8 Days Beijing to Lhasa and Namtso Lake Tour by Train
(BTT008) Train from Beijing - Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung - Lhasa
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Tour Type:
Escorted by private guide and vehicle; leave 365 days a year!
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Trip Level:
Easy - suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.
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Trip Level Guide:
- Easy - suitable for all level of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.
- Moderate - suitable for ones with average level fitness, family with kids bigger than 12 yrs.
- Moderate to Strenous - suitable for ones physically fit; have experiences of high altitude trek.
- Strenuous: suitable for adventures and individual with physically fit and healthy.
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Season:春
Spring夏
Summer秋
Autumn冬
Winter
Overview
This 8-day Beijing Lhasa Train tour combines an epic Tibet train experience and a fascinating exploration of Tibetan culture and scenery in Lhasa city and Namtso Lake. The train journey from Beijing to Lhasa offers views of incredible natural landscapes not found elsewhere on the planet, as it passes through the world’s highest plateau.
Upon arriving at the roof of the world, you will spend the first two days on a wonderful Lhasa city tour, visiting the grand Potala Palace, the holy Jokhang Temple, and other important monasteries. Then, you will journey to the heavenly Namtso Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of its turquoise waters and find it hard to leave.
At a Glance
Day 1Board the train to Lhasa from Beijing
Day 2Travel on the Tibet Train
Day 3Arrival in Lhasa
Day 4Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B)
Day 5Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street (B)
Day 6Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung (B)
Day 7Damxung to Lhasa via Chimelong Nunnery and Tsurphu Monastery (B)
Day 8Depart from Lhasa (B)
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Board the train to Lhasa from Beijing
Today is free for you until you board the train to Tibet.
The train to Lhasa departs from Beijing West Railway Station in the evening. The Beijing West Railway Station station is about 6.7 kilometers to the city center. It is suggested to get to the railway station around 1.5 hours before departure. You need to present your passport and the Tibet Travel Permit to board the train.
Stay overnight on the train.
Day 2: Travel on the Tibet Train
Today, you'll spend the whole day traveling to Lhasa on the train. Along the way, you'll pass through two important cities: Lanzhou and Xining. Xining is where the Qinghai-Tibet Railway begins. Enjoy the views of the countryside and cities in northwest China as you make your way to the Tibetan Plateau after passing through Xining.
Stay overnight on the train.
Day 3: Arrival in Lhasa
Today is the last day of your Tibet train journey. Enjoy the most beautiful scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway before arriving in Lhasa, like the stunning Cuona Lake beside the railway, and the vast grassland in northern Tibet.
After arriving in Lhasa, you will meet our friendly Tibetan guide at Lhasa Railway Station. The guide and the driver will take you to your hotel in downtown Lhasa. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Brahmaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River.
After settling into your hotel, take some time to rest and adjust to the high altitude.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 4: Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B)
In the morning, you’ll explore the largest monastery in Tibet - Drepung Monastery, which was once the home to over 10,000 monks. As you walk through the Coqen Hall, your guide will provide detailed explanations of the worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce notable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.
Next, you’ll visit the renowned Loseling College (or an equivalent), offering a glimpse into the study and life of Tibetan monks. Explore their dormitories to gain insights into the Tibetan monks' daily routines and living conditions.
In the afternoon, you’ll head to Sera Monastery, another of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet, to witness the famous Tibetan Monks Debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). Your guide will intricately explain how Tibetan monks engage in these debates to acquire knowledge and advance in their academic degrees.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 5: Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street (B)
After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. 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.
After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities.
In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.
Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 6: Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung (B)
This is the day of holy Lake Namtso!
In the morning, heading north from Lhasa, you’ll pass through the vast prairie in Damxung, where you can see the closest nomads area to Lhasa, with herds of yaks and sheep. Besides, you can also enjoy the view of the Qinghai-Tibet railway against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
While crossing the snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Rainges, pause at the renowned Lagenla Pass (5190m) to marvel at the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake from a distance. Descend the road to reach today’s destination, Namtso Lake, one of the ‘Three Holy Lakes’ in Tibet.
Upon reaching the lake, you can enjoy your time doing a leisurely trek around Tashi Dor Island and along the lakeshore. For a panoramic view of Namtso Lake, climb to the top of the hill on Tashi Dor Island, where the circular lake resembles a boundless blue sea surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Marvel at the magical stone pillars and peaks, and explore meditation caves and Buddhist holy sites on the island with your travel guide.
After visiting Namtso Lake, you will return to Damxung via the mountain pass.
Stay overnight in Damxung.
Insider Tips:
1. If you are interested in witnessing the beautiful sunset at Namtso Lake, you can stay longer for the sunset. Please tell your travel consultant or your travel guide before departure.
2. Due to the higher altitude of Lake Namtso, standing at 4718 meters above sea level, it tends to be colder than Lhasa. It is advisable to bring a warm jacket with you for today’s visit.
Day 7: Damxung to Lhasa via Chimelong Nunnery and Tsurphu Monastery (B)
After breakfast, you will first visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery), the largest nunnery near Lhasa. Roam over the peaceful nunnery and get an idea of different Buddhist studies in Tibet, you may also spot a sky burial site (Tibet funeral site) in the distance.
Then, head to Tsurphu Monastery, the oldest monastery in Tibet. It is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism and is also the birthplace of the system of reincarnated living Buddhas in Tibet. Here, you can learn more about the ‘Black Hats', the Karma Kagyupa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
At the end of the day, return to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 8: Depart from Lhasa (B)
Service Guide
Service Included:
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
- Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
- Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
- 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 budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
- Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
- All meals listed in the above itinerary;
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
- First aid kit;
Service Excluded:
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
- Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
- Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
- Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.
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Most Frequently Asked Questions from our Clients
A Namtso Lake tour will let you discover the second largest lake in Tibet and appreciate the amazingly stunning lake view, after the cultural exploration and religious enlightenment in the holy city of Lhasa.
Tibetan Travel Guru,Master Kungga Dundruk
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