10 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and Kathmandu Tour from Chengdu by Train

Welcome to Chengdu, the Land of Abundance!

After landing at Chengdu Airport, if you have not arranged for an arrival pick-up with us, you can take a taxi, subway, or the Airport Shuttle buses to downtown Chengdu and reach your hotel by yourself.

The rest of the day is free for you to be on your own.

Stay overnight in Chengdu

Insider Tips:
1. Chengdu has two international airports: Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Please make sure to check which airport you're arriving at.
2. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is about 67 kilometers from the city center, while Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is only 16 kilometers away. 
3. If you need a pick-up service upon arrival, please let your travel consultant know beforehand.

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 be transferred to the railway station for the train to Lhasa.

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.

Spend the whole day on the train to Lhasa.

Today, you will pass through two important provincial capital cities in northwest China, Lanzhou and Xining. Xining is known as the beginning of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Travelling along the rail line, you could see the scenery of the countryside and cities in northwest China. 

Stay overnight on the train.

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.

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 head directly to Mount Everest.

First, you will pass Gyatsola Pass (5280m). At Gyatsola Pass viewpoint, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest. Hidden behind the mountain range, the Everest resembles a budding lotus flower, a captivating sight along the roadside.

Shortly after we enter Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, you will enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5198m). At this viewpoint, you will marvel at the majestic lineup of the five highest peaks in the Himalayas, including Everest at the forefront. This is your second glimpse of Everest.

Then we drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5200m). As you get close to the base camp, the majestic Everest gradually unfolds before you, drawing nearer with each winding turn. This marks your third view of Everest.

Upon reaching Everest Base Camp, the colossal white pyramid peak of Mount Everest stands towering before you. As the day transitions to dusk, witness the golden hues of the sun casting a warm glow on Everest's northern face—your fourth view.

As night falls, the sparkling Milky Way and the snow-white peak of Mount Everest reveal your fifth and final encounter with Everest.

Stay overnight at Everest Base Camp or in the local village near EBC if the EBC tent hotels are closed during the winter season.

Insider Tips:
1. The visibility of Everest is subject to weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
2. During the winter season, typically from November to March, the tent hotels at Everest Base Camp close. Therefore, if you’re traveling in winter, your accommodation options are limited to the village near EBC.

Today, you will reach Gyirong Border, witnessing the breathtaking landscapes changing from 5200 meters to 2800 meters above sea level.

In the morning, before departing from the base camp, you will visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest monastery, where nuns and monks live together at 5154 meters above sea level.

Then, you will cross the Himalayas and take a drive to Gyirong at the Sino-Nepal border. Across the 380-kilometer journey, marvel at the evolving scenery - from snow-capped peaks towering over 5000 meters to the lush forests and canyon vistas at around 2800 meters above sea level.

As you pass by Mt. Shishabangma (8027 meters), one of the world’s highest mountains over 8000 meters, you can enjoy a close view of the three main peaks of Shigabangma, as well as the golden glow of Pelku Tso Lake beneath the peaks.

Afterward, the altitude drops dramatically. You’ll be mesmerized by forests, waterfalls, and bottomless canyons as you enter the edge of the Himalayas.

When you arrive in Gyirong Valley, what you will see is the dense forest and the snowy peaks above the forests. In Gyirong town, you can breathe in the abundant oxygen.

We will say goodbye to Tibet here.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

Farewell to Tibet and welcome to Nepal today!

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your Tibetan guide and driver. After crossing the border, the tour service ends.

Insider Tips:
1. If you prefer to use our border transfer service, there is an additional charge of 60 USD per person as the transfer from the Gyirong border to your hotel in Kathmandu is not included in the Tibet tour package.
2. Alternatively, you can choose to take the public bus from the border to downtown Kathmandu and then take a taxi to your hotel from the downtown bus station. The cost for the public bus is less than 50% of our transfer service, and the taxi fee is usually around 5 USD.