11 Days Overland Tour Following the Train Running Route from Xining to Lhasa

Xining → Ta'er Monastery → Qinghai Lake → Chaka Salt Lake → Kekexili Nature Reserve → Kunlun Mountains → Nagqu → Namtso Lake → Lhasa

1. Day1

   Arrive Xining — Rest

   Meals NoneOvernight Xining hotel

   Arrive in Xining. Check into hotel and rest to begin acclimatizing to the Qinghai plateau altitude (2,275m).

2. Day2

   Xining — Ta'er Monastery — Dongguan Mosque

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Xining hotel

   Visit the magnificent Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum) — one of the six great Gelug monasteries, famous for its yak-butter sculptures and Tibetan art. Also visit the grand Dongguan Mosque — one of the largest in northwest China.

3. Day3

   Xining — Qinghai Lake — Chaka Salt Lake

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Golmud guesthouse

   Drive to the vast Qinghai Lake (3,200m) — China’s largest inland saltwater lake. Continue to the remarkable Chaka Salt Lake — a reflective salt flat that mirrors the sky in extraordinary fashion.

4. Day4

   Golmud — Kekexili Nature Reserve

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Roadside guesthouse

   Drive south from Golmud on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Enter the famous Kekexili (Hoh Xil) Nature Reserve — an uninhabited zone and haven for rare wildlife. Spot Tibetan antelopes, wild asses, Tibetan foxes and eagles.

5. Day5

   Kunlun Mountains Pass (4,767m) — Tuotuohe (Yangtze Source)

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Tuotuohe guesthouse

   Cross the Kunlun Mountain Pass (4,767m) with spectacular mountain views. Reach Tuotuohe — the small town at the source of the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia.

6. Day6

   Tanggula Pass (5,231m) — Enter Tibet

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Roadside guesthouse

   Cross the Tanggula Pass (5,231m) — the border between Qinghai and Tibet, one of the world’s highest road passes. Enter the Tibet Autonomous Region and continue south across the vast Tibetan plateau.

7. Day7

   Nagqu — Tibetan Nomad Culture

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Nagqu hotel

   Arrive in Nagqu — the largest town in northern Tibet. Explore the local market and experience authentic Tibetan nomad culture. The area is home to vast herds of yaks, sheep and horses.

8. Day8

   Nagqu — Namtso Lake Day Trip — Damxung

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Damxung guesthouse

   Stunning detour to Namtso Lake (4,718m) — one of Tibet’s three holy lakes and one of the highest saltwater lakes in the world. The extraordinary turquoise water framed by the Nyenchen Tanglha range is breathtaking. Continue to Damxung.

9. Day9

   Damxung — Arrive Lhasa

   Meals BreakfastOvernight Lhasa hotel

   Continue south and descend into the Kyichu valley. Arrive in Lhasa — the holy city and capital of Tibet. Check into hotel and begin acclimatizing.

10. Day10

    Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

    Meals BreakfastOvernight Lhasa hotel

    Explore Lhasa’s three greatest landmarks: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street pilgrim circuit.

11. Day11

    Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum — Departure

    Meals Breakfast

    Morning visit to Sera Monastery — arrive before 15:00 to catch the daily monk debating session in the shaded courtyard, one of Tibet’s most vivid cultural experiences. Afterwards, spend a final hour at the Tibet Museum near Norbulingka, which offers richly curated exhibits on Tibetan history, art, and traditional life. Transfer to Lhasa airport or train station for your departure.

    Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.