[Z21 Beijing to Lhasa] 13-Day Train Tour from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet & Everest Base Camp

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. Our guide will meet you at the exit of the airport/train station and transfer you to a hotel in downtown Beijing for check-in and rest. After that, you are free to arrange your time—you may rest at the hotel to recover from jet lag or explore the surrounding area. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Beijing has two airports, Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. Both airports have numerous international and domestic routes. You can fly to Beijing from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Cambodia, as well as from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Wuhan. 2. By train: Beijing has an extremely developed rail transit system. You can take a high-speed train to Beijing from cities such as Xi'an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, and Harbin.

After breakfast, you will visit the world-famous Tian'anmen Square. 【Tian'anmen Square】is located on Beijing's central axis and is the largest city-center square in the world. It holds an important place in Chinese history and has witnessed countless major historical events. Here you can view the majestic Tian'anmen Gate Tower and learn about China's long-standing culture. Afterward, cross the square to visit the Palace Museum. 【The Forbidden City】, also known as the Purple Forbidden City, is located at the center of Beijing's central axis. It was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and is the world's largest and best-preserved complex of wooden palace architecture. Here you can visit the important halls along the central axis in sequence, admiring the splendid and exquisite ancient palace architecture while following the guide's explanations to learn more about the historical stories of the Forbidden City. Afterward, you can also go to nearby Jingshan Park (about a 15-minute walk) to overlook the panoramic view of the Forbidden City and the magnificent scenery of Beijing. In the afternoon, you will take a car to visit the famous royal garden, the Summer Palace. 【The Summer Palace】is the largest and best-preserved existing imperial garden in China and one of China's four great gardens. It is known as the Museum of Royal Gardens, with beautiful scenery, and its pavilions, towers, lakes, bridges, and other views are breathtaking.

After breakfast, you will take a car 73 kilometers (about 1.5–2 hours) to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, part of the Great Wall of China, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 【Mutianyu Great Wall】is the longest and best-restored section of the Great Wall in China and enjoys the reputation of being "the most outstanding section of the Great Wall." You can first take the cable car to Watchtower No. 14, then hike westward while enjoying the magnificent surrounding mountains and the winding, majestic Great Wall scenery, and finally reach the highest point at Watchtower No. 20 to complete your Great Wall journey. After visiting the Great Wall, return to downtown Beijing. On the way, view the exterior of the Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center) and take photos with them. Then return to the hotel and have a good rest.

This morning, you will visit the Temple of Heaven. 【The Temple of Heaven】, originally named the Temple of Heaven and Earth, was the place where ancient emperors worshipped heaven, prayed for good harvests, and prayed for rain. It is also the largest existing ancient sacrificial architectural complex in China, famous for its unique and magnificent architecture and long, fascinating culture. Here you can learn about ancient sacrificial rituals and visit buildings such as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Echo Wall, and the Three Echo Stones. Afterward, if time permits, you can also walk into Beijing's hutongs to experience the local lifestyle, and take a rickshaw through the narrow alleys to experience the old Beijing way of life. In the late afternoon, our guide will take you to Beijing West Railway Station to board the Z21 Qinghai-Tibet train departing Beijing at 19:55 for Lhasa, Tibet. The train passes through 8 provinces and takes about 40 hours, arriving at Lhasa Railway Station at 12:29 on the third day.

When the first rays of morning sunlight fall through the train's spacious, bright windows onto the white beds inside, the train arrives in Zhongwei City on the Loess Plateau. You can enjoy the views of the Gobi, deserts, the Yellow River, and canyons passing by outside the window. Around the afternoon, the train reaches Xining, and the scenery outside the window changes to vast grasslands, lakes, wetlands, and snow-capped mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Xining Station is the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. All trains heading to Tibet will switch here to oxygen-equipped trains. The train stops at this station for 25 minutes. You can get off to breathe some fresh air or clean the stains on the windows to make later sightseeing more convenient. Shortly after departing from Xining Station, the train will pass the beautiful Qinghai Lake. Especially from mid-June to the end of August each year, rapeseed flowers bloom along the lakeshore, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scene of golden flower fields interwoven with the deep blue lake. (PS: The lake is on the left side of the train; it is recommended to pay attention to the left window.) After that, you can fully enjoy the magnificent and vast plateau scenery, and you may also have friendly exchanges with fellow travelers or local Tibetans on the train. Tonight, you will continue to stay on the train.

