11 Days Chengdu and Lhasa World Culture Heritage Tour

Welcome to Chengdu, the Land of Abundance and the hometown of Giant Pandas!

Upon arrival in Chengdu, the Land of Abundance, our local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your downtown hotels.

After checking in at the hotel, you can take a good rest to relieve yourself or explore surrounding areas on your own.

Stay overnight in Chengdu.

Insider Tips:
Chengdu has two international airports: Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Please make sure to check which airport you're arriving at.

In the morning, you’ll take a 2-hour drive from Chengdu to Leshan to have an overlook at the famous Leshan Giant Buddha by boat. The grand Buddha carved out of the cliffs at the confluence of the Dadu, Minjiang, and Qingyi Rivers. You will take a sightseeing cruise to the center of the river and face the huge stone Buddha.

In the afternoon, you’ll transfer from Leshan to Mt. Emei to visit Baoguo Temple at the foot of Mt. Emei, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China, and added to UNESCO's Natural and Cultural Heritage List in 1996. Baoguo Temple is the largest temple on the mountain. Later, you can enjoy a hot spring bath at the foot of Mt. Emei.

Stay overnight at the foot of Mt. Emei.

After breakfast, you will move on to the entrance to Mt. Emei and take a bus and a cable car to the Golden Summit. Standing on the Golden Summit, you are truly among the clouds, as clouds can be seen above and below you. You might have the good fortune to see Cloud Sea even Buddha light if it is a nice day.

After having an eyeful of the spectacular view at the Golden Summit, you can take the cable car down and the bus back to the Wannian parking lot which is located halfway of Mt. Emei. Take another cable car to visit the Wannian temple where you can have a simple lunch.

Then, you’ll walk along the scenic mountain path for around two hours to another parking lot to take a bus out of the Mt. Emei Scenic Area.

After your visit, you will get back to your hotel in Chengdu.

Stay overnight in Chengdu.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, also known as Chengdu Panda Base. Morning is feeding time, when pandas are most active. You can see lovely giant pandas eating fresh bamboo and marvel at playful giant pandas in their natural habitat. If you’re lucky, you may also see the cutest baby giant pandas.

Then, the whole afternoon is free for you to explore around.

In the evening, you will transferred to the railway station for the Chengdu to Lhasa train Z322. It is suggested to get to the railway station at least 1 hour before departure. You need to present your passport and the Tibet Travel Permit to board the train. 

Stay overnight on the train.

Insider Tips:
The Chengdu to Lhasa train departs every other day. Please confirm the train schedule with your travel consultant.

Today, enjoy the train ride along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world’s highest railway. You’ll pass through Lanzhou and Xining, two important cities in northwest China.

After passing Xining, the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you’ll be amazed by the picturesque views of the landscapes along the rail route through the Tibet Plateau.

Stay overnight on the train.

When you arrive, your guide will greet you at Lhasa Railway Station and 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.

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.

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.

In the morning, start the overland journey from Lhasa to Shigatse, which includes visits to Tibet's most beautiful lake, glacier, and charming Tibetan villages.

First, drive over the Gampala Pass (4790 m) to catch a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m). The Yamdrok Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. Continue to explore the lakeshore from various viewpoints, and at the end of the lake, you could visit a local family in the village and have lunch with the locals.

Next, you will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside. It is the largest glacier in Tibet. As you see the ice tongue of the glacier climb the entire hillside, you will feel the magical power of nature.

Then, continue your journey to Gyantse. On the way, you will stop at Simila Mountain Pass, where you can hang prayer flags to pray for world peace and the health of your family.

After arriving in Gyantse, you can spend some time taking photos of the ancient city of Gyantse. From Gyantse to Shigatse, you will pass by green (in summer) and golden (in autumn) Tibetan barley fields and countless farms.

Finally, we will arrive in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. After checking in to the hotel, you can take a good rest and prepare for the next day’s trip to Mount Everest.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

After breakfast, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest monastery in western Tibet. Founded in 1447 by a disciple of Tsongkapa, Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the six greatest Gelukpa institutions and contains the world’s largest gilded copper image (26-meter-high) of the future god Jampa.

After visiting the monastery, you will return to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the mother river of the Tibetan people.

Stay overnight in Lhasa. 

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour.

Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.