Shanghai Tibet Train Tour

Please go to the Shanghai Railway Station on your own and you’d better reach there 2 hours before departure. Usually, you need to show your original passport, the booking number & the Tibet permit (maybe 1 copy will be kept by the conductor) to pick up the paper ticket at the ticket hall.

Stay overnight on the train

The train Z164 starts from Shanghai to Lhasa, with a total length of 4373 kilometers. It takes around 45 hours, which means you have to stay on the train for three days and two nights. It sounds long but you can witness countless beautiful scenery along the way. You will move westwards and see the majestic mountains, the barren land, and the Yellow River on the 2nd day. In the evening, you will arrive in Xining the starting point of the Qinghai Tibet Railway. You will see massive deserts, immense grasslands, vast valleys, snow-capped Mountains, picturesque lakes, and flocks of yaks and sheep.

Stay overnight on the train

Your guide and driver will greet you at Lhasa Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Railway Station, it usually takes about 20 mins. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water and eat light. Not to have a shower if you can help it.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you will visit the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of old Lhasa city town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After visiting the temple, you will have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa. In the early days, it was the most famous local market but now it's the tourist shopping center.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

You are visiting the Drepung Monastery this morning. Drepung means "piles of rice" in Tibetan, which symbolizes prosperity. It was the world's largest monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Also, It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

After lunch, you are going to the Sera Monastery, which is renowned as the most beautiful Tibetan Monastery. To witness the debate sessions of Sera Monastery is something you cannot miss. The topic of debate involves all aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. As a part of their study, lamas should participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of study.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Khamba-la Pass(4790m), and from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdroktso Lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. About two hours away from Yamdrok Lake is Karola Glacier. It isn’t a big glacier, but the white glacier looks spectacular from the highway, and it is close enough (about 300 yards) to the highway.

Arrival at Gyantse, you visit Palkhor Choede Monastery, where you can see a magnificent One-Hundred-Thousand-Buddha Tower, aka Gyantse Kumbum. It's well known as the largest stupa in Tibet, with unique architecture, as well as old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls. Then head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to cultivate the land.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In the morning, drive to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery which was founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, the monastery's structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo has been the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas.

After that, we transfer to Yungdrungling Monastery. It is one of the few remaining Bon Monasteries in Tibet. Often referred to as the original religion of Tibet, Bon came about during the 11th century. The Monastery is rather small but in a wonderful setting with only a few monks to maintain the many valuable Bon writings. This is a great side trip when traveling between Lhasa and Shigatse.

Today's sightseeing will end on visiting the Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo. There is still a natural way to make incense and this intact craftsmanship can be traced back to 1300 years ago, which is listed as a state-level intangible cultural heritage. Walking along streams and bridges, there are many spots for visitors to experience its procedures.

Stay overnight in Lhasa