After traveling overnight, today the train will cross the Tanggula Pass at an altitude of 5,072 meters, the highest point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Although the train will provide diffuse oxygen supply, some passengers may still experience mild discomfort. You can use the individual oxygen outlets on the train to inhale oxygen for relief. Although the high altitude is challenging, the scenery along the way is magnificent. Through the window, you can see the spectacular Tanggula Mountains, broad deep-blue plateau lakes, and cattle and sheep grazing leisurely on the grasslands. Near noon, the train arrives at Lhasa Railway Station. Our driver will meet you at the exit of the train station and transfer you to a hotel in Lhasa for check-in and rest. For the remaining time, you can rest well at the hotel and let your body gradually adapt to the plateau environment. Warm tips 1. On the day of arrival in Lhasa, do not do strenuous exercise, do not take a shower, and do not drink alcohol. Rest more, drink water, eat fruit, and avoid overeating. You may bring American ginseng lozenges or health supplements such as rhodiola and Gao Yuan An to relieve altitude sickness. 2. Follow the guide's arrangements and try not to go out for activities. Maintaining a calm mindset and getting sufficient rest is the best way to prevent altitude sickness. 3. If you feel unwell, promptly seek help from the guide or hotel staff and go to the hospital for treatment.

After breakfast, go to visit the Jokhang Temple, the holy site in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhist believers. 【Jokhang Temple】was first built in 647 AD and has a history of 1,350 years. It is the most splendid surviving Tubo-period building in Tibet, with 5 golden roofs and 108 Buddhist halls. Here you can see the world's rare life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 and devout pilgrims worshipping in front of the Jokhang Temple. In the afternoon, take a car about 30 kilometers (50 minutes' drive) to visit Sera Monastery, one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa. 【Sera Monastery】is also one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is solemn and sacred. At Sera Monastery, you can watch the famous Buddhist debate activity. The debate usually starts at 15:00 (except Sundays). During the debate, the monks in the courtyard engage in intense discussions, and you can truly feel the faith and power of Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, return to downtown Lhasa and visit 【Barkhor Street】. This is not only the route for local kora rituals but also a very lively ancient commercial street. Here you can unexpectedly encounter locals wearing Tibetan robes and devout pilgrims, stroll through the alleys to browse handicraft shops, or find a sweet tea house and learn from Tibetan friends their tranquility and contentment.

After breakfast, go to visit the Potala Palace, the world's highest ancient palace-fortress architectural complex. 【Potala Palace】is located on Maburi Hill in the northwest of Lhasa. It is a magnificent building integrating palace, fortress, and monastery, and is also the largest and most complete ancient palace-fortress complex in Tibet. The Potala Palace is built against the mountain, with 13 stories in total, 117.19 meters high, and more than 400 meters long from east to west. You will climb up the long stairs of the Potala Palace step by step, overlooking Lhasa along the way and taking in the magnificent view of the city. While taking photos and resting, you will then enter the Potala Palace to explore this mysterious and ancient palace for which very few images are shown online. Afterward, take a car about 12 kilometers (35 minutes' drive) to visit 【Drepung Monastery】, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is built layer by layer along the mountain terrain and is grand in scale. Its white walls and red eaves look especially peaceful and serene in the sunlight. After entering the monastery, you can visit important buildings such as the Tsokchen Assembly Hall, Ganden Podrang, and the four dratsangs in sequence to learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture. You can also go to the debate courtyard to watch monks debate Buddhist teachings (around 14:00), or stroll within the monastery in search of inner peace. In addition, around August each year, a grand thangka unveiling ceremony is held here, known as the famous Shoton Festival.

