibet Nepal Overland Train Tour which is a private tour. As travelers less than five, we often suggest them join our small group tour to keep the cost down. We have 7 Days Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour with the departure date on Oct.30th. Is it available to you?
We can also purchase the train ticket for you.
May I remind you that we need at least 12 working days to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit for you. From Oct.1st to Oct.7th are our national holiday, Tibet Tourism Bureau doesn't work during the national holiday. So, there are only 17 working days left.
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