8 Days Ho Chi Minh City Chengdu Lhasa Yamdrok Tour via Tibet Train

Board the non-stop flight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes.

After you arrive in Chengdu, our local travel guide will welcome you at the airport and escort you to your downtown hotel. After checking in, feel free to rest or explore the surroundings at your leisure.

Stay overnight in Chengdu.

In the morning, your guide will pick you up to visit Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center. Morning is pandas' feeding time, you will visit both adult and baby pandas and watch them eating fresh bamboo. This 230-hectare park, located 10 km (6 miles) north of Chengdu, houses a wealth of information and features a panda museum. Plan to spend about 2.5 hours exploring this site.

In the afternoon, we'll return to downtown Chengdu to explore Kuanzhai Alley. You can leisurely stroll along the street and shop for souvenirs. Following that, we'll head to Renmin Park, a charming city park bustling with locals. Here, you can unwind with a cup of tea and experience Chengdu's leisurely pace of life.

In the evening, you will take the overnight train bound for Xining. Our local guide will accompany you to the train station, and comfortable sleeping arrangements onboard will ensure a restful journey.

Stay overnight on the train.

Upon your arrival in Xining, your local guide will greet you at the railway station and escort you to a local restaurant for breakfast, where you can savor traditional foods.

Then, you will go to visit the Ta’er Monastery, also named Kumbum Monastery, lies on 25 km to the northeast of Xining. It is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, well-known Tibetan Buddhist master. Besides, you will head to explore the Dongguan Mosque, the largest mosque in Qinghai. It was originally built in 1380 and has a mixture of Tibetan, Han, and Arabic and European architectural styles.

After the tour in Xining, you will be transferred to Xining Railway Station for your overnight train to Lhasa. Please be sure to arrive in train station at least 1 hour before the train departure. You need present your passport and Tibet Travel Permit to board the train.

Tibet Permit Notice:
1. When you book your trip with us, we'll take care of getting your Tibet Travel Permit.
2. It's best to book and send us the required documents at least 20 days before your trip.
3. Your travel permit will be sent to you before your train departs. Make sure to keep it safe.

Tibet Train Travel Tips:
1. Your package includes a soft sleeper train ticket from Xining to Lhasa.
2. There is a dining car on board the train to Tibet, offering simple Chinese dishes. Feel free to bring some snacks and instant noodles with you.
3. All trains to Tibet are equipped with oxygen supply systems, so there's no need to worry about altitude sickness on board.

Today, you are going to witness the most beautiful scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Along the way to Nagchu, you will see Tanggula Pass come and go, almost indistinguishable from the rest of the highland. You may notice villagers gazing at the passing train and yaks darting off the tracks. Up here, every few minutes, another range of snow-capped peaks with glaciers streaming down their sides appears on the horizon.

Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be greeted by local guide at the train station and then be transferred to your hotel in downtown Lhasa. Along the way, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of Yarlung Tsangpo River, Lhasa River, and the typical Tibetan villages.

After arriving at the hotel, take some time to rest and acclimate to the high altitude. It's helpful to take it easy for the first few days and remember to stay hydrated by drinking water.

Later in the afternoon or evening, your guide will welcome you with traditional Tibetan gifts, provide travel guidance, and introduce you to the other members of your group.

Warm Tips:
If you require any assistance or have specific needs, please don't hesitate to visit our service center located at Gangjian Hotel.

Today, you will first visit the Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet that once housed over ten thousand monks. Here, you'll explore the Coqen Hall, where your guide will provide a detailed explanation of the Tibetan Buddhist worldview and narrate the stories of renowned figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.

Additionally, you'll tour the Loseling College (or an equivalent) within Drepung Monastery to understand monks' practices and studies. Exploring their dormitories will offer insight into their daily routines and living conditions.

In the afternoon, the tour proceeds to Sera Monastery, established in 1419 and long regarded as a significant Buddhist seminary. Here, you'll observe the renowned monk debates, a highlight of Sera Monastery. Your guide will provide a comprehensive explanation of how these debates aid monks in acquiring knowledge and advancing through academic degrees.

After today's sightseeing, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow members.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to visit the magnificent Potala Palace, where you'll stand atop its heights and gaze down upon the city of Lhasa. Your guide will narrate the life and tales of the successive Dalai Lamas within the Potala Palace and meticulously introduce the various halls and treasures housed within its walls.

Once you've explored the grandeur of the Potala Palace, your next stop will be Longwangtan Park nestled at its base. This tranquil spot offers a unique vantage point to admire the majestic Potala Palace and partake in traditional Tibetan cultural experiences.

In the afternoon, you'll head to the sacred Jokhang Temple—the heart of Tibetan faith and life. Within the temple resides the rare and revered 12-year-old statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, an image so lifelike that it resembles seeing the Buddha in person. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can take a clockwise kora, witnessing how local Tibetans practice their Buddhist beliefs.

Following this, your guide will take you to the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea house in Lhasa, where you can enjoy Tibetan sweet tea with locals. Your guide will join everyone, sharing insights into the social relations and daily leisure life of Tibetans.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you'll depart from Lhasa and set off towards one of the "Three Holy Lakes of Tibet," the breathtaking Yamdrok Lake, immersing yourself in the stunning landscapes of snow-capped mountains and pristine waters.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will accompany you on an awe-inspiring journey, traversing the 4900-meter-high Gambala Pass to reach the sacred Yamdrok Lake. The lake is a beautiful jade-like color, with snow-capped mountains reflecting in it, and lush green fields where animals peacefully graze nearby. It's a serene place where herders tend to their animals, monks meditate on small islands, and the calm waters create endless breathtaking views, far from the hustle of the city.

Following your guide, ascend to the Lurila Platform, where the azure Yamdrok Lake and the towering snow-capped peaks of Gulha Kangri come into full view. Subsequently, you'll visit the Rutok Temple, where solitary monks pursue their spiritual practices in this ancient temple. Here, you'll behold a wider expanse of the lake and its continuous chain of islands.

Then you'll dine at a charming lakeside eatery for lunch, savoring regional delicacies served by a local family. On the scenic platform, take pleasure in a cup of coffee, basking in leisurely moments while delighting in the breathtaking vista of Yamdrok Lake from its southeast corner.

Following that, your journey back to Lhasa will traverse the renowned Gampala Pass (4900m). Standing at the Gambala Pass Platform, witness Yamdrok Lake stretching like a ribbon of sapphire for miles, extending all the way to the base of the towering Noijin Kangsang Peak (7191 meters), a sight of indescribable beauty.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today your guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board. Please confirm your departure flight or train details in advance with your guide. The tour ends.