Small group or private
6 Days Discover Tibet Train Tour from Xining
6 Days $890 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Xining Ta’er Monastery Qinghai Lake Qinghai-Tibet Railway Lhasa Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Sera Monastery Drepung Monastery The 6-day Discover Tibet Train Tour from…
- 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Xining → Ta'er Monastery → Qinghai Lake → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Drepung Monastery
- Moderate pace
- Best: April to October
- No Deposit — Ever
- Cancel Free Before Permit Issued
- Full Refund except $100 Permit Fee
- Bring 7, Your Spot Is Free
- Our Own Office in Lhasa, Since 1999
The trip at a glance
- Xining → Qinghai Lake → Board Train to Lhasa
- Lhasa → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
Day by day
Xining → Ta'er Monastery → Qinghai Lake → Qinghai-Tibet Railway → Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Sera Monastery → Drepung Monastery
Day1
Arrive Xining — Ta'er Monastery
Arrive in Xining. If time allows after check-in, visit the famous Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum) — one of the six great Gelug monasteries and one of the most important in Tibetan Buddhism, renowned for its yak-butter sculptures.
Day2
Xining — Qinghai Lake — Board Train to Lhasa
Drive to the magnificent Qinghai Lake (3,200m) — China’s largest inland saltwater lake and a paradise for migratory birds. In the evening, board the overnight train to Lhasa on the legendary Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Day3
On the Train — Arrive Lhasa (~18:30)
The train travels through the dramatic landscape of the Tibetan plateau, crossing the Tanggula Pass (5,072m) and descending to Lhasa. Arrive at approximately 18:30. Your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Rest and acclimatize.
Day4
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Explore the iconic Potala Palace with panoramic city views, the sacred Jokhang Temple and the lively Barkhor Street pilgrim circuit.
Day5
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum
Morning visit to Sera Monastery — one of Tibet’s three great Gelugpa university monasteries, celebrated for its lively afternoon monk debating sessions held each day between 15:00 and 17:00 (except Sundays). The debates are a genuinely memorable spectacle: monks challenge each other on Buddhist scripture with theatrical precision, clapping hands sharply with each point. Afterwards, visit the Tibet Museum near Norbulingka — a well-curated gallery covering Tibetan history, traditional arts, regional costume, and the full span of Buddhist cultural heritage. An ideal complement to the living monastery experience.
Day6
Lhasa Departure
Free morning for final sightseeing or shopping. Transfer to Lhasa airport or train station for 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.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- Train ticket on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as listed
- All entrance fees for tourist sites in Tibet listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking local tour guide
- Private vehicle with driver for all ground transport in Tibet
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Shared oxygen tank in the vehicle
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- International flights or non-Tibet domestic transportation
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (approximately USD 3–15 per meal)
- Tips for tour guide and driver
- Personal expenses (laundry, snacks, optional activities)
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
How large will my group be?
Join-in departures run with a minimum of 3 travellers — usually 3–8 pax, and never more than 16. You choose the departure date, the starting point and the itinerary length that suits you; guests on different day counts travel together on the shared legs, and each group leaves when their own itinerary ends. If you prefer, this route can also run as a private tour for your own party only. A 3–8 group costs a little more per person and is quieter, with more freedom to change the day on the road; a 3–16 group costs less per person and gives you more people to travel with.
Which permits does this tour need?
We arrange all required Tibet permits for you as part of the booking — you only need a valid passport. Depending on the areas visited this can include the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB), the Frontier Pass and, for sensitive areas, a Military Permit.
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Xining. You can reach it by flight or by the Qinghai–Tibet railway — either way we meet you on arrival. Many travellers fly in and take the train out (or the other way round) to see both faces of the plateau. We are happy to advise on flights and train tickets as part of your booking.
Can this tour be customized?
Yes — every tour on this site can also run as a private departure with your own dates and pace, arranged by our own office in Lhasa. Send us your dates, group size and interests and we will adapt the itinerary around you.
Before you send your inquiry
- No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
- Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
- After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
- Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
- Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
- Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
- A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.
