12 Days Essence of Guangzhou, Xining, Lhasa, and Kathmandu Tour

Welcome to Guangzhou, a city where tradition meets modernity in an exhilarating blend.

Upon arrival, our local guide will meet you at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and escort you to your hotel.

After you check in, the rest of the day is for you to have a good rest or explore the surroundings yourself.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou.

Optional Ideas:
In the evening, you can head to enjoy the spectacular night view of Guangzhou City from Canton Tower, the second-highest tower in the world. It features the world’s highest bubble tram, the longest spiral staircase, and the record-breaking Sky Drop, the highest thrill ride in the world according to Guinness. Do bring your camera for the stunning panoramic night view of Guangzhou City.

After breakfast, you will head to Chimelong Safari Park, which is the perfect place for families with kids to have fun in entire day. You can see a huge group of flamingos, swans, elephants, giraffes, and many more animals. They are mostly out in the open, not penned up. The animals seemed very happy and well taken care of. The trolley ride through the open enclosures was great. Walking through the park is an all-day event.

At night, you will enjoy the world-class performance by Chimelong International Circus. You will definitely be blown away by non-stop mesmerizing entertainment. From jaw-dropping stunts to the shows of adorable animals, it’s worth every penny spent on it.

Stay overnight in Guangzhou.

Today is free for you until you take the flight from Guangzhou to Lhasa.

Upon arrival in Xining, our local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your downtown hotels. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own.

Stay overnight in Xining. 

In the morning, you will visit Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Here, you will appreciate the ancient architectural complex that combines Tibetan and Chinese artistic styles, as well as various cultural treasures in the temples, such as various thangkas, murals, etc.

After the visit, the guide will take you to the railway station for your train to Tibet. The railway station is about 2.5 kilometers north of the city center. It is suggested to get to the railway station around 1 hour before departure. You need to present your passport and the Tibet Travel Permit to board the train.

Stay overnight on the train.

Tibet Permit Notice:
1. Once you book your trip with us, we will handle the Tibet Travel Permit application.
2. It is suggested to make your reservation and provide the necessary documents for the permit application at least 20 days in advance.
The issued travel permit will be sent to you before the train departs. Please make sure to keep your Tibet Travel Permit safe. 

Today, you will enjoy the most beautiful scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway through the Tibet Plateau. Endless land of snow, vast desert, boundless grassland, snow-capped mountains, and stunning lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart.

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.

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 Ranges, 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 the majority of your group is interested in witnessing the beautiful sunset at Namtso Lake, you can stay longer for the sunset. While you wait, we’ll provide hot coffee or Tibetan sweet tea.

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.

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.

Today is free for you until you take the flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

After arriving at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, our local guide will pick you up at the airport and escort you to your hotel.

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

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

In the morning, we will the Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, which is one of three durbar (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and when important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, still take place today.

Then, we will tour Swayambhunath. It is one of the most recognizable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all who ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the source of the Valley’s mythical beginning.

In the afternoon, the tour group will head to Patan City, which is 15 minutes driving from Kathmandu. Patan's central - Durbar Square, is absolutely packed with temples: It’s an architectural center point with a far greater concentration of temples per sq. meter than in Kathamandu or Bhaktapur. You may shop around and finally we will head back to Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Today marks the end of your adventure.

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

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