16 Days Classic Chengdu Tibet Nepal Tour with Everest Base Camp and Tibet Train Experience

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 the 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.

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.

• Closely see the cute giant pandas at Chengdu Panda Base.
• The train departs from Chengdu North Railway Station to Lhasa

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.

• Qinghai-Tibet railway
• Tibet train soft sleeper

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 the Lhasa River.

After settling into your hotel, take some time to rest and adjust to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Qinghai-Tibet railway
• Tour guide will meet you at Lhasa Railway Station.

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.

• Monks chat happily before the assembly hall of Drepung monastery.
• Monk debate in Sera monastery

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 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.

• Tourists are ascending the white palace of Potala Palace
• Barkhor Street

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

First, you will take a drive over the Gampala Pass (4790 m) to catch a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4,400m). The Yamdrok Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. In the distance, you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m), 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 into the hotel, you can take a good rest and prepare for the next day’s trip to Mount Everest.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• Enjoy the stunning view of turquoise Yamdrok Lake
• The Karola Glacier is so close that you will appreciate a spectacular view of the white glacier contrasted with blue sky.

After breakfast, you will head directly to Mount Everest.

First, you will pass Gyatsola Pass (5,280m). 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 entering Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, you will enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5,198m). From this viewpoint, you will marvel at the majestic lineup of the five highest peaks in the Himalayas, including Everest at the forefront.

Then, continue driving along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,000m). As you get close to the base camp, the majestic Everest gradually unfolds before you, drawing nearer with each winding turn.

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.

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

• Tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass
• Enjoy your group tour to Everest Base Camp

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 5,154 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 (8,027 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 forest. In Gyirong town, you can breathe in the abundant oxygen.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• Rongbuk Monastery, the higest monastery in the world
• Pelku Tso Lake is surrounded by rugged mountains.

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to your Tibetan guide and driver as our Tibet tour service ends at the Gyirong border.

After crossing the border, you can choose our border transfer service to your hotel in Kathmandu (Optional: 60 USD per person). Alternatively, you can take the public bus from the border to downtown Kathmandu and then take a taxi to your hotel from the downtown bus station.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Nepal Visa Application Tips:
1. You need to prepare a passport-size ID photo with a white background 2. You will pay the Nepal visa fee at the border. Only US dollars in cash are accepted, and not credit cards.

• The picturesque scenery of Gyirong Town
• You will be transferred to Gyirong Port.

In the morning, you’ll visit 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, you 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, you 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 before heading back to downtown Kathmandu.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

• Durbar Square in Nepal
• Swayambhunath stupa in Nepal

In the morning, you are about to tour Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal.

Then, you will explore the Bouddhanath, which is one of the largest stupas in South Asia, the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries.

Later, you will cover Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley, as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal.

After the sightseeing, you will take a drive to Nagarkot from Kathmandu. Take a good rest in your hotel in Nagarkot.

Stay overnight in Nagarkot.

• Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most important Hindu temple in Nepal.
• Bouddhanath

After breakfast, you will appreciate the sunrise and spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayan ranges.

Then, you will take a 230-kilometer drive from Nagarkot to Pokhara, the most popular destination in Nepal after Kathmandu. It takes approximately 6 hours to travel from Nagarkot to Pokhara.

After arriving in Pokhara, you can spend your free time relaxing.

Stay overnight in Pokhara.

In the early morning, you can enjoy the sunrise in the beautiful valley in Pokhara.

Then, you will take a sightseeing tour of Pokhara city. You will enjoy the morning trip along the bank of Phewa Lake, where you can admire the stunning view of the Fish Tail's Peak reflected in the silver surface of the water. You can also see that the wonderful Annapurna panorama forms a superb backdrop to Pokhara from the lake.

After that, you will keep visiting the Seti River Gorge - one of the best places to see, Mahendra Gufa, which used to be well-known for its stalactites.

In the evening, you can enjoy a free walk around Lakeside Market.

Stay overnight in Pokhara.

• You can also see the wonderful Annapurna panorama forms a superb backdrop to Pokhara from the lake.
• Phewa Lake

After breakfast, you will take a 5-hour drive back to Kathmandu.

Upon arrival, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

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.