12 Days Sichuan-Tibet Train Tour with Mount Everest and Chengdu Giant Panda

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Chengdu Arrival
Accommodation: Chengdu
Meals: None

Upon arrival, met by tour guide and transferred to you hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 2 Chengdu

Sightseeing and Activities: Chengdu Panda Base
Accommodation: overnight train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will head to Chengdu Panda Base in the suburb, where we can take a close look at the lovely pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc.

Also we can take pictures for them. Don’t miss the chance to watch female pandas nursing their cubs in the nursery rooms. There is also an informative Panda Museum that lets us learn more about the scientific facts about Giant Pandas. In addition, it is very pleasant to walk in the wide garden of bamboo.

Explore this city at leisure until being transferred to Chengdu train station to take the train Z322 to Lhasa.

Day 3 On the Train to Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: On the train to Lhasa
Accommodation: overnight train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

It is a long journey On the train about 42 hours. Enjoy the scenery along the way. We will arrive in Xining at about 17:00.

Day 4 Lhasa Arrival

Sightseeing and Activities: Lhasa Arrival
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy the spectacular sceneries along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. There are snow mountain, desert, grassland, lakes, etc. We will arrived in Lhasa about 14:16. Welcome to the roof of the world – Lhasa! Upon arrival, met by tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Have a good rest and get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet.

Day 5 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor Street
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at hotel, the Lhasa tour begins with the must-see attraction – Potala Palace, the largest monastery of its type in the world and official home to Dalai Lama.

In the afternoon, move on to Jokhang Monastery and walk along the Barkhor Street nearby. Enjoy the local Tibetan culture here.

Day 6 Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Sightseeing and Activities: Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at hotel, drive to visit Drepung Monastery – one of the three great monasteries in Tibet. Visit the biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

In the afternoon, move on to another one of the “great three” Gelug university monasteries of Tibet – Sera Monastery. Visit Monks debate, Tibetan religious scripture printing house, three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Day 7 Lhasa – Namtso

Sightseeing and Activities: Namtso Lake, Tashi Island
Accommodation: Namtso
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, drive about 250km to Lake Namtso, the biggest lake in Tibet and second largest saltwater lake in China. On the way, enjoy the views of snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges, the nomads and their grazing yak and sheep(in summer), Sky-Road Railway, etc. We can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake while standing at the Lagenla Mountain Pass(5190m).

In the afternoon, trek around Tashi Island and enjoy sunset of Namtso. At night, enjoy night view of the milky way.

Day 8 Namtso – Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities: sunrise of Namtso Lake, Tashi Dor Island
Accommodation: Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the early morning, enjoy the sunrise of the Namtso Lake and walk along the lake shore to explore the meditation caves on Tashi Dor Island.

After that, continue to Shigatse – the second largest city in Tibet and arrive at Shigatse in the late afternoon.

Day 9 Shigatse – Everest Base Camp

Sightseeing and Activities: Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
Accommodation: tent or guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will continue driving to Lhatse and have lunch here. Then move on to Shegar and on the way we can view the Mt. Everest in the distance in a clear day.

At last arrive at Rongbuk Monastery – the highest monastery in the world. On the way, view the whole five highest peaks in the world on Pang La Pass – one of the highest passes in Tibet.

Day 10 Everest Base Camp – Shigatse

Sightseeing and Activities: sunrise of Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
Accommodation: Shigatse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Get up early to enjoy the stunning sunrise of the peak. Then visit Rongbuk Monastery.

After the visit, drive back to Shigatse.

Day 11 Shigatse – Lhasa

Sightseeing and Activities: Tashilunpo Monastery
Accommodation: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we will follow the friendship Highway back to Lhasa, which will take about 6 hours. On the way, visit the home of Panchan Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery and see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world. Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, it is a historic and culturally important monastery.

Day 12 Lhasa Departure

Sightseeing and Activities: Lhasa Departure
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast

Today your wonderful tour will complete. Be escorted to the airport for your flight and service ends.