After breakfast, you will depart from Lhasa and drive about 8–9 hours (about 340 kilometers) to Shigatse, the center of Tsang. On the way, you will first cross the 【Gampala Snow Mountain】at an altitude of 4,900 meters. From Gampala Pass, you can take in a panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake, like a blue silk ribbon drifting among the mountains, and the majestic Noijin Kangsang Snow Mountain in the distance. Then continue toward Yamdrok Lake, the highest freshwater lake in the world, and appreciate its beauty from multiple angles, including halfway up the mountain and from the lakeshore. 【Yamdrok Lake】is one of the three great sacred lakes of Tibet and is also praised as the most beautiful water in the world. The lake water is clear as a mirror, extending into the distance and merging with the distant snow mountains, while the undulating mountains on both sides make the scenery absolutely stunning. Local Tibetans praise Yamdrok Lake in folk songs: "A fairyland in heaven, Yamdrok on earth. Stars in the sky, cattle and sheep by the lake." Afterward, the car will continue along the shore of Yamdrok Lake for a while, allowing you to see the beautiful lake again. Then go to visit 【Karo La Glacier】, the most accessible glacier in Tibet. The glacier is right beside the highway, like a giant thangka hanging on the mountain wall, crystal clear and pure white, so close that it seems within reach. You can admire the towering glacier by the roadside or walk to the foot of the glacier to appreciate its grandeur up close. Visiting tips 1. The Karo La Glacier scenic area is at a high altitude, over 5,000 meters. When walking along the boardwalk, please slow down. You may also carry a small oxygen bottle and inhale oxygen for relief if you feel unwell. 2. Please beware of photo traps. If a stranger offers to take photos for you, ask in advance whether there is a charge. After the visit, continue to Shigatse. In the evening, check into a star-rated hotel in Shigatse. Rest well tonight and conserve energy for the Mount Everest trip the next day.

After breakfast, set off toward Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. The drive takes about 6–7 hours (about 330 kilometers). On the way, you will pass 【Gawula Pass】at an altitude of 5,190 meters. This is the only viewing platform in the world where you can see five 8,000-meter-class snow peaks (Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma). You will stop here for a while and fully enjoy the beautiful snow mountains. Afterward, arrive at 【Everest Base Camp】. This is not only the best place to view Mount Everest but also the best accommodation point for visiting Everest. Here you can enjoy the stunning sunrise and sunset over Everest and the starry night sky. Upon first arrival, you can rest first to adapt, then walk to visit 【Rongbuk Monastery】. This is the highest monastery in the world and also the best viewpoint for the north face of Mount Everest, only 20 kilometers from Everest. Here you can enter the monastery to visit this ancient temple standing beneath the snowy sky, where time seems to stand still. You can also look out at Mount Everest from the white stupa outside the monastery, which is also the most common scene in many Everest postcards and posters. If you have good stamina, you can continue along the road to the Everest altitude marker for a photo. In the evening, stay in a tent at Base Camp (the tents are multi-person rooms with limited conditions and are closed in winter; in that case, accommodation will be changed to a guesthouse in a village near Everest).

This morning, you might try your luck by getting up early, hoping to encounter the most magnificent sunrise over Mount Everest and once again admire the majestic figure of the world's highest peak from different angles. Then after breakfast, return to Shigatse. On the way, you will stop again at 【Gawula Pass】and 【Gyatso La Pass】to look back at Mount Everest, and finally arrive at the hotel in Shigatse for rest.

After breakfast, go to visit 【Tashilhunpo Monastery】. This is the largest monastery in Shigatse and the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. It was once the political ruling center of the important Tsang region. The monastery enshrines the world's largest seated bronze Buddha statue, the 28-meter-high "Maitreya Buddha." Here you can visit buildings such as the Panchen Lama's residence, the sutra college, the stupa halls, and the thangka unveiling platform, learn about the long cultural history of Tibetan Buddhism and its development in the Tsang region, and also see exquisite murals, carvings, and other cultural relics. If interested, you can also climb to a high point to overlook the entire monastery and the distant view of Shigatse city. Afterward, take a car about 280 kilometers (about 3h40m) back to Lhasa. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent Yarlung Valley scenery through the window, seeing the broad riverbed and peaceful villages and farmland... Finally, return to the hotel in downtown Lhasa. (PS: You can also take a train from Shigatse to Lhasa, which takes about 2h28m.)

Today, this wonderful 13-day journey from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet, and Mount Everest will come to an end. Our driver will, according to the agreed time, transfer you in advance to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for your next destination. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in Tibet, such as Nyingchi, Ali Kailash, and other places, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you. We look forward to welcoming you again someday in the